What do you put in your Magnums? Magnums? Something less? Or Both?
- Thread starter Doug.38PR
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bearman49709
Member
My 66 gets 75% .38s 25% .357mag, my 629-1 gets 100% mags, I've never shot a .44spl in my life.
Chrisj357
Member
Magnums in the magnums
I guess Im weird (maybe not that weird) but part of the enjoyment for me is the recoil. I was in the USAF way back when we shot the model 15 (.38) ball ammo only. Not fun at all. I bought a model 19-3 which I usually took to the AF range and did my qual shooting with it, no one ever knew unless I told them. Todays .357 factory loads are so lame (or else Im just used to them) that anything less of a boom than that and I wouldnt even bother.
My model 19 has seen many boxes of 125gr 110gr 158gr and some hot hand loads. Ive had it for 30 years. Its still a nice gun, no forcing cone issues but I dont carry it any longer.....got a 686 for that and it has a steady diet of factory magnum loads too.
My .500 has never shot a .500 special and I think being used to the .500 magnum is why I cant feel the .357 recoil anymore. my 686 shoots like a .22 as far as felt recoil (to me)
I guess Im weird (maybe not that weird) but part of the enjoyment for me is the recoil. I was in the USAF way back when we shot the model 15 (.38) ball ammo only. Not fun at all. I bought a model 19-3 which I usually took to the AF range and did my qual shooting with it, no one ever knew unless I told them. Todays .357 factory loads are so lame (or else Im just used to them) that anything less of a boom than that and I wouldnt even bother.
My model 19 has seen many boxes of 125gr 110gr 158gr and some hot hand loads. Ive had it for 30 years. Its still a nice gun, no forcing cone issues but I dont carry it any longer.....got a 686 for that and it has a steady diet of factory magnum loads too.
My .500 has never shot a .500 special and I think being used to the .500 magnum is why I cant feel the .357 recoil anymore. my 686 shoots like a .22 as far as felt recoil (to me)
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BearBio
Member
Varies with gun:
Mostly 357s in the 357s. Wife shoots 38s in hers (for cowboy action). Exception: 38+P in my Model 19 snubby.
44 mags have always bothered me for some reason. Usually shoot 44 spls but I also have more 44 spl guns than magnums. For full power, I'll shoot my 454. In 45 Colt: about even between light loads in my cowboy guns, 45 MAGNUM in my Rugers.
Mostly 357s in the 357s. Wife shoots 38s in hers (for cowboy action). Exception: 38+P in my Model 19 snubby.
44 mags have always bothered me for some reason. Usually shoot 44 spls but I also have more 44 spl guns than magnums. For full power, I'll shoot my 454. In 45 Colt: about even between light loads in my cowboy guns, 45 MAGNUM in my Rugers.
BenR
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I'm in the same boat.
I love shooting full-house .357 Magnum. I even picked up a .357 Magnum barrel for my Bond Arms Century 2000. It provides a very fun experience.
ROTFLMTEO!!! You mean nobody noticed the BOOM BOOM of a magnum among all the little bang bangs of the .38 ball ammo?
Like this: Police Academy - Gun Play - YouTube Sorry, your story just reminded me instantly of this scene.
My first Magnum was a 6" Model 28. That was back in about 1978. I used it as a concealed carry gun and loaded it with Speer .357 140 grain JHP factory loads. I subscribed to the theory that a single torso hit from a .357 would stop the fight consistently. I've owned other .357s and a couple of .41 Magnums along the way.
Over the years I've come to see all handgun cartridges as having only marginal power. I now see a greater need for getting good multiple hits on vital areas(brain, spine, heart, lungs, etc) of the threat quickly while shooting two-hand, strong hand only, or weak hand only, with a load that penetrates deeply enough and expands consistently. My anticipated targets are wild dogs and 2-legged predators, so I don't worry about dealing with bears or other larger animals.
