The dreaded question, where is the best place for .357 , .44 wheel gun ammo ?

[Pappabear]

What are you guys practicing with and using for home defense?
Where do you buy it ? What kind of prices should I expect?
I have experience with 38+ and 357 but I'm still all ears.
I really need help on forty four.

Thanks fellas.

[titsonritz]

Start here, put in your zip and you will get an accurate PRC (per round cost).

http://gun-deals.com/list/ammo/.44+Magnum

[KUSA]

You can try this.

http://www.gunbot.net/ammo/pistol/44mag/

[Coal Dragger]

If you already reload for your rifles, now would be a good time to start reloading for your wheel guns. Reloading for revolvers is probably the easiest and cheapest (compared to factory ammo) reloading you're ever going to find. Plus brass recovery at the range is as simple as dumping empties into a bucket.

[Straight Shooter]

In MY handguns..SPEER GOLD DOT is almost all I use. In .38 its the 125gr GD +P. In .357 the 125gr GD. In 9mm either the 124gr +P GD or Winchester Ranger 127gr +P+. In .45ACP 230gr. GD...230gr Magtech +P...or Hornady 230HP's. Also have a stash of .223 55gr GD's Im saving for SHTF.
Im sure somebody will come along and disagree or criticize..but its what I use.

[Pappabear]

Thanks guys

[Eurodriver]

In MY handguns..SPEER GOLD DOT is almost all I use. In .38 its the 125gr GD +P. In .357 the 125gr GD. In 9mm either the 124gr +P GD or Winchester Ranger 127gr +P+. In .45ACP 230gr. GD...230gr Magtech +P...or Hornady 230HP's. Also have a stash of .223 55gr GD's Im saving for SHTF.
Im sure somebody will come along and disagree or criticize..but its what I use.

I shoot like 300+ rounds of 9mm every time I hit the range.

Gold dots cost like 5x more than my reloads. How much do you shoot?

[Coal Dragger]

Or alternatively how much money do you have to be burning up a bunch of premium ammo?

[SeriousStudent]

I shoot a lot of S&B and Magtech for range chow.

I shoot Gold Dot's for self defense chow.

I order both from SGAmmo, just across the border in Oklahoma.

[mcnabb100]

For .357 I really like mag tech. The 158grn is pretty warm, and makes cool fireballs out of my gp100 :cool: .other than that I use .38 blazer brass. It's cheap and actually available where I live.

[Straight Shooter]

I shoot like 300+ rounds of 9mm every time I hit the range.

Gold dots cost like 5x more than my reloads. How much do you shoot?


Or alternatively how much money do you have to be burning up a bunch of premium ammo?

Dang fellas...the man asked "and using for self defense". At NO TIME did I say or infer I used "premium" ammo as range/practice ammo.
I shoot enough of it in all my handguns to check reliability, accuracy and point of impact, then keep them loaded with it. OF COURE I use cheaper FMJ ammo to practice with. I swear..some of you people KEEP a hard on to start an argument of criticize any little thing.

[Coal Dragger]

I can't criticize your ammo choice, since it's all good ammo. I just thought you were stating that it was all you shot.

[Eurodriver]

I can't criticize your ammo choice, since it's all good ammo. I just thought you were stating that it was all you shot.

Me too. I use Gold Dots exclusively.

[titsonritz]

I buy two type of pistol ammo, Gold Dot and the cheapest I can find for blasting. Wheel gun ammo is little different.

[CAVDOC]

The best place to find good affordable range practice am I is your own reloading bench! Even lowly 38 special factory plinking loads cost three times what my reloads cost to make.

[Straight Shooter]

Ive been real lucky about range ammo this year...my local WM keeps a good amount of Federal/WWB and others in stock, and they keep the Federal Aluminum in stock, and I buy the heck out of it every time I see it. It is way cheaper, and very good range ammo. Not had one single problem with nary a round. Gold Dots, especially in 9mm 124gr +P..my fav..are hard to find and expensive hen you do. But I get em when I see's em.
Also: MAGTECH is making some good ammo. I shoot it too. But on their .45ACP 230gr +P load, they advertise 1007fps. My chrony shows a 10 rnd string average of 960fps...none were over 978fps. Still a hot load tho.

