357 Magnum - Do you prefer 125 or 158 gr for combo use?

Rockrivr1

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Looking at some 357 Mag ammo and can trade for either 125 or 158 XTP rounds. What grain size do you prefer for general all around use including plinking? Not sure which way I want to go with this.

What/why do you prefer one over the other?
 
I get better accuracy with 158s in my guns. I also reload so using 158s requires less powder - adds up lol.

Also apparently lighter bullets in 357 mag can cause more forcing cone and top strap erosion in revolvers. So some people prefer heavier 158 gr bullets.
 
Wow as someone new to 357 I’m shocked by the near uniformity here, thinking I’m going back for some more 158s.. Now if only the 9mm fan boys could resolve their 115vs124vs147 issues.

edit..btw, 9mm 135+p FTX is the right answer.
 
Back when I was doing more casting, I'd use the Lee 356-120 TC bullet in most of my .38 Special and .357 Magnum loads.
Dip them in lube, size them at . 358" and load them up. My alloy weighs in about 130 grains.
Granted, not a true magnum load in .357, but it makes for an economical loading.
Can't say my accuracy gets better with any one particular bullet.
 

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Wow as someone new to 357 I’m shocked by the near uniformity here, thinking I’m going back for some more 158s.. Now if only the 9mm fan boys could resolve their 115vs124vs147 issues.

That's easy.
115 is what you get from the factory.
124 is a good middle of the road load. Good for paper, good for steel, good for USPSA/IDPA
147 is good for subsonic or near subsonic loads. Great for USPSA/IDPA where you're minimizing the felt recoil.

Personally, I load 124 grn over 4.0 of Titegroup. It functions reliably in all of the 9mm guns that my wife and I have.

I've got some 147grn .355 - I use it to load .357sig.
 
Wow as someone new to 357 I’m shocked by the near uniformity here, thinking I’m going back for some more 158s.. Now if only the 9mm fan boys could resolve their 115vs124vs147 issues.
Several vendors often have the 158gr FMJ RNFP bullets available for reasonable.

Use the Lyman 358315 if you want a .357 magnum whacker load. Use a .38 Special case, so the bullet base doesn't bulge the case.
 

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Looking at some 357 Mag ammo and can trade for either 125 or 158 XTP rounds. What grain size do you prefer for general all around use including plinking? Not sure which way I want to go with this.

What/why do you prefer one over the other?
Ah, someone looking to get into the CMP store, no doubt. ;)

125 is supposedly the self defense round. It's fast and flat if you're target shooting. Makes a hell of a boom lots of flash, is supposedly harder on your gun, and kicks more. I personally target shoot with 158, but have a bunch of 125 on hand as well that I use from time to time. I'd load with 125 if I was carrying it, but I've got other handguns far easier to conceal than a 6" Dan Wesson revolver.
 
I've been using PPU 158 gr that they advertise at just over 1600 fps. It's a nice load out of a 5"barrel and I'd love to try it in a 20 inch lever action. At this point in time I'd buy whatever .357 was available.
 
When I shoot my revolver at the range I shoot either ".38 spl" or ".357 Magnum" out of it.

If I have ammo in the right caliber the weight doesn't seem to matter much. .357 just goes BOOM a lot more, and is fun especially for new shooters. 158gr seems to be the most commonly found, and it's JSP.

For "Carry" the answer is 135 grain. Hornady .357 Magnum "Critical Duty" with FlexLock bullets.

If my 66-8 is holstered (whether worn or in my nightstand), this is what's in it.

 
I bought 5000 125 GR JHPs from Midway (I think) years ago and I loaded them fairly hot. My wheel guns like them and my carbines love them.
I also load 150 and 158 GR cast lead bullets with a gas check and hard lube. Those shoot very well too.
My favorite target load is 148 GR HBWCs loaded light. I'm not near my load area but if I recall it was something like 3.2 grains of Bullseye. But it might be Unique. Either way, they are very soft shooting and the accuracy is unreal.
 
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