What defense load for 4 inch model 28

[Vonkendell]

I have a 4 inch model 28 357 and I'm looking for a good commercial factory magnum
Defense round. Something in a hollow point with not too much flash. Would appreciate you folks sharing what you have found to work well for you

 

[Tom_R]

Hornaday Critical Defense, Speer Gold Dot.

But I only load .357 Magnum in my carry guns if I am using it as a Trail Gun. I use Buffalo Bore 200 grain rounds.

If I am carrying for "street carry" I use .38specials. I have Few different kinds, but I use 158 grain FMJs.

Edit, JHPs, not FMJs.

 

[Vonkendell]

Thank you Tom. I use the 158 Buffalo bore 38sp +p in my 4 inch model 19
I was looking for something a little hotter for the model 28
It's weight and strength allow the use of magnum loads
I know buffalo bore makes some interesting loads I may try

 

[gtoppcop]

Von,

Pick one. I like the R-P 125gr Golden Saber in both the Magnum (1200 fps) and most of all in the .38 Special +P (1000 fps) in a 4-inch. The Speer 135gr GDHP in the Magnum (1150-1200 fps) is damned hard to beat as well.

The old stand-by Federal 357B (125gr JHP) is the Lightning Bolt of Zeuss, but has sufficient velocity (1400-1450 fps) and the commensurate muzzle blast. The nice thing about the 357B is that it doesn't over penetrate humans as much as the bonded bullets do. It tends to fragment and dump all of its energy into the target. That's the reason why it's still Number One for the .357 Magnum.

 

[flagman1776]

Winchester Silvertip

Still have a box or 2 of issue. A lot of flash though.

 

[Vom Brunhaus K9]

Chek out brands Buffalo Bore, Cor Bon, Doubletap, Hornady, and several others available. I use a 180 --- 200 grain load in my 4 inch Highway Patrolman.

 

[A10]

I like the Hornaday Critical Defense .38+P for self defense and 158 soft point magnums for the woods.

 

[Highhawk1948]

I'm with A10. I do have some .357, 125 grain SJH that I like though.

 

[19leben]

I'd carry something heavy for caliber, not so much high fps but a heavy bullet like the buffalo bore 180 grain hard cast if you want to stop a bad guy.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

For PD use any brand name 125 JHP will do the job. They didn't call it the "Lightning Bolt" round for nothing!

 

[6518John]

Von--a company that tends to fly below radar but makes really great ammo at excellent prices is Underwood. We are a huge fan of this round below (plus all Underwood offerings), and it sounds like the round for which you are looking. It's 1500 fps in 3 inch I believe, 1700 in 6 inch according to company. Flash-suppressed powder. It is sweet in our Highway Patrolman (4 in. first 10,000) and other N-framed .357's. I would not shoot in anything but an N frame, but that is just me. I guarantee you will not mistake it for .38 target loads.

P.S. Read the reviews in the link. Once in the history of the Internet, everyone agrees!

https://www.underwoodammo.com/357-magnum-125-grain-xtp-jacketed-hollow-point/

 

[6518John]

I'd carry something heavy for caliber, not so much high fps but a heavy bullet like the buffalo bore 180 grain hard cast if you want to stop a bad guy.

That will stop the bad guy AND the horse/black bear/car he rode in on!

 

[Vonkendell]

Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experience
Will start with heavy buffalo bore and try most of the others
Till I get for me the best balance of power control and flash
I carry in a ken null shoulder holster. Conceals quite well
This is a great handgun for today's times
Thanks again for all of your help

Von

 

[Laketime]

I haven't used a .357 magnum in three decades.But from what I understand the flash on most of the full power 125 gr HP has been toned down a lot form the original flame throwers they use to be.If this is true,I would use this proven stopper.

 

[keithherrington]

Von,

Pick one. I like the R-P 125gr Golden Saber in both the Magnum (1200 fps)

Agree completely. Tried most of the mid-range 357 loads and this is the best by far in my Model 28, as well as all my other S&W 357 magnums. Here is what it does hand held from a bench at 50 yards.



Keith

 

[Stirling]

The 125 grain option is a no brainer. It works and the newer loads have flash suppressed powders. I still have some old 110 grain and 145 grain (Silvertip) Winchester and 158 grain Federal HydraShok ammo I like.

 

[mikeruns]

As Stirling mentioned above, the Wnichester 145 grain silvertip.....less muzzle blast, still stepping about 1200 fps and a pleasure to shoot....and a proven stopper for sure.

 

[Warren Sear]

... If I am carrying for "street carry" I use .38specials. I have Few different kinds, but I use 158 grain FMJs.

Is that a typo, or are you really using FMJ ammo for defensive purposes?

 

[Lufbery]

Von,

I'm going through the same thing, but with the opposite end of the spectrum -- my 17 oz. .357 Ruger LCR.

So far, I've tried:

-- CCI Blazer aluminum-cased 158 gr. hollow points
-- Remington 110 gr. SJHP
-- Hornady Critical Defense 125 gr JHP
-- American Eagle 158 gr. SJSP (soft point)

Youtube videos of gel tests are available for most of these -- from both snubbies and regular length barrels.

