Vanity- Best 357 mag load for CCW

Myself | 4/16/2010 | Myself

[Roklok]

125 grain jacketed hollow point.

[kbennkc]

That was my favorite load for my model 19 Smith for many years with the same theory in mind and fun to shoot imho. I never noticed any ill effects . Now I am informed by some good people , who seem knowledgable on the S&W forum ,that load can be damage the forcing cone and to stick with the 158 grain . I think the concern is limited to the 19 , which although no longer made is still one of my favorites and if I find another I don't want to hurt its little throat .

[rsobin]

Concealed carry 357’s are usually 2 or 2.5 inch barrels. I would probably opt for a 110gr hollow points because a 125 grain or heavier bullet would not achieve the velocities the 357 is depended on to produce.

[mad_as_he$$]

My preference is semi wad cutters loaded backwards. They expand and dump all energy very quickly and are the size of a nickle after wards.

[PubliusMM]

Best round I’ve found for .357 CCW is 125gr JFP over 8.5 grains of Unique and touched off with a CCI550 SPM primer.

I’ve been carrying that load for several years, from back in the LEO days. In clean brass, with a moderate crimp, it’s a wonderful load in my DWesson, regardless of the barrel I have on it. Predictable, not harsh...just nice.

Same load in .38SPL, but drop the powder back to 6.7 grains, works pretty good, too.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I used to load 18.5 grains of 2400 behind a 110 grain jacketed hollow point. It will do the job!

[20yearvet]

Ask a police officer friend what round they use, and then use that one. If you ever have to use your gun for self defense you can always say “I used the round the police use because if they use it it must be safe.”

[garyhope]

I would like to know if there any statistics about what distance and circumstances most public “confrontations” take place.

Are there really Terminator type guys out there who can't be made to run away at the sight of a .38 or 9mm or stopped after being shot with a regular .38 or 9mm? Who are these guys?

How many people can keep on coming after being shot with a 9mm hollow point?

Maybe I'm a big sissy (or just reasonably intelligent), but personally I wouldn't even want to be shot with a .22. I'd run away if I could. How much “stopping power” do you really need?

Aren't most public robbery or assault confrontations within just a few feet or no more than 10 to 20 feet? Wouldn't a central mass shot with a .38 or 9mm be enough to convince almost anyone except Rambo or The Terminator to leave the premises?

Aren't the statistics about criminal behavior that most perps will flee when confronted with a gun? Anybody here ever actually been shot? Anybody here ever had to actually shoot someone? (You don't have to answer, I'm not trying to pry into personal business)

Please educate me. Thank you.

[lrb111]

yep, 158 gr. Hydra-Shoks. 4 inch S&W 686.
No such thing as Over kill.

[yarddog]

Just about any JHP would be OK but I have to agree with everyone else, a 125 gr. would be about perfect.

[MindBender26]

Get rid of the .357. Horrible weapon for self defense. Rounds, even hollow points, way over penetrate.

Light weight bullets are also bad.

Get a .40 or .45 from H&K or Glock. It’s a cheap investment to save your life.

[Victor]

"....I would like to know if there any statistics about what distance and circumstances most public “confrontations” take place......"

Your opening statement encapsulates my concern. I want the best round to use in close situations, a round that will stop and/or kill without possibly endangering bystanders.

My first round of choice was 158 gr hollow points, a huge bullet with a large charge that can go way beyond a short range target.

Hence my inquiry....

[Victor]

"...Get a .40 or .45 from H&K or Glock. It’s a cheap investment to save your life....."

Thanks. A 45 ACP is my next purchase, actually. I'm just wondering what to do with my 357.....

[edpc]

You're going to lose significant muzzle velocity and stopping power with shorter barreled weapons. I would spend the extra money and get the Glaser Safety rounds in .357 mag. If you're not familiar with them, they are loaded with #12 shot which deploys in a conical pattern on impact. They won't over penetrate and deliver excellent stopping power.

They offer a silver and blue model. Silver is better for cooler weather and heavier clothing. I carry the blue tips in .45ACP for my Kimber Ultra Carry II.

[DarthVader]

Keep it for target shooting and around the house self defense. I have the Glock 45 ACP too. Great gun with huge ammo capacity.

[Victor]

Great gun with huge ammo capacity.

How many rounds?

[2111USMC]

I'm just wondering what to do with my 357.

You could always donate it to 2111USMC. :)

(You really can't have too many guns. I'd keep it if I were you.)

[Chode]

Shock-em...

[sig226]

All of the quality hollow points have proven themselves in testing and in actual shootings. Gold Dot, Golden Saber, HydraShok, Cor-Bon, etc. are all good loads for self defense.

I caution you on two issues.

First, any bullet that is capable of killing a human being is capable of killing the person behind that human being. I am not a big advocate of frangible bullets. Test results don’t agree with the manufacturers’ claims. So don’t assume that your hollow points will ensure the safety of innocents.

Second, the biggest determining factor is barrel length. If you’re using a full sized gun with a four or six inch barrel, use the heavy loads. They’ll develop their full energy in these long barrels. Shorter barrels take away acceleration. Lighter bullets accelerate faster and will be closer to their published speeds when they leave the muzzle of a short barrel. If you have a gun with a two or three inch barrel, use the 125 grain bullets.

If your gun is full sized, use the heavier bullets. They are more powerful.

[DarthVader]

13 (magazine) + 1 (chamber) = 14. I have the Glock 21 Short Frame (SF) Model 21 Tactical Combat Pistol. It has night sights, ambidextrous magazine release, Mil Spec-1913 Picatinny Rail and high capacity magazines. Totally awesome:

http://www.officer.com/web/online/On-the-Street/Glock-21-SF/21$37241