Please tell me about these Federal Red Box .357's

[bushmaster1313]

After a box or two of .38 Specials at the range, I enjoy a cylinder or two of .357's from my 3.5" or 5" 27's.
For me, these Federal Red Box .357's are a good price, shoot as well as I can, have recoil I can manage,
and are not hollow points (which is a significant issue in NJ).

How do these rate in terms of recoil compared to other factory loadings.
The specs from Midway are as follows:

158 grains
1240 FPS
Jacketed Soft Point

 

[Texas Star]

I think I've fired those and recoil is similar to other .357 ammo, as one would think, given the ballistics. Recoil will be less a factor in your M-27's than in smaller .357's.

I THINK I recall Remington 158 grain JSP as feeling a little hotter. JHP, too, but you're in New Jersey.

I think the load is adequate for deer at close range, with carefully selected shots and will kill coyotes or javelina.

It'd be a good defensive round, especially if you needed deep penetration. And I think it'd deck a big dog.

Considering where you live, I doubt that you'll find a better basic .357 load.

 

[hoc9sw]

I got a few boxes on a clearance sale. It seems as hot as anything else I've shot in 357, but I don't have any notes on it other than "ok" (which means it didn't fail, didn't seem weak, didn't ....)

 

[stansdds]

It has been a long time since I shot any of this, but as I recall, it is just as hot and as accurate as Federal's 158 grain JHP ammo. Expect little expansion from the JSP bullet, but that does make it a pretty good round when walking in woods and fields.

 

[cmansguns]

I'm guessing that what you are discussing is basically "felt" recoil which I believe is both a function of a shooters' physical hand size/stock shape & material, and maybe personal sight "hold" position. I am no expert but among the stable of 357 Magnum shooters (M28-2, M65-3, M19-3, Python) I am also like the OP in that I shoot mostly Magtech 38 Special 158 grain LRN for target duty and this ammo has a factory box rating of 755 fps. Once I switch to 357 Magnum, same guns, I use either Magtech 158 gr. SJSP (box rated at 1235 fps), or Sellier & Bellot 158 gr, FMJ rated at 1263 fps.

Felt recoil among all 4 of my guns is basically "less" with the 2 6 inch (the M19 and the Python) where as among the 4 inchers (the M28 & the M65) without a doubt the M65 with magna stocks and fixed sights is the roughest on my hand.

This pretty much the way it goes down most times with me, so I believe it is mostly NOT the choice of ammo, but more me and the weapon choice.

My two cents worth.

 

[typetwelve]

I don't have a ton to add, but I'll say this. American Eagle ammo is, that I've found, right in the middle of the road load speaking. Not too hot, not too weak (according to the hand dyno).

You want to try some hot and common .357? Try the Hornady American Gunner stuff...it's hot stuff. I can locally find the 25rd boxes of it for the $15-17 range. I keep some on hand when I want to have a hand slapper.

 

[amd6547]

I've shot this ammo in a few 357's, and it has always done well. My current 357 is a 3" GP100, and it seems to love it. I terrorize the steel plates my club has from 25 to 80yds with the combination.
For me, it is a great general purpose load.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Tried them in my 6" Magnum........

At 100 yards they did not print where I was aiming, in case I
wanted to use them for deer.
At 50 yards they were close enough to where I felt they would
work, if I used them with "Pie plate" accuracy.

However my Speer 160gr SJHP were a lot more accurate.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Tried them in my 6" Magnum........

At 100 yards they did not print where I was aiming, in case I
wanted to use them for deer.
At 50 yards they were close enough to where I felt they would
work, if I used them with "Pie plate" accuracy.

However my Speer 160gr SJHP were a lot more accurate.

I've shown this photo more than once. Five rounds of the Federal Red Box from the OP, single action, sitting with my hand resting on a piece of carpet atop a block of wood. 5" pre-27:

I am curious if the vertical spread is due to variable powder weight in the factory loads, but I think it is probably due to my inability to focus on the rear sight well enough to line it up with the top of the front sight

 

[Texas Star]

I've shown this photo more than once. Five rounds of the Federal Red Box from the OP, single action, sitting with my hand resting on a piece of carpet atop a block of wood. 5" pre-27:

I am curious if the vertical spread is due to variable powder weight in the factory loads, but I think it is probably due to my inability to focus on the rear sight well enough to line it up with the top of the front sight

Focus mainly on the front sight. And don't rest your hand on carpet or wood. If you have to shoot in the field, you won't have those, or time to use them.

If your range allows, try Keith's two-handed sitting position for steadiness at longer ranges. Very steady. But don't have the gun right between your knees, as the blast from the gap between barrel and cylinder will burn you!

If you don't own a copy of, "Sixguns by Keith", Elmer Keith, 1961, rev. ed., stop fooling around and buy one and read it, carefully. I personally saw Elmer fire a .44 Magnum at 200 yards, and can assure you that he wasn't being fanciful about his abilities. I learned a lot about shooting from him and Jeff Cooper.

I think your .357 is capable of much more than you realize. I've owned four M-27's and pre-27's and all would shoot very well, indeed. You should be able to place all six shots in a single ragged hole at 25 yards, firing from "offhand." If I could do that, more distinguished shooters can do better, at least at long range. You should certainly be able to hit a man-shaped silhouette to at least 100 yards, most of the time. I used to practice on gallon milk jugs.