07-24-2009, 06:32 PM #12. claybird. Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, State Agency: Originally Posted by Hick. Illinois Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: I've been loading a 180gr. Becoming one of my favorite powders for .32 and .38 revolvers. Personally, it would never go into a semi auto that had a partially supported chamber, never. I am looking for a powder I can use for both lead/target loads for the 357 Magnum that I can also use for 38 Special loads. Maximum versatility? All entries must be received by giveaway end date. I'll be picking some up in 2 weeks. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, State Agency: Contest void where prohibited by law. I'll expand and experiment once I fully understand what I'm doing. New York Department of Environmental Conservation, State Agency: No purchase necessary. Available in 1 lb., 4 lb. Subscribe To GUNS Magazine. The minimum charge of WW296 (H-110 same stuff ) Winchester used to publish in the re-loading pamphlet was 14.5gr and SP Magnum primer, under a 158gr SWC. cast, but bullet is unstable and not All information is provided "as is" with all faults without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Much cheaper to load your own. Customer experience was, and still is, the primary focus, a key to the firms longevity and success. The Hornady 158 XTP-JHP over 15.5 grains of H110 is just under 1,600 fps in the Marlin and Rossi .357 leverguns. JHP, 125 gr. If I was starting out to load a magnum pistol, like .357, .41, .44, or T/C/Ruger-Only .45 Colt, I'D want Alliant 2400 to learn on. Lets cut to the chase. A stiff .357 load is plenty of punch for a relatively delicate animal like a whitetail. HP-38. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. ), (See note on Powders below or read all about various Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for DILLION CARBIDE 45 LONG COLT 3 DIE SET #14405 NOS RELOADING at the best online prices at eBay! Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association, Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. Hammer Women Of Distinction Award, Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship, National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program, The Mismatched Model 27: A Curious Revolver, The Colt Mk III Lawman: A Forgotten Revolver, Retro Review: Smith & Wesson LadySmith Revolvers. ETA: Nevermind. References: 2009 Hodgdon Website .357 Magnum loads Accurate Arms Co. 1996 Not only is this excellent accuracy, it is a . Trail Boss is an awesome powder for loading the 158 grain semiwadcutter to moderate magnum levels, retaining good performance and fun without inducing arthritis. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. It is just a guide and the reason you should start under these charges and work up. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Second Media Corp., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. From my perspective in this stage of my life if I could have only one centerfire rifle, it would be a .357 Magnum levergun, with my first choice being the Marlin 1894. I have Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. Some recommend 2400 powder. The loads are not updated yearly. Free shipping for many products! The Handgun Reloading Then theres Bullseye. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. Hand loading self-defense ammo isnt recommended so well table that, but you can load up practice rounds that can approximate your chosen self-defense loads. I have probably tried a little of every thing and I seem like Titegroup a little better than any other pistol powder that I have used. No. For heavy loads, the Speer A 50-ft target with the .357 Blackhawk using 158-grain cast flatpoints with 7.0 grains of Unique. section of the Speer Reloading Manual Number 14 Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. I think 2400 is the most versatile and forgiving of the propellants commonly used in magnum pistol powders. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. SWC+GC, 160 gr. use hot loads). 125 gr. Ive also never loaded a factory round into my Model 13 and had it shoot to point of aim the way I want it to. Arizona Game & Fish Department, State Agency: And the .45 Schofield cowboy loads recorded lower velocities than expected but delivered excellent accuracy. So, youll need a .357 magnum firearm and a reloading press to really enjoy the cartridge. I load this bullet over 13.0 grains of H110 and 12.0 grains of #2400. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: One of my favorite heavy bullets is the 200-gr. For smaller game, Ive stuffed a 90-grain lead bullet into a case over a slight charge of Bullseye for a quiet, soft-shooting round that has taken many rabbits, squirrels and grouse by headshot. Note: A full I also like to load a 148 grain wadcutter with Autocomp, and find its superbly accurate with more thump but better range to 50 yards. I just use a minimum charge of 15gr of 296 with 158gr coated lead bullets. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. . For most of my big-bore sixgun loads I use straight wheelweights for loads under 1,100 fps; however, with the smaller diameter .357 Magnum bullets I prefer a harder alloy and normally mix lead and type metal in equal amounts. My most-used load these days in a .357 Magnum sixgun is the Lyman #358156GC bullet over 14.0 grains of #2400. and Hodgdon HS-6 powders excellent for low and medium velocity loads Not bad for jacketed either, but wont launch em near as fast as 2400 or H110. For my hunting / power loads , 2400. Like Marc said, I'd want data specific to your bullet. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Dillon Precision 14400 38 Spl 357 Mag Pistol 3 Three Die Set Carbide Brand New at the best online prices at eBay! Hodgdon CFE Pistol is best suited for cartridges producing the middle range of power (non-magnum pistol loads in most calibers including 500 S&W). Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, State Agency: Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives. Thanks for your patience. If you want to download your .357 Magnum ammo 2400 is a better choice. (I) Giveaway ends September 30, 2021. Winchester Rifle Primers. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, State Agency: SAFETY DATA SHEET. For any loads over 900 FPS, I suggest using a jacketed bullet. Winchester #209 777 Primers - 100-Pack. This is a good load. All with good results. Location: Colorado, USA. This includes the majority of mainstream handgun rounds including the 9mm, 38 Special, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP. They are all determined experimentally. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Posts: 3,825. Contest void where prohibited by law. Lets just say midway tween low and high , In my opinion the K frames just aren't stout enuf for a steady diet of high pressure stuff. Note: Hodgdon as of 2009 controls IMR and Winchester Powders. Paul, I just looked at the online loading center for Hodgdon. As others have said, Power Pistol. Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: Read More Handloading Articles Every cowboy needs a revolver. of what some consider a forgotten Magnum! Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. This is super-low recoiling, and in a relatively heavy gun like a S&W 686, you may find shorter split times than the autoloader shooters. They claim it is position insensitive but, I am not buying that. Back. the original magnum pistol cartridge, was introduced in 1935 by Smith Just depends on what kinds of loads you plan to shoot. . JavaScript is disabled. You are using an out of date browser. ballistics tables call for a muzzle velocity of 1450 fps for the 125 Figure 3. Thanks for all the input guys. flatnose hard cast bullet. But, this isn't the best powder for 900 f/s loads. I am used to lighter bullets for 38 SC and 9 Major but I see most of the people use heavier bullets in .357? Powders .) Deployed military should use stateside address. Recipe for 230 grain round nose powder coated .45ACP, Need couple pieces of 38 SC or 38 TJ brass. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. We try 2 different powders, Hodgdon Lilgun and Alliant 300-MP. But if you dont want to buy a new gun to try them out, you can get by with the .357 magnum. That's with magnum primers. HP38 is probably as fast as I would go, but in my case, 10.1 grs. 231,100% burnt at 1.85 inches of barrel length. For large game, the Hornady FTX projectiles reign supreme. MV is 1360 fps and the ME is 575 ft. lbs. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. of True Blue, a WSPM and a 125 gr. (There are some loads for a 90 gr. The famous .357 Magnum, To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. As most revolver cartridges fade further into obscurity every year, the .357 continues to have new life breathed into it by ammunition companies and gun manufacturers who recognize the demand for this venerable cartridge. Due to different barrel lengths, type of bullet, seating depth, primer type and other factors, you may not get near the FPS charted. I use Clays in .38s. full loads. I do like H110 in the .357 and .44 in both the revolvers and the carbines. I purchased my first when they first came out and our family has added three more since then. If you find your way down to Rod & Gun of New Bedford Sunday you can try some of my .38 loads. I get 950 fps with an Ideal 358156GC flat nose cast bullet and 3.7 grains of 700x out of my Henry rifle in .357. grains of H110 powder will drive the 140 grain bullet to a MV of 1323 I highly recommend using 2 different powders to achieve the best results or those 2 very different rounds. My friend the late John Wootters raised this question in an article from 1983 and even before this, in November 1982, Ken Waters published Pet Loads for the .357 Magnum Carbine.. can also shoot all .38 Special ammunition. If you have If it's a hunting load or full power defense load your after, a slower powder designed for magnums will give you more versatility. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. davestarbuck posted this 06 December 2010. 12 gauge. engine block. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Remington's Nylon 66 semi-automatic .22 LR rifles have grown from 1950s bargain buys to 21st century collectors darlings. The .38 Special has a Max pressure of 17,000 PSI whereas the .357 Magnum can go as high as 35,000 PSI. My most-used load these days in a .357 Magnum sixgun is the Lyman #358156GC bullet over 14.0 grains of #2400. I don't have any Titegroup right now or I would try it. But it may depend on your definition of 'full power'. 