Best cheap .38 or .357 factory defense ammo?

TruthTellers · July 27, 2019, 02:49 AM

I got to thinking about this thanks to a topic on another forum where someone said they don't see the point of owning a certain caliber if he can't regularly shoot his preferred defense ammo in it without breaking the bank. It's been so long since I really thought about factory revolver ammo as I reload, so this thinking caught me off guard and I can't think of any factory .38 or .357 ammo that was affordable and also a good performing round.

Most .38 videos I've seen have all been about premium defense ammo and even in that stuff you can have failures. The .357, I've seen Winchester's 110 grain JHP bullet do fine. Light for the caliber, but it worked and IDK any other .357 JHP ammo as cheap as it.

Unlike with 9mm or .40 where Winchester makes some good, affordable JHP's that could be shot regularly, I know of few or no such factory offerings in .38 or .357 that are "affordable" to shoot regularly.

buck460XVR · July 27, 2019, 09:01 AM

Walmart sells Remington 125 gr SJHPs in a 100 round bulk pac. Has a stated MV of 1450fps. I haven't bought any for a while(since I roll my own) but I believe it was around $60 OTD.

wild cat mccane · July 27, 2019, 09:22 AM

Be aware, Remington 125gr SJHP is a known round for hammering the forcing cone.

Look up. I bought a 1,000 rounds at one point before finding this out

Buckeye! · July 27, 2019, 09:26 AM

The UMC 357Mag generates more recoil than Hornady 357mag 125gr FTX...

But I keep it loaded in my 4 inch barreled Security Six

https://youtu.be/z8WNQxIjutc

Gel test. ^^^^^^^^

Ben Dover · July 27, 2019, 09:53 AM

For your self defence ammo, forget the cost and buy the best.

Federal 125 JHP. This stuff has a ton of "Street Cred" with LE.

Carmady · July 27, 2019, 10:08 AM

Remington is having a $3 per box rebate on HTP ammo purchased no later than 7/31.

Lucky Gunner has Rem HTP 357 Magnum 158gr SJHP for $26.75 a box (at least $41 everywhere else I've seen it).

I just bought two boxes, and after shipping and rebates it was $66, or $0.66 per round.

And it's forcing cone friendly.

TruthTellers · July 27, 2019, 10:45 AM

What about .38 fellas?

Sgt127 · July 27, 2019, 10:55 AM

https://www.targetsportsusa.com/fede...8c-p-4457.aspx

Bought a case of this. I’d carry it. Always been a fan of the semiwadcutter.

Or, this

https://www.targetsportsusa.com/remi...21-p-4095.aspx

Free shipping on a case. My UPS guy hates me though.

74A95 · July 27, 2019, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TruthTellers

I got to thinking about this thanks to a topic on another forum where someone said they don't see the point of owning a certain caliber if he can't regularly shoot his preferred defense ammo in it without breaking the bank. It's been so long since I really thought about factory revolver ammo as I reload, so this thinking caught me off guard and I can't think of any factory .38 or .357 ammo that was affordable and also a good performing round.

Most .38 videos I've seen have all been about premium defense ammo and even in that stuff you can have failures. The .357, I've seen Winchester's 110 grain JHP bullet do fine. Light for the caliber, but it worked and IDK any other .357 JHP ammo as cheap as it.

Unlike with 9mm or .40 where Winchester makes some good, affordable JHP's that could be shot regularly, I know of few or no such factory offerings in .38 or .357 that are "affordable" to shoot regularly.

Define affordable. What price range is affordable to you?

TruthTellers · July 27, 2019, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 74A95

Define affordable. What price range is affordable to you?

I can afford anything, my question is what's a cheap .38 or .357 ammo that can be regularly shot during practice that also actually expands.

My price ceiling for that is 65 cents a round.

74A95 · July 27, 2019, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TruthTellers

I can afford anything, my question is what's a cheap .38 or .357 ammo that can be regularly shot during practice that also actually expands.

My price ceiling for that is 65 cents a round.

There's a lot to choose from at that price.

TruthTellers · July 27, 2019, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 74A95

There's a lot to choose from at that price.

Other than Winchester 125 gr +P and 110 gr .357, tell me.

Sgt127 · July 27, 2019, 12:02 PM

Speer Gold dot .38 Special for .44 cents a round.

https://www.targetsportsusa.com/spee...2-p-58579.aspx

.42 cents a round for 158 gr .357 Remington.

https://www.targetsportsusa.com/remi...m2-p-4075.aspx

180 gr .357 Magnum for .48 cents a round.

https://www.targetsportsusa.com/remi...10-p-4077.aspx

Please look at Targetsports. Your options are almost unlimited at your price point.

reteach · July 27, 2019, 12:46 PM

This site is fun to browse around on:

http://www.gunbot.net/ammo/pistol/38special/

Set your own price per round and anything at or under that shows up in red. Too bad there's no sort by bullet type, but the descriptions are clear enough.

