What is a good load for target and defense

[Marshall 357]

I have a S&W M66-1 with 2.5'' BBL anyone have loads they really like in .38spl and .357 Mag.?

 

[jrm53]

I will tell you what I saw one time; this guy had some reloads that he thought were great defense rounds what they were was hollow base wadcutters seated upside down powder put in the hollow and a primer on top of the powder and a little glue or epoxy to hold it in. I never saw him shoot any and dont think he did, I think they were for show only.

 

[mnhntr]

For 38 I like 4.6gr of tightgroup, a 140gr sierra JHC, and WSP primer, loaded in Remington +p brass.
For 357 use 6.5gr of tightgroup, 140gr sierra JHC, and a WMSP primer, in Remington brass.
I use these for SD loads
For target loads I use 158gr LSWC and the powder measurement is 3.7gr in 38 and 4.5gr in 357 with same brass and primers.
You could use the LSWC for defense also but I like the JHC.

 

[Steve C]

For +P .38 spl my favorite loads are 6.0grs of Unique behind a 125gr JHP (1,058 fps from a 4").

5.2grs of Unique, 3.8grs of Tightgroup or 4.7grs of W231 behind the Speer 158gr LSWCHP duplicates Winchesters 158gr LSWCHP "FBI" factory load at around 890 fps from a 4".

For the .357 mag a load of 14.0grs of 2400 behind a 158gr JHP duplicates factory ammo at 1,242 fps from a 4" revolver, probably only 1,100 fps or a bit more from a 2.5".

I really prefer a load of Blue Dot behind a 125gr JHP but Alliant doesn't recommend the use of recent production Blue Dot with the 125gr bullet in the .357 mag right now. If you have older powder than say 5 years then there shouldn't be any problems.

 

[Skip Sackett]

I don't carry a revolver anymore for first line SD carry. Just one reason, most of the gang-bangers in our area have a semi of some type with more than 6 for capacity. I don't want to be under-gunned at any point. I do have a "truck" gun, a M60 -13, 3" bbl, that has "THE LOAD" in it though.

That is a 158gr + LSWC doing over 1000fps from that firearm. There are many other ways to get this performance AND stay within published data. There are some VV loads that are supposed to be inside SAAMI pressure standards and give this performance. I haven't used them though.

Plenty enough power for a BUG in my opinion.

My SD rounds nowadays are either 9mm, 147gr bullet of choice, going 1000fps from my Sig P226 or a 180gr bullet going the same speed from my Glock 22 RTF.

Nice having all of those rounds if you need them, hopefully I never will.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

My 2 favorite .38 Special target loads are:
148gr DEWC over 3.2gr W231
158gr LSWC over 4.0gr W231

A few fairly light .357 Magnum rounds I like are:
158gr Hard Cast LSWC over 5.2gr W231
158gr Hard Cast LSWC over 7.2gr HS-6

For middle-hot .357 Magnum rounds I like this load a lot. It's very accurate, not too hot but you still know you're shooting a .357 Magnum round.
158gr SJSP/SJHP bullet over 14.0gr 2400

There are hotter loads I build but they really aren't for the range.

For a woods carry .357 Magnum round I like a 158gr Hornady XTP bullet over 17.0gr Lil'Gun.

For a heavier load I like 15.0gr Lil'Gun under a 180gr WFNGC Cast Performance bullet. Cost Performance bullets are also used in Grizzly Ammo. (same company) That same charge can be used under a 180gr Hornady XTP bullet. These loads might be a bit too much to handle easily from a 2.5" K frame revolver so be careful.

**CAUTION** Mistakes in posting charge numbers can and will happen. Always check the data for yourself.

 

[canoe on the yukon]

Light plinking & paper punching...

38 special brass
5.3 gr of Unique
158gr cast SWC
standard small pistol primer

Business carry......

357 mag brass
21.0 gr of W296
Speer 125 gr JHP
magnum small pistol primer

This second load is either a little under or a little over max,depending on your manual source.I've been using it for years.Hodgdon shows 22 grains.