Best .357 Magnum ammo?

[BossHogg]

Ive been on a mission to find the best .357 mag ammo for the cost. Recoil is not a problem for me so I am basing it mostly on ballistics and some accuracy. It seems like the Wolf gold has the best numbers pushing a 158gr 1607 FPS (not sure what the muzzle energy is) Ive also tried the Fiocchi 148gr which is 1500fps and 720ftlbs. Both seem fairly accurate at 10 yards are under $18 box of 50. Any body found any better?

[awheelman357]

357 ammo

if you are looking hot stuff then i would recomend cor-bon. or go with some handloads.

[yellowsulphur]

I prefer Magtech 158 grain SJSP. Out of my 686 6" they push about 1350 fps. They are not loaded very hot, but make up for it in accuracy. I get them locally for around $16 a box of 50. After a little research I learned that Wolf uses a 7" barrel to get their test results while most other manufacturers use a 4" ported barrel. This could explain the higher than average velocity.

[BossHogg]

After a little research I learned that Wolf uses a 7" barrel to get their test results while most other manufacturers use a 4" ported barrel. This could explain the higher than average velocity.

I see .... yeah seems a little hard to believe a 158gr at 1607fps out 4"

[The Professional]

May I suggest Buffalo Bore ammunition?

Heavy .357 Magnum

"About Buffalo Bore 357 Mag. ammo

Our 357 mag. ammo adds more power than ever before to the 357 mag. This ammo is safe to shoot in ANY all steel 357 revolver—this includes J frames. This ammo is no harder on your gun than any other normal 357 ammo. Please don’t phone us and ask if this ammo is safe in your gun. It is, providing your gun is in safe condition for use with any normal 357 ammo.

We don’t recommend this ammo to be fired in super light alloy revolvers as bullets may jump crimp under recoil, but the ammo itself wont hurt these super light weight revolvers. These revolvers are simply so light that the recoil is severe enough to cause crimp jump.

The below velocities are offered so that you can see what guns/barrel lengths give what velocities with this new 357 mag. ammo. You’ll notice that new S&W revolvers with short barrels are often shooting faster than older S&W revolvers with longer barrels. The new S&W revolvers are very good and are made with equipment that makes them more consistent and faster than the S&W revolvers of yesteryear.

Make special note of the Marlin 1894, 18.5 inch barrel velocities. Item 19C/20, supercedes 30-30 energies!!!

1. 3 inch S&W J frame

a. Item 19A/20-180gr. Hard cast LFN = 1302 fps
b. Item 19B/20-170gr. JHC (jacketed hollow cavity) = 1299 fps
c. Item 19C/20-158gr. Speer Uni Core = 1398 fps
d. Item 19D/20-125gr. Speer Uni Core = 1476 fps

2. 4 inch S&W L frame Mt. Gun

a. Item 19A/20-180gr. Hard cast LFN = 1375 fps
b. Item 19B/20-170gr JHC = 1411 fps
c. Item 19C/20-158gr. Speer Uni Core = 1485 fps
d. Item 19D/20-125gr. Speer Uni Core = 1603 fps

3. 5 inch S&W model 27

a. Item 19A/20-180gr. Hard Cast =1398 fps
b. Item 19B/20-170gr. JHC = 1380 fps
c. Item 19C/20-158gr. Speer Uni Core = 1457 fps
d. Item 19D/20-125gr. Speer Uni Core = 1543 fps

4. 6 inch Ruger GP 100

a. Item 19D/20-125gr. Speer Uni Core = 1707 fps

5. 18.5 inch Marlin 1894

a. Item 19A/20-180gr. Hard Cast = 1851 fps
b. Item 19B/20-170gr. JHC = 1860 fps
c. Item 19C/20-158gr. Speer Uni Core = 2153 fps---- Can you believe this?!!!
d. Item 19D/20-125gr. Speer Uni Core = 2298 fps---- Or this?!!!"

[Budd]

Handloading pays off extremely quickly for the .357 magnum.

[-hanko]

Handloading pays off extremely quickly for the .357 magnum.

The original .357 load was around 1500fps with a 158gr bullet.

You need to take up reloading...Lil' Gun, H110, and 2400 are all good powders to take .357 to the edge. I'm a little past 1500 fps with lil' gun and 158 bullets out of a model 28 with a 4" barrel. I'm a little ahead of Buffalo using an IMI timberwolf carbine. Recoil is negligible.

-hanko

[Budd]

The original .357 load was around 1500fps with a 158gr bullet.

You need to take up reloading...Lil' Gun, H110, and 2400 are all good powders to take .357 to the edge. I'm a little past 1500 fps with lil' gun and 158 bullets out of a model 28 with a 4" barrel. I'm a little ahead of Buffalo using an IMI timberwolf carbine. Recoil is negligible.

-hanko

You should see how 'lil gun shines in a Marlin lever action. Over 1800 FPS under a 180 gr cast bullet. Better than a 30-30.

Handgun sees 6.8gr titegroup under a 125gr Golden Saber HP - or 125gr Speer unicor for indoor use.

[AJD]

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1209

The S&B 158gr. is in my subjective opinion, the hottest factory load I've fired out of my GP-100. It seems a little hotter than the Fiocchi loadings. Again, this is all subjective and I don't have any chrono data to back it up. Btw, at 11.99 a box that's the cheapest I've found factory new .357 mag ammo.

[veeklog]

Remington 110 grain .357 Mag JSP. It is a screamer of a round, and was the last .357 load my old agency used before they went to the .40cal 155 grain JSP.

[BossHogg]

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/ind...OD&ProdID=1209

The S&B 158gr. is in my subjective opinion, the hottest factory load I've fired out of my GP-100. It seems a little hotter than the Fiocchi loadings. Again, this is all subjective and I don't have any chrono data to back it up. Btw, at 11.99 a box that's the cheapest I've found factory new .357 mag ammo.

I picked some of those up today and could not use them at my local indoor because they attracted their magnet. It doesnt say anywhere that they are steel core.

[david_place_834]

Just for informational purposes, I keep my 686 4" loaded with 125 grain Golden Sabre for self defense. While I am not sure about the ballistics of this projectile. people have said that this is a mild loading for .357. Concussion indoors in a SD situation might still be a bitch, but I think it is perfect for its purposes.

My father, having the same gun, keeps his 686 loaded with 125 grain .38 Special +P Golden Sabre for SD. At one time he kept his loaded with 125 grain Silvertips (Ow! My ears!!), then he went to 145 grain Silvertips.

[AJD]

I picked some of those up today and could not use them at my local indoor because they attracted their magnet. It doesnt say anywhere that they are steel core.

Oh yeah, that's one thing I should have mentioned about them. They're not steel core, but they do have a bi-metal jacket that is magnetic, which is a no no at some ranges. For some reason S&B uses bi-metal jackets on their .38/.357 bullets. And as you said S&B doesn't put this anywhere on the box to advise you.