.357 Magnum "Sweet Spot?"

[314159]

I think many feel that .38+P loads are still not quite there, particularly in 3 inch or less barrels. A lot feel that .357 loads are more recoil than they're worth, even in an all steel gun. What we need, perhaps, is a .357 -P load.
I submit for your consideration the Remington GS357MA 125 grain Golden Saber load. At 1220 fps and 413 ft-lbs it is not a hard recoiling monster, yet it is significantly better than any .38+P.
Golden Saber loads usually have at least a good reputation for performance. Does anyone have any more information on this iteration? Reputable testing results?
I shot some in a 4 inch 627 and it was very controllable indeed. I need to get back out with an L frame or a Nightguard N frame.

[41magfan]

I have no experience with that load but I just bought some. Remington has a promo deal going on right now with a $10 per box rebate (max of $100). I bought 250 rds at a net cost of less than $8 per 50 rounds.

[Chuck Haggard]

That loading was pretty much the original low recoil/mid range load for the .357mag, without being advertised as such.

[GJM]

That loading was pretty much the original low recoil/mid range load for the .357mag, without being advertised as such.

It is also essentially the same power factor as Gold Dot 124+P 9mm, which is advertised as 1,220 fps.

[TiroFijo]

I think the full power 357 mag loads are certainly difficult to shoot fast (think action/combat shooting), and punishing to shoot many rounds in a session with a relatively light revolver.
These mid range loads are much better in that regard.

My practice loads with the 357 mag are mostly 158-160 gr LSWC/FN bullets, loaded to about 1050-1100 fps in a 4" barrel with relatively low doses of medium burn rate powders. MUCH better than a 125 gr JHP @ 1450 fps, loaded with much larger doses of slow powders. They carry as much momentum at 25 m as the hot load, and drop steel targets nicely.

I think a .357" JHP bullet in the 147-158 gr range, designed to expand well above 1000 fps would be great for the 357 mag, it would be a ballistic clone or slightly better than the 9 mm 147 gr JHP combat loads that Doc likes so much.

[serialsolver]

I think the sweet spot for the 357 is what the old timers called the 38-44 heavy duty load. Those are the loads I like and use in the 357.


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[Wheeler]

I think the sweet spot for the 357 is what the old timers called the 38-44 heavy duty load. Those are the loads I like and use in the 357.


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The .38/44 is a sooped up .38 Special which is the predecessor to the .357 Magnum. What you're referring to is actually an N frame .44 Special that was chambered in .38 to handle the hot loads.

[Tom Duffy]

It is also essentially the same power factor as Gold Dot 124+P 9mm, which is advertised as 1,220 fps.

That's what I was thinking when I read the original post. I chronoed Speer 124 9mm +p out of my HK P30L at an average of 1235FPS for 420 foot pounds. I don't see the advantage of carrying a .357 revolver to duplicate a 9mm.

[Wheeler]

That's what I was thinking when I read the original post. I chronoed Speer 124 9mm +p out of my HK P30L at an average of 1235FPS for 420 foot pounds. I don't see the advantage of carrying a .357 revolver to duplicate a 9mm.

I can't either when there are .357 loads consistently more 'powerful' than 9mm.

[Chuck Haggard]

That's what I was thinking when I read the original post. I chronoed Speer 124 9mm +p out of my HK P30L at an average of 1235FPS for 420 foot pounds. I don't see the advantage of carrying a .357 revolver to duplicate a 9mm.

It's rather nice from a snubby, or if one wants to use a wheelgun for multiple uses and sometimes swaps to lower recoiling ammo, or the shooter doesn't handle recoil well, but otherwise I concur.