Need some opinions on some ammunition

[donut757]

I will be buying this ammo:

6 box (50 rd) Zero brand .357 Mag. 110 gr. JHP.,
1 box (50 rd) Federal .38 spl. 125 gr. NYCLADHP,
3 box (50 rd) Speer Lawman .38 spl. +P 158 gr. TMJ,
1 box (50 rd) Speer Gold Dot .38 spl. + P 135gr. GDHP,
1 box (100 rd). Remington UMC 38spl. 125 gr. +P semi-jktd hollow point

I do not have any experience with any of these than Gold Dot. I have never seen Gold Dot in 50 round counts so that will be nice. But could yall help me out and give me some idea of how these perform.

I will mostly be using the rounds for target shooting and some hunting (ground hogs and such) and will be using the brass to reload once I start doing that.

thanks for the help.

Donut

 

[E]

I've used the Remington UMC 125 grain .38 +P and like it quite a bit. It;s probably the most affordable .38 +P load around here.

 

[contender]

All of the ammo you listed is good quality ammo. It should be fine for your intended purposes.

 

[oregon73]

I agree with Contender. You're getting some quality ammo. It will work well.

Rob

 

[cruzerlou]

I used to carry 38.spl158.gr+p nyclad swchp's and they were great rounds ad + what contender said .
Lou

 

[wolfsong]

Nothing wrong with the brand selection. Interesting selection, especially the different rounds configuration in .38. Brings about some questions. I'm assuming you're using a .357? If so, why the different weights and brands? If the ammo is for mostly targets along with some varmit hunting, why hollow points? It's been my experience that using a few hundred rounds of the same brand and configuration provides me much more comprehensive data as far as performance and consistancy. Were it me, I'd concentrate on one grain weight of bullet for each application, ie target shooting, hunting and home defence. I would also look at a wad cutter or semi wad cutter for targets and ground hogs, using the hollow points for defense purposes. Whatever rounds you choose to use for whatever application, I would very humbly suggest defining your needs, focus on a larger amount of fewer configurations and shoot plenty while copiously taking notes, especially when you start to reload. There are hundreds of different rounds/configurations/brands out there in .38 & .357 that can drive you absolutely crazy deseminating which is best when and for what. The best way (again, my opinion only) is to narrow your selections, hit the range, and practice, practice, practice. That being said, if you were to look in my ammo safe, you'd see myriad brands of bullets, powder, reloads and factory ammo. Just keep in mind that it's been a long, slow and costly trip getting to where I am now. But it has been a blast, if you'll pardon the pun. Peace and God bless, Wolfsong.

 

[GhosT]

donut757,

Read yer post,caught my eye.
First thought, same as Wolfsong.

"I'm assuming you're using a .357?"

It would really help if ya posted the gun firing it from.

Barrel length matters in ammo choices

That said,
Clueless what ZERO BRAND AMMO IS...
But the other 4 ya listed...
WELL PROVEN AMMO!

 

[rond]

I do not like light bullets in .357 magnum, 158 to 180 grain is what I use. 125 grain is good in the .38 Special. Just my .02.

 

[WESHOOT2]

I determine bullet weight by the work I intend for the bullet to do.
Some of the different work might be shooting paper accuraterly, so weight doesn't matter at all, or deer or bear, where weight and construction matter, or people, where again weight and construction matter.

After I determine the work I want to do, I find the right tool (bullet weight and construction) for the job.
My load development always starts with the work.

 

[john16443]

That said, Clueless what ZERO BRAND AMMO IS...
But the other 4 ya listed...
WELL PROVEN AMMO!

Zero bullet components and finished ammo can be found from their primary distributor here: http://www.rozedist.com/

The manufacture bullets, and also load their bullets into finished ammo.

 

[StanMemTn]

Before I started reloading, Zero's 125gr JHP .38 Special +P load was the most accurate factory ammo I used in my NM Blackhawk.

Sounds like you'll have plenty of quality brass to start reloading. Good advice given above in regard to determining the job before you start buying other reloading components. This place is a trove of good advice.

 

[mattsbox99]

I really would not shoot 110 grain bullets in a .357 Mag revolver, a single shot is fine though. You will wear out the forcing cone and potentially erode the barrel-cylinder gap to an unacceptable amount.

Zero is a good brand and they make quality ammunition.