Please recommend some defensive rounds

[American1776]

I keep 4 inch .357 magnum revolvers for home defense and occasional carry (open carry). I really like the 125 gr. .357 magnum JHP @ 1600 ft/s (underwood and buffalo bore). However, I do not want to keep that as a regular carry/home defense load due to the deafening noise and massive recoil.

I still want a solid defensive load with good ballistics out of a 4 inch tube. Right now I'm using the Federal 129 grain Hydrashok .38 spl +P. I also have buffalo bore 158 gr. .38 spl swhp standard pressure.

I'm looking for either light recoil .357 magnums or really good +P for a 4 inch barrel. Any top suggestions?

Many thanks.

 

[bigwheelzip]

I tried some Winchester 110gr hollow point .357's, and they were very light recoiling.

 

[blues7]

The Hornady Critical Defense rounds in both .38 Special and .357 have gotten good reviews from what I've seen.

I have some of each along with the Remington SJHP in 125gr for the .357

I leave the Critical Defense .38 in the 686+ for home defense as it is the firearm I have designated for my wife to use in an emergency and the magnum rounds would be too much for her to handle imho.

 

[cmort666]

I use the 158gr. .38 Special +P "FBI" load in all of my .38 and .357 defensive guns.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Hornady Critical Duty .357 Mag 135 grain, or the Critical Defense .38 SPL 110 grain . . .

 

[American1776]

These are all great recommendations. Thanks. I carry the Hornady critical duty in my 9mm, and I like the round. I prefer bullets that are on the heavier side, so the 135 grain sounds like a good fit.

How would the .357 mag 135 gr. Critical Duty compare to the old FBI load 158 gr. .38 spl +P in terms of noise and ballistic potential?

 

[Muss Muggins]

These are all great recommendations. Thanks. I carry the Hornady critical duty in my 9mm, and I like the round. I prefer bullets that are on the heavier side, so the 135 grain sounds like a good fit.

How would the .357 mag 135 gr. Critical Duty compare to the old FBI load 158 gr. .38 spl +P in terms of noise and ballistic potential?

I'm not a huge ballistics guy. All I know, and I might be a little off here, is the 135 is going to be faster and sharper, and the 158 is going to be slower and carry a little more force behind it due to the mass. I usually like to put a couple in the ten ring, thereby eliminating any slide rule discussions. Enjoy!

 

[Grayfox]

I believe that any good defensive ammo will do the job. Try several and go with what shoots best in your gun.

 

[Arik]

Theres also golden saber (I'm probably forgetting the name)

Look some of them up on YouTube. Even if you don't care about gel tests most people chronograph them as well. At least you'll get an idea of speed

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[Duckford]

Don't use anything lighter than 125 grains, poorer performance overall, bad penetration with lack of weight and sectional density, and with the high velocities possibility of some bullet fragmentation. Even though the 125's are the old favourites, there is every bit of valid proof you can find to say 158 grain is as good or superior. In the end, f you shoot .38 Special in it, the heavier hollow points are needed to get adequate penetration, and in the magnum loads the heavier bullets are still the better choice.

 

[American1776]

Don't use anything lighter than 125 grains, poorer performance overall, bad penetration with lack of weight and sectional density, and with the high velocities possibility of some bullet fragmentation. Even though the 125's are the old favourites, there is every bit of valid proof you can find to say 158 grain is as good or superior. In the end, f you shoot .38 Special in it, the heavier hollow points are needed to get adequate penetration, and in the magnum loads the heavier bullets are still the better choice.

I have some Fiocchi 158 gr. SJHP .357 magnums. They are not as loud as the 125 gr. magnums, and are overall less violent. I hesitant to carry those due to over penetration concerns. Would the 158 gr. .357 magnums expand well enough for self defense?

 

[murphydog]

If you can find it, a good choice might be the Speer .357 Short Barrel, 135 gr at about 1000 fps. However, I think any shots fired indoors out of anything stamped ".357" will be very loud and potentially disorienting.

 

[Duckford]

I have some Fiocchi 158 gr. SJHP .357 magnums. They are not as loud as the 125 gr. magnums, and are overall less violent. I hesitant to carry those due to over penetration concerns. Would the 158 gr. .357 magnums expand well enough for self defense?

Oh, yes indeed, without any doubt. A "slow" "heavy" 158 grain magnum bullet doing 1220-1250 fps is going as fast as a 1220-1250 "fast" 9mm 115 grain +p hollow point. With the sheer power and velocity involved, expansion can even be observed with plain non hollow point soft points, such as the generic American Eagle 158 grain soft points, Mr. "TheChoppingBlock" on Youtube has a series of tests he has performed, .38/.357 gel tests
- YouTube, and his test using even the big 180 grain sjhp look promising. Frankly put, the 357 Magnum has enough power, throughout its weight range, to achieve proper expansion and penetration, with the proper design of bullet.

Indeed, I like the lesser "bark" of the heavier bullets myself. If you prefer shooting your Fiocchi 158 grainers, i wouldn't hesitate to use them, its a very good choice.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I also have buffalo bore 158 gr. .38 spl swhp standard pressure.

Personally, I'd just stick with this. My first choice would be the Speer 135gr SB-GDHP in .38 Special +P, but the BB standard pressure FBI load is a close second.

If you can find the Speer 135gr SB-GDHP in .357 Magnum, I would consider that a good choice, too.

My favorite .357 Magnum load to shoot was the WWB 110gr SJHP. Light recoil, ballistically similar to 9mm 115gr +P IIRC. I prefer medium to heavy weight bullets for self defense (i.e., 125gr and heavier for .38 Special/.357 Magnum), but I wouldn't feel particularly underarmed with the 110gr SJHP. One drawback I remember was the large fireball it produced. That may or may not be an issue for you.

 

[Old cop]

The old FBI .38 +P 158 is still one of the best out there in a 4 inch revolver. I used it effectively more than once during my 30 year LEO career.

 

[TAC]

If you can find it, a good choice might be the Speer .357 Short Barrel, 135 gr at about 1000 fps. However, I think any shots fired indoors out of anything stamped ".357" will be very loud and potentially disorienting.

I use similar ammo, only the .38SPL version of Speer's Short Barrel ammo. Expansion is good, and over penetration, may not be so severe.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...already been mentioned...I thought this test was pretty impressive...


[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvVNtKicux4[/ame]

 

[Kanewpadle]

Corbon DPX. IF you can find it.
Caliber: 38 Special +P
Bullet Wt.: 110gr DPX
Velocity: 1050fps
Energy: 269ftlbs
Test Barrel Length: 4.0 Inches
20 rounds per box.

Caliber: 357 Mag
Bullet Wt.: 125gr DPX
Velocity: 1300fps
Energy: 469ftlbs
Test Barrel Length: 4.0 Inches
20 rounds per box.

 

[JCFindley]

BUFFALO-BARNES LEAD-FREE 357 Mag Low Flash-Short Barrel Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

When it is loaded for the house or when the wife is carrying I have these. Less recoil, noise and flash but still plenty of energy.

 

[badge]

I've always liked the .357 Mag Winchester Silvertip load. It's 145 grains and has a proven record. Old technology however if that bothers you.