| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| john wist |
Posted - October 23 2009 : 12:35:02 AM
My wife, myself ,my sister in law, my new born neice and dog go walking for exercise at night after work. I carry my 3 inch barrel sp-101 with me and it is loaded with remington 158 grain LSWCHP +P. I want a load with more punch to it as their are a lot of large dogs in neighborhood (and I just read the thread about an officer having to put down a pit bull). I have fired full power 125 grain federal loads out of it once and it HURT!!! I am looking for a happy medium. Any and all ideas are most welcome.
Thanks |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Arvinator |
Posted - November 15 2009 : 7:34:59 PM
I put some 125 Remington GS in my 3 inch SP101. It serves as a extra bedside pistol. |
| Scout.308 |
Posted - November 15 2009 : 5:31:07 PM
Hard to argue with anything DPX.
I recommend considering the Buffalo Bore .38+P 158LHP. It thinks it's a .357, the bullet is dead soft with a huge cavity, flash is low, and the .38 brass (shorter) improves reliability of ejection. I like 'em! Better yet, from a 4in platform, even my girlfriend isn't intimidated.
Cabella's was my source. What a fantastic array of good products we have today! |
| Nobby42d |
Posted - November 12 2009 : 11:32:36 PM
I chrono'd some Buffalo Bore standard and +P SWCHP from my 640-1
Interesting that the recoil seemed similar between the two, though they were chrono'd on different days. But my "sensitivity" to recoil can differ from one day to the next--I know the +P has to be more.
The BB non-plus P was 950 and the +P was 1004 from the just over 2" bbl of the 640-1 .357. Their non-plus P is still hotter than Winchester +P I chrono'd back in '92 from a 4" 586 @ 860 and 910 from a Python 4". Must be better powders.
For comparison: from the 3" M66 the std Buf. Bore was 932, and +P 1071. Hot stuff, I'd say. Note that this is a tight M66 and usually produces more velocity than my 4" 586.
CorBon .38 DPX is handled real easily at 1060 fps from the 640-1, which I think is similar to the Ruger 101 in weight. That heavy bbl dampens things down real well. I have no problem with it in my 642, either.
DPX .357 was 1300 from my M66 3" and about as much recoil as I care for, though far milder than Fed. 125 JHP's. No doubt many can handle the DPX just fine in an SP101 or 640-1--at least with good grips.
Since my body deserves a break after 6 decades (ok, 64) I'm not intrested in sampling full power .357's in anything less than my 586 or Python. And even then, only at the start of the range session to make sure I'm fully awake.
Golden Saber mid-range, going back ten years, chrono'd at only 1160 from the M66, but pleasant to shoot. Still only 1230 from a 6" 586. I'd chrono some more recent stuff before I pass final judgement on it.
Summary: CorBon DPX .357 or Buffalo Bore std or +P.
I carry DPX .38 in my original 640 .38 or 642.
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| Frogfoot |
Posted - November 12 2009 : 3:21:12 PM
Not long after Smith & Wesson came out with the M640 in .357, I tried one out at a local range with a 50 round box of UMC 125 grain .357 soft points. It was a loud, savage bark coupled with a sharp jolt in my firing hand and arm, and a vicious slap in the face from the concussion to top it off. I couldn't wait until I got finished with that box of ammo. |
| Evan |
Posted - November 12 2009 : 12:13:15 PM
the 135gr load I'm talking about is the "short barrel" .357 not the .38 +p-the .38 goes around 835fps out of my snubs. |
| Malcolm |
Posted - November 12 2009 : 11:06:10 AM
Lockjaw, I do not know your age, however I'm smack in the middle 50s' and have been carrying at least one handgun at work and off duty since I went into the military at age 18. I tend to NOT like recoil in my Taurus .357 snub after about five rounds, because it just plain hurts. Sooner or later, you will unfortunately no longer be the legend you want to be(it happens to all of us), .357 magnum recoil hurts after awhile for me, but, anything I shoot in .40S&W hurts my right wrist after the first round! I am guessing I've fired more than a hundred thousand handgun rounds, could be more or less, but as Evan said, recoil is very subjective, sooner or later it cathces up to every one of us at some point. I prefer steel framed revolvers even snubs for that very reason, I want to hit what I shoot at every time. Happy shooting.
