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Best 357 defense round?

Lt.smitty
I noticed that quite a few Law Enforcement officers are on this site. My hats off to you. I have been in corrections for nine years so basically I deal with them after ya'll do. I am wondering what the best 357 magnum round is for defense. I will be concerned mostly with over penetration, but I am looking for maximum energy deposit on the target. I also understand that this does not relieve someone of proper shot placement I was just wanting to get some opinions from those with more experience than I. Thanks for all the info so far.
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • Darrell
    There is no "best." As for over penetration it's also a NON issue. The vast majority of bullets fired will MISS the target and those are the one's you should worry about penetrating, not those that hit and are a recipient of "speed dumping" and will have lost a lot of velocity once they impact a target. The MISSED shots are the real issue. Police have a miss rate of 92% or more and civilians won't fair a whole lot better. Few shots will hit center mass and most will hit at odd angles and find limited resistence. The issue is PLACEMENT. In .357 the 125 grain JHP still seems to do well however there is no scientific evidence to compare it to any other loads. It seems to be 110 is to light and 158 grain to heavy. Few shooters can control a .357...very few...and thus may be far better served with a .38 Special +P loading to improve the hit rate because of lesser recoil and blast.
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  • gap1916
    Darrell knows his stuff. So does Evan Marshall. 125 grain semi jacketed holow point in .357mag or 357Sig is the way to go. My 2 cents [8D]

    Greg
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  • gunnut505
    You didn't say at what distance you'd be using it, so we'll assume from contact to 25yds; Glaser Silver ammo is good for these ranges, so is the Blue, but I can't tell you why- the only other Factory ammo for serious social activities is Magsafe- expensive; but practice with it first- you'll be surprised!

    If you know it all; you must have been listening.WEAR EAR PROTECTION!
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  • leeblackman
    None of the local departments around my area allow the carry of .357mag ammo. If you carry a .357mag handgun they make you shoot .38spl ammo in it. Guess its just a trend in this area, don't know.

    Federal Hydrashock and Personal Defense ammo seem's to be very popular. I don't really know any departments that issue Glaser, as they are so expensive that they are almost impractical.

    If you fear overpenetration you may look into getting some frangeable ammo rather than hollow points.
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  • 357
    quote:Originally posted by leeblackman
    None of the local departments around my area allow the carry of .357mag ammo. If you carry a .357mag handgun they make you shoot .38spl ammo in it. Guess its just a trend in this area, don't know.





    Are you talking about for LE use or civilian use when you say that?/
    Don't be fooled by my nickname, I'm a noob trying to learn things here. [:I]
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  • PRZNCOP110
    IF YOU HAND LOAD, TRY THE HORNADY 125GR XTP OVER 8.6 GR OF UNIQUE. IT IS FAIRLY FAST AND THE 125 GR BULLET WILL EXPAND WELL.

    PRZNCOP110
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  • Herschel
    These high velocity lighter (110 gr and 125 gr) bullets fired in a .357 can create a tremendous muzzle flash, especially from a short barrel. That is something to consider if there is much chance you will shoot in the dark. The muzzle flash is so bright in can momentarily blind you.
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  • Darrell
    Muzzle flash isn't an issue if you don't look over the gun and look OVER it. Flash will be in secondary vision. Also many ammo makers use flash suppresants so you can check out a few loads and you'll find some with little more than an orange glow.
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  • Iconoclast
    Take a look at this outfit; I've been impressed with their product, although I hope I never have to use it 'for real.'

    http://www.rbcd.net/
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  • offeror
    As long as you are choosing from among .357 magnum rounds, pick any quality brand in a 125-grain Hollowpoint bullet and you will have the "best" .357 load, in most people's opinion, scientific or not.

    Life NRA Member

    T. Jefferson: "[When doing Constitutional interpretation], let us [go] back to the time when [it] was adopted. [Rather than] invent a meaning [let us] conform to the probable one in which it was passed."
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