Factory 357 ammo...recomendations

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I'm getting ready to sell some of my guns to buy a S&W 327 TRR8...an 8-shot 357 with a 5" barrel.

I'm not going to be able to reload for a bit and want some recomendations on factory ammo. I just bought 500 rounds of 38 +p 125g sjhp Remington for my incoming LCR and could also shoot that in the 357, but I was looking for some affordable 357 for paper punching that might have a little more kick than the hot 38 loads. I was thinking of something in the 158g range.

Any recommendations?
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Re: Factory 357 ammo...recomendations

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I have also used Blazer. Just about any 158 gr magnum will be okay for occasional grins. If you want to make an impression get some 124 gr magnum . It is louder and more flash. Get some Buffalo Bore for the real chest thumper.

Any ammo you buy get brass cases so you can save them for reloading later.
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Re: Factory 357 ammo...recomendations

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TrueTexan wrote:I have also used Blazer. Just about any 158 gr magnum will be okay for occasional grins. If you want to make an impression get some 124 gr magnum . It is louder and more flash. Get some Buffalo Bore for the real chest thumper.

Any ammo you buy get brass cases so you can save them for reloading later.
The steel/aluminum cased Blazer has always been horribly dirty and pretty much intolerable at indoor ranges. While cheap for sure, I'd rather spend a few extra bucks a box for brass cased. That...and the aforementioned reloadability. Not quite there yet, but I will have a ton of spent casings when I do.
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Re: Factory 357 ammo...recomendations

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senorgrand wrote:
Bucolic wrote:
atxgunguy wrote:Federal (American Eagle) .357 JSP has always been a great factory load. Clean burning with a lot of kick for 158gr.

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Agree on this although I have limited experience. Nice recoil and chest thumping percussion.
Sounds like just what I'm looking for!
Late to this discussion, but this is what I use, too. It's a nice balance of accuracy, price, and .357 effect. I've never had any issues. I blind load my 3" SP101 with this and generic .38 Special so I never know what's coming next. Keeps me focused. I can only take about 15 rounds of that business before my wrists suggest either moving to the GP100 or sticking solely with .38 Special in the SP.
"I am not a number, I am a free man!" - Number Six

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Re: Factory 357 ammo...recomendations

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LAXammo has decent prices; I just paid $77.50 for 250 rounds of 158 gr; includes the plastic container. Shipping is cheap - $12.53 for me - yours would probably be about the same. Also, I waited for a free shipping sale, which kept the price at 31 cents per round. Get on their mailing list, and they'll send you their sale spam.

I tried Freedom Munitions, but it took them forever to process orders. I canceled and went to LAX. About 5 days later, the ammo was at my door.

Edit Sep 6 2016 - It's down to $72.50 now
Last edited by Aztex999 on Tue Sep 06, 2016 11:38 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Factory 357 ammo...recomendations

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Way late to the party, but I get .357 by the box and still pay less than some of the bulk deals on other good brass-case ammo.

For the levergun, I get Prvi Partizan 158-gr. SJHP's. They have a lot of kick out of a revolver. And at least in the rifle (I'm a terrible shot with revolvers), they act like a laser beam. Brick-and-mortar stores in my area carry it for $21.99 per 50, and I've seen it $19.99 or less online.

In my SP101, I generally use something a good deal more controllable: Sellier & Bellot 158-gr. FMJ. It's 24.99 per 50 at the store nearest me.
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Re: Factory 357 ammo...recomendations

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WilsonLNU wrote:Way late to the party, but I get .357 by the box and still pay less than some of the bulk deals on other good brass-case ammo.

For the levergun, I get Prvi Partizan 158-gr. SJHP's. They have a lot of kick out of a revolver. And at least in the rifle (I'm a terrible shot with revolvers), they act like a laser beam. Brick-and-mortar stores in my area carry it for $21.99 per 50, and I've seen it $19.99 or less online.

In my SP101, I generally use something a good deal more controllable: Sellier & Bellot 158-gr. FMJ. It's 24.99 per 50 at the store nearest me.
Thanks for the tip! I will get some of that.
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Re: Factory 357 ammo...recomendations

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WilsonLNU wrote:
inomaha wrote:Has anyone tried Perfecta?
Haven't seen their .357, but the 9mm is reliable and accurate, if on the weak side.
Wow, Perfecta in .357? At Wally World where you are? Never seen it around these parts but I'd love to try some of that brass cased ammo at that price.
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Re: Factory 357 ammo...recomendations

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Insanely late to the party, these are an extra dime or so per round (in 100 pack) and even juicier.

https://www.underwoodammo.com/357-magnu ... gas-check/

One reviewer claimed chrono confirmation. I haven't tried them, but I've chronoed two Underwood 10 mm loads and got advertised velocity from the 180 XTP and quite a bit low from the 200 gr lead.
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I'm only killing paper and my self-esteem.

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