Home Protection, 357 or +P 38

[poseidon]

Which would be better for home protection 357 mag loads or +P38? Given that they are both in the hollow point category, which would be a better load without having to worry about over penetration.

Any suggestions would be great.

[Russ in PA]

IMO, 38+p is plenty. I would think that the noise & flash from a .357 would be incredible inside of a house. And, yea, the overpenetration with .357 could be a concern too.

[JP500]

i use 38 hydra shoks.

[jmb79]

I would take in to account the revolver out of which the round is to be fired and the skill and strength of the shooter. My main concern is the ability to deliever quick and accurate follow up shots. The size and weight of the revolver and strength and skill of the shooter will determine whether follow up shots will be quick and accurate.

For example, I have no problem recovering, getting back on target and firing second and third (etc.) shots of .357 from my 2.25" SP101. My wife cannot do this. She can, however, make quick and accurate follow up shots from her .38 SP101 shooting 135gr +P Gold Dot short barrel ammunition.

For me, the .357 is the better choice but for my wife, the .38 is better.

[gunguru1]

A hot-loaded .38 may be the best choice, but if you are going to use a .357 revolver make sure it is a heavier one with a barrel 4" or longer. The extra weight and longer barrel will give you greater control over your shots as well as improved accuracy.

-gunguru1

[jmb79]

Another option is the newly released Speer Gold Dot short barrel .357 ammo. It uses the same 135gr. bullet as the Speer Gold Dot .38 +P short barrel ammo. Power and velocity and less than full power .357 self defense ammo but more than the .38 +P.

[noway]

Do you happen to have the golddot box # on this 357 shotbbl offering? I've been shooting the 135 +p GD-HP and the 158gr GD-HP and they both are not to bad.

[jmb79]

noway,

I'll post the box number when I get home.

[jmb79]

noway (an others),

The Speer Gold Dot short barrel .357 mag. is product number 23917.

Cheers.

[noway]

Thanks, I'll look for it locally next week and give it a try.

[poseidon]

Originally posted by jmb79
Another option is the newly released Speer Gold Dot short barrel .357 ammo. It uses the same 135gr. bullet as the Speer Gold Dot .38 +P short barrel ammo. Power and velocity and less than full power .357 self defense ammo but more than the .38 +P.

Sounds like a great compromise.

[JackC53]

It's just me, but I wouldn't want to shoot a .357mag in the house for the reasons listed above. If you're gonna make that much noise/flame you'd be better off with a shotgun - which is my strong preference for HD in most cases anyway. Also, I've never used a laser or flashlight with/on a handgun but that might be a good extra for HD in the dark of night. Depends on how you feel about possibly giving away your position to the BG though; you'd have to know if and when to use it.

jAK-47

[BillK@tcmhmrs.o]

I personally prefer the Federal 158gr +P LHP for home defense. My revolver I keep handy is a Model 10 loaded with this and it has a Trijicon night sight inletted into the front sight ramp. Works great and when I practice wqith it, the load is sweet shooting as compared to a 125gr .357 load with all the buck and roar and shooting flame ( and that's with the medium strength Remington Golden Saber round)out of my model 66.

[bpisler]

I'am another one that uses the old 38spl 158gr +P's LSWCHP's when i use a 357mag for a apt gun.I do prefer my 44spl bulldog loaded with the improved win
silvertips.

[wade farley]

:cool:My wife uses 135gr 38 Golddots. I like the heavier stuff! ;z Have fun & stay safe!

[LabTech]

Remington 125 gr. semi-jacketed HP .357 mags.

[PzGren]

I think either .38 Special +P or .357 will do. .38 is easier on the ears unless you have your electronic muffs handy.

I am more comcerned about where to carry my speedloader in my pajamas during the famous bump in the night than ammo selection. There are plenty of home invasions in this part of the country and often three intruders.

[DIXIE DUCK]

I just baught a security six 4" and I think for home protection i will get some of those interesting federal hunting 357 mag rounds with 100% copper bullets, plenty of power:50cal:

[CanyonMan]

357mag.....

If i wanted to use +P 38's, i could just use a +P+ 9mm.
If you are going to hit a wall, instead of the perp, the .38 will go through the sheetrock as good as the 357. The idea, is to hit the perp! ;)


CanyonMan

[Ron3]

To me it depends how often you shoot .357's and how good you are.

If you can get the hits with reasonable split times use .357 magnum.

If not, use .38's.

Ron3

[USDefender]

Which can you hit the BG with? That's the one you should use.

[LApm9]

Originally posted by JackC53
It's just me, but I wouldn't want to shoot a .357mag in the house for the reasons listed above. If you're gonna make that much noise/flame you'd be better off with a shotgun - which is my strong preference for HD in most cases anyway. Also, I've never used a laser or flashlight with/on a handgun but that might be a good extra for HD in the dark of night. Depends on how you feel about possibly giving away your position to the BG though; you'd have to know if and when to use it.

jAK-47

I keep a high intensity flashlight (streamline scorpion) next to my defensive weapon. It's purpose is to identify the target. I'd rather take the risk rather than aciidently shoot a kid or a relative.

[spober]

i allways run 38 special in my home deffencive 357 revolvers.38 enough for deffence.the 357 is too much flash and noice in a closed in house/room etc.

[thejackbull45]

Does anyone make a low flash 357 load??

[h2o-5o]

If overpenetration is your main concern, I would go with the 110 gr. .357 Magnum hollowpoint. Light bullet, so it won't penetrate that far, and high enough velocity to encourage rapid (too rapid, maybe) expansion, thereby preventing overpenetration.

However, my personal .38s and .357s, used for personal protection (as opposed to hunting, targets, etc) are all loaded with Speer Gold Dot .38 Special 135 gr. +P. It is the best compromise for my personal situations.

