Best defense ammo for Model 66 357 mag?

[nedro]

Hey guys,
I don't usually ask questions like this, but here goes.
My brother has an old S&W Model 66 6" 357 mag.
He asked me what the best defense ammo was for it.
Well, I don't have a 357 or a revolver, so I started looking and there were those who cautioned about too hot a load for the old model 66.
So at this point I'd rather leave it to our community who have experience in this model and the defense loads that work best.
Please make some recommendations and why, if you would.
Thanks.

[Lonestargrizzly]

Golden Sabre, always.

[kmas]

With a .357 round, any reliable manufacturer would work - save money, and don't bother with paying a premium for hollow points.

Now, if it was a 380ACP like my carry weapon, those who have not trained to respond reasonably accurately in a stressful situation may want to pay more for HPs.

[Barbarosa]

If you really want .357 any good round would work well. Personally I load mine with .38 special lead semi-wadcutters. Even at the range with double protection the .357 is LOUD!.

[nedro]

If you really want .357 any good round would work well. Personally I load mine with .38 special lead semi-wadcutters. Even at the range with double protection the .357 is LOUD!.

That is a good point and one I will share with by brother.
I'll be seeing him tomorrow.
But he asked for defense ammo in 357, so that's what I'm asking today.

[BABUSA]

Anything in a Speer Gold Dot HP...or a Federal HST HP

HP= hollow point

[WMG]

I have that gun but with a 4 inch tube.
When I am not shooting 158gr hardcast mag reloads or 38spl hardcast reloads ...... it's loaded with OLDER black hills 38spl plus p with the gold dot bullet , not the TXP bullet.
Once those run out , it'll be a factory 38 plus p gold dot load

[Sailormilan2]

Defense against what? For people I'd use a good quality 125 - 140 grn JHP. For larger 4 legged types I'd use 158 gr JSP. All in .357 Magnum.

['ol shooter]

Depends on what he can controllably shoot. The infamous 1970 Newhall CHP Massacre happened because the responding officers could not control their .357 Magnum revolvers. They had qualified with .38 Spl, then loaded them with high powered .357's. I have a 66 six inch and a 19 six inch also, and shoot 158 gr. handloads with Hornady XTP's, loaded to a bit more than middle of the chart power. Whatever he decides to shoot, he needs to practice with what he will carry. The killers had 1911's, and knew how to use them.

[Friesland]

"The infamous 1970 Newhall CHP Massacre happened because the responding officers could not control their .357 Magnum revolvers

Was this the case where the officer (officers) had not trained to re-load while being shot at?

[glockman19]

I shoot 130 grain Federal Hydra Shok out of my 4" 686+

[81Degrees]

They had qualified with .38 Spl, then loaded them with high powered .357's. The killers had 1911's, and knew how to use them.

How could this not have been predicted as a potential concern? The difference in recoil is obvious.

Reminds me of the north Hollywood bank shootout in 1997. The cops had to grab ARs from a local store just to match firepower.

['ol shooter]

"The infamous 1970 Newhall CHP Massacre happened because the responding officers could not control their .357 Magnum revolvers

Was this the case where the officer (officers) had not trained to re-load while being shot at?

No, they could not hit their targets because they could not control the recoil of the magnum round they were not used to shooting. They qualified using .38 Special. I heard the inside story from the then head Armorer of the CHP, while attending an L.E. Armorer's school at Lassen College back in 1982.

[Snapping Twig]

The number one SD ammo of any handgun caliber is 125g JHP 357 mag.

That said, they are typically hard on the forcing cone and top strap.

Personal opinion... I'm happy to shoot 160g SWC in either 357 or 38Spl. It will do the job just fine.

It's really about shot placement, to a lesser degree penetration and all else is angels dancing on the head of a pin.

[4DSJW]

Check here and here for some of the best and most recent info on SD ammo in many calibers.

For me personally, I use Speer Gold Dot 135g 38spl +P in my .357 mag revolvers in the house. The reasons, easier for my Sweetie to handle as well as a much lower muzzle flash. In .45 I use Federal HST 230g.