Ammo Choice

[subtly]

There is no magic round for handguns concerning self defense. All (45,357,10mm, whatever) are really weak compared to rifle or shotgun. Advantage of handguns is thier, well, handiness. Pick a round you feel comfortable with and forget about it.

My HD revolver is loaded with the old FBI load, 38sp +p 158gr lead semi-wad cutter hollow point. Proven on the streets, and thru testing. Adequate penetration and expansion out of a 4-inch barrel. I can shoot it more accurately at speed than the magnums.

Subtly

 

[DonD]

There is no magic round for handguns concerning self defense. All (45,357,10mm, whatever) are really weak compared to rifle or shotgun. Advantage of handguns is thier, well, handiness. Pick a round you feel comfortable with and forget about it.

My HD revolver is loaded with the old FBI load, 38sp +p 158gr lead semi-wad cutter hollow point. Proven on the streets, and thru testing. Adequate penetration and expansion out of a 4-inch barrel. I can shoot it more accurately at speed than the magnums.

Subtly

This comes from an involved forum participant, 8 posts in 9 yrs. ??????

I can keep heavy .357s from a 3" Ruger SP101 in COM fairly rapidly. Don

 

[Nevada Ed]

post #11; plus........

that 6" will shoot any ammo ok except..........

if you saw the net test with that load, you would have heard the shooter state
that the load out of a 4" barrel was a lot SLOWER than the snub nose.

With the extra friction of a 6" would you get a "Squib" ?

Feel lucky?

 

[old tanker]

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REPORT REGARDING THE
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE SHOOTING DEATH
OF MICHAEL BROWN BY FERGUSON, MISSOURI POLICE
OFFICER DARREN WILSON
https://www.justice.gov/sites/defau...doj_report_on_shooting_of_michael_brown_1.pdf


"In fact, Witness 102 told investigators that he knew "for sure that [Brown's] hands were not above his head." Rather,Brown made some type of movement similar to pulling his pants up or a shoulder shrug, and
then "charged" at Wilson. It was only then that Wilson fired five or six shots at Brown. Brown paused and appeared to flinch, and Wilson stopped firing. However, Brown charged at Wilson again, and again Wilson fired about three or four rounds until Brown finally collapsed on the ground. Witness 102 was in disbelief that Wilson seemingly kept missing because Brown kept advancing forward."

"Wilson shot and hit Brown as few as six or as many as eight times. Brown fell to the ground dead as a result of a gunshot to the apex of his head."

Hollow points, .40 caliber, solid torso hits that had so little effect a witness could not believe that cop missed so many times. Killing living things is not like shooting jello. (Before someone chides me, killing may be exactly what is needed to STOP an attacker disinclined to being stopped.)

Two legged or four outside of destroying the central nervous system it is a crapshoot if they will run out of blood or fight before they get to you with any small arm cartridge.

 

[cmj8591]

Well yeah, but there's a big difference between .357 Magnum and .38 Special.

Also ... "Excuse me Mr. Bad Guy, wait a second while I put my hearing protection on."

And don't forget your protective eye ware. In fact you should have several pairs in different shades next to your bed side gun. That way if you have to shoot someone in daylight or twilight, florescent lights or incandescent you will be prepared. Of course you will need another pouch for your tactical response belt.

 

[subtly]

This comes from an involved forum participant, 8 posts in 9 yrs. ??????

I can keep heavy .357s from a 3" Ruger SP101 in COM fairly rapidly. Don

Like I said, whatever one feels comfortable with...go for it.
And who knows, maybe all the flash and bang from a full house magnum touched off in a dimly lit hallway will scare off the zombies all by itself!

Subtly

 

[one4waves]

Since you asked about loads for home defense ...

Ditch the .357 magnums for this role. Use .38 Specials (+P if you want)



Why???

Are you going to have time to put on hearing protection if you need to shoot?

Have you ever fired .357 Magnum indoors?

Are you interested in permanent hearing damage?



Load that 6" 686 with some quality .38 HP's - They will certainly get the job done if need be.

Yes, I indicated that I have Federal 38 HST +P loaded for home defense. I was just wondering about its efficiency in comparison to what others with the same gun might suggest.

 

[bigggbbruce]

The medical examiner and the ER doctor can't tell the difference, looking at the body, whether it was a 158 grain LSWC going 800 fps out of a .38, or a .357 JHP. Ask one.

One 4th of July, some people tossing fireworks, an M80 landed in a gravel driveway behind some girls. The rock that hit one girl penetrated her calf muscle and hit the bone.

This rock could have killed someone.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Hi. I'm new to the forum. I have a S&W model 686 six shooter with a 6" barrel. I just bought a box of Federal P38HST1S Micro for personal defense and was wondering if this is a good choice for this length barrel considering the low muzzle velocity. This gun is mainly used at the range with unjacketed slugs (.357 Remington & Blazer 38 special), but I want it loaded for defense at home. My other two semi-automatics are Glock 19 loaded at home with Hornady Critical Duty JHP and my concealed carry gun is a Ruger EC9S loaded and chambered with Winchester personal defense JHP. Can anyone offer opinions on my choice for the 686? Thanks in advance!

Ignore the bravado here. Anything Federal makes these days is a good choice. Don't over think things.

Self defense shootings inside the home happen at very close range. A 38 will do the job. But personally, I would grab the Glock .

 

[Harkrader]

By coincidence I took my 686 to the range last week. I fired several cylinders-full of full-house 357Mag and then switched to homebrew .38Special +P: 125-gr SJFP at ~1050fps. I threw 75 rounds of that downrange.

That is close to my favorite premium ammo, Hornady Critical Defense .38 Special +P, a 110-gr FTX bullet at ~1100 fps.

One woman to whom I taught defensive shooting, chose a 686+ and became proficient with .38+P. Another chose the Colt Detective Special, and also chose the .38+P.

I trained them, and others, with Black Hills, Cor Bon and Federal Hydrashock. You can't go wrong with those.

 

[Univibe]

By coincidence I took my 686 to the range last week. I fired several cylinders-full of full-house 357Mag and then switched to homebrew .38Special +P: 125-gr SJFP at ~1050fps. I threw 75 rounds of that downrange.

That is close to my favorite premium ammo, Hornady Critical Defense .38 Special +P, a 110-gr FTX bullet at ~1100 fps.

One woman to whom I taught defensive shooting, chose a 686+ and became proficient with .38+P. Another chose the Colt Detective Special, and also chose the .38+P.

I trained them, and others, with Black Hills, Cor Bon and Federal Hydrashock. You can't go wrong with those.

For my 6 inch 686, I load a 158 grain hardcast SWC to about 1050 fps. It's an accurate load that's fun to shoot. It's hotter than .38 +P, but not as hot as factory .357 rounds. It's a "magnum light" load that's not loaded by any factories as far as I know. If I needed the 686 for home protection, that's the load I'd use.

 

[Nevada Ed]

The "Standard" SD load for a 4-6" .357 Magnum is the.............

125gr JHP.

Any other ammo will also work but does not have the track record of this round.

Ear plus help, if you have time to use them.........
and you might want to close your eyes, in a dark room, for that follow up shot.