S&W M-65 3in

[medic15al]

Hey guys! Proud new owner of a S&W M-65 3in and was wanting ammo advice.

I like the 357/125 rounds, but seem to read that those cause some forcing cone issues. What do ya'll reccomend for a good carry load/shooting load in the magnum flavor? Right now it is loaded with Federal 158 grn. Hydra-Shoks.

 

[panamajack310]

Hi, I would stick with the 158gr. Hydra-shocks. That is the perfect round for that gun. It has both power and great ballistics.

 

[tom turner]

Hi,

For plinking, I stoke mine usually with handloaded 148 grain wadcutters, in both .357 and .38 S&W brass, and with Federal small pistol primers and Unique. It is a real tackdriver with these loads.

To practice speed reloading and in matches, I'll move up to 158 grain lead roundnose, again with Federal primers and Unique or Universal Clays.

I keep mine stoked with factory-loaded 125 grain Federal Hydrashocks for a defensive load.

You will be pleasantly surprised with the balance, accuracy, speed from the holster and the handling attributes of this GREAT revolver!

T.

 

[jframe]

I've got my Model 13 equivalent stoked with 125gr +P jhp .38's right now. When I can find them, I like the old "FBI load", 158gr+P all lead hollowpoint. A real kicker in my Model 40-1, but a ***** cat in the 13.

 

[tom turner]

jframe,

You jarred my old timer's memory. I also have a bunch of the good ol' "FBI load" for those K frames . . . the 158 grain Lead Semi-Wadcutter Hollowpoint +P load in .38 Special.

I have it both in factory Remington loadings and from Georgia Arms, and it is just about as good as one can get in a M13/M65, even in "just" .38 Special.

 

[dewidmt]

I carry the older Remington 125 gr JHP load when I choose magnums. I think the new Speer Gold Dot 135 gr .38 +P's are plenty hot for carry too! If they do 900 FPS out of my 442, think what they'll do with an extra inch of barrel.

 

[medic15al]

Hey thanks for all the suggestions! Keep them coming!

So, 125 full power rounds are not advised? Or just for warshots only?

 

[20nickels]

Hey thanks for all the suggestions! Keep them coming!

So, 125 full power rounds are not advised? Or just for warshots only?

I keep them out of mine though it's yer gun. I think much of the forcing cone breakeage was due to it being dirty when the light magnum was fired.

 

[WFR]

My 3" 13 groups 158gr GDHP's and 135gr GDHP SHort Barrel ammo close enough to point of aim that I interchange them according to woods or town.
I really like the 158gr Gold Dots as they are very accurate in this revolver.

 

[medic15al]

135 GDSB in 38 or the 357 loading?

 

[LOBO]

I carry Winchester .357 mag 110gr JHP in my 3" 65 & 66 2 1/2". It's very controllable & the muzzle flash isn't bad. Winchester says it leaves the muzzle at 1295 fps.

 

[SWAT Lt.]

Whatever you can find cheapest for practice (American Eagle, USA, UMC, or other good quality ammo). For carry, I'd go with the 145 Silvertip, 125 DPX, or 135 SB Gold Dot.

 

[FHBrumb]

I've read over and over that the lighter magnums are worse for wear and tear on the K Frame. The story is that the lighter (faster) bullets are forward of the forcing cone as the pressure level peaks with a heavy magnum charge. This means the greatest force from that blast furnace (to follow) is now digging into the forcing cone, which is where the K Frame is it's weakest.

The heavier bullets are still in or aft of the forcing cone at peak, so less forceful of a blast furnace after they pass through.

I'd go 158grs.

Just my opinion, based on reading...

If you shoot 38 or even 38+P, it's a non-issue, as the pressure is far less and the bullet starts out further back.

If I'm misinformed, please let me know...

 

[woodsltc]

When I can find them, I like the old "FBI load", 158gr+P all lead hollowpoint. A real kicker in my Model 40-1, but a ***** cat in the 13.

+1 on the "FBI Loads" ..... I get point of aim accuracy in my M-13's with 'em.

Like you, jframe, I just have a hard time finding them.

Don

 

[gwalchmai]

158gr JHP over 16gr of Lil Gun.

 

[sw357nm]

Light bullets= hotter powder

My understanding for at least part of the reason for the heavy bullet recommendation is that the light bullet factory loads use a hotter, faster powder that produces more erosion than the powder used with heavier bullets.
This is less of an issue for the SS revolvers than it is for the carbon steel guns.
John

 

[jframe]

+1 on the "FBI Loads" ..... I get point of aim accuracy in my M-13's with 'em.

Like you, jframe, I just have a hard time finding them.

Don

Got lucky a couple years ago when I bought my new lemon squeezer Centennial. The shop I bought it from had several boxes on the shelf and he gave me a box of 50 for buying the gun, so I bought a box of them as well and he cut two bucks off the retail! Got 100 rounds for about twenty bucks! Those are long gone though; bout all I can shoot these days are my two Henry lever action .22's.

 

[armybass]

jframe,

You jarred my old timer's memory. I also have a bunch of the good ol' "FBI load" for those K frames . . . the 158 grain Lead Semi-Wadcutter Hollowpoint +P load in .38 Special.

I have it both in factory Remington loadings and from Georgia Arms, and it is just about as good as one can get in a M13/M65, even in "just" .38 Special.

Absolutely! I too carry the FBI load in my M65 and never feel under gunned with this round. I use WWB out at the range and sometimes I will run some Blazer .357 just to make sure it can make a big boom.

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
Any old 38sp for paper punching will be kinder to your 65,just remember to clean well before you shoot mags...
For normal field loads 158gr lead swc in 357 are fine and for carry
I use Rem 125gr sjhp or 158 sjhp [old school] as warshot.
Mine likes "The Load" from the Speer no8 manual for 38sp
with lead or plated 158gr bullets and reloads are more positive.

 

[xray 99]

A full-power 125 grain .357 load is LOUD. The idea of touching one off in any type of confined space is scary.