Own a .357 SP101 ?....What rounds do you use in it?

[357 Terms]

125grn Barnes XPB with 14.7grns VVN110.

Just under 1300fps out of my 2.25in

Great expansion and not as much blast and flash as most hot 125grn factory loads.

And I am not worried in the slightest about any legal issues involving handloads, silly speculation.

 

[Groo]

Groo here
That is why I waited for the soft CT grips.
I have shot everything from 125's to 200gr "Groo monster maulers".
Mine has the 4port system from Magnaport.
It bucks and bellers but is shootable.

 

[HadEmAll]

In both of my SP101s, a 3" and a 2", (as well as my 4" GP100 and my <2" LCR) I carry .357 mag Remington 125 grain SJHPs, with .357 mag 125 grain Speer Gold Dots in the reload speed loaders and speed strips.

The Gold Dots reload quicker for me than the Remingtons because they don't have the exposed soft lead to work into the cylinder that the Remingtons do.

Velocities on the Remington 125 grain SJHPs (my chronograph) are:

4" GP100 = 1451 fps for 587 ft/lbs ME
3" SP101 = 1375 fps for 528 ft/lbs ME
2" SP101 = 1276 fps for 454 ft/lbs ME
<2" LCR = 1245 fps for 432 ft/lbs ME

Recoil is substantial but manageable in the SP101s, ferocious in the LCR.

I may be paranoid, but every time I get a new supply of .357 mag ammo, I run every round through the crimping die in my press to "firm up" the factory crimp. I don't want to risk having an underdone factory crimp result in a pulled bullet due to the severe recoil in my LCR. This is a little work, but gives me peace of mind that that 5th round isn't walkng out of the case.

 

[sliclee]

I found my 3" in a store while waiting for the boss to get shoes. It was sitting there all alone, I wanted a short barrel 357 to
groin and small of back carry. I had fired 2 1/2 wasn't accurate enough, had no 3".
Showed me gun,mm, wanna try it,he asked. Locked the front door,what ammo u want,125 Feds, shook his head,went to the back,opened the window,14 yds he said, I grabbed 2 Feds 125,2 Win 110, wiped the barrel, fired 4, all together, you could walk on the flame of the Feds, dropped it in my pocket, paid went home. Trigger was perfect smooth when firing single action. Still use same loads, almost 1385 on 125's, 1325 on 110 nothing better. :Lee

 

[HardBall]

I mentioned I use whatever my guns like & I use a lot of different ammo. I also use handloads,,, and one of my favorites is a cast lead slug,, traveling about 1000 fps,,,.

I'm not worried about using handloads for defense either. In my 3" SP I use 7.0gr of Unique and either a Hornady 158gr XTP-HP or Sierra 158gr JHC. This load will do about 1035 - 1050fps when capped with a standard CCI-500 primer out of Starline brass. It's subsonic so it's not quite so loud on my backyard range, it's very controllable, it shoots to my sights and is quite accurate.

I like to practice with the same load I carry and I can afford to practice with this load a lot.

 

[e3mrk]

I use 125 gr.Hornady XTP's for concealed carry and I use both 357 Magnum and 38 Special for practice.

 

[jdmb03]

I use Buffalo Bore tactical short barrel .357 140 gr. JHP in a 2".

 

[Pal Val]

Is the old "Handloads will land you in jail" myth still getting dragged around? It's old, baseless and dumb. That's "three strikes, you're out" for that one.

I load 158 grain lead swc on the low side of .357mag for mine. My wife has a hard time shooting full-power rounds in it, and she claims to own the gun. Who's going to say no to her?

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Is the old "Handloads will land you in jail" myth still getting dragged around? It's old, baseless and dumb. That's "three strikes, you're out" for that one.

I carry factory loads in my self defense guns because I don't want to find out it is true. Better and easier to be safe than sorry.

 

[towtruck]

I run my 158g +P 38 special reloads through mine for practice and use 125g jacketed hollow point 357 magnum for my carry rounds. The 158g full house 357 magnum Federals are brutal on the hands. The 125's are just right for me.

Oh, first post on this site......looking to do some reading and see what's here.

 

[phonejack]

I use 158's , 2 loads, one 950 fps, the other 1040 fps.

 

[Heliman]

I have a 4" SP101. It loves Blazer aluminum cased 158 JHPs. Very accurate in my gun and recoil with factory grips is very manageable. Don't have the snubby for conceal carry, but I like +P .38 Special factory personal defense loads in my J-frame Smiths.

 

[jimbo1096]

These Starfire 125gr 38+P for house loads

or 125gr Winchester Silvertips. Mainly because they are readily available

When carrying in the woods or just out plinking it always has handloads, either 135gr LHBWC or 158gr LSWC in 357 brass.

 

[DPris]

180-grain lead Buffalo Bore.
Denis

 

[Heliman]

180-grain lead Buffalo Bore.
Denis

:shock: Yikes! :shock: In a snubby SP101? I can feel it from here....

Dave :wink:

 

[DPris]

Nope- the 4.2.

I had El Paso Saddlery build me a nice Tanker rig for it, I put larger wood from Hogue on the gun, and the combo is a light quick on/quick off ATV package for places where larger claws & teeth reside.

Even with the short-lug barrel recoil's not bad at all, and I get full four-inch velocities & power out of a very trim gun.
It's worth it to lose one round over the heavier GP in that role.
Denis

 

[Heliman]

I agree with you on the 4.2" SP. Nearly a perfect light weight, comfortable to shoot with standard velocity 158gr loads. Mine is factory original with no mods. As far as heavier loads go, I choose to carry my 4" 686 Smith. This is MY platform for the BB 180gr hard cast lead loads....

Dave

 

[DPris]

The SP's a harder-hitter than the .40 S&W that also rides along on the belt.

Different guns for different roles.

The .357 for 4-footed animals where power & penetration might be needed, the .40 for....other purposes.

The little SP's an ideal deal for carry the way I do & for the reason I carry it.
It does have to go heavier in the bullet department, I want more penetration than a 125 or 158 jacketed would give me.
Denis

 

[SAWBONES]

All that matters is that POI = POA, exactly.

In my CCW SP101 (2.25" barrel, ported by Marc Morganti), Buffalo Bore .357 Magnum 158gr JHC does exactly that.

None of the .357 Magnum 125gr loads do.
None of the .357 Magnum 110gr loads do.
None of the .38 Special loads do.

.357 Magnum 158gr loads are therefore the only rounds put in that gun's cylinder.