I only have one Magnum now, a .357 (649-5), and I load it with CorBon .38 +P 110 grain DPX. I prefer .38 +P as a fighting load because of its lower blast and flash, and faster shot to shot recovery, relative to .357 loads. I also use the same load in my 642-2s. I can't remember the last time I fired any .357 loads or even had any onhand; it's been a decade or more. I typically train with various +P .38 FMJ/TMJ loads.
Specifically i choose .38 +P loads that provide sufficient penetration and reliable expansion in ballistic gelatin, according to FBI and IWBA standards. As far as I know, in 2" barrels, only the aforementioned CorBon load, some lots of Speer's 135 gr Short Barrel Gold Dot, Hornady's Critical Defense loads in std pressure and +P, and Winchester's 130 gr +P bonded load meet these requirements consistently.
I don't see the somewhat greater terminal ballistic effects of a .357 load as being worth the greater blast, flash, and recovery time between shots. It is a tradeoff, and other folks will arrive at different conclusions from me.
Over the years I've come to see all handgun cartridges as having only marginal power. I now see a greater need for getting good multiple hits on vital areas(brain, spine, heart, lungs, etc) of the threat quickly while shooting two-hand, strong hand only, or weak hand only, with a load that penetrates deeply enough and expands consistently. My anticipated targets are wild dogs and 2-legged predators, so I don't worry about dealing with bears or other larger animals.
I only have one Magnum now, a .357 (649-5), and I load it with CorBon .38 +P 110 grain DPX. I prefer .38 +P as a fighting load because of its lower blast and flash, and faster shot to shot recovery, relative to .357 loads. I also use the same load in my 642-2s. I can't remember the last time I fired any .357 loads or even had any onhand; it's been a decade or more. I typically train with various +P .38 FMJ/TMJ loads.
Specifically i choose .38 +P loads that provide sufficient penetration and reliable expansion in ballistic gelatin, according to FBI and IWBA standards. As far as I know, in 2" barrels, only the aforementioned CorBon load, some lots of Speer's 135 gr Short Barrel Gold Dot, Hornady's Critical Defense loads in std pressure and +P, and Winchester's 130 gr +P bonded load meet these requirements consistently.
I don't see the somewhat greater terminal ballistic effects of a .357 load as being worth the greater blast, flash, and recovery time between shots. It is a tradeoff, and other folks will arrive at different conclusions from me.
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Joe in SC
US Veteran
I have a smattering of magnums in 357, 41 and 44. I shoot almost exclusively home cast lead bullets of the Keith pattern, both SWC and SWC hollowpoint. When an afternoon of fun shooting is on the agenda, I sometimes shoot 38 specials with a 148 grain wadcutter in the 357. 2.7 to 3 grains of BullsEye pushes it. Every now and again I will load 500 or so rounds on the Dillon using 357 brass and the 148 WC. Still use BullsEye but just a few more grains/tenths to make up for the larger case volumn.
I don't shoot a lot of factory stuff, there's just no reason to spend the extra bucks. I don't shoot a lot of full house 44 magnums anymore either unless I'm carrying the pistol hunting. The 41 goes hunting more than the 44.
I don't shoot a lot of factory stuff, there's just no reason to spend the extra bucks. I don't shoot a lot of full house 44 magnums anymore either unless I'm carrying the pistol hunting. The 41 goes hunting more than the 44.
Pointblank2U
US Veteran
I use Magnums in my K-frames, but the only the medium-powered loads like the Golden Saber and Corbon DPX.
Rogue686
Member
I shoot both through my Model 66 K-frame....too worried about damaging a gun not produced anymore with hot .357 loads. However, our mid-range reloads are shot often through it.
For my 686 no dash, I only shoot .357 magnums through it. The L-frame was designed for that, so nothing but goes in it...though usually only reloads that are mid-range.
In my 60-9, I have put probably a whole box of .357 magnum reloads through it when I first got it, but mostly shoot .38s out of it and carry .357s in it. I am too wary of the small J-frame shooting dozens of cylinders of magnum loads...