I too buy from Target a lot. They have great prices. Selway is another good source.

Buckeye! · July 27, 2019, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sgt127

Speer Gold dot .38 Special for .44 cents a round.

https://www.targetsportsusa.com/spee...2-p-58579.aspx

.42 cents a round for 158 gr .357 Remington.

https://www.targetsportsusa.com/remi...m2-p-4075.aspx

180 gr .357 Magnum for .48 cents a round.

https://www.targetsportsusa.com/remi...10-p-4077.aspx

Please look at Targetsports. Your options are almost unlimited at your price point.

I wonder how that Remington 180gr 35ag SJHP would perform

T. O'Heir · July 27, 2019, 01:19 PM

1036 x 1036 pixels is too big.
Any factory ammo is going to be expensive to shoot regularly. So is any jacketed bullet for reloading. And it'll be worse if you buy the stuff on-line and get to pay shipping and hazmat fees.
Plus you need to try a box of as many brands as you can to find the ammo your revolver shoots best.

Buckeye! · July 27, 2019, 01:28 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzrxH...ature=youtu.be

I answered my own question..... Remington 357mag 180gr SJHP

74A95 · July 27, 2019, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TruthTellers

Other than Winchester 125 gr +P and 110 gr .357, tell me.

Go to target sports, you'l find tons.

Sgt127 · July 27, 2019, 03:00 PM

That 180 Gr has some punch to it. Thanks for the video link.

TruthTellers · July 27, 2019, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckeye!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzrxH...ature=youtu.be

I answered my own question..... Remington 357mag 180gr SJHP

Too much penetration for my tastes, but what it means is the 125 and 158 grain SJHP should work just fine in .357 Mag.

zxcvbob · July 27, 2019, 05:30 PM

Quote:

What about .38 fellas?

148 grain target wadcutters are not bad, especially in lightweight guns. Light recoil, and they penetrate well. They don't expand, but they cut a full-size hole. And they are relatively cheap. Biggest problem with them IMHO is they are slow to reload, so make sure your first 5 or 6 shots do the job.

TruthTellers · July 27, 2019, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zxcvbob

148 grain target wadcutters are not bad, especially in lightweight guns. Light recoil, and they penetrate well. They don't expand, but they cut a full-size hole. And they are relatively cheap. Biggest problem with them IMHO is they are slow to reload, so make sure your first 5 or 6 shots do the job.

Only focusing on advertised defense ammo. While I agree wadcutters aren't bad for the job, they're not advertised as anything other than target ammo.

JERRYS. · July 27, 2019, 07:21 PM

I've found the Remington green box 125gr. sjhp .357 mag ammo to be good. the wwb 110gr. jhp .357 mag ammo is decent for personal protection since youre not in LEO type activity. both are found at walmart for low prices.

wild cat mccane · July 27, 2019, 08:27 PM

What a wadcutter does that a JSP doesn't do, I've never read once. What this mythical advantage is over a JHP, doesn't exist.

And no one is recommending flat JSP...

Additionally, bullet meplats are too small in 357 to matter. So it's not the shape either.

One of the largest myths ever.

zxcvbob · July 27, 2019, 09:00 PM

Quote:

What a wadcutter does that a JSP doesn't do, I've never read once. What this mythical advantage is over a JHP, doesn't exist.

It does the most tissue damage you can get if the bullet fails to expand. (I'm not saying that's *much* more than a round nose bullet, I don't know) And from a short barrel .38, I'm not sure that expansion is reliable for any bullet, and if it is then penetration might be lacking.

That Federal .38 +P HST looks interesting. But the ballistics tests I've seen on it suggest it needs 800 FPS to expand. A snubbie might or might not make 800. OTOH, if it fails to open up you still have a wide meplat like a wadcutter

July 27, 2019, 02:49 AM	#1
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,888	Best cheap .38 or .357 factory defense ammo? I got to thinking about this thanks to a topic on another forum where someone said they don't see the point of owning a certain caliber if he can't regularly shoot his preferred defense ammo in it without breaking the bank. It's been so long since I really thought about factory revolver ammo as I reload, so this thinking caught me off guard and I can't think of any factory .38 or .357 ammo that was affordable and also a good performing round. Most .38 videos I've seen have all been about premium defense ammo and even in that stuff you can have failures. The .357, I've seen Winchester's 110 grain JHP bullet do fine. Light for the caliber, but it worked and IDK any other .357 JHP ammo as cheap as it. Unlike with 9mm or .40 where Winchester makes some good, affordable JHP's that could be shot regularly, I know of few or no such factory offerings in .38 or .357 that are "affordable" to shoot regularly. __________________ "We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."