[wade farley]

Originally posted by jmb79
I would take in to account the revolver out of which the round is to be fired and the skill and strength of the shooter. My main concern is the ability to deliever quick and accurate follow up shots. The size and weight of the revolver and strength and skill of the shooter will determine whether follow up shots will be quick and accurate.

For example, I have no problem recovering, getting back on target and firing second and third (etc.) shots of .357 from my 2.25" SP101. My wife cannot do this. She can, however, make quick and accurate follow up shots from her .38 SP101 shooting 135gr +P Gold Dot short barrel ammunition.

For me, the .357 is the better choice but for my wife, the .38 is better. :cool: What jmb 79 says!:supergrin:

[Redondo]

It took me a while to figure this out, but if over penetration is a problem, you need to MOVE where it isn't. You can thank me later.

[mikedb]

Originally posted by jmb79
Another option is the newly released Speer Gold Dot short barrel .357 ammo. It uses the same 135gr. bullet as the Speer Gold Dot .38 +P short barrel ammo. Power and velocity and less than full power .357 self defense ammo but more than the .38 +P.

Remington Golden Sabre 357 is a low power load too. About 400 ftlbs vs 580 or so for Gold Dots. I use indoors for that reason. I still prefer teh Gold Dot because it is bonded. However, the GDs are sometines hard to find.

[wade farley]

Originally posted by jmb79
I would take in to account the revolver out of which the round is to be fired and the skill and strength of the shooter. My main concern is the ability to deliever quick and accurate follow up shots. The size and weight of the revolver and strength and skill of the shooter will determine whether follow up shots will be quick and accurate.

For example, I have no problem recovering, getting back on target and firing second and third (etc.) shots of .357 from my 2.25" SP101. My wife cannot do this. She can, however, make quick and accurate follow up shots from her .38 SP101 shooting 135gr +P Gold Dot short barrel ammunition.

For me, the .357 is the better choice but for my wife, the .38 is better. Ditto, only the 357 is a Security Six :cool:

[GPalmer]

It's very much a function of the gun and shooter. In my S&W 36 I keep 148 gr WC for low recoil. In my 6" Python I keep the good old 158 gr +P LSWCHP, mostly for myself but in a pinch, for the wife also. In my 7 1/2" RedHawk I currently keep DoubleTap 125 gr for myself, at 1850 fps I have confidence in it's ability to reach out and say "Have a really bad day!"

[Rex G]

In my 4-inch sixguns, I use the Federal 125-grain .357 JHP, the full-velocity load that until recently was called the Classic, but seems to have recently been named the Hi-Shok, which is not the same as Hydra-Shok. This is the load which earned its reputation with several major police agencies, and is the load I used to good effect in the line of duty. Winchester 145-grain Silvertip is my second choice in a 4" .357, and first choice in a .357 snub. (I like the idea of the new stuff for snubby .357s, but have not found any for sale and would like to hear how it does on the street.) The shotgun, with its Surefire forend, is of course better if I am going to sit and wait for an intruder to enter a pre-planned field of fire. Regarding the awesome flash of the .357, just go buy a new box of good .357 duty ammo, which does NOT flash as much as the older stuff. I have found .357 to not flash much more significantly than .40 S&W.

[kmrcstintn]

another step below 38 +p that is still very effective...

Hornady XTP...non +p...125gr and 158gr are both available; I use the 125gr almost exclusively in my S&W 642 for CCW

I also will load it for HD in my .357 if I am out of .38 +p's for it

[USDefender]

Don't kid yourselves, fellas.

A .38 (especially a +p .38) is gonna penetrate drywall just about as badly (or as well, depending on your point of view) as a .357 mag.

Not sure if cynder block walls would make a difference...

Either way, use what you can shoot the straightest so the bullets will go where they're supposed to.

[spober]

without the extra flash of the +round and the extra boom/blinding flash of the 357.remember, to be considered a self defensive shooting it better be up close and personal not 50 yards as hes hopin the back yard fence and you pop him in the arse!

[10millyman]

I dont know about you guys but in my house I want to stop the threat quick before it stops me! I would choose the 357 and not leave anything to chance :alien:

[buddyRoland]

125 Grain JHP for me. I know I am a later responder but had to add my 2 cents.

[GlockNation]

BUFFLO BORE 38 +P

Heavy .38 Special +P

Item No. 20A/20 158 gr. L.S.W.C.H.P.--G.C. (1,000fps/M.E. 351 ft.lbs.) Per Box of 20
$20.99

About Buffalo Bore Heavy .38 Special +P ammo

The new buffalo Bore Heavy 38 SPL+p ammo will maximize the effectiveness of your 38 SPL revolver. All velocities are taken from S&W J frame revolvers with 2 inch barrels. The powders are flash suppressed so as to not hinder your vision should you be required to drop the hammer in low light.

Item 20A/20 is the terrific SOFT lead semi wad cutter hollow cavity bullet, however we've added a gas check to stop the leading that this load typically causes with other manufacturers version of this bullet.

This HVY 38 SPL+p load will turbo charge your 38 SPL revolver.

http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#45colt

[StoneDog]

Do any of these 135gr or lighter +P shoot to point of aim from a 2.5" barrel? I have an old S&W snubby and am considering a short barrelled SP101, but the only thing I can find that shoots to point of aim are 158 gr LRN or SJHP.

Jon

[Ak.Hiker]

I would stay away from special hunting loads for home protection. The Golden Saber 357 125gn is a good mid power loading. The new Speer 135 357 Short Barrel looks good as well. If you go with a 38 Special I would look at the 158 SWCHP +P. This load has done a very good job for many years.