38/. I use 3.5 gr of Red Dot, and a 105 gr Lee SWC in .38 special cases for my Cowboy Action/Snub Nose Training/Plinking/New Shooter load. Like they say, this is close enough for government work. 357 Magnum (Cowboy Action) 38 Special (Cowboy Action) 38-40 Win. Mississippi Deptartment of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks, State Agency: .357 hunting loads can be tweaked to take deer sized game and smaller. Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, State Agency: cartridges. If that works for you, forge onward. The last one, a brand-new Remington/Marlin, came from my local gun shop a couple months back. Not sure of your experience level , ya need to get some manuals and study up the bullet weights your gonna shoot. (1995) Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and It may not display this or other websites correctly. Head to the range this week with American Rifleman staff as they discuss a trim little repeater from Savage Arms that comes chambered for the .22 WMR cartridge. Discussion: Universal and Unique are good for lighter bullets, but if you want They list 4 gn of Unique will give 900 FPS with a 140gn bullet. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM May 2023, P.O. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Here are the features to watch out for. Due to different barrel lengths, type of bullet, seating depth, primer type and other factors, you may not get near the FPS charted. unique seems to work for all my handgun loads. It would be great if I could also use it for .44 mag and .44 special. We don't want you to blow yourself or your guns up either. vtducrider said: Not looking for full power 357mag loads. July 31, 2021. These bullets have a cannelure. Bullseye is also good in .38 Special. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. The Browning was dropped in 1986 but the Marlin and Rossi remain and we also have the .357 Magnum available in both 1873 and 1892 Winchesters, the Henry Big Boy and for a while, Ruger even offered their bolt action, five-shot, stainless steel Model 77/357. +1 on Hellbents slant on Titegroup in the .357 . I have found Winchester W231 I'm thinking Unique, but I'm not sure. (I) Giveaway ends December 31, 2022. The Hornady 140 grain FTX bullet is different from other 357 jacketed bullets a couple of important points need to be made right off: Cases will need to be trimmed to 1.240" instead of the usual 1.290". upper mid, etc. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Newer magnum cartridges eventually surpassed it in power, but Shellholders: Lee #1 It's also useful in somewhat reduced loads for the 357 and 44 magnum cartridges. The best powder I've used, and I've tried many, is . Not only is this excellent accuracy, it is a significant increase in muzzle velocity. There is also the issue of lead vapor to breathe if on an indoor range. )(2009 Note: Some of these loads are from 1996 and in the passing years the powder companies have reduced their maximum loads particularly ones that have been around a long time like Unique. It gives the same or better velocities than Hodgdon's H110 and Wichester's Win296 (which are the same powder and either would be my second choice with Herc 2400 coming in third) at about 2/3 the pressure. When you want to go up to heavier loads in the mag cases try IMR4227 or 2400. I'm assuming I can just use any 170 gr bullet data but want to make sure. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. Can't seem to find any load data for these specific bullets. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM February 2023, P.O. Bullets are .357 for jacketed and .358 for lead in diameter. I love it because of how well it meters in my Dillon powder measure. If you do use Titegroup, be aware that it is a particularly compact powder. (Photo: Andy C). Two guns, one cartridge: The Marlin 1894 and the Ruger Old Model. Life is worth living make every minute of every day count for you. You can. (Photo: Andy C). The "U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, Model of 1903," better-known as the M1903 Springfield, has become one of the most popular U.S. military small arms to collect. State Agency: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, State Agency: Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. No you will not. Federal Centerfire Primers. Below, are three loaded rounds. One for heavy loads and one for light. Optimal accuracy? Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. There certainly is no argument when using a .357 Magnum levergun. Id like to make the case that everyone who loves shooting should have a place in their safe and on their shelves for a .357 Magnum firearm and ammunition. .357 Magnum factory in the field and very accurate. I don't want to blow myself up right away. Unique and Winchester 231 seem to be two common powders that show up under both calibers in the Hornady reloading manual. Also 231, which is a completely different type of powder and meters better. Due to different barrel lengths, type of bullet, seating depth, primer type and other factors, you may not get near the FPS charted. check out the. 38 Special - +P 125 Grain SJHP - Remington HTP - 500 Rounds - Best Low Recoil 38 Special Ammo. I use 4.2 grs. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. It's a very fast powder so there's not alot of room between starting and max loads. They show 2400 as the best powder to use for reloading the .357 Magnum cartridge. Lead bullets are great for such high-volume shooting. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. (Photo: Andy C). Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. It is just a guide and the reason you should start under these charges and work up. (158gr and heavier) All will do a very good job so pick the one that's made by the company you like best, look up the proper charges and load up . But you can download a .357 magnum to get a round that still has the powerful feel but is a little less harsh on the hands. The benefits of this are twofold. If handgun hunting is your thing, or you want to carry a revolver for protecting from four-legged predators in the wild, the FTX bullet doesnt provide as much benefit as it does in a rifle. .357 Magnum hunting loadout. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. For lead bullets, Unique is great. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. If you are looking for a target/plinking load for your 357's I have found using 5.5 grains of Unique behind either a 158 grain LSWC or Rainier Plated bullet to be very accurate and pleasurable to shoot. 2, No. 10 gauge. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. The bullet gets a clean kill without fragmenting. Unique is a great choice. Theres no single cartridge that can do everything, especially not with affordability in mind. Bianchi Speed Strips are a compact loading device for revolvers . Full power .357 magnum loads out of a rifle can be fired all day with a satisfying thump and authoritative impact on reactive targets downrange. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. Fast Pistol Powder: Accurate #2 (My Favorite) Accurate #2 is an interesting powder in that it is one of the rare "low density" spherical powders. I have been working up some loads for my 357's (686 6", 27 5", and 28 4") using Alliant Power Pro 300MP. Here's what it's like to shoot this classic scattergun. with unavoidable grey area. The 140 grain bullet can If your looking for cast targets loads I run clays in 38spl with some variety of wad cutter. For a medium velocity load in .357 Magnum cases with 158-160 grain bullets at 1.58" OAL use these as minimum start loads and OK to increase a grain or so as needed to get best accuracy. Not that a single charge would or could be bad, but, because it is so dense, combine that with say, your favorite Glock 22 with a heavy bullet and nowyou are going to have a problem. The same cartridge and rifle can be used for predator control if you occasionally find the need to deal with marauding coyotes and like to keep a gun by the back door. May not be the 'best' for all of them, but I've used it for .32 H&R Mag, 9mm, .38 Spl, .357 Mag, 45 ACP, and .45 Colt all with decent acceptable results. Just remember, in .357 Magnum, some powders can be too fast. The reason my loads for the .357 Magnum levergun are the same as they are for the .357 Magnum sixgun is simply because the whole point is to be able to use the same load in both. Clays, Universal, HP38, HS6 and H4895 are products of Hodgdon Powders. I've got a closet with at least 10 different powders. Addeddate 2019-02-28 05:18:26 Identifier CompleteReloadingManualForThe357Magnum2004 Identifier-ark ark:/13960/t22c6j49s Ocr ABBYY FineReader 11.0 (Extended OCR) If youre looking for target loads on 38/357 than any fast burning pistol powder will work. The .357 Magnum was developed as a joint effort between Smith & Wesson (S&W) and Winchester, and was formally introduced in 1935. Bullets are .357 for jacketed and .358 for lead in diameter. It is suitable only for full power magnum handgun loads and .30 Carbine loads. If you do use it in your 357Mag revolver, could you do a simple test for us? I'm just putting together a short list to get me going. This morning I shot my first 357mag handloads in my Ruger GP-100. My Speer manual says that Magnum Primers need to be used with w296 and h110 has anyone loaded these powders with standard primers and if so was there any difference? Most likely I'll be loading lead bullets. Experiment and I am sure you will find something that shoots well in your gun, I have. The difference between the 158 and 180 grain bullets on the pins is remarkable. We dont always need full power loads and my more pleasant shooting loads are assembled with H4227. Left to right: 160 gr. Your mileage may vary. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. It burns much cleaner than Bull's Eye and gives great accuracy. back in the 1930s) should reach over 1500 f.p.s. A Cold War era classic with smooth lines, a legendary back story, and an exotic-sounding name, Beretta's Model 71 was definitely a mouse that roared. Several of these can also be used in rifle cartridges, so its good to have This is not John Waynes revolver it is a modern work of art! For reduced power loads in the .357 I've had great success with accuracy from Trail boss. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Muzzle velocity from a 4-5/8 Ruger Old Model Flat-Top are 1,050 fps and 1,150 feet per second respectively. Stay in the know. However, it gains right at 400 fps from the 18-1/2 Marlin 1894 and puts three shots in 3/4 at 45 yards. Missouri Deptartment of Conservation, State Agency: particularly good practice ammunition and with 125 grain bullets shoot A comparatively fast burning powder with a burn rate about the same as Winchester 231 and Alliant Red Dot. I get similar results with the same bullet and 4 to 4.5 grains of W231. found the 140-146 grain bullets to be a good all-around choice for use Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. rules basically demand a .45 ACP moonclip gun, but in IDPA the speedloader-fed .357 magnums are alive and well. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. and H-110, W296 and Hercules 2400 powders excellent for maximum loads No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. These are good full power hunting loads. New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: With standard primers it's a little lower velocity (more like 925). Will you get good performance out of both calibers? In 1935, Smith & Wesson introduced the .357 Magnum. Although a lot of factory ammo for the .357 is loaded light in deference to all those 80 year old guns out there, a full power .357 S&W Mag with those light 125 grain bullets (remember, the cartridge was made for 158 grain bullets at a published velocity of 1500 f.p.s. New Mexico Department of Game & Fish, State Agency: It's awful hard to beat a powder like 296. With Titegroup, say in 45ACP, you most likely could even put a triple charge in that case, I would be afraid of using it in any larger case. Second Media Corp., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Load data is available for 9mm Luger, .38 Super Auto, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .40 S&W, .44 S&W Special, .44 Remington Magnum, .45 ACP and . (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. Indiana Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: However, I've read Unique is hard to meter. H110 and 296 require Magnum primers and like to be loaded at the upper end. I went to the Rainier Plated because they are a bit cleaner to shoot. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Snuffy. I'd like to shoot a few hundred rounds before I do that. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. 3. An area where the .357 Magnum is under appreciated is hunting. So many options, so little experience! No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. Because of Titegroup's density, the ONLY place I will use it is in 380 and below cartridges. Ammo, Inc. Signature .38 Special - 125 Grain TMJ (Total Metal Jacket) Brass Cased Centerfire Pistol Ammunition - Best Stopping Power .38 Special Ammo. Cowboy Action Shooting .357 load. Nevada Department of Wildlife, State Agency: Deployed military should use stateside address. You can try bowling pin shooting or metallic silhouette. These are superbly accurate at distances up to 100 yards and pushed by a stout load of 2400 powder. All kinds of projectiles, all kinds of usesall of them .357. Is it worth my effort in developing 357mag loads using this powder..wondering if it was to fast..I am using 158gr sierra JHP bullets. This same load is awesome in Marlin lever guns, but you might have to modify your bullet a bit depending on what you shoot; Ive seen some Ubertis that didnt care for the rounded flatpoint bullet profile. South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks, State Agency: revolver barrel. Both the Browning B92 and the Rossi Model 92 were based on the Winchester 1892, while the Marlin used a modernized version of their original 1894 levergun. H110 and Win 296 is the most common magnum loads for .357 Magnum. JavaScript is disabled. Hodgdon - 700-X. Contest open to U.S. residents only. If part of your plinking enjoyment is testing new handloads for flat shooting and serious speed, the .357 is a cartridge chemists dream. A forum community dedicated to Ruger firearm owners and enthusiasts. Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. 5, No. Teach them the truth, and let them sort thru the cobwebs of liberalism that have infested their minds. I've found it to be a good all around powder for most straight wall handgun cartridges. 32 H&R Magnum. Big enough that components can be easily handled, small enough not to need special gear, and common enough to be inexpensive. Actually, that propellant is "too fast" but a-ok for reduced power paper punching ammunition with good accuracy. a lightweight .357 or older gun, you may want to start with 13% less than I highly recommend using 2 different powders to achieve the best results or those 2 very different rounds. These two have always worked best for me. In the late 1970s, leverguns chambered in .357 Magnum began appearing. While these arent pleasant to shoot, getting mauled is worse. I'm a little OCD when it comes to reloading and just have to try everything so I can see what the differences are. But for my money no other cartridge does as much as well as the .357 magnum. Let me be the 1st to say that you can never go wrong with Unique. The aforementioned 180 grain lead bullet will give you a definite advantage, especially in bowling pin shooting, while keeping the costs controllable. Cartridge Use & HistoryThe .357 Smith & Wesson Magnum, .357 S&W Magnum, .357 Magnum, or 933mmR as it is known in unofficial metric designation, is a smokeless powder cartridge with a .357-inch (9.07 mm) bullet diameter. Hornady - Critical Defense 38 Special Ammo - Most Versatile 38 Special Ammo. Reloading Handbook, 2nd edition. Handloading also lets you utilize a vast library of .38 Special loads, one of the .357s biggest perks. Heavy Is Accurate. Mike was nice enough to hook me up with some cases and 172gr LSWC bullets. It has shot superbly in S & W "N"-frames of 4, 5, and 6".. and also in a Marlin M1894SC .357Mag . (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Theres not a whole lot under the size of a deer that cant be taken using some .357 Magnum load.