.357 mag SD ammo for 3” revolvers

[Stephanie B]

Winchester RA38B (130gr+P) or 135gr +P .38 Gold Dot, in my 3" 60-10 generally.

^^^^ This.

[Chuck Whitlock]

The King Cobra and the Remington Golden Saber “midrange” 125 load are pretty much made for each other.

I also had good luck with Speer’s 135 GDHP in .357 magnum, but it’s really hard to find in stock in the best of times, let alone now.

Both those loads are manageable, and shoot to POI in the 3” snake—at least, the one I had.

FWIW

I acquired a couple of boxes of the mid-range Golden Saber and took the 2.25" SP101 to the range.

Two-handed, it was a little stout, but manageable. Strong-hand only, it was becoming unpleasant. Weak-hand only, it was mildly painful....but it "quit hurting as soon as you stopped shooting".

The Winchester Ranger 130 gr. +P is a lot tamer, and I don't know that there is much if any gain by going to the Magnum round, which leaves me to ponder:
1) Would it be more manageable in a mid-sized frame revolver? Would that even matter if there is no gain in "stopping power"?
2) If using the +P .38's is the answer, why not go to a six-shooter like a Colt (Night) Cobra?

The pondering continues.

[Hizzie]

I still enjoy touching off Federal 357B’s out of my snubs.

[revchuck38]

I still enjoy touching off Federal 357B’s out of my snubs.

You're a sick puppy. FWIW, that load has been discontinued.

[03RN]

I acquired a couple of boxes of the mid-range Golden Saber and took the 2.25" SP101 to the range.

Two-handed, it was a little stout, but manageable. Strong-hand only, it was becoming unpleasant. Weak-hand only, it was mildly painful....but it "quit hurting as soon as you stopped shooting".

The Winchester Ranger 130 gr. +P is a lot tamer, and I don't know that there is much if any gain by going to the Magnum round, which leaves me to ponder:
1) Would it be more manageable in a mid-sized frame revolver? Would that even matter if there is no gain in "stopping power"?
2) If using the +P .38's is the answer, why not go to a six-shooter like a Colt (Night) Cobra?

The pondering continues.

The golden saber is very manageable from k frames. Feels about the same as my .38+p loads (158@1000fps)

[03RN]

After working up a load with 158gr XTPs I've switched over to them. A little less recoil than the 170swc not that they were bad but still keeping the same poi.

It seems if I keep the bullet around 1200fps the poi stays the same.

[revolvergeek]

The King Cobra and the Remington Golden Saber “midrange” 125 load are pretty much made for each other.

I also had good luck with Speer’s 135 GDHP in .357 magnum, but it’s really hard to find in stock in the best of times, let alone now.

Both those loads are manageable, and shoot to POI in the 3” snake—at least, the one I had.

FWIW

i notice you say had. If you don't mind me asking, what prompted you to get rid of it?

[Totem Polar]

i notice you say had. If you don't mind me asking, what prompted you to get rid of it?

Vision issues and the way-to-shiny and oddly curved and reflective rear sight. Easier to just go back to my model 66-1 S&W with its fat and blocky sights.

Nothing wrong with the King Cobra, other than poorly thought out (IMHO) rear sight channel. A nice and smooth revolver for those with young eyes. Again, JMO.

[jtcarm]

Winchester STHPs.

[revolvergeek]

Vision issues and the way-to-shiny and oddly curved and reflective rear sight. Easier to just go back to my model 66-1 S&W with its fat and blocky sights.

Nothing wrong with the King Cobra, other than poorly thought out (IMHO) rear sight channel. A nice and smooth revolver for those with young eyes. Again, JMO.

I completely get that. I sold a 6.5” bright nickel modern S&w 22-whatever in .45 acp partially because it was so smooth and bright and shiny that I couldn’t get a decent sight picture in normal light, and outdoors it was almost painful to look at. If the chamber throats hadn’t been such a mess I might have tried to get someone to at least bead blast the top strap to tone it down, but just seemed like it was going to need a lot of tweaking for something I wasn’t going to shoot that much.