Effectiveness of .357 With 125 Grain Bullets

bmcgilvray · August 18th, 2008, 11:10 AM

Has too much been made of the "stopping" capability of 125 grain JHP bullets in the .357 Magnum cartridge?

Seems that for many years now the "three-fifty-seven-Magnum-with-125-grain-bullets" reflexively rolls off the tongue when the .357 Magnum cartridge or indeed when relative "stopping power" of handgun cartridges is discussed. I have to ask, why not 124 grain bullets or 126 grain bullets? What's so magical about this bullet weight? There's many different brands of 125 grain .357 Magnum ammunition and many more of 125 grain component bullets for hand loaders. All these bullets certainly will not perform to the same level. It's reasonable to expect that some certain other bullets that fall elsewhere within the range of bullet weights generally offered for the .357 magnum would out perform some of the 125 grain bullet offerings. Yet so many tout the "125 grain bullet" as the only "learned" response to any discussion of handgun effectiveness.

I don't tote the .357 Magnum but if I did I'd carry it stoked with somewhat heavier bullets. Also I suppose that I actually have rather low expectations of handgun effectiveness generally and little belief in a magic pill.

Has the .357 Magnum with 125 grain bullets taken on a life of its own in print and on Internet forums? It appears that it's reputation is made by "conventional wisdom" as much as anything else.

Ragin Cajun · August 18th, 2008, 12:42 PM

I would say it is pretty dorn effective.
357 Magnum Stopping Power

bmcgilvray · August 18th, 2008, 01:00 PM

What if one considers that all this percentage business connected with one shot "stops" isn't necessarily predictive of the outcome of a gunfight?

tns0038 · August 18th, 2008, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ragin Cajun

I would say it is pretty dorn effective.
357 Magnum Stopping Power

Nice link

Thanks

Cuda66 · August 18th, 2008, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmcgilvray

What if one considers that all this percentage business connected with one shot "stops" isn't necessarily predictive of the outcome of a gunfight?

Well, even if you choose to disagree with M&S's conclusions, it does show that there was a serious study done into the effectiveness of the 125grn JHP round from a .357.

Which disproves that it's a myth, and has taken on a life of it's own.

Personally, I like the 125grn. I've seen how it works on 4-legged problems, and it puts the target down with authority. I have no doubt that it would work just as well on something with 2 less legs.

bmcgilvray · August 18th, 2008, 02:15 PM

Any 125 grain bullet? Which 125 grain bullet?

BikerRN · August 18th, 2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmcgilvray

Has too much been made of the "stopping" capability of 125 grain JHP bullets in the .357 Magnum cartridge?

IMHO, no. If something works, it works.

Seems that for many years now the "three-fifty-seven-Magnum-with-125-grain-bullets" reflexively rolls off the tongue when the .357 Magnum cartridge or indeed when relative "stopping power" of handgun cartridges is discussed. I have to ask, why not 124 grain bullets or 126 grain bullets? What's so magical about this bullet weight? There's many different brands of 125 grain .357 Magnum ammunition and many more of 125 grain component bullets for hand loaders. All these bullets certainly will not perform to the same level. It's reasonable to expect that some certain other bullets that fall elsewhere within the range of bullet weights generally offered for the .357 magnum would out perform some of the 125 grain bullet offerings. Yet so many tout the "125 grain bullet" as the only "learned" response to any discussion of handgun effectiveness.

I don't know what is so magical about this bullet, just that it seems to work very well. The bullet can't replace accuracy, trigger control or the skills needed to but the bullet on target. I just think that the 125 Grain bullet, if you do your part, does it's part very well. There's things that we can't measure in a gunfight, so we may never know why it works so well, but the shooter still has to do their part.

I don't tote the .357 Magnum but if I did I'd carry it stoked with somewhat heavier bullets. Also I suppose that I actually have rather low expectations of handgun effectiveness generally and little belief in a magic pill.

I too have low expectations of any bullet, be it longarm or handgun, and don't depend on one shot to stop all hostilities. I just know that I want to carry and use the best bullet possible, no mater what caliber I'm carrying. From what I've seen, read and heard the heavier bullets won't give me what I'm looking for in a handgun bullet. The 158 Grain pill seems to be a little "over-penetrative", which I definately don't want in an urban environment.

Has the .357 Magnum with 125 grain bullets taken on a life of its own in print and on Internet forums? It appears that it's reputation is made by "conventional wisdom" as much as anything else.

I do think a bit of "myth" has developed around the 125 Grain bullet, but only because it works so well. I dealt with a man last year that I wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley with anything other than a longarm and a lot of distance, he was that scary to me, and I deal with badguys daily that scare the bejesus out of most people on a daily basis.

