I had the opportunity to buy a real nice pre-lock 686 with 4" barrel and so I did. At the range, I shoot both .38 Special +P and .357. Then I started to think about home defense. I've read so much about the danger of hearing loss from shooting a .357 indoors, how it's too much cartridge to use at home, and how a better choice would be a .38 Special +P like the 158 gr. LSWCHP - the FBI load. I have a problem with this way of thinking. If I must use my gun against a BG in my home, I want to stop him as quickly as possible, preferably with one shot. Why would I deny myself the undeniable stopping power of the .357 in favor of the less potent .38 Special +P (especially if I have a chance to throw my ear muffs on first!)? I own a .45 semi-auto too, but I like the reliability of the revolver. What good is owning a .357 if you don't use it for its intended purpose? Burning up ammo at the range? Plinking? What do you think?
Why not .357 for home defense
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Capt Steve
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Two words come to mind: Overkill and liability. That .357 that misses (and quite possibly one that doesn't), is going right through the wall and probably another. Hopefully not into a bedroom where a loved one or guest is sleeping or worse up on their feet to see whats going on. If you shoot someone center mass with a 38+P HP they are going down and if they don't go down fast enough, shoot them again (and again etc.).
Where you live obviously is a key factor in all this. Live in a crowded subdivision or worse an apartment/condo and you have big liability problems if a stray round gets away from you - whether it hits someone or not. If you are out in the sticks, no neighbors close by, load up the .357's but keep ear protection right next to the gun. Firing a .357 without it is a disaster waiting to happen (don't ask me how I know this). YMMV
Where you live obviously is a key factor in all this. Live in a crowded subdivision or worse an apartment/condo and you have big liability problems if a stray round gets away from you - whether it hits someone or not. If you are out in the sticks, no neighbors close by, load up the .357's but keep ear protection right next to the gun. Firing a .357 without it is a disaster waiting to happen (don't ask me how I know this). YMMV
redhawk444
Member
You can mitigate the over penetration problem by shooting 110 grain hollow point bullets at around 900 to 1000 fps, which is about what you would have with a 38 Sp.+P.
Certainly that is plenty for self defense.
As to the noise, one or two shots will not harm your hearing enough to worry about.....certainly not as much as getting your throat cut, or worse.
Certainly that is plenty for self defense.
As to the noise, one or two shots will not harm your hearing enough to worry about.....certainly not as much as getting your throat cut, or worse.
Wayne M - There you go! I like the Remington 125 gr. SJHP (R357M1).
Moonman
Member
One or two shots from a fullhouse 357 mag inside your home certainly WILL HARM your hearing. I'm sure some other forum members or experts will attest to that. I've only taught industrial safety classes at a major manufacturing company. Shoot 38 Special defensive ammo in your 357, practice with it until you can do head shots to shutdown the brain activity of the intruder. Pistols should usually only be thought of as a stop gap measure to allow you time to reach a shotgun. Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch fame says that in all his years of law enforcement "The most devastating wound that he personally witnessed was a trap/skeet load to the head across the length of a living room." Practice much and pray you never have to use those skills. Good luck with your choices.
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use the 357 mag.in the event of an intruder,the noise factor will not be a factor and the least of your concerns....at the range..yep...put on the ear protection...home defense...not a factor
38-44HD45
Absent Comrade
Just a couple of notes: First, with regard to concerns about penetration of building materials, either +P .38s or .357s will go through lots of layers of wallboard without stopping. Your best plan is to hit the torso of the home invader. I have actually had the opportunity to do some testing of various loads by shooting up an old house I was about to demolish. Most good self-defense JHPs in handgun loads will zip through at least 6-8 layers of sheetrock and keep on truckin', unless you hit a stud or a brick or stone exterior wall. Sheetrock is particularly good at plugging up a hollowpoint and making it act like ball. If you want to limit wall penetration, a .223 loaded with varmint bullets or a shotgun with #4 Buck or smaller shot will be much better. By the way, 00 Buck will also penetrate multiple layers of sheetrock, and the hottest .357 magnum 125gr. JHPs will likely penetrate less building materials than will a heavier, slower +P .38 bullet.
As to hearing concerns, I say, "Huh?" My ears have been ringing since my 15th birthday, when I got a .22 magnum revolver and shot a couple of cylinders full of magnums while standing next to a cinder block wall, without ear protection. Years of exposure to gunfire with inadequate ear protection, and to loud machinery with no hearing protection, have caused me to lose quite a bit of hearing. Nonetheless, concerns about my hearing are way down my list when it comes to choosing a self-defense load. Someone has commented that you can't hear if you're dead. Yep; as we say here in Texas, "There you go." My usual carry guns are 9x23s, which have the sound energy of a hot .357 mag. load, and the same ballistics. Best option if you are really concerned about hearing issues is to keep a set of electronic amplifying muffs next to the bed. If you have time to don them and turn them on, they will not only protect your hearing, but will amplify sounds made by an intruder.
As to hearing concerns, I say, "Huh?" My ears have been ringing since my 15th birthday, when I got a .22 magnum revolver and shot a couple of cylinders full of magnums while standing next to a cinder block wall, without ear protection. Years of exposure to gunfire with inadequate ear protection, and to loud machinery with no hearing protection, have caused me to lose quite a bit of hearing. Nonetheless, concerns about my hearing are way down my list when it comes to choosing a self-defense load. Someone has commented that you can't hear if you're dead. Yep; as we say here in Texas, "There you go." My usual carry guns are 9x23s, which have the sound energy of a hot .357 mag. load, and the same ballistics. Best option if you are really concerned about hearing issues is to keep a set of electronic amplifying muffs next to the bed. If you have time to don them and turn them on, they will not only protect your hearing, but will amplify sounds made by an intruder.
