Is there a downloaded .357 Magnum for self defense

[bushmaster1313]

I shoot American Eagle .357 Magnum
Target flat nose half jacket
Grain Weight: 158
Muzzle Velocity: 1240
From my 3.5" 27-2 with wood target grips
The recoil and boom is a bit dramatic for me

Just got a 2.5" Model 19-3 and not looking forward to shooting the above ammo in that gun

QUESTION
Is there a downloaded .357 magnum self defense round that would be between the above ammo and +P38 Special

Or will the +P 38 Special with modern bullets be plenty

 

[murphydog]

It depends on what you are able to handle with that particular gun. For one recommendation, try the Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 135 gr in both .38 + P and .357, you needn't feel underpowered with either.

 

[.45mtngun]

I have 19-5 2 1/5" and the carry load i use for that gun are Remington Mid-Range 125 grain brass jacketed hollow points that are rated at 1220 FPS. I have found these loads to be very accurate yet are easier on the gun verses full power loads, They will get the job done. I have not tried the Speer Gold Dot 135 Short Barrel in .357 mag as of yet as the Remington load works for me. Try both if you can find some and see which works best for you and your gun. Good Luck!!
Jim

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The Speer 135gr Short Barrel .357 Magnum ammo is rated for 990 fps. That round is barely more velocity than a good .38 Special +P ammo if any. That ammo is usually used in a light J frame, not a K frame or heavier. (I'm not saying you can't or shouldn't
use it)

 

[Dave Lively]

If you cannot find the ammo in the posts above you could also try BuffaloBore's 125 grain JHP 38 Special ammo. It measured 1108 fps out of their 2.5 inch test gun. Which is low end 357 power levels.

It's expensive but in stock at the time I am posting this.

 

[white cloud]

If you are concerned about over penetration, I would consider something besides a full throttle 158 grain .357. I have killed a number of deer with a 158 grain .357. The load works great but I have never recovered a bullet as they were all "pass throughs".

I am not an expert and have never been in armed combat.

 

[scattershot]

There is. It’s called the .38 Special.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I usually load my J Frame 357s with 38+P.

 

[BloodyThumb]

My pick FWIW...

38 Special +P 125gr JHP

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I carried a 2.5" Model 19 from about 1976 until about 1990 as my primary duty weapon while working plainclothes, as well as off duty carry. Made one range trip with .357 mag ammo, that was all it took. Muzzle blast, muzzle flash, punishing recoil, not the best recipe for defensive or LE use where accurate follow-up shots might be necessary.

Federal .38 Spl +P 158-LSWC-HP (so-called FBI load) provided me with everything I needed. Never had to engage a human target, but I did use that load to dispatch a couple of Colorado mule deer (175-250 lbs range) after road collisions. Very effective at handgun range.

Remington offered a very similar load. Buffalo Bore and others offer comparable products.

Edit to add: Just noticed the OP is in New Jersey, so I doubt that HP bullets will be an option. If that is the case my recommendation would be .38 Spl +P with a swaged SWC in the 150-158 grain range. I doubt that any jacketed bullet will achieve sufficient velocity and energy from the 2.5" barrel revolver to provide any significant improvement in terminal performance.

 

[Nevada Ed]

The only light 357 factory load that I know of with light recoil is the
110 JHP ammo that has been reduced down to 1290fps.

It is the minimum SD load in a 357, that I would use, but it will expand and penetrate in most cases.

If you have a 4" barrel, any of the 38 special +P ammo will work, in a pinch,
with the FBI load and the 135 Gold Dot getting my thumbs up.

 

[Hair Trigger]

The Speer 135gr Short Barrel .357 Magnum ammo is rated for 990 fps. That round is barely more velocity than a good .38 Special +P ammo if any. That ammo is usually used in a light J frame, not a K frame or heavier. (I'm not saying you can't or shouldn't
use it)

That sounds like a nice load, and falls between a low-end magnum and a +P .38. Shouldn't be too hard on the K frame's forcing cone, either. I've been loading 158 XTP's at about 1000 fps for my 2.5" M66-1, and they are fairly nice, but the slightly lighter bullet you mention at just a bit less velocity ought to be just about right, if OP doesn't decide to just drop to a .38 Spl+P.