I went back to packing the 125 Grain .357 Magnum, in two guns off duty, to make up for the lack of capacity. I've found it to be a very accurate caliber/load that I enjoy shooting that will do the job if I do my part. Sometimes we can't explain why something works, we just know it does. I'm OK with that as I want results and I'm from the school of the Jesuits, "The end justifies the means."

There are other loads/calibers that work too. The advantage of the .357 Magnum with the 125 Grain load is that it was the one that attained the rank of "King of the Street" first, and has yet to be surpassed.

If one can shoot this load, and is willing to deal with the lack of capacity and slow reloading, I think it's a good load to carry. I do think however too many people are carrying it that should be carrying a softer shooting load. I'm not trying to brag or anything, but I have shot and learned how to shoot this load for years, but it has taken me a lot of practice to get to where I'm at.

Very good question sir, and one that makes a person think. I find nothing wrong with other loads/calibers, like the 158 Grain 38 Special, as it's all up to the shooter to put the bullets where they need to be. I just want the hardest hitting "hammer" I can effectively control if I am given a choice.

Biker

kpw · August 18th, 2008, 06:20 PM

As good as it is or may be, I won't trade 2 rounds of 124+p 9mm for one 125gr .357 round. If I went back to packing a .357, I'd carry the Rem or Fed versions. I'd also feel comfortable with the 140-145 grain weights. I don't care for the nuetered versions loaded with wonder bullets that don't give you anything more than a warm 9mm.

Cuda66 · August 19th, 2008, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmcgilvray

Any 125 grain bullet? Which 125 grain bullet?

I've used both Remington 125 SJHPs and 125 Golden Sabers with good effect.

I would expect similar results from a like round from Federal or Winchester...it's just that my local place used to mainly carry Remington ammo.

Stryker · August 22nd, 2008, 03:15 AM

I have a S&W model 60 with 2 inch barrel in 357. I have shot 125, 158, and 180 grain out of it and the 125 is much easier to shoot and get off a follow up shot...maybe that's why it's the best??? Works for me :)

August 18th, 2008, 11:10 AM	#1
bmcgilvray Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Texas Posts: 1,151	Effectiveness of .357 With 125 Grain Bullets Has too much been made of the "stopping" capability of 125 grain JHP bullets in the .357 Magnum cartridge? Seems that for many years now the "three-fifty-seven-Magnum-with-125-grain-bullets" reflexively rolls off the tongue when the .357 Magnum cartridge or indeed when relative "stopping power" of handgun cartridges is discussed. I have to ask, why not 124 grain bullets or 126 grain bullets? What's so magical about this bullet weight? There's many different brands of 125 grain .357 Magnum ammunition and many more of 125 grain component bullets for hand loaders. All these bullets certainly will not perform to the same level. It's reasonable to expect that some certain other bullets that fall elsewhere within the range of bullet weights generally offered for the .357 magnum would out perform some of the 125 grain bullet offerings. Yet so many tout the "125 grain bullet" as the only "learned" response to any discussion of handgun effectiveness. I don't tote the .357 Magnum but if I did I'd carry it stoked with somewhat heavier bullets. Also I suppose that I actually have rather low expectations of handgun effectiveness generally and little belief in a magic pill. Has the .357 Magnum with 125 grain bullets taken on a life of its own in print and on Internet forums? It appears that it's reputation is made by "conventional wisdom" as much as anything else.

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August 18th, 2008, 12:42 PM	#2
Ragin Cajun Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 503	I would say it is pretty dorn effective. 357 Magnum Stopping Power

August 18th, 2008, 01:00 PM	#3
bmcgilvray Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Texas Posts: 1,151	What if one considers that all this percentage business connected with one shot "stops" isn't necessarily predictive of the outcome of a gunfight?

August 18th, 2008, 02:15 PM	#6
bmcgilvray Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Texas Posts: 1,151	Any 125 grain bullet? Which 125 grain bullet?

August 18th, 2008, 06:20 PM	#8
kpw Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: PA Posts: 646	As good as it is or may be, I won't trade 2 rounds of 124+p 9mm for one 125gr .357 round. If I went back to packing a .357, I'd carry the Rem or Fed versions. I'd also feel comfortable with the 140-145 grain weights. I don't care for the nuetered versions loaded with wonder bullets that don't give you anything more than a warm 9mm.

August 22nd, 2008, 03:15 AM	#10
Stryker Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 29	I have a S&W model 60 with 2 inch barrel in 357. I have shot 125, 158, and 180 grain out of it and the 125 is much easier to shoot and get off a follow up shot...maybe that's why it's the best??? Works for me :)