I agree.........If someone breaks in your home, threatening you and your loved ones, hearing loss would be the least of my concerns.
szuppo
US Veteran
blah blah blah........
Protect yourself with what you have and you'll be just fine with a .357 Magnum, better with a shotgun.
All this crap about wall penetration, hearing loss, night blindness...........and on and on and on.
Protect yourself with what you have and you'll be just fine with a .357 Magnum, better with a shotgun.
All this crap about wall penetration, hearing loss, night blindness...........and on and on and on.
I've thought about this for a long time and switched from .357s to 125 gr. .38 +Ps, Golden Sabers and Glasers. Plenty of punch for home defense. Less likely to cause collateral damage. Less noise. Faster followup shots. Overall a better choice, IMO, especially if one of the potential users might be your wife or daughter.
cshoff
Member
Nothing wrong with a .357 Magnum. In fact, my GP100 was my bedside gun for years, loaded with Winchester 110 Grn. JHP's with a couple of spare speedloaders close by. It just became easier for me to simply leave my carry gun out at the end of the day, instead of having to dig the GP100 back out of the safe before bed.
I wouldn't worry to much about the noise factor either. Auditory exclusion is a known and very common symptom experienced by people under the stress of a lethal force encounter. It's unlikely you will hear those gunshots at all. I know a couple of people who have had to fire their weapons in self defense in very confined areas; one in a house and the other in a vehicle, and neither of them remember ever hearing the shots. In addition, neither of them suffered any hearing problems after the fact.
I wouldn't worry to much about the noise factor either. Auditory exclusion is a known and very common symptom experienced by people under the stress of a lethal force encounter. It's unlikely you will hear those gunshots at all. I know a couple of people who have had to fire their weapons in self defense in very confined areas; one in a house and the other in a vehicle, and neither of them remember ever hearing the shots. In addition, neither of them suffered any hearing problems after the fact.
philmontscout
Member
One or two shots from a fullhouse 357 mag inside your home certainly WILL HARM your hearing. I'm sure some other forum members or experts will attest to that. I've only taught industrial safety classes at a major manufacturing company. Shoot 38 Special defensive ammo in your 357, practice with it until you can do head shots to shutdown the brain activity of the intruder. Pistols should usually only be thought of as a stop gap measure to allow you time to reach a shotgun. Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch fame says that in all his years of law enforcement "The most devastating wound that he personally witnessed was a trap/skeet load to the head across the length of a living room." Practice much and pray you never have to use those skills. Good luck with your choices.
So will two shots from a 39 spl, or a 32, or a 9mm or a 22, or whatever. Any fire arm discharged without hearing protection in any location impacts your hearing. That being said, defending yourself is first priority.
USAF385
US Veteran
Muzzle flash, hearing damage, over penetration (walls etc.), and slightly longer time between shots are the main drawbacks for .357 Mag in the house.
Don't forget, auditory exclusion means you may not "hear" it as much, but the damage to the ears is still there.
Don't forget, auditory exclusion means you may not "hear" it as much, but the damage to the ears is still there.
cshoff
Member
It can cause damage, but in most cases, a few shots won't cause long term damage. Besides that, the sound pressure levels from most any centerfire caliber in such a confined space is going to be well in excess of 120dB, so it's unlikely there will be much difference in potential hearing damage from a 9mm up to a 12 Ga. shotgun.
The guy I know who had to shoot from inside his vehicle fired a 9mm 3 times. He claimed that he didn't even have a ringing in his ears the next day. Said he couldn't remember the shot making any sound at all. Oddly enough, he remembered hearing the brass "clank" against the windshield and dashboard as the pistol cycled the last spent casing.
cmort666
Member
I have the Federal .38 Special 158gr. LSWC-HP +P "FBI" load in all of my .38s and .357s. I'm not concerned about stopping power or overpenetration.
Will Carry
Member
I would not want to shoot 38 special +P at a bad guy when I could be using the "King of one shot stops". If you can shoot .357 accurately and without flinching then go for it. I would suggest learning to shoot one handed and stick for other finger in your ear. That way you will still be able to hear out of one ear. Yes I am kidding. I use a 45acp for home defense. I do not worry about the noise or the flash. I just worry about getting the front site on target. Any gun that you would use for self defense, is going to be loud.
cmort666
Member
The "FBI" load has a good reputation for stops. I have more than enough confidence in it.
johngalt
Member
If you subject yourself to enough sound to ring your ears, you have done permanent damage. It may not be much, or you may not consider it to be significant, but it is there. Hearing damage is cumulative and permanent.
Like everyone else has said, in the heat of the moment you may not notice the sound. But that is irrelevant. Sound is pressure, and pressure does damage whether you notice it or not.
When I shoot my .45, I use ear plugs. When I shoot a .357, I use ear plugs plus muffs. There is a huge difference.
Like everyone else has said, in the heat of the moment you may not notice the sound. But that is irrelevant. Sound is pressure, and pressure does damage whether you notice it or not.
When I shoot my .45, I use ear plugs. When I shoot a .357, I use ear plugs plus muffs. There is a huge difference.
