If you use full mag 125gr rounds in the 357mag that would be quite a muzzle blast/noise and recoil and probably poor self defense choice.
Odd�the 125 HP was the 'go to' load for years whilst revolvers were still in vogue. It tallied up a 97% 'One Shot Stop' rate�..everything else was a distant second, including the .45 auto.( Who was that that compiled those statistics�Evan Marshall???)
The noise was impressive for sure, but the muzzle blast was not bad if a quick burning powder was used. A slow powder like 2400, or 4227 which is normally used behind heavier bullets, just about make the 125s prohibitive to shoot in the dark, the flash is so bad.
