help! recommendations for .357 Mag ammo for a LE order this week

[Malpasowildlifer]

Sorry for such a basic question; did some searches but couldn't find anything specific.

My agency (well SAC for my region) declared 1911's are an "unsafe firearm" and my authority has been rescinded to carry my Colt Combat Commander as a secondary/official off-duty personally owned handgun.

So, I'm going to get one of my 27-2's with a 3.5'' barrel approved. Revolvers haven't been declared unsafe......yet.

Have to get a brand for an order tomorrow. They'll buy a standard brand, but won't purchase something real expensive like Corbon or Double Tap.

There are so many .357 Magnum loadings out there and I'm a bit confused. I'm old school and figured heavier is better, but wasn't one of the main .357 LE loadings when revolvers were king was with a 125 grain bullet?

Any help with a particular round from a manufacturer would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mstuhr]

Hi Charles

Hi Charles,
Federal 357B or might be C357B is a good one. It is a 125 grain HP at around 1450 fps.
I'd say any "Big three" factory 125 is probably good.
I'd avoid the reduced recoil loads if I could.
Hope this helps.
Mike

 

[MR835]

HEAVY IS STILL BETTER

Hi Charles: I go back to your time and maybe before. But I still use 158gr.bullets for loading and self defense. Here are a couple, That are BAD TO THE BONE.

Hornady Custom 357 Magnum Ammo 158 Grain JHP-XTP Box of 25

Ammo To Go : 50rds - 357 Mag Federal LE Tactical Hyda-Shok 158gr. HP Ammo [P357HS1G] - $49.95


I use the hornaday XTP Bullet in all my reloading. After years of testing the XTP is the Best.

Good Luck

 

[Hapworth]

I like Speer Gold Dots for defensive work. In .357 Magnum, they offer 125 and 158 grain full-house rounds; consider their 135 grain short barrel load, too, for low-flash and controllability on follow-up -- it still hits mighty hard.

 

[colt_saa]

I am very fond of the Hornady 140 XTP.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm also a fan of the 158gr bullet in the .357 Magnum. I really like the Gold Dot bullet and Speer makes a 158gr GD full power load I carry in my M686 when it's used for self defense. The 50 round box is just under $50 which is better than paying $28/20 rounds. Ammo To Go : 50rds - 357 Mag Speer LE Gold Dot 158gr. Hollow Point [53960] - $49.95

Speer also makes a 125gr load that's also very good.
Ammo To Go : 50rds - 357 Mag Speer LE Gold Dot 125gr. Hollow Point [53920] - $49.95

BUT, do you really think there is a bad full power .357 Magnum load on the market today? I think not with the bullet technology out there. I'm sure any "name brand" factory .357 Magnum load out there will do a good job for you.

 

[Steve C]

Check out 357 Magnum Stopping Power to see why the .357 mag 125gr JHP is top of the stopping power list.

 

[Poohgyrr]

The Remington 125 gr SJHP gave great results, and still does. Speer makes a short barrel load that also does well.

 

[blujax01]

Hard to beat the Remington 158 Grain SJHP. Part number R357M2.

AT2 - .357 Magnum - Remington 158 Gr SJHP - YouTube
.357 Magnum Remington 158 gr SJHP Ammo Test - YouTube

 

[Malpasowildlifer]

Copy, thanks to ALL!!!

CEA

 

[Doug M.]

PM sent out.

 

[HCH]

Funny, the 1911 was not unsafe for the last 100 years. I'm surprised S&W stopped making 3rd. Gens. and switched over to 1911s.

Make sure the ammo you buy is approved by your department, city council, and all their lawyers. And please, can you name the department?

 

[all357mag]

Hornady 158gr XTP's. They're AWESOME!

 

[Doug M.]

I am pretty sure he is a Fed, given the description of his chain of command. He's not likely FBI, as they issue or authorize 1911s for some folks; likewise the USMS. DEA and ATF are not likely either; I am not aware of any of their folks carrying or being allowed 1911s or other personal weapons. My guess is one of the smaller niche agencies.

 

[Culina]

I like the Winchester 145gr Silvertips, do they still make them?

 

[Doug M.]

Yeah, but they are not cheap by a long shot. I have 2 cases of the GD .357 short barrel on order and it has been 3 months or more now. Just flat hard to get revolver duty ammo with most agencies using autopistols.

As for the SAC (sack is more like it) who made that pronouncement - he needs to be relieved for cause and given a serious beating with his clownshoes. He's a liability at best.

 

[NotObvious]

Federal American Eagle 158gr SJHP as well as Remington UMC brand work equally well.

Remington has a bit softer core, but, the Federal have a slightly longer surface for rifling to engage. Matters more in a longer barrel, from what I understand.

Both work equally well and are on approved ammo list by a 2 departments that I know of. Buffalo Bore is also one I would trust w/o reservation.

 

[Doug M.]

Gee, I guess I said what the OP felt. I hope you check your email - I pasted in some stuff from Gary Roberts and a Lt. in another agency told me on LF.

 

[fsumach]

Winchester makes the bonded pdx1 in 357 now as well.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

[David LaPell]

I really like the Hornady XTP's in my 27-2 with the same barrel length as yours. At 1,400 fps recoil isn't all that bad. I also would not overlook the Remington Golden Sabers, they were held in high regard for a long time as were the Federal 125 grain bullets.