Best ammo for Ruger SP101 3" Barrel.....?

[trooper357]

What is the best ammo for a Ruger SP101 3" barrel. I will be using the gun for protection while hiking and fishing in the Sierra's. Also, I have some 40 year old 357 mag ammo that was stored in a 50 round plastic Federal box that it came in. Is it safe as no moisture or any sign of corrosion. Or get rid of it? Thanks!!!

[rromeo]

If the ammo was stored normally, and looks good, it's probably fine.
Opinions are split on whether 3" is a short barrel. In my 3" M65, I carry Speer 158 gr Gold Dot.

[trooper357]

If the ammo was stored normally, and looks good, it's probably fine.
Opinions are split on whether 3" is a short barrel. In my 3" M65, I carry Speer 158 gr Gold Dot.

Is that good enough for protection against mountain lions or brown bears?

[trooper357]

What about Remington Golden Saber 125gr. ? I read some reviews for a .357 small Ruger SP101 3" barrel it's really good with a velocity of 1200fps.

[rromeo]

After rethinking what you're using this for, .357 is marginal for either black bears or mountain lions, but I'd rather have a bigger bullet. A 180 gr would even be better, and not a hollowpoint. Bears aren't built like people, they have thick skin and you need a bullet that penetrates. Hardcast or jacketed soft point.
Look at Buffalo Bore.

[trooper357]

After rethinking what you're using this for, .357 is marginal for either black bears or mountain lions, but I'd rather have a bigger bullet. A 180 gr would even be better, and not a hollowpoint. Bears aren't built like people, they have thick skin and you need a bullet that penetrates. Hardcast or jacketed soft point.
Look at Buffalo Bore.

Yes, I was thinking the same thing but read the velocity and recoil of the higher gr makes it more difficult to get shots off in case you don't knock him down. But I agree that hardcast broad front meplat would be better for a bear. I didn't realize the Remington Gold Saber was a hollow point.

[MIAMIbaseballer]

Buffalo Bore 180 LFN

[wtkaiser]

A mountain lion is thin-skinned and bones aren't that massive, and can reliably (by whose definition?) be taken with much less gun than a .357, assuming he is treed. BUT I have to say that this is just what I have read in a few sources, not personal experience. I believe Bob Milek wrote that a .22 magnum would reliably take a treed lion. The trouble is getting them up there in the first place!

[Bill Steele]

I have hiked, camped, hunted and fished in the Sierra's for more decades that I care to think about. The only predator that ever caused me to be glad I had a gun or wish I had one were the two legged kind. The .357 with the ammo you already have will work fine for those kind.