A best load (.357) question

[fishwishin]

I am going to hit the easy button on this question and just post it up. If you guys tell me to go back and do my homework I totally understand.

I am wondering if there is a prevailing defense round (.357) for shooting from a 640? I am not necessarily looking for manageable, but most effective. At the distances I will need the 640 at managing followup recoil should not be an issue.

Same question for a 4" 66. Same round for both?

Thank you.

 

[OKFC05]

"Best?" I wouldn't know. But the Speer .357 short barrel ammunition certainly seems more appropriate to me in my model 65 than the 158gr .357 over WIN296 SP handloads I use for hunting with my 686.

 

[alwslate]

In general the full power 125 gr HP rounds have long been considered
to have the best track record for one shot stops. I think Remington
and Federal have been highly regarded with velocities above 1400 fps
out of 4" barrels. The same load would be fine for either one of your
guns.

 

[keithherrington]

Only one choice for me

After a lot of testing in a variety of 357 Magnum revolvers I've settled on the Remington Golden Saber 125 grain load. It is what some call a "mid-range" load. I find it very accurate in all of my 3" Performance Center guns (L-Comp, F-Comp, 357 Carry Gun), entirely controllable and with a very good record on the street. I don't care for it in my 6" Model 27-2 however; but prefer instead the Winchester 140 grain Silver Tip load. Accuracy is outstanding (in this gun, not my others) and with the longer barrel recoil is very controllable.

Keith

 

[kaaskop49]

My .357 Model 60 Ladysmith is the 'sister' to your 640, both steel-frame guns. I shoot a lot of CCI Blazer .357 158gr JHP. Not as hot as other 158gr Mags; another poster reported 990fps in a 3" bbl. I also shoot W-W 110gr Mag JHPs. Possible to do double-taps with both loads if you're adept enough; they produce acceptable, not heavy, recoil.

I have no problem carrying the CCI Blazer round even if it is only considered to be a 'range load.'

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[DWalt]

Hitting your target in a vital area is far more important than the MV. Or anything else of a ballistic nature.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Buffalo Bore's 125 +P hits 1050 fps and Doubletap hits 1175 fps in a 4" 38 special.

The Remington 125gr GS357MA load hits 1220 fps with 413 ME
and is very controllable and accurate.
That is twice the energy of a 38 snub nose with the 158 FBI load
that was carried back in the day by the LE.

You can shot the full load at 1450 fps but a 2nd follow up shot
will not be as quick and accurate for most..........
I have plenty of targets to prove this fact.

 

[ccso7d100]

After extensive tests (retired LEO training officer), I'm partial to Speer Gold Dot, 125gr hp-------Has always performed well & has good expansion

 

[tjpopkin]

I prefer Cor-Bon 124 (DPX) to anything…..however,
Remington Golden Saber, Speer Gold-Dot are terrific….and accurate.
There are SO MANY new loads from Hornady, others from a new company (PolyCase)using copper/acrylic uniquely-shaped bullets….(See this month's Guns & Ammo)……..makes it is tough to decide.
I tested 11 loads in 3 different .357 N-frames…a Reg. Mag., a 27-2, and a Perf. Ctr. 8-shot….all 5"…
Best load was MINE…a 125gr Montana Gold over 14gr. 2400…0.7" 5 shot group at 25yds with RM. Just one hole….
However, best commercial load (of those tested) was Cor-Bon
I was using group size as a primary parameter…hitting a vital area is more important than velocity or penetration….

 

[drummer007]

I carry the Buffalo Bore 158 Soft Cast LSWCHP-GC (#20A) 38 Special +P in my 66-4 4" barreled revolver. MV ~ 1140 ft/sec. I get 3" 6 shot groups at 25 yards with that load from a Ransom rest.

My model 60 .357 mag is the exposed hammer version of your 640. The rifling in this revolver (and I suspect your 640 also) is not happy with the soft cast Buffalo Bore bullet that I use in my 66-4 (16+" 5 shot patterns from the 60 at 25 yards). With the Remington 125 gr. Golden Sabers (GS357MA), the model 60 gets 2.5" 5 shot groups at 25 yards from a Ransom Rest. MV ~ 1100 ft/sec