Your favorite 158 gr. .357/.38 defense load?

[Hook686]

Interesting! I've never had that happen with any of my reloads. What kind of crimp are you using? I have a Lee Factory Crimp die in the last station on my Dillon 550. I put on a pretty healthy crimp because I've been loading for .357 lever guns.

I also use the Lee Factory Crimp Die. I put a tight roll crimp on each cartridge ... any tighter and the case buckles a bit. I must say that I have only experienced this in the 6th shot of my 686, but have experienced it in the 3rd shot in my M&P 340 using 6.8 grains of Unique.

I use MagTech 158 SJSP bullets.

 

[Chili Vega]

I use Winchester 158 grain JHP's because they are issued and seem to work just fine.

 

[38-44HD45]

.357: The hottest 125gr. JHP or SJHP I can find, usually Remington or Cor-Bon, in L-frames and bigger guns, and my Ruger SP-101 and old Speed Sixes and Security Six. In Ks and J-snubbies, one of the following: 135gr. Speer Short Barrel, 158gr. Gold Dot, or 125gr. Golden Saber.

.38: In snubbies, 148gr. Safe-Stop, 135gr.+P Speer Short Barrel, 158 gr. LSWCHP ("FBI load") or 147gr. +P+ Hydra-Shok.

Sorry; just noticed that you only asked about 158s:

In .357, about the only 158 I use is the Gold Dot load. In .38s, just the FBI load.

 

[Black_Sheep]

Remington .38 Special #R38S12 158 GR. LSCHP +P
Hornady .357 Magnum 158 GR, JHP

 

[Sportsterguy]

Speer Gold Dots in all my SDweapons. 158 grainers in my .357's.

 

[147_Grain]

Buffalo Bore 38 Special Short Barrel Snubnose:
** 158-gr. Standard Pressure Lead Semi-Wadcutter HP (20C) @ 854 fps in 2" barrel. Less recoil & similar velocity as Speer's 135-gr. Gold Dot @ 860 fps.

Buffalo Bore Short Barrel Low Flash 158-gr. FBI Load

* 150-gr. Standard Pressure Hardcast Wadcutter (20D) @ 868 fps in 2" barrel.

Buffalo Bore Short Barrel 150-gr. Hardcast Wadcutter

____________________


Buffalo Bore 38 Special +P 4" Barrel: Also see other +P loads with 158-gr. LSWCHP (FBI / Chicago Load)
** 158-gr. +P LSWCHP (20A) @ 1,162 fps in 4" barrel.
* 150-gr. Standard Pressure Hardcast Wadcutter (20D) @ 1,005 fps in 4" barrel. For barrier penetration & protection in the mountains.

 

[147_Grain]

357 Mag 4" Barrel

Federal - Self Defense:
** 140-gr. Barnes Expander (P357XB1)

Double Tap:
* 125-gr. Bonded Gold Dot HP (If Available)

Speer Gold Dot:
* 125-gr. Bonded Gold Dot HP (23920)

Buffalo Bore:
125-gr. Jacketed Montana Gold HP (19D) Use Gold Dot if it's available
158-gr. Jacketed Montana Gold HP (19C) Use Gold Dot if it's available
180-gr. Hardcast Lead Flat Nose (19A) For barrier penetration & protection in the mountains.

Winchester Supreme:
180-gr. Nosler Partition Gold (S357P) @ 1,180 fps For barrier penetration & protection in the mountains.

 

[Wayne M]

This is a shocker: I didn't know they still made factory ammo!

 

[Rule 303]

Something I want to consider is muzzel blast, flash and recoil.
If you can't see because you've been blinded its a slight problem. If you can't get back on the target for a second (or third/fourth/fifth) it could be a problem. If you can't hear for a couple of weeks, might be a slight problem. Take your chosen round out at night and see how it works for you. Sometimes if your luck you will have auditory shutdown.

Some good suggestions in this thread, good luck which ever way you go.

Rule 303

 

[moonshine44]

I'm leaning toward Hornady XTP at the moment, but I need to get some of that, some of the Gold Dot, and some of the Buffalo Bore to see how they group in my gun. Thanks for all the input, folks!

 

[oldguyknowslittle]

When we transitioned from .38spl 124grn to .357 ammo for the 19 for uniformed carry in the 80s, i went for the silvertips too, on the theory i might have to take a long shot and wanted the mass on target.

still use em on the 686, tho i have went to the 124 gr .357 for short barrel 5 shot guns