[ColtSeavers]

For .357 magnum:

American eagle 158gr for blasting/range fodder.

Double Tap 158gr SJHP for actual shooting. (dwindling large scale purchase on sale from a few years ago, will be picking a new ammo for serious use shortly)

Speer Gold Dot 135gr +P Short barrel for home defense.


Used to be able to get good ammo for $0.25 a round... now you gotta hunt.

www.ammoseek.com
is what i use for bulk purchases

for testing, i buy a box locally of whatever strikes me as reasonable and worth a shot.

[1986s4]

Anybody use the Buffalo Bore offerings in either .38spl or .357 mag?

[titsonritz]

Anybody use the Buffalo Bore offerings in either .38spl or .357 mag?

Not in 357 but I have used their heavy 44 mag. Stout stuff. Keep in mind this stuff is not for S&W revolvers, it is made for heavy wheel guns like the Ruger Super Redhawk and strong modern carbine like from Marlin. They provide a list of acceptable guns to run their high powered ammo though. Obviously such loads can be hand-rolled just be sure to confine them to an adequately strong weapon.

[Ron3]

In .38 I practice with Geco LRN, PPU LRN. Equal accuracy, PPU recoils less, doesn't spit out as much debris.

I also use various 130 FMJ - 158 gr jacketed loads. Whatever is new, brass cased, and cheapest.

The only reloads I use are from Georgia Arms. 125 gr LSWC's. They are the more accurate than all the loads I listed above.

For .357 magnum I only practice with "mild" magnum loads like 110 gr SJHP's.

For .38 we chose Hornady 125 gr XTP's. They are very accurate. Won't expand much but will penetrate well. The same could be said for almost any .38 load from a snubbie revolver. Might as well choose something that isn't brutal to shoot and is really accurate.

In .357 magnum I like Hornady's Critical Duty. It's a mild, 135 gr load with low flash and blast. Recoil splits the difference between a standard factory .357 mag load and a .38 +p load.

[nml]

For .38 we chose Hornady 125 gr XTP's. They are very accurate. Won't expand much but will penetrate well. The same could be said for almost any .38 load from a snubbie revolver. Might as well choose something that isn't brutal to shoot and is really accurate.It's the same bullet used in the 357 loading correct? Why not use a bullet made for 38 spcl?

[Locutus]

The best place is your reloading press. Aside from that, give Widener's a try.

Sent from my XT1094 using Tapatalk

[mkmckinley]

The best place is your reloading press. Aside from that, give Widener's a try.

Sent from my XT1094 using Tapatalk

Absolutely! I would barely shoot my .38 and essentially never shoot my .44 before getting a reloading press. Now both calibers are downright cheap.

[Ron3]

It's the same bullet used in the 357 loading correct? Why not use a bullet made for 38 spcl?

I don't mind the bullet not expanding much. If it did it may not penetrate enough.

[1986s4]

It's the same bullet used in the 357 loading correct? Why not use a bullet made for 38 spcl?

Most fixed sight .38/.357 revolvers are sighted in for a 157gr. bullet. But I've used 147 to 160 with little to no impact shift. If a HP bullet fails to open up then it's no better/worse than ball but there is an argument for a blunt nose full wadcutter target load that cuts a nice .36 caliber hole in whatever it is able to penetrate.

[nml]

If the bullet doesn't expand it behaves like the XTP or 148 gr LWC anyways. If it does expand you have a 60% larger bullet where Doc got 14-15" of penetration:

.38 Sp Hornady 110 gr +P FTX "Critical Defense", ave vel=940fps
4LD: pen=14.6"; RD=0.46", RL=0.43", RW=109.5gr

0.51" is twice original size (0.46" is 60% more). I would prefer a slightly longer barrel to help guarantee velocity, and expansion. but 1 7/8" is what I got.

Shot placement is king. but I love to debate caliber and load wars.