New handgun ammo

[HawkMan]

Whenever I get a new gun I tend to go to a store and buy a bunch of different brands, then buy bulk online after I find a good brand.

I purchased my first revolver, a .357 Magnum Smith & Wesson 686 Plus 4"
I'll be picking it up soon and need some advice.

What ammo brands should I try out when I get it? What's your go to .357 ammo brands for both the range and for defense?

[559BearDown]

I would say HST for defense but I don't think they make it in .357, so Gold Dot 125g. Anything for range use.

[D.A.V.I.D.]

I go Speer for every handgun round now. Been very happy with it, real clean and its not expensive.

[JS41989]

For 357 I use Speer Gold Dot. For 45 and 9 I go with HST.

[scamp62]

range work...home rolled for me
for HD , Hornady

[Socratic]

I used to own a 4" 586. I gave it to a friend. I even paid for shipping to his FFL. He was a very close friend who was deeply religious. Now he's in Heaven.

When I carried it for bipedal self-defense, it was always loaded with the FBI load. For wild critters such as black bear, I used 180 grain .357 Mag rounds.

[billped]

Range: go hot. I use Underwood. Big bodda boom.

[DNA]

For the range I like the magtechs and blazers... The magtechs are a little warmer and the blazers have awesome fireballs and SJSP to boot...

Dan

[HawkMan]

Range: go hot. I use Underwood. Big bodda boom.

What do you mean go hot? I heard a lot of people mention hot rounds in revolvers, what's that supposed to mean?

[teflondog]

What do you mean go hot? I heard a lot of people mention hot rounds in revolvers, what's that supposed to mean?

Hot ammo refers to loads with higher velocity. A lot of bulk ammo is loaded light. Ammo from Buffalo Bore and Underwood is loaded to the edge of the max pressure limit.