Just my .02 FRN...
For my 686 no dash, I only shoot .357 magnums through it. The L-frame was designed for that, so nothing but goes in it...though usually only reloads that are mid-range.
In my 60-9, I have put probably a whole box of .357 magnum reloads through it when I first got it, but mostly shoot .38s out of it and carry .357s in it. I am too wary of the small J-frame shooting dozens of cylinders of magnum loads...
Just my .02 FRN...
I bought my 340 M&P with the intention of shooting magnums and I did shoot a few for practice (as I carried it with them) until I learned that there wasn't really a ballistic advantage over .38 +P's from such a short barrel. Now I practice with .38's mostly and +P's a little.
With my 329 PD I practice some with Buffalo Bore's low recoil magnum rounds as that is what I carry in the woods. The rest of the time it sees specials.
When I decide to get a "real" magnum one of these days instead of the lightweight versions I have it will probably see a lot more magnums.
With my 329 PD I practice some with Buffalo Bore's low recoil magnum rounds as that is what I carry in the woods. The rest of the time it sees specials.
When I decide to get a "real" magnum one of these days instead of the lightweight versions I have it will probably see a lot more magnums.
M3Stuart
Member
I shoot handloaded wimpy 158gr LSWC most of the time out of my (old) 10 and 36, and usually in my 64 as well - but carry something like 125gr +P SJHP for CC in all of those.
I shoot the same .38 rounds for practice in my 686 but also shoot some .357 out of it. Backwoods - its my 686 with .357.
For me it has more to do with cost than anything else.
I shoot the same .38 rounds for practice in my 686 but also shoot some .357 out of it. Backwoods - its my 686 with .357.
For me it has more to do with cost than anything else.
In my 19's and other carbon steel K-frame magnums I use Speer 158 grain for serious use and Winchester 357's and 38+P for practice or competition.
In my stainless K-frames like my 66 carry guns, I shoot 357's often. I have yet to see a shot loose 66, or one with a stretched frame, but its only been 39 years. Regards 18DAI
In my stainless K-frames like my 66 carry guns, I shoot 357's often. I have yet to see a shot loose 66, or one with a stretched frame, but its only been 39 years.
Regards 18DAI
Chrisj357
Member
ROTFLMTEO!!! You mean nobody noticed the BOOM BOOM of a magnum among all the little bang bangs of the .38 ball ammo?
Like this: Police Academy - Gun Play - YouTube Sorry, your story just reminded me instantly of this scene.
Whenever I took the model 19 to the base for qual....I used the normal AF ammo so it sounded just like everyone elses......but one time the range control officer (a friend of mine) asked me to load a .357 for the last round and see if anyone noticed...............oh YA they noticed.....lol
williamlayton
Member
I bought a 38/357 scadium for a matress gun.
It has 6- .357's thru it---and that is all. That snubby and .357's is more than I want.
It is 38's from now on--and--it aint a range gun.
Blessings
It has 6- .357's thru it---and that is all. That snubby and .357's is more than I want.
It is 38's from now on--and--it aint a range gun.
Blessings
Harrison
US Veteran
Standard velocity 38s in my Mdl 19, two 581s, 686 and Sp101. Shooting magnums unnessarily, just so you can say ya done it is asking for eventual degenerative arthritis of the hands and wrists. If there is a serious reason for shooting a magnum in a pistol I will. I keep several boxes around the house. I also shoot a lot of magnums (mid-range loads) in my two lever guns that are chambered for 357 magnum, simply because they feed better and don't leave a lead ring in the chamber.
team sidewinder
Member
Only factory ( Garrett Defenders ) magnum loads in my 44. I also didn't get a magnum to shoot 44 specials or download 44mag ammo for it. If I can't handle/enjoy shooting factory loads then I really don't need a magnum and will sell it. I might add the Garrett Defenders are pretty mild as far as 44 mag recoil goes and won't hurt the S&W 629.
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