Best .357 mag Duty Round

[CTG_COLLECTOR]

I am newer to the forum and wanted to get some opinions on .357mag duty ammo. I am a police officer and I recently started carrying a 4 inch Smith & Wesson 627 Pro Series as my duty gun. All of our ammo is provided by the department. For our duty rounds I have a choice between the 125gr Remington Golden Saber Hollow Points and the 158gr Winchester Lead Nose Jacketed Hollow Points. I have read all the stuff about the 125gr being the best round, but there seems to be about as many that prefer the 158gr. Any of you that use to or still do carry a revolver what do you prefer. Keep in mind those are my only 2 choices due to dept. policies.

Personally I'd use the 125gr Golden Saber.

I'm suprised that your agency would issue the 158JHP. These loads are highly over penetrative on humans.

The only saving grace is if you do decide to use the 158JHP and you wind up shooting someone and that bullet passes through and injures or kills an innocent person, you're personally protected under Qualified Immunity as you are using a departmentally approved ammunition (and as long as you're within your agency's shooting policy).

 

[686-380]

8 Shot - Now see what you went and started

I'm glad you found what works best for you - Stay safe!!

 

[CTG_COLLECTOR]

Corporal Coates was carrying a 4 inch S&W 66 loaded with Winchester Silvertip 145gr 357 Magnum. Due to the bad guy being very obese and the Silvertips rapid expansion, none of the rounds reached a vital area.

"Corporal Coates was able to force the man off of him and return fire, striking the suspect five times in the chest with his .357 caliber revolver. As he retreated for cover and to radio for backup, the suspect fired another shot. The round struck Trooper Coates in the left armpit and traveled into his heart. The suspect survived the incident and was sentenced to life in prison."

Read more: Trooper Mark Hunter Coates, South Carolina Highway Patrol, South Carolina

The Coates incident was an anomaly, pure and simple. This one incident doesn't disprove the effectiveness of the 145STHP nor should be the basis for switching ammo.

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
I carried a 357 for 10 years for the county.
I would suggest , if allowed .\, that you carry a clip of the 125's for the times your in large groups of people or places where you might shoot
at very close range,aka critter in the house etc.
I used the 125 rem flamethrowers but we did not have the ranges or larger animals in Ohio that you have in OK.
Good choice...

 

[howiema]

357 Ammo (I may get shelled on this one)

I went to the range a few weeks ago and at the LGS I work I see this Fiocchi Ammo. I said we have plenty, so I might as well grab a couple of these for the 686 and the 19. In my opinion this was some of the finest 357 ammo I have shot and it is very accurate. Would I carry for protection heck ya ( it is 357 158 grain LFP) It is somewhat of a cowboy load but what a great follow up shot ammo as well as reduced recoil. Also has a similar coating to the older LEO Nyclad ammo.

Many rounds put down range and the accuracy

Just my .2

Pete

 

[Doug M.]

The Coates incident was an anomaly, pure and simple. This one incident doesn't disprove the effectiveness of the 145STHP nor should be the basis for switching ammo.

*
It's be a few years since I have seen the video, but my recollection is that the offender was staggeringly obese, making it harder to achieve adequate penetration. Handgun rounds are generally poor choices, used only due to need, not preference. I would not be bothered by carrying that round if I had been able to find it.

There were a lot of other contributors to that incident other than ballistics, too.