Winchester .357 145 silvertip

[TN-Green]

Is there a difference in recoil with the 145 grn silvertip (which I shot this weekend) from 125 grn mags? I own a S&W 686+ 4".

[armsmaster270]

I thought the .357 Silvertips were 140gr in my mod 19 or 586 I don't notice any difference.

[TN-Green]

I have heard some diff thoughts on muzzle flash low light and that the silvertips were designed for low flash/ lower recoil. At the range on Friday I will try some 125 grn. and try the diff.

[Laz]

I find the Silvertips to be stout but not as objectionable to shoot as the full velocity 125 grain loads. That said, based on factory specs, the Silvertips should produce slightly more recoil the way I figure it. 145x1295/7000=26.825 versus 125x1450/7000=25.893. Pretty close actually with perhaps a bit less drama with the 145 Silvertips. At least that's my take on it.

[Webleymkv]

In my experience, the Silvertips will have more felt recoil and muzzle rise than the 125's but less flash and noise.

[vanilla_gorilla]

I concur with webleymkv. I have used both Federal and Remington 125 JHPs, and neither had as much recoil as the Silvertips, but both were noticeably louder.

[Gun 4 Fun]

Recoil is a subjective thing. The old saying that heavier bullets produce more recoil has never rang true to me, either in a rifle or a handgun. Remember Newton's law-For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Point being, that the faster a bullet is being pushed down the bore by the expanding gasses, the faster the gun wants to recoil in the opposite direction, making the gun "feel" like it's recoiling harder, when it's actually just recoiling faster. My experience has been that the 125's seem to recoil as much as, or more than anything heavier.

[Laz]

TN-Green, looks like the only thing to do is get some of each and shoot the danged things out of your 686+. It's a tough job but somebody's gotta do it. ;)

[TN-Green]

Yea I hear you. YEAH!!

[HarryCalahan1]

It also depends heavily on what gun you fire the 145 grain Silvertip in! If you use a 4" revolver you will definitely get more recoil! But in a 6" Colt Python I doubt you'd experience much recoil.;)

I have a 6" model 66-1 but haven't tried this load in it. I've heard it's not good to fire too many full house .357 rounds in this K-Frame gun. Anybody have any thoughts or experience on this??:confused:

[Gun 4 Fun]

I've owned several K-frames. They'll take a lot more shooting with full on loads than they're given credit for. I can't remember if it's Dave Arnold or Jan Liboural, of Guns and Ammo magazine, but one of them has a K frame with over 10,000 full house rounds through it, and the last time I read anything by them/him, it was still going strong.
The big complaint with the K's was flame cutting of the top strap with the hot 125 gr. loads.
The average person won't wear out a K, unless they're shooting thousands of rounds a year of full power stuff. If that's what turns you on then you should get a gun designed for that.

[Nanuk]

All revolvers flame cut, the 110 grn magnum was the worst for that. The best thing you can do is take your revolver in to a good gunsmith and have the forcing cone re-cut. K-frames hold up just fine to magnums. The Border Patrol had some old model 19's that were tighter than the new GP100's. The GP100's also wore out faster with a steady diet of hot magnums than the Smiths did.

[mavracer]

It also depends heavily on what gun you fire the 145 grain Silvertip in!
ya! they kinda sting a little out of my M&P 340.

[Tom2]

I like em, I got my 66 sighted in for them and keep a speedloader or two stuffed with them as the go-to load for the gun. I have not fired any lately, as the prices I have seen make me gag. But same for any other premium brand magnums. The only brand I have bought lately is Fiocchi, they seem to perform fine/cost less but I got them mainly for a Marlin. I did not note recoil with the S.T. as being objectionable in that gun but I have wrap around rubber grips installed. Can't comment on flash, have not fired them at night! But a good feature to have, the low flash signature. Also have a box of the Federal 125's that made the modern magnums reputation, but now they are almost collectable and all are intact. Otherwise I used to shoot alot of handloads to save $$$ on mag. ammo.

[skeeter1]

145gr. Winchester Silvertip .357s are among my favorites. Same goes for 125gr .38Spl+P Silvertips. They're as expensive as h**l, but low muzzle flash, and plenty powerful enough for anything I can imagine. I wish I could shoot them all the time, but at $40/box, I don't shoot them very often. Still, the .38 Silvertips are what I keep in my bedside gun. I have 100% confidence in them. :D

[BillCA]

The way I figure it is this...

Model 686 4" - 40oz
WIN 145g STHP @1295 fps = 540 ft-lbs with 6.99 ft-lbs recoil
REM 125g SJHP @1450 fps = 584 ft-lbs with 6.61 ft-lbs recoil

Model 66 4" - 37oz
WIN 145g STHP @1295 fps = 540 ft-lbs with 10.36 ft-lbs recoil
REM 125g SJHP @1450 fps = 584 ft-lbs with 9.79 ft-lbs recoil

In other words, for the same gun, the felt recoil should be very close. What will be different is the feel of the recoil itself. The 125's seem to impart a higher "pitch" feel of recoil - like a stinging slap, while the 145's have a lower "pitch" - more of a thump, to my senses.

[Gun 4 Fun]

Right on BillCA- that is what I was saying in my first tag above.