Good .357/.38 loads

[Sturnovik]

I finally rolled out my new model 66 and loved it! Very good gun, I wasnt as good of a shot with it as I am with my Sig p226, but I plan on shooting it more often. I was looking for some defense loads and saw some SB 158 lead loads. Anyone tried them? I shot some very hot .38 magtech +P's in it and it felt like absolutely nothing, I'm willing to use a really hot .38 P+ and/or mid level .357 rounds.

This thing is a tank but I dont feel like overdoing it with heavy loads. What do you guys recommend? My LEO buddies were actually recommend just using hot .38 loads since even the hottest one wont be abusive on it. Other than that, I can handle recoil.

[MongooseV8]

I really like shooting Hornady 125 grain XTP bullets with BlueDot powder. Makes for a wicked fast load with enormous power without all the heavy recoil some of the other loads create.

[Squidward]

I like Hornady Critical Defense.

[Sturnovik]

I didnt mind +P 124 grain magtechs, it was like a .22 in that kframe.

I'm wondering if its practical to go +P+. Checking the Hornady right now.

[Echidin]

For .38 spl +P, Corbon DPX 110 grain JHP

For .357 mag, Hornady Critical defense, Speer GD or Winchester PDX1 are my choices.

[pyromensch]

mdl 66 like a tank?
mdl 27/28 yes, but 66/19.

not knocking the gun itself, just the description

[Sturnovik]

mdl 66 like a tank?
mdl 27/28 yes, but 66/19.

not knocking the gun itself, just the description

Haha, this thing weighs more than my old Beretta! It sure as hell seems like a tank!

[Sturnovik]

For .38 spl +P, Corbon DPX 110 grain JHP

For .357 mag, Hornady Critical defense, Speer GD or Winchester PDX1 are my choices.

Wow I didnt think they even did much +P loads below 125 grain, you get good groupings with it? That corbon stuff is hot ammo, or so I hear.

Alot of people are telling me theres no reason to run hot .357 loads in it anyways since its only a 4 inch barrel. I should have mentioned that first so you guys knew!

[Fishslayer]

I didnt mind +P 124 grain magtechs, it was like a .22 in that kframe.

I'm wondering if its practical to go +P+. Checking the Hornady right now.

You can shoot any .38 Special made in an M66. .357 Magnum are roughly double the pressure of the .38.

I keep my M66 away from uber hot light bullet magnum loads. That's what L & N frames are for. By S&W standards, the K frame .357 is not a tank. When I shoot magnums out of it they are my own moderately warm 158gr Big Dogs.

[Echidin]

Alot of people are telling me theres no reason to run hot .357 loads in it anyways since its only a 4 inch barrel. I should have mentioned that first so you guys knew!

I'm not sure I understand, you were told not to shoot .357 loads because you have a 4" bbl? Shooting hot .357 loads in a K-frame like your model 66 runs the risk of causing the forcing cone to crack, you sure that wasn't the reason they were telling you no hot .357 loads?

[scarville]

I am a believer in heavier is better and I like the 158 gr loads for defense. I carry the Buffalo Bore "short barrel" 357 in my 686 (L-Frame) w/3" bbl. Chronograph says it does 1150 fps from my gun which puts it right at the edge of speed of sound. The stuff is way to expensive for practice but if you handload you can get pretty darned close using plated bullets.

The model 66 has a reputation for getting beat up by hot loads behind a light bullet. That is not entirely unearned. Most of those problems were metallurgical not inherent in the design but the short light bullets jumping from crimp to forcing cone do generate more stresses than the heavier longer bullets.

[Sturnovik]

I am a believer in heavier is better and I like the 158 gr loads for defense. I carry the Buffalo Bore "short barrel" 357 in my 686 (L-Frame) w/3" bbl. Chronograph says it does 1150 fps from my gun which puts it right at the edge of speed of sound. The stuff is way to expensive for practice but if you handload you can get pretty darned close using plated bullets.

The model 66 has a reputation for getting beat up by hot loads behind a light bullet. That is not entirely unearned. Most of those problems were metallurgical not inherent in the design but the short light bullets jumping from crimp to forcing cone do generate more stresses than the heavier longer bullets.

The guy I was talking to kept saying the round was developed using a larger barrel so by that token, he argued that I'm not going to get near the velocity advertised on the box, and might as well use something shorter, a hot .38 +P or +P+ round. I thought it was interesting.

I'm checking some of that hornady stuff out on ammotogo.

Although even if he as right, technically I could just do a lighter load like a 125 and get more velocity right? At this point I'm in different, its a big round, its going fast enough for me haha.

[Fishslayer]

The guy I was talking to kept saying the round was developed using a larger barrel so by that token, he argued that I'm not going to get near the velocity advertised on the box, and might as well use something shorter, a hot .38 +P or +P+ round. I thought it was interesting.

That's not why my M66 is loaded with +P around the house. Ever touched off a full house .357 magnum indoors?

FWIW I don't worship at the alter of raw MV numbers....

[Sturnovik]

That's not why my M66 is loaded with +P around the house. Ever touched off a full house .357 magnum indoors?

FWIW I don't worship at the alter of raw MV numbers....

Well I tried a box of some 158 grainers and had a few older 125, as far as recoil I didn't notice much, but the 125 grainers weren't boxed, it could have been anything. Yea I shot some full house loads a while back, I used a L frame though , you'd be correct sir.

[AaronC11]

Remington Golden Sabre's are a good mid powered .357 round. I like the Speer Gold Dot's but they are fairly warm. If you ever want hot try some Buffalo Bore.