Recommend a 357 SD load?

[Exodus343]

Not sure where to start, do I want 125 or 158 grain?

JHP, SP, or some unique blend like HST or Gold Dots?

out of a 6" barrel if anyone is wondering

but will also acquire a 4" in the future

[hylander]

I prefer a 158 GD bullet or XTP
Right now I loading 125Jsp
Loading them on top of Power Pistol

[Pablo5959]

I use 9.5gn of blue dot with 158 RNFP, this may not be the best powder but it's what I have the most of.
For target, not planning on using it for self defense unless needed.
There are hundreds of combos for .357.
For lighter bullets, go faster powder.
I hope this is what you where looking for in your question.
It was a little vague.
Pablo

[Dano3467]

Gold dot an call it good...

[Exodus343]

Let me clarify, I'm look like for factory SD ammo blends
I do plan on loading 125 jhp for practice but I'll be using factory ammo when the gun is at home

[CAL.BAR]

I would use commercial loads for SD and leave the home brew for the range.

BTW - for target I use 14g. H110 under a 158gn bullet.

[Carcassonne]

Not sure where to start, do I want 125 or 158 grain?

JHP, SP, or some unique blend like HST or Gold Dots?

out of a 6" barrel if anyone is wondering

but will also acquire a 4" in the future

The 125 would be flatter shooting for longer range. The 158 would be better against bears (IMO). It doesn't really matter what you use. Both will be more than enough against a human assailant. I would figure the 125 would do more tissue damage because it is traveling at a higher velocity, and the 158 would penetrate deeper.

It doesn't matter too much which brand of bullet you get since most are out-of-stock anyways. Find the ones that are in stock, and have load data available for the powder you have. Once you have a list, choose from those.


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[Divernhunter]

125gr HP and H-110 powder. I have Hornady XTP and in my pistol at home I use the old reliable Rem 125gr semi-jacket HP.

[ireload]

Any 125 grain bullet weight will do. Keep in mind that 158 grain is going to penatrate more. Also keep in mind that discharging a 357 mag load inside a room is deafening to say the least.

[3RDGEARGRNDRR]

The 125 would be flatter shooting for longer range. The 158 would be better against bears (IMO).


.

good luck against bears, but there is a 180 grain hard cast availabl

Out of a 4 or 6", get heavier, and something that will expand well,
out of a snub, a 125g would have the velocity to expand.
I assume SD would be within 10 ft

EDIT: can I suggest a heavy 38 for a better follow up? and with the California system of demonizing gun owners, maybe factory is best

[bsumoba]

158gr XTP or GD and 17gr H110 out of a 4" 686SSR.

deadly accurate and running about 1200 fps. not a hot load by any means, but my wife will take a man sized target down if it gets anywhere near 10 yards from her and put multiple rounds in a couple seconds

oh yea...our SD rounds are factory ammo (dont know which mfg off the top of my head). the rounds listed above mimic the SD rounds though in type of bullet, and velocity for training purposes.

I suggest this to everyone...buy the SD ammo you want to use, then chrono it, buy the exact bullet you're shooting out of your SD ammo, then "try" to reload and mimic the round in both recoil and velocity.

[maxx03]

158 Gr XTP 13.4 Gr W296.

[nothing4u]

Whatever bullet you decide to use you need to use a low flash powder. Power pistol isn't one of them.

[Exodus343]

Any 125 grain bullet weight will do. Keep in mind that 158 grain is going to penatrate more. Also keep in mind that discharging a 357 mag load inside a room is deafening to say the least.

Oh yeah....
Guess I'll stick to the 45 and 40 for HD?

I would like to stock some 357 SD ammo though, never know if there will be another riot in LA

[rg1]

Back in the day when a lot of police carried .357 magnums, the preferred load for most was with 125 gr. jacketed hollow points and all data collected said the 125 gr. loads produced 97% or better one shot stops on criminals in gun battles. Better results than any other caliber or bullet weight by several percentage points. Most carried 4" barreled S&W's or Colts. I'd think the 158 gr. bullets would over penetrate for self defense from 2 legged varmints. The only negative was recoil and getting back on target after the 1st shot plus the 6 round limit.