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View Full Version : Winchester 180gr Partition Gold .357 Alternatives?


Eliakim
07-11-10, 16:52
The XPB's should also be a good .357 projectile--I'll see if we can shoot some Barnes .357 Mag loads next gel test.

Unfortunately it appears from the MidwayUSA website that the fine (S357P) Winchester 180gr Partition Gold .357 magnum ammo has been discontinued by the manufacturer :(

see link here: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=534806

Is the (P357XB1) Federal Premium Vital-Shok 140 Grain Barnes XPB Hollow Point our best alternative for self defense use in a 4" or more .357 magnum revolver? Or maybe the Hornady LEVERevolution 140 Grain Flex Tip, or the trusty old (X357SHP) Winchester 145 Grain Silvertip good choices as well for SD?
Pumpkinheaver
07-11-10, 17:45
Do you want a 180 grain bullet like the partition gold? If so the 180gr XTP from hornady is a good 180gr bullet. Not sure if it comes in loaded ammo at this time.
DocGKR
07-11-10, 19:23
Interesting question, as we have not tested .357 mag in a while. Based on results in other calibers, I suspect the XPB load will likely be acceptable. Don't know about the Hornady Flex tip from a 4". The old Silver Tip is OK.
mrwickwire
07-11-10, 19:50
Looks like the 158 grain XTP is the heaviest loaded ammo available from Hornady. I would go with this one.

It seems most of the heavy bullets these days are plain soft points or lead cast bullets.
Eliakim
07-11-10, 21:02
Interesting question, as we have not tested .357 mag in a while. Based on results in other calibers, I suspect the XPB load will likely be acceptable. Don't know about the Hornady Flex tip from a 4". The old Silver Tip is OK.

Thanks Doc, I think I'll pick up some of the Federal .357 Barnes XPB's and see how they shoot in my S&W.

It's too bad that Winchester apparently discontinued their 180gr. Partition Gold .357 loads. It must not have been selling well enough to maintain production.
RWK
07-12-10, 13:20
It's too bad that Winchester apparently discontinued their 180gr. Partition Gold .357 loads. It must not have been selling well enough to maintain production.

I talked to folks at Nosler about the lack of service caliber ammunition using the Partition Gold projectiles. According to them, the said ammunition manufacturer decided to develop their own house-brand projectiles rather than invest in Partition Gold projectiles.
Pumpkinheaver
07-12-10, 17:51
The 180 partition gold load is still on their website. Where did you hear that it was discontinued? I liked this load for hunting when I didn't have time to load my own.
Glock17JHP
07-13-10, 13:17
Winchester still shows the load on their website...

http://www.winchester.com/Products/handgun-ammunition/supreme/partition-gold/Pages/default.aspx?c=357+Magnum
Glock17JHP
07-13-10, 13:17
I will email Paul Nowak about it...
Fail-Safe
07-13-10, 13:48
The Remington 165gr Core-Lokt might be a viable option. You'll really have to look, as I think it was discontinued. However, CDNN had truck loads of the stuff.
RWK
07-13-10, 18:28
The Partition Gold handgun loads are still listed on Winchester's website but, they're not making them anymore.


The 180 partition gold load is still on their website. Where did you hear that it was discontinued? I liked this load for hunting when I didn't have time to load my own.


Winchester still shows the load on their website...

http://www.winchester.com/Products/handgun-ammunition/supreme/partition-gold/Pages/default.aspx?c=357+Magnum
Glock17JHP
07-13-10, 20:19
When asked about whether or not Winchester still makes the .357 Magnum 180 grain Partition Gold, Paul Nowak said: "This product is obsolete". I have asked him to elaborate, and will post what he says here.

Not having this load as an option, I would choose either the 158 grain Hornady XTP, or the 158 grain Speer Gold Dot... depending on the scenario I expected to encounter.

This all assumes a need to have the choice be an actual .357 Magnum load. If I had a 4" S&W Model 66 or 686, I would maybe want a .38 Special +P load instead for SD.
tpd223
07-13-10, 20:35
IIRC, the 125gr and 158gr Gold Dots test well, and the low recoil 135gr loadings isn't bad at all.
Glock17JHP
07-15-10, 13:06
When I asked Paul Nowak to elaborate on the 180 grain PG not being offered any longer, he said :

"It happened this year and there is no replacement at this time."

That is all I know, the 180 grain PG is no longer... if you have any, keep it for serious usage only!!!