The Blazer 158 is very mild to shoot, but also very underpowered. It doesn't seem to perform well in tests.

The 110 grain stuff is very controllable in rapid fire from the lightweight snubby. It was accurate too. There was some flash when I was shooting it in a somewhat dark indoor range, but it wasn't too bad. On the other hand, gel tests seem to indicate that penetration can be shallow at less than 10 inches. It expands well, and fragments, though, even through denim.

The Hornday round has little flash and is still controllable in rapid fire, but my rapid fire is less rapid than with the 110 gr. Remingtons. It's also more expensive. The gel tests are extraordinary, even from snubbies. This is my carry load. I think that a 4-in N-frame would handle it very nicely.

The 158 SJSP is controllable in the sense that my hands don't come apart and my grip is stable, but rapid fire is impossible for me with the Ruger LCR. I can do 15 to 20 rounds in a single session before my hand is too tender and swollen to continue. It's freakishly accurate, though.

The photo below is five shots of the American Eagle stuff at 7 yards:

Regards,
-Drew

 

[19leben]

Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experience
Will start with heavy buffalo bore and try most of the others
Till I get for me the best balance of power control and flash
I carry in a ken null shoulder holster. Conceals quite well
This is a great handgun for today's times
Thanks again for all of your help

Von

Von I applaud your concealed carry choice. And in a shoulder holster none the less!
Reminds me of Dirty Harry and his 6.5" 29 in shoulder holster.

 

[Vonkendell]

I'm 6 feet 200 pounds. I use a Ken Null shoulder holster
Great rig. Mostly white plastic material. Very secure and very conceable. Very interesting design

Hope all had a great Independence Day

 

[Black Knight]

I carried a 4" 28-2 as an armed security officer for a few years before I got my 686-1. I carried 158 gr. LSWHP 38 Spec +P. Now a days I carry 125 gr. SJHP 357 Magnum in it. Right now I carry it in an old S&W field holster. With a 5.11 vest it conceals very well.

 

[Mark6005]

I don't load 357 in anything that might be used inside. Something I came across not long ago was Geco ammo 158 gr in 38 jhp. I hear they are loaded similar to plus p. I've shot some seems clean and dependably. Understand they are a German brand. A good price from S.G. I'll by more, also bought Some fmj that was good too. I have most of the above mentioned but always willing to try something different

 

[American1776]

My 4 inch .357 magnum stays loaded with Underwood 125 gr. JHP rated at 1700 ft/s (from a 5 inch barrel). From the 4 inch barrel it probably does an honest 1600 ft/s. While it's very loud, the muzzle flash is NOT bad at all, since Underwood uses a remarkably low flash powder that still gets tremendous velocity.

Indianapolis police back in the 70's or 80's reported 10 shootings with the 125 gr. sjhp @ 1450 ft/s, with 10 one shot stops. Some of these were not fatal, some were not even torso hits, but all were described as the 'lightening bolt' effect of sudden collapse of the offender. This was from Massad Ayoob's own reporting.

 

[Mark6005]

I'll have to search for some Underwood. you have me curious about it. Who handles it?

 

[Muss Muggins]

Mine is currently loaded with Winchester .357 Magnum Black Talons . . .

 

[American1776]

I'll have to search for some Underwood. you have me curious about it. Who handles it?

I buy directly from them. Just google search 'Underwood Ammo', you'll see their site.

They really are the real deal (and no, I don't work for them). If you look at their ballistic numbers, they pretty much mimic Buffalo Bore's hot ammo, but at MUCH LOWER COSTS. I can say that their .41 magnum 210 gr. JHP's are every bit as hot as Remington's 210 gr. JSP. Their 340 gr. +p+ 44 magnum stuff is INSANE!.

And, like I said, their .357 magnum 125 gr. @ 1700 ft/s is what I keep in my .357 revolver. After practicing with it on the range, I have no doubt it is the closest one can get to Zeus' Thunderbolt in a handgun.

 

[Tom_R]

Is that a typo, or are you really using FMJ ammo for defensive purposes?

Sure was, I meant JHPs. Long day yesterday.

Typically I put .38spcl defense ammo, Hornaday, when I "Street Carry" my 686.

When I need a Trail Gun Load, I use Buffalo Bore 200 grain hard cast bullets. There are Black Bears out there now, where I am. We never had them, but we do now.

 

[Old Corp]

Just gonna throw this in the mix because I've been so impressed with it...
look at Barnes ammo offering of .357 with the 140 gr. 'Vortex' all-copper HP.
In trying it in one K frame and 2 different N frames, as well as a Rossi carbine, it proved to be very accurate. Also, took a buck with the carbine with this round this past Fall, 50 yeards, DRT.

This one, and the hard-to-find Win. 145 gr. STHP are my go-to 'carry everywhere' .357 rounds.

 

[hamourkiller]

For my circumstances, living more in the country and needing something for occasional pig or two, I like the 158 gr Jacketed Softnose Win. or Remington. I need penetration more than rapid expansion.

Truth be known, any full power .357 mag is a good self defense load. So pick one you shoot well and carry with confidence.