I find that Remington GS seem to work well for me, as do the Corbon DPX rounds, very controllable for moi. |
| 106rr |
Posted - November 12 2009 : 03:47:09 AM
For what it's worth, one reason dogs are hard to stop is that they have 40% higher PO2 than humans. That means they have much more oxygen already disolved in their blood. This oxygen will keep tham going after the lungs are gone. This also allows them to run down cats, bear, pigs and people. |
| Matthew Courtney |
Posted - November 01 2009 : 01:55:24 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Evan
the Speer 135gr GD load breaks a 1,000 fps out of my Smith 640. Rem GS 125gr is like a 3/4 Mag load.
my wife's 640 has .38 DPX in it and she likes the modest recoil in an all steel snub.
recoil is an extremely subjective subject-John Ford shoots loads that would require me to get hooked up to a morphine drip prior to picking them up.
Who are you kidding....John Ford shoots loads that would make Chuch Norris hook up to a morphine drip... |
| colt357 |
Posted - November 01 2009 : 12:00:55 AM
Seems like finding the GD SB 135gr +p .38 special is hit-and-miss at best around here (Southeast Michigan). the .357 mag version is next to impossible. I still have 3 or 4 boxes of each tucked away. I think both are great rounds for the lightweight snubbies.
The last couple of boxes of the .357 mag 135gr SB GD that I was able to find were at Williams gunsite off of I-69 between Flint and Lapeer. That was a few months ago.
Dennis |
| Ace |
Posted - October 31 2009 : 1:28:01 PM
Try Natchez Shooting Sports, they had some a while back. I hate to pay shipping, but when ya gotta have it and it's the only place you can find it..... Ace |
| john wist |
Posted - October 31 2009 : 1:22:28 PM
I have been looking for the Remington GS and Speer Gold Dot SB but I can not find them in the Phoenix area. Any ideas where I can buy some? |
| pcsd200 |
Posted - October 25 2009 : 11:26:15 PM
AAHH!
When I read 640 I thought .38.
I forgot about the .357 offering. |
| Adj1 |
Posted - October 25 2009 : 11:22:28 PM
I like the Speer Gold Dot .38 Spl +P load. for me, any load with a good bullet at 900-1000 fps will suffice. Gonna have to try some of the short barrel loads, if/when they become available locally. I do have a box of Remington Mid-magnum 125 gr. put away, tho. |
| whiskeymike |
Posted - October 25 2009 : 1:27:51 PM
quote:
Originally posted by pcsd200
Evan,
The GD 135s are getting out at 1000fps?
Is this the short barrel stuff out of a 2 inch?
If so I think I have found my new load for my 642
That's the SB load in .357; the .38+P is about 100-150fps slower. |
| pcsd200 |
Posted - October 25 2009 : 09:22:40 AM
Evan,
The GD 135s are getting out at 1000fps?
Is this the short barrel stuff out of a 2 inch?
If so I think I have found my new load for my 642 |
| john wist |
Posted - October 23 2009 : 8:35:53 PM
What about Bufflo Bore's 158 grain load. On the box they show it as a medium velocity load. a SJHP at 1100 feet per second? My first thought is it would over penetrate. |
| Evan |
Posted - October 23 2009 : 7:52:25 PM
the Speer 135gr GD load breaks a 1,000 fps out of my Smith 640. Rem GS 125gr is like a 3/4 Mag load.
my wife's 640 has .38 DPX in it and she likes the modest recoil in an all steel snub.
recoil is an extremely subjective subject-John Ford shoots loads that would require me to get hooked up to a morphine drip prior to picking them up.
|
| johns961 |
Posted - October 23 2009 : 6:23:50 PM
Lots of good advice here. I would like to add some too.
I have a 686 for home protection I keep stocked with Buffalo Bore
tactical lites. They use a 158 gold dot at 1,100 fps.
John! |
| Lockjaw |
Posted - October 23 2009 : 3:07:52 PM
Is the metal of the frame covered or exposed? If exposed, covering it with a rubber grip makes a big difference.
I see on the wife issue, I put Corbon +p 38 125 grains in my first wife's 38. They shoot low in my little 357 though.
