For with 357 SP-101s, what's your self defense load?

[DMK]

What round do you load your 357 SP-101 with for self defense?

Please elaborate, brand, bullet, reasons, etc below.

(The poll title is a typo, it should say "What's your SD round?")

[amd6547]

Well, I had a 3" SP101, but I've changed to a 3" GP100.
I have 125gn Critical Defense, 125gn Rem Umc, 145gn Silvertip, and 158gn XTP.
I'd be comfortable using any of those for self defense.

[Moenie]

I don't have an SP101 anymore. I either now carry a pair of S&W640 (New York reload) or a S&W386.

I've been carrying 125gr Rem Golden Saber rounds and they have been accurate in all my revolvers, the recoil isn't bad, and given their profile they load pretty easy.

I haven't killed anybody yet ... hell, I haven't even shot anybody, so I cannot say how they will work on an assailant.

[Sanch]

Hi DMK,

I like your choice of .38 Special +P loads in .357 Mag revolvers for self-defense.

The FBI Load used to be the definitive law enforcement .38 Special duty load.

Very recently, I was told by an armorer employed by a large So Cal law enforcement agency that the 135 grain Speer Lawmen God Dot HP +P has become the new definitive .38 Special gold standard duty cartridge, except no cop of whom I'm aware carries a .38 Special.

[dontcatchmany]

My wife is currently using my SP101 with the Federal HST Micro 130 gr wadcutter.

[mrt949]

I Have a 2.2 & 4.2 Remington 125 jhp.

[105kw]

Either 38+P, 158gr swc-hp, the FBI load, or 135gr Gold dot plusP.

[Radny97]

135 gr Gold Dot 38+p


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[TJB101]

Our SP101 357 sits in my wife’s desk drawer ... 38 +p ... tad softer for her than 357’s.

[DMK]

I took my SP101 and S&W 640 along with a bunch of different 357 ammo to the range yesterday. After testing for POI to the POA with the fixed sights at 15 yards, it looks like both guns favored 158gr over 125gr. All the 125gr loads shot about 2-3" low at this distance. (It's a shame. The 125s had noticeably less recoil.)

Both guns liked Remington 158gr HTP, so it looks like that's what I'll be using. Lucky Gunner gel testing shows this round as a good performer out of a snubby.

Federal 158gr Hydra-Shok was a close runner up, with the 640 grouping slightly better than the SP101 with this round. Scubaoz gel test showed this to be a nasty round out of a snubby as well.

Interestingly, Winchester 148gr 38 Special Wadcutters keyholed out of the SP101, though the oblong and torn holes were at POA. (I brought those for some relief on my wrists and to check for flinch after shooting back to back magnums!) These rounds shot beautifully out of the 640.

[DMK]

Very recently, I was told by an armorer employed by a large So Cal law enforcement agency that the 135 grain Speer Lawmen God Dot HP +P has become the new definitive .38 Special gold standard duty cartridge, except no cop of whom I'm aware carries a .38 Special.

I've heard NYPD uses this round for snubby BUGs. Might be just rumor.

[DMK]

My wife is currently using my SP101 with the Federal HST Micro 130 gr wadcutter.

I use that round in my S&W 649 and my S&W 642. I use the Speer 135gr Gold Dot in HKS speedloaders for a reload. I just can't make the HSTs work with a speedloader and I'm not a fan of speed strips.

The HSTs are actually hollow points, not wadcutters. Though they sure do resemble wadcutters.