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M1Rifle30-06 · March 10, 2013, 07:26 PM

I know this has been discussed before but I can't really find a definitive answer. Perhaps there is none?

Anyway, I recently bought a Smith and Wesson model 19 4 inch blued. Pre-lock and pre-mim of course, pinned barrel and recessed chambers. I love this gun!

Over the past month I've shot about 2000 rounds of .38 Special practice ammo and a few hundred rounds of various .357 Mag. I feel confident in my abilities with it now, so I'm ready to start carrying it. I know it's not the smallest or lightest carry gun, but I've carried bigger and heavier.

Anyway, I want to carry it with a .357 mag load that is really suitable for home defense and concealed carry. I don't want it to be so powerful and hard recoiling that follow up shots are difficult, but I don't want the watered down loads either (then I might as well just use .38 +p's). What is a good decently powerful but practical self defense load? Such as 125 grain 1450 fps load, but with lower flash and recoil?

March 10, 2013, 07:26 PM	#1
M1Rifle30-06 Senior Member Join Date: May 5, 2012 Posts: 118	Best .357 Magnum Ammo for Self Defense? I know this has been discussed before but I can't really find a definitive answer. Perhaps there is none? Anyway, I recently bought a Smith and Wesson model 19 4 inch blued. Pre-lock and pre-mim of course, pinned barrel and recessed chambers. I love this gun! Over the past month I've shot about 2000 rounds of .38 Special practice ammo and a few hundred rounds of various .357 Mag. I feel confident in my abilities with it now, so I'm ready to start carrying it. I know it's not the smallest or lightest carry gun, but I've carried bigger and heavier. Anyway, I want to carry it with a .357 mag load that is really suitable for home defense and concealed carry. I don't want it to be so powerful and hard recoiling that follow up shots are difficult, but I don't want the watered down loads either (then I might as well just use .38 +p's). What is a good decently powerful but practical self defense load? Such as 125 grain 1450 fps load, but with lower flash and recoil?