Suggestion's on .357 ammo for new Blackhawk...

[bwesley]

I have finally paid off my new Blackhawk .357 and was wondering
what kind of ammo is best, whether it be for target or home defense
and what kind of ammo to stay away from.
Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[oso45-70]

bwesley,
I think any name brand ammo. off the shelf well do fine. If you are looking for self defence ammo you might try any of the hollow point bullets
that weigh 158 to 180 gr. Hope you never have to use them for that, Take care...............Joe..............

[Graybeard]

I avoid PMC ammo like the plague I consider it to be. Reckon my favorite is Hornady, love those XTPs. But really other than PMC I've got no complaints about any of the major brands. If you want max power the small companies like Buffalo Bore and COR-BON deliver it.


GB

[Iowegan]

Bullets with weights lighter than 125 grain in the 357 Mag tend to flame cut the top strap. I'd stay with 140 to 158 grain JHP. They are very accurate and have plenty of power. For plinking loads, 38 Specials work real well. You will have a fouling ring in the chambers to clean out but they are inexpensive and put nice holes in the target.

[unspellable]

You mean to tell me the factories make ammo?  And all this time I've been rolling my own?

[LAH]

I like the .357 and use a mid range load of L-358429 & 5.5 grs. of 231 or Unique. I use the same bullet and 15 grs. of H-110 as my full load. Both are very accurate in my sixguns and will handle paper or flesh.

[Steve P]

I load mine also.  If you are buying store bought stuff get the Remington Golden Saber 357 in 125 grain.  If you have a friend in law enforcement, have him get you a box of Winchester 125 grain loads.  Both will be acurate and good for defense (hopefully unnecessary).

Good Luck,

Steve  

[flintlock]

bwesley...I have read in several different places that the 125gr hollow points were what gave the .357 its name as a one shot man stopper...
It didn't seem to matter which factory loading as much as the higher velocity of the 125s, and its ability to mushroom...dropping all  its energy into the body...seems the 158s had a tendency to exit (good for deer, not good on the street)...My Blackhawk likes Federal Classic 125gr best...
flintlock

[LittleWill]

I also have a .357 Blackhawk that I love. Haven't used any PMC ammo yet. But I sure was thinking about it.

 Greybeard or somebody what's the skinny on PMC?

Thanks.

LittleWill

[Robert357]

First the Ruger Blackhawk is one of the "strongest" actions around.  That means you can use +P+ loads in your 357 Mag, if you want to.  

Many reloading manuals have special sections devoted to loading Rugers and TC Contenders to much higher pressure levels than other similar 357 Mag firearms.  The Ruger Blackhawk also has a "long" cylinder.  This gives you some real options on loading very heavy bullets.

I load my own.  I like heavy bullets in my 357 Mag.  I like to use both Honady 180 grain XTP and Remington 180 grain semi-JHP bullets.  I also like Speer 200 grain Total Metal Jacket Silhouette bullets.  

Then if you are a traditionalist there is nothing like a Keith SWC cast lead bullet of about 171 grains.  For heavy defensive or hunting bullets, I prefer a nice amount of Alliant 2400 powder.  

If you are not into handloding and want some  "magnum +P" heavy loads, you can go to the Buffalo Bore bullet company website and check out some of there stuff.  They point out that some of it is comparable to 30-30 rounds in terms of energy.  That has to make a person think a minute.

http://www.buffalobore.com/

The Ruger 357 Mag Blackhawk is a really great revolver.  I have two one in SS with a red dot mounted on it and another in blue just like it came from the factory, with one exception.  Both have target grips, which are more like my 357 Mag Taurus double action in feel.  

The Taurus is nice, but there is no way I would put the kind of handloads I regularly use in my Blackhawks into that Taurus.  

Enjoy your Ruger Blackhawk!  Also experience a few "magnum" rounds as your revolver is up to it!

[Graybeard]

Greybeard or somebody what's the skinny on PMC?

I've had factory PMC blow on the shot. Obviously pressures were way too high.

In several calibers I've observed mulitiple problems with PMC brass. In .44 mag I was loading some once fired cases for a fellow once and when they came out of my tumbler they had some kinda black canker on them. When they got near other brass brands the canker was passed on. I ended up tossing the media and cleaning out my tumbler afterward and tossing all his PMC brass in the trash. I've had .30-30 and other rimmed cases fail to chamber in a TC Contender. Just wouldn't close on them. Measured rim and it was way over SAMMI spec in thickness. There are many other tales of problems I've seen or experienced. I'd not shoot them if free, heck I'd not shoot them if paid to do so.

[Prof. Fuller Bullspit]

I like 158 grain lead semi-wadcutters for target. I load my own. If you don't load and want cheap target ammo look to lead .38 specials. Just make sure you do a good job cleaning the chambers as you will find a ring of carbon and lead because .38's are shorter than .357's.

[LittleWill]

Greybeard,

Thanks much for the reply. That's way too much drama for me to risk using their stuff in my guns!

LittleWill

[Graybeard]

Thanks much for the reply. That's way too much drama for me to risk using their stuff in my guns!

Exactly the way I feel. Others can do as they chose. I merely report my experiences and others can take them for whatever they feel they are worth.