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Ammo Recommendations for my new .357?

14K views 22 replies 19 participants last post by  javadog 
#1 ·
I just acquired my first handgun, a Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum Revolver (Pro Series). I have always been a long gun man so this is a big step in my gun owning career! I am wondering if anyone can recommend what ammo I should use? There was a lot to pick from at the gun shop and I didn’t know what would be the best.

Thanks
Ryan
 
#2 ·
target/range or self defense? no real reason to stay away from any commercial ammo - your gun will eat it all..

I personally like the hornady branded defense ammo - I have a case of their 125 gr hollow point xtp, shoot it in my 19 snub and couple of other 357s.

for target I like to use fmj - 158 grain if I can find it, but mostly anything goes..

no real reason to run lead round nose or even jacketed soft points in a modern 357 unless you are reloading or hunting.. although it will certainly digest them..

you can also run 38 +P in it if you want a bit less of a thump, I run that in the smaller frames..
 
#4 ·
Which Pro series 357 did you get? They make 2 different 686 models as well as a model 60, 640 and 627, all in the Pro series. Which gun you have could influence which ammo you select. The 60 and 640 are 23oz J-frames which will have significant recoil with full house loads and the 627 is a 41oz N-frame which would be quite pleasant to shoot even with some fairly hot ammo. What would be the purpose of the ammo? I wouldn't spend the money on self defense ammo to make holes in paper.
 
#10 ·
What ammunition you are going shoot and how much you will shoot is to a certain existent of how deep are your pockets or if you have the capability to reload. I use to consume substantial amounts of W296 and W231 in the reloading of 357Mag and 38Spl equivalent loads in my examples of the M19, M27, M28 and M66. I never really got into the L-frame series of revolvers.
 
#12 ·
Congratulations on the purchase of a great revolver! The .357 S&W Magnum is one of the preeminent handgun calibers. For plinking/target shooting... get some plain .38 Special loads. That's all you need for just zeroing and getting familiar with your revolver. For more serious pursuits ... like SD/HD, get some 125 gr. JHP's. They are the bomb! Plain and simple and outrageously effective on any target that walks or crawls. For the woods/fields maybe hunting medium game like deer/hogs, get some 158 gr. JHP's. On broadside shots, this load will give plenty of penetration. Unless you are shooting way out there, such a load should do fine for punching through to the vital areas. The JHP will open up and if fired within about 25 yds., will likely exit the off side of the animal. This will leave a good blood trail if the animal can still stand. You will need to be sure to do your best to get the best shot placement. This is the key hunting with any common handgun round as there just isn't a tremendous amount of shocking power most suitable handgun hunting rounds. I.e., common pistol/revolver rounds are not up to the power of even a basic rifle like the .30-30. You have to make sure to get a good hit and be ready for possible follow-up shots. JMHO. Sincerely. bruce.
 
#14 ·
Put me in Bruce's camp. Spend money on .38 Special target fodder and start practicing. You will find the handgun to be a more demanding skill set than a rifle. If you already reload some much the better, if not you will be considering it soon I hope. Initial shooting off the bench with .38 Specials should give you an idea of the guns capabilities, at least with that ammo. In my experience .357's tend to be a bit more particular about .357 ammo. I have had the best luck with 140 grain projectiles; sometimes you find they will particular sweet spot in charge weight.

Other than a .22 LR which would have been my first choice for an entry handgun, a .357 is the choice for a one-and-done handgunner. It is certainly the jack-of-all-trades. I have had my longest reigning .357 for 39 years and it has had everything from snake shot to 200 grain round nose through it. Good luck with your new friend.
 
#15 ·
For ease in cleaning, I would recommend jacketed ammo. The Russian ammo burns a good bit dirtier, too.
 
#16 ·
If you don't reload , START! A Dillon Square Deal B press is a great way to start.

You can reload plinking & practice .38 & .357 mag ammo for pennies compared to buying factory ammo. Especially using hardcast lead bullets. I'd say 95% of my pistol and revolver shooting is done with my own brand of ammo.
 
#17 ·
Try a variety of loads and find out what your particular revolver performs best with.
Personally, I prefer 125 gr. Rem. Golden Saber for personal defense and should penetration be a critical need then 158 gr. JSP.
Also, do not hang those long guns up as .357 mag. rifles and levers are out there. I like the carrying of a long gun and revolver having same caliber. No ammo worries. I like the 158 gr. JSP for long guns. There are also 180 gr. for the long guns.
Enjoy your new addition to your gun safe and holster.
God Bless.
 
#18 ·
Try different .357 ammo and 38 Special +P. I have one and am carrying it right now with Winchester 110 Gr PDX.

It is better to practice with 38 Special +P and less so with .357 Magnum.

It is a fine revolver with limitations with .357 Magnum ammo.

Despite the gun pundits, the .357 Magnum remains in a league of its own for self defense ammo.
 
#20 · (Edited)
Re: OP. Some further thoughts on what ammo to use? For range/practice just about any of the common 130 gr. FMJ factory loads will work well. They are not ideal to high level target work as a more specific load ... something like a 148 gr. wadcutter ... would be more useful. They will allow you to practice at a affordable cost and learn how to use your revolver. For home defense type work, load up with a good quality 125 gr. 38 Special load. The gurus of Youtube will object. Let them. If you have to use a handgun inside a house, you will not have the luxury of taking your time, getting things just right, good lighting, etc. You will have to go with what you have. A good S&W revolver loaded with a 125 gr. 38 Special load will do anything you need to do at across the room range ... and you'll be better able to use it. As you build familiarity and experience, you will find .357 S&W Magnum ammo to be lots of fun to shoot. If you want to use it for home defense ... the same 125 gr. bullet will in the magnum loads available prove just as effective for you as they always have proven when used by countless others to protect life and limb. In fact the 125 gr. JHP .357 S&W Magnum load is the standard against which all other calibers/loads are compared for one simple reason ... it's record of actual real world effectiveness. Out and about in the woods/fields, I have always preferred the traditional 158 gr. .357 Magnum load ... either w/ JHP's or a lead SWC bullet. Out to 25-30 yds., that load will nicely handle just about anything on two or four legs that I am likely to encounter in the woods. It also does superlative work when confronted with the challenge of busting water filled milk jugs, clay skeet targets, cans and of course when the need arises to knock the rust off of some discarded harrow blades! Sincerely. bruce.
 
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