Favorite 357 Magnum 158 gr factory loads

[38SPL HV]

I like either Winchester or Remington 158 gr JSPs, both time honored rounds. Enough power for me and potentially good on game up to including deer at close range. If I need more horsepower, there are always Buffalo Bore's 180 grainers.

 

[CCantu357]

I always liked the 158 grain .357, but they do not seem to be as popular now as the 125. I usually use the Federal 357C JHP, but I often wondered how 158 loads like the Hydra-Shok or the Speer Gold Dot work. Another old favorite I liked was Remington's 158 grain SWC, but it seems to have been discontinued in favor of JSP rounds.

 

[lebomm]

+1 on the Winchester.

Larry

 

[bigwheelzip]

All depends on the purpose.

SD - 125gr HP - Federal
Target - 158gr SP or FMJ
Woods - 180gr LFN - Buffalo Bore

 

[apollo99]

I buy the Federal 158 gr JSP. that gives me good penetration against bear. Now if only I can find a bear out here in the desert that is Arizona, I will be ready. When I do buy factory loads, I buy them not for the bullets, but for the case reloading potential. I like the federal cases, I find they hold up well to numerous reloads, and the cost is reasonable.

 

[jimmyj]

Winchester 145 grain Silver Tips

 

[Nevada Ed]

For factory 158gr, I like all three of the major companies.
Long ago, Winchester, today Remington or Federal, since they are on the shelf more.

My all time favorite reload was the Speer 160gr JSP for hunting
but it has been discontinued, long ago. A 288 pound buck was no problem, out of a 6" barrel.

I don't recall a big .357 180gr bullet back in the 70's.

357 Magnum.............
one of life's many pleasures.

 

[deyomatic]

I've been shooting the Geco lately.

 

[Buford57]

I liked the Speer Lawman 158gr. JSP and 140gr. JHP when they still made them.

Then I liked the Winchester 145 gr Silvertip when I could get them.

 

[full mag]

Georgia arms 158gr deerstoppers.

 

[Texas Star]

I like Hydra-Shok, and a Federal PR man told me that it works well on deer at ranges at which one should be shooting a .357 at a deer. I think it's also a good defense round, and I don't shoot light bullets in most .357's.

Jimmy J mentioned the Winchester 145 grain ST. It was FBI issue and used by Dallas PD. A detective in a Dallas suburb checked autopsy results where felons were shot with that load, and he said that it was almost too effective! But he's a sensitive lad. If it kills effectively, I don't mind that it tore up a thug.

BTW, that's one of the best .357 loads in a three-inch barrel, giving about 1200 FPS. A bit too much in a SP-101 or J-frame .357. In those, I'd use Speer's Short barrel 135 grain load.

I used to fire Remington's 158 grain JHP and JSP from a Model 27 with exceptional accuracy, but now tend to avoid anything by Remington.

 

[kthom]

I really liked that Speer 160 half jacketed SWC bullet. Looked like a pure lead SWC bullet when loaded, but was crimped at the jacket line so the jacket could not be seen. Fired into the pure sand of the sandhills where I lived resulted in between a dime and a nickle sized "mushroom" of lead all around that jacket which remained on the slug. This from a 4" barreled Model 19.

I shot a big ole tough jack rabbit one evening just before the sun dropped beneath the horizon. The rabbit was about 50 yards away. The impact spun rabbit parts and a very noticeable shower of red into the air. I've never seen before or since such a complete disassembly of a jack rabbit. The largest piece left in evidence was one front leg and a good sized patch of skin and hair. These were a reloading proposition, of course.

I have recently shot some of the PMC brand 158 grain SJSP bullets which have a flat nose. These shoot very well (accurately) and I believe they will do nicely for hunting at appropriate range. And bonus is that they are not considered premium bullets and if found, can usually be had for a reasonable price. I happened to find them on sale at Cabelas at a really good price.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I like the Federal American Eagle 158 gr JSP. Available at pretty much any store that sells ammo, relatively clean, potent, and plenty effective for a full range of use.

I would like to find a vendor who loads a 158 gr lead SWC to full 1930's specs.

 

[apollo99]

.455 Hunter, funny you are looking for the old spec .357 load, I've been reloading to the older 30's and 40's specs. I've been using poly coated SWC 158 grain, the manufacturer states the coated bullets are good to 2200fps, so I'm good to go on fouling issues. From what I can tell they are pretty hot loads, haven't chronyed them yet they closed the National Forest in AZ till we get some rain. I've been shooting them out of a 4" L frame.

 

[AimHigher]

Remington .357 Mag. 158 gr. SJHP

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I like the 145gr Winchester Silvertip .357 Magnum ammo best followed by the Speer 158gr GDHP ammo.

If going heavier I would buy the 180gr Cast Bullet ammo from Grizzly Cartridges. I load my own with the same bullet from Cast Performance, their sister company.
357 Magnum 180gr WFNGC - Grizzly Cartridge - Cast Performance

 

[Texas Star]

I like the 145gr Winchester Silvertip .357 Magnum ammo best followed by the Speer 158gr GDHP ammo.

If going heavier I would buy the 180gr Cast Bullet ammo from Grizzly Cartridges. I load my own with the same bullet from Cast Performance, their sister company.
357 Magnum 180gr WFNGC - Grizzly Cartridge - Cast Performance

Have you ever shot a living animal or person with that Gold Dot? If it's the one I'm thinking of, velocity is pretty low for a .357 and that dimple in the nose doesn't make it look like it'd expand much.

 

[M29since14]

In the last twenty years or so I've only bought three .357 factory loads to any extent, two of which meet your 158 grain criteria. I like Federal's American Eagle 158 grain JSP load. It's been very accurate in every gun I've ever used it in and the price is reasonable. I've used a few 158 grain Hydra-shoks. Pricey, but also very accurate in all of my guns, and real kickers in a 340PD. For that gun I resort to Winchester Silvertips. I've never been able to get excited about lightweight bullets in .357s, though I have fired a few 125s in the 340, mostly Remington JHPs.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Have you ever shot a living animal or person with that Gold Dot? If it's the one I'm thinking of, velocity is pretty low for a .357 and that dimple in the nose doesn't make it look like it'd expand much.

I don't know what GDHP bullet you're looking at because the HP in the Speer bullet is not a dimple. It's not as large as the 125gr bullet but then again, the 125gr bullet is meant for SD and the 158gr bullet was renamed DeepCurl and listed under hunting bullets. The listed velocity of the ammo is 1235 fps, the same as the 158gr ammo from Winchester and Remington and only 5 fps less than Federal.

 

[Bill In Texas]

Have you ever shot a living animal or person with that Gold Dot? If it's the one I'm thinking of, velocity is pretty low for a .357 and that dimple in the nose doesn't make it look like it'd expand much.

You may be thinking of the 135 grain for short barrels in .357.