Your preferred .357 carry load for 4" guns?

[xcop]

Using my 2.5in 686+ the Gold Dot 135 mag averaged 1104 for 5 shots. Very mild and shot to the factory set sights at 15 yards. The only 4in I have is a 581 and for that I use Remington 158jhp

[deputyG23]

I chronographed some RA38B through a 4" .38 GP-100 and got an average of 940 fps. It would be interesting to see how it would behave in gel at that velocity. Took advantage of the 15/50 deal as well and bought four boxes.
Might try some of the .357 Gold Dot in my newly acquired 3" M65.

[eb07]

135gr speer gold dots or 158gr lswchp

[03RN]

I chronographed some RA38B through a 4" .38 GP-100 and got an average of 940 fps. It would be interesting to see how it would behave in gel at that velocity. Took advantage of the 15/50 deal as well and bought four boxes.
Might try some of the .357 Gold Dot in my newly acquired 3" M65.

I got a bunch of that as well right now. CDNN has the golden sabers .357 for $10/25
RA3B .38 +p bonded
Attachment 27467

.357 Golden Saber
Attachment 27468

[JAH 3rd]

I have a J-frame S&W 340PD (.357) that I carry Winchester Ranger .38+P 130 grain bonded JHP. I have shot some 145 grain Silvertips through it just to see how they felt. Those 5 .357s were brutal. Lots of recoil and follow-up shots were obviously more difficult. I then shot some Gold Dot 135 grain JHP. I would say these are a medium load in .357 since the recoil was no where as bad. You still knew you lit off a .357, but it was not brutal when fired.

I remember reading somewhere that the 125 grain bullets were hard on K-frames because of the propellant gasses cutting into the forcing cone. This is not an issue with 158s.

My final thought is to shoot a load where you are not anticipating the recoil. I think knowing that you are going to get hammered with recoil might affect getting a good sight picture. And a K-frame is going to give you a whole lot more grip to hold onto versus a J-frame.

[Brian T]

I still think the Federal 140gr load using a Barnes X-Bullet is the way to go, thesedays.

[Leroy Suggs]

I still think the Federal 140gr load using a Barnes X-Bullet is the way to go, thesedays.

Yes. So do I.

[03RN]

I have a J-frame S&W 340PD (.357) that I carry Winchester Ranger .38+P 130 grain bonded JHP. I have shot some 145 grain Silvertips through it just to see how they felt. Those 5 .357s were brutal. Lots of recoil and follow-up shots were obviously more difficult. I then shot some Gold Dot 135 grain JHP. I would say these are a medium load in .357 since the recoil was no where as bad. You still knew you lit off a .357, but it was not brutal when fired.

I remember reading somewhere that the 125 grain bullets were hard on K-frames because of the propellant gasses cutting into the forcing cone. This is not an issue with 158s.

My final thought is to shoot a load where you are not anticipating the recoil. I think knowing that you are going to get hammered with recoil might affect getting a good sight picture. And a K-frame is going to give you a whole lot more grip to hold onto versus a J-frame.

That's actually why the golden sabers caught my eye. They are a little slower at 1200fps. Iirc the 125s at 1400fps are what were causing the cutting. Either way I don't plan on shooting a lot of them.

[03RN]

Yes. So do I.

I ordered some the other day to test out

I'm thinking that might be a good all around load for sd and deer/bear hunting

[Leroy Suggs]

@03RN Let us know how they test out for you.