If you are concerned about over penetration

I think he's more concerned about recoil; even in a longer-barreled K frame than his snubbie, there's a significant difference in .357 out of an N frame when compared to the same load in a K frame. The rounds he's using (Amer. Eagle 158's at 1240 are fairly medium-load .357's, and I can attest to how an average .357 load feels in a RB 2-1/2" K frame; it's not something you generally enjoy after the first cylinder-full.

 

[Doug M.]

I'll admit that the load I prefer in my 4" M66 is a standard velocity .38 158 grain SWC. Good bullet configuration, controllable. I have qualified with 145 grain Silvertips, but objectively do better with the .38s.

 

[RGPM1A]

I shoot American Eagle .357 Magnum
Target flat nose half jacket
Grain Weight: 158
Muzzle Velocity: 1240
From my 3.5" 27-2 with wood target grips
The recoil and boom is a bit dramatic for me

Just got a 2.5" Model 19-3 and not looking forward to shooting the above ammo in that gun

QUESTION
Is there a downloaded .357 magnum self defense round that would be between the above ammo and +P38 Special

Or will the +P 38 Special with modern bullets be plenty

I found that the AE 158gr JSP from a short barrel to be significantly slower than the published velocity. When I chronographed this round from a 2.5" 686+ I got about 890fps 10ft from the muzzle and they were no worse than +P 158gr 38spl . From a 686 I got about 1150fps. From a 20" lever gun I got 1850fps!

 

[Homie]

There is another option:+P+ .38 Special.
Worth looking at if you want less than generic .357 ammo.

Good shooting!

 

[shocker]

I think the AE 158 SP is charged with H110, which explains the impressive flash and boom from a short barrel.
I would just go with a NJ legal bullet in 38+P.

 

[AlHunt]

Or will the +P 38 Special with modern bullets be plenty

When I saw the title of your post, this is exactly what I thought. 38+P.

 

[Borderboss]

Per the Lucky Gunner Labs testing, the Speer 135gr Gold Dot Short Barrel in .357 gets and average of 1069 fps out of a 2" barrel, while the Speer 135gr Gold Dot Short Barrel in .38 Spl +P gets 821 fps out of a 2" barrel. I've shot the .38 Spl load and also the .44 Magnum load (since retired) and Speer does a good job of powder mix to minimize flash. I think you'll want to try the .357 load to see if it works for you.

 

[K Harris]

Grizzly Cartridge has a hard-cast 158 grain SWC .357 that they call the "Cowboy". They advertise it at 1000 fps. They are currently out of stock, but it sounds like what you are looking for.

 

[WR Moore]

Off the top of my head, I don't recall the NJ rules about when/where you can use JHP ammunition. IIRC-please check- you can use those rounds at the range or at home. Remember that bullet placement is far more important than the technical details of the ammuntiion.

If you just gotta have .357, I'd suggest the Remington Ultimate Defense Handgun, stock # 28920. This is a 125 gr JHP at a listed 1235 f/s from a 4 inch test barrel. This is a midrange load for that bullet weight, and SFAIK, the only offering like that. All the others are full throttle loads that will be hard on both you and your gun.

Another Remington option would be the High Terminal Performance +P .38 Spl load, stock # 22303, a 125 gr bullet at around 945 f/s from a 4 inch test barrel.

The Speer short barrel +P .38 loads would also be a good choice. Federal also has 4 choices of +P 38 that should do well.

I have personal reservations about using boutique ammunition for self defense, but it's your choice. The products of the major makers (Black Hills, CCI, Federal, Fiocchi, Hornady, Remington, Speer and Winchester) will do well