.357 Magnum recommendations?

[Wayne Dobbs]

The Winchester 145 STHP has a long history of effectiveness and was one of the first .357 loads that had flash retardant powders, which was a welcome change back in the day. I've killed several Texas whitetails with it inside 50 yards from a 4" revolver.

[Alpha Sierra]

Hornady XTP is painful........which usually means good on the other side.

Ditto with this one:

[Hizzie]

Ditto with this one:

I still have a case of that. It's not so bad, even out of my SP101.

[TiroFijo]

I wonder why this load is not on the current list of premium LE loads by Federal...

http://le.atk.com/ammunition/federal...n/default.aspx

[BobM]

Yes. At 145 grains, it somewhat split the difference between the heavy-recoiling 158s and the blind-and-deafen-you 125s.

.

Good to know. I've got a few hundred rounds of the Silvertip.

[iveschris]

I happened in to a barely-shot S&W 28 last year and had some wonderful, if retro, .357 time. Federal loads a 180 JHP that proved accurate and not abusive (albeit out of the N frame). The 140gr Barnes loads were subjectively "hotter" (more buck and thunder out of a 4" barrel). The Black Hills (red box) 158gr JHPs make a great control load. Any time I see it, I buy it.
Hope this helps.

[Rich]

Remington has a core lock load.

I would look for bullets weighing no less than 140grs

I played with 180 to 200gr bullets even the Speer FMJ. shooting wood and steel

For Me and a 4 inch 686 or GP100 I would be fine with a 158 SWC HP or hard cast SWC 158gr for even more penetration.

[Rich]

The Winchester 145 STHP has a long history of effectiveness and was one of the first .357 loads that had flash retardant powders, which was a welcome change back in the day. I've killed several Texas whitetails with it inside 50 yards from a 4" revolver.

I found a box of it and the price tag says 22 dollars/

Ive killed a lot of IN WT deer with 3-4 and 6inch 357magnum.

The last was a nice 8 pointer . I shot it with my GP100 3inch that I carried AIWB. Bullet = 125gr SJHP 357magnun.

The deer was already limping with broken leg and shot it right in the heart about 5yrds away and it drop on the spot.

[El Cid]

What about something with the all copper Barnes X bullet?

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/968...ProductFinding

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/784...ProductFinding

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/116...ProductFinding

[Rich]

Barnes 140gr would be a good pick.

I wonder about Lever Action load that hornady makes it has a plastic insert. Should work fine in 357magnum L N frame / GP.

Plus the insert might help the bullet expand when passing layers of clothing