A 110 grain 357 is pretty mild too. I think the Federal 125 JHP 357 is a hot load. It would shoot 6 feet of flame out of my 6 in Smith when I was in college. 
Here we have another pit story.
Man I got nothing for a viscous dog. Pity you can't shoot the owner first, but I don't care whose dog it is, if it comes at me or my kids, I got some nice doggy biscuits I am going to feed it, moving out at well over the speed of sound too.
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| Barnacle Bill |
Posted - October 23 2009 : 2:28:27 PM
I second the 125gr Golden Saber. I tried this in my M66 and it was much more pleasant to shoot than old-school full power loads that I'd always used before. That's not a snubby - 4" & wearing pachmayr decelerator grips. However, I think this reduced power load is still significantly better than just shooting .38 Spec +P. It's all in the numbers...
Golden Saber & Gold Dot 125gr .38spl+P 945 fps
Gold Dot 124gr 9mm 1150 fps
Win Ranger 124gr 9mm+P 1170 fps
Golden Saber 125gr 9mm+P 1180 fps
Gold Dot 124gr 9mm+P 1220 fps
Golden Saber 125gr 357mag 1220 fps
Win Ranger 127gr 9mm +P+ 1240 fps
DPX 124gr 357mag 1300 fps
Most 125gr .357 SIG 1350 fps
Traditional 125gr .357mag 1450
That's all out of 4" test barrels, per manufacturer's specs.
The Golden Saber .357mag falls in the upper range of 9mm+P territory. The DPX .357mag falls in between 9mm +P+ and 357 SIG territory, so I'd expect more recoil. I haven't fired it, but I have fired Federal's 130 gr. Premium Personal Defense .357mag load that be box listed at 1300 fps. That was noticably less pleasant than the Golden Saber. Of course, without the action of an auto to absorb recoil, I'd expect similar bullet weight & velocity from a revolver should produce more felt recoil. However, the Golden Saber was fine for me and that's what I keep for the M66 now. |
| john wist |
Posted - October 23 2009 : 1:25:21 PM
they are the factory grips. |
| mspears |
Posted - October 23 2009 : 1:20:37 PM
John, what kind of grips do you have on that SP101? I have the 2.25" SP101 and put on a pair of Pachmayer Compaq's. It made a big difference to me as far as felt recoil goes. While .357 125's do not "hurt", the recoil is such that fast follow up shots are just not there, at least not for me. I load mine now with Winchester or Remington .357 110 grain as they are much more controllable. As said above, the CorBon .38 110 JHP's think they are .357's also. If a 110 grain is too light for your liking, 125 grain .357 DPX or Golden Saber would be another good choice. |
| ber950 |
Posted - October 23 2009 : 12:21:49 PM
The 135 gr Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel load is about 100fps faster that the .38 load and is my favorite load in a 3" five shot .357. |
| Biggfoot44 |
Posted - October 23 2009 : 12:20:40 PM
The 158 +P swchp is a decent load. If you would care for a lighter bullet CorBon's 110 +P jhp is comparable to most .357 110 jhps.
And yes many users do not care for the pain/ loss of control with full .357s in very small and light guns. They think of them primarily as extra strong and durable .38s with capability of occasional midrange .357s . |
| john wist |
Posted - October 23 2009 : 11:49:05 AM
Lockjaw, I keep the 38's in it for my wife to use as a bedside gun, and she is deadly accurate with it and shoots it all the time. I on the other hand do keep my GP-100 loaded with the Federals but the GP is just too big for me to conceal as I am not a large framed person it tends to stick out under my cover garment. For me the Federals are just a little too much in the litter SP so I am looking for a round that has more konck down power to it than a 38. I had a problem with a neighbor's pit bull one time and if it were not for a full can of pepper spray, several kicks to the head and some fast climbing into my truck I do not doubt that the thing would have ripped my throught out. I do not want to have to shoot a attacking dog I love dogs. the hardest part of my career was working aninal crulity cases but if I have to defend the life of me neice or wife I will. What is the general opinion on bufflo bore's ammo? Has anyone tested it if so what kind of results did you get for the 158 lead SWC or SWCHP? |
