Recomendations for the proper round to minimize the chance for damage

[mike4]

Considering the chances of damage. what is the recomended ( grain) round for less than 3 66's and 19's. I realize not to use magnum rounds for practice . 125grain loads are out ,correct. What is recomended and what is the weight of that speer gd short bbl round put out for just this situation? What do you guys ccw with in a 66snub or 19snub aside from 38's? Excuse the chopped question please. Thanks Much

 

[mike4]

Sorry. i meant less than 3 INCH bbl's.

 

[Spotteddog]

Well,
You know what they say about opinions and body parts?
I'll assume(?) your talking "factory" loadings? Anything heavier in bullet weight than the flame thrower 125 grain JHP Remingtons should be fine. I'd run something 135 and up in weight. And prefer 140-158 grain weights. Your issue now, will be finding your favorite loading? Next will be, affording it once you've found it! A 3" 19/66 is as good as it gets in a wheel gun! Don't use several thousand full house .357's out of her and she should be fine.

 

[mike4]

Great , Thank you. These 135 gr short bbl gold dots i have are perfect then. I have some 110 grain winchester white box rounds i should shy away from i guess. I just keep the magnum rounds for emergency scenerios. I only practice with 38's. I don't use my nickel 19 or a couple of perfect 66's i have. I do however practice with a great user 66. Thanks and Have a great day.

 

[Robert B]

Are you using the 357 mag or the +P golddots? Just curious. I use the 357's.

 

[Bentwing]

I don't follow your question, what is it you don't don't want to damage? If it is your target why are you shooting aat it? It is that you fear over penetraion try Glser Saftey slugs.

 

[scooter123]

Bentwing, K frame 357's shot with light weight bullets have exhibited a tendancy to crack the forcing cone and suffer flame cutting to the top strap on the frame. Current wisdom is to use rounds heaver than 130 grains and 158 grain bullets are the prefered choice. Heavier bullets are longer and close off the barrel cylinder gap during a longer period of time at a point when pressure and temperature are near their peak. It's also recomended today that K frames mainly be used with 38 spl. ammunition because too much shooting with full power 357 Magnums will stretch the frame and cause headshake issues.

 

[M29since14]

What do you guys ccw with in a 66snub or 19snub aside from 38's?

FWIW, Winchester Silvertips. Started using them many years ago and have always been entirely satisfied. I use them in any .357, regardless of barrel length. No reason to change, so far.

When I am "just shooting," I generally handload a 160 LSWC, Win 231, and 357 cases for all 357s - except the 340PD. These are just target loads (900 FPS or so) and hopefully are pretty easy on the gun. If you don't handload, any .38 Special load of your choice shouldn't harm the gun, but the chambers are going to require some extra attention.

 

[Pioneer461]

Speer Gold Dot, Short Barrel, in both .357 magnum and .38 spl. Both use 135 grain bullets. Expensive and hard to find, but in my estimation, worth whatever they cost. I ordered a bunch about a year ago, and at that time they were about a dollar a round, and come in 20 round packages. Too expensive to plink with, but worth every cent for self defense.

http://www.speer-ammo.com/products/short_brl.aspx

 

[Joed49]

The problem with the light bullets is the force they exert on the forcing cone.

I have 1 66 and 2 19's that I shoot. I load my own and they fall somewhere between a Spl and Mag load. I never shoot less then 158 gr loads out of them.

Want those guns to outlast you? Shoot .38 Spl and use mags for carry or occasional use.