July 27, 2019, 09:53 AM	#5
Ben Dover Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2013 Location: High up in the Rocky Moun Posts: 665	For your self defence ammo, forget the cost and buy the best. Federal 125 JHP. This stuff has a ton of "Street Cred" with LE. __________________ The soldier's pack is not so heavy a burden as the prisoner's chains. Dwight Eisenhower It is very important what a man stands for. But it is far more important what a man refuses to stand for.

July 27, 2019, 10:45 AM	#7
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,888	What about .38 fellas? __________________ "We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."

July 27, 2019, 01:19 PM	#16
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	1036 x 1036 pixels is too big. Any factory ammo is going to be expensive to shoot regularly. So is any jacketed bullet for reloading. And it'll be worse if you buy the stuff on-line and get to pay shipping and hazmat fees. Plus you need to try a box of as many brands as you can to find the ammo your revolver shoots best. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

July 27, 2019, 09:01 AM	#2
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4,342	Walmart sells Remington 125 gr SJHPs in a 100 round bulk pac. Has a stated MV of 1450fps. I haven't bought any for a while(since I roll my own) but I believe it was around $60 OTD.

July 27, 2019, 09:22 AM	#3
wild cat mccane Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 3,627	Be aware, Remington 125gr SJHP is a known round for hammering the forcing cone. Look up. I bought a 1,000 rounds at one point before finding this out

July 27, 2019, 09:26 AM	#4
Buckeye! Senior Member Join Date: September 1, 2008 Posts: 849	The UMC 357Mag generates more recoil than Hornady 357mag 125gr FTX... But I keep it loaded in my 4 inch barreled Security Six https://youtu.be/z8WNQxIjutc Gel test. ^^^^^^^^

July 27, 2019, 10:08 AM	#6
Carmady Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2013 Location: on the lam Posts: 1,735	Remington is having a $3 per box rebate on HTP ammo purchased no later than 7/31. Lucky Gunner has Rem HTP 357 Magnum 158gr SJHP for $26.75 a box (at least $41 everywhere else I've seen it). I just bought two boxes, and after shipping and rebates it was $66, or $0.66 per round. And it's forcing cone friendly.

July 27, 2019, 10:55 AM	#8
Sgt127 Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2002 Posts: 1,053	https://www.targetsportsusa.com/fede...8c-p-4457.aspx Bought a case of this. I’d carry it. Always been a fan of the semiwadcutter. Or, this https://www.targetsportsusa.com/remi...21-p-4095.aspx Free shipping on a case. My UPS guy hates me though.

July 27, 2019, 12:02 PM	#13
Sgt127 Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2002 Posts: 1,053	Speer Gold dot .38 Special for .44 cents a round. https://www.targetsportsusa.com/spee...2-p-58579.aspx .42 cents a round for 158 gr .357 Remington. https://www.targetsportsusa.com/remi...m2-p-4075.aspx 180 gr .357 Magnum for .48 cents a round. https://www.targetsportsusa.com/remi...10-p-4077.aspx Please look at Targetsports. Your options are almost unlimited at your price point.

July 27, 2019, 12:46 PM	#14
reteach Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2016 Location: Texas Posts: 379	This site is fun to browse around on: http://www.gunbot.net/ammo/pistol/38special/ Set your own price per round and anything at or under that shows up in red. Too bad there's no sort by bullet type, but the descriptions are clear enough. I too buy from Target a lot. They have great prices. Selway is another good source.

July 27, 2019, 01:28 PM	#17
Buckeye! Senior Member Join Date: September 1, 2008 Posts: 849	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzrxH...ature=youtu.be I answered my own question..... Remington 357mag 180gr SJHP

July 27, 2019, 03:00 PM	#19
Sgt127 Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2002 Posts: 1,053	That 180 Gr has some punch to it. Thanks for the video link.

July 27, 2019, 07:21 PM	#23
JERRYS. Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,969	I've found the Remington green box 125gr. sjhp .357 mag ammo to be good. the wwb 110gr. jhp .357 mag ammo is decent for personal protection since youre not in LEO type activity. both are found at walmart for low prices.

July 27, 2019, 08:27 PM	#24
wild cat mccane Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 3,627	What a wadcutter does that a JSP doesn't do, I've never read once. What this mythical advantage is over a JHP, doesn't exist. And no one is recommending flat JSP... Additionally, bullet meplats are too small in 357 to matter. So it's not the shape either. One of the largest myths ever.