What .357 Mag Defensive ammo do you use?

[Cory1022]

I'm having what Guantes is having for woods carry in my 586 4 inch, 125 Golden Sabers around town until I try some others. My 3" 60 Pro has Speer 135 gr Gold Dot short barrels that I scored the last box of two weeks ago at my LGS. I plan to hit the range HARD next week and try some other stuff for point of aim and user interface; I'll see what I find out. I don't think you can go too wrong with the 125+ grains from the better brands, from my internet surfing.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Yankeejib]

Wow all the grain sizes are so much smaller than I thought. The Black Talon were 180gr and I see most are recommending 125gr, times have changed. Thanks for the input, I appreciate it.

The 125 gr Golden Sabres actually achieve advertised velocities out of short barrels. For my bigger guns, I always go heavy!

[azchevy]

125 Gr golden saber exclusively now.

[TedBeau]

I agree with acparmed: based on the 100+ handgun killings I've seen, I worried more about penetration and do not trust a lighter bullet.

Actually, I worry the 125-gr bullet is too light, too. Like most folks, I swallowed the Marshall & Sanow line and took up carrying the 125-grain Rem SJHPs in the late '80s. Nowadays, though, the lightest I'll ever go is Federal's 130-grain (and surprisingly sprightly) Personal Defense Hydrashoks.

And, on hikes, I carry Buffalo Bore 158-grain JHC .357s. They positively HOWL out of the gun, and they're heavy enough that I feel they'll penetrate reasonably well.

Buffalo Bore uses flash surpressed powders in all their ammunition. You might take a look at some of their offerings. They are known to make high power quality rounds. Their not the cheapest ammo out there but they are good.

[azchevy]

Buffalo Bore uses flash surpressed powders in all their ammunition. You might take a look at some of their offerings. They are known to make high power quality rounds. Their not the cheapest ammo out there but they are good.

I am a HUGE fan of buffalo bore. I carry it in my G29 and P3at, however after doing extensive night time testing with my smith, lcr, and taurus jframes I found the low recoil low flash .357 offering had more flash back into the weapon shooter than the golden saber 125gr and the 158gr jsp I tested. I was not impressed with it.

[Magnum]

Speer Short Barrel GDHP 135gr. .357 in my snubby. Federal .357 158gr. Hydra-Shok in my larger guns.