I'm a rifle guy, and have handloaded a BUNCH for various rifle rounds. I own handguns, but finally decided to expand my handgun collection a bit and get into handloading for some of them. I have a new Ruger SP 101 on the way (2.25" barrel), and was curious of some opinions of a good all-around bullet/load for it.

I have a .357 Mag Vaquero that I keep loaded with .357 ammo, so this snub-nosed revolver will get 38 Specials - standard velocity. For everyday carry, I plan on using a factory load of some type suitable for social work. But for practice and carrying out in the desert/woods, and I suppose for social work in those places if need be, what thoughts do you have on a good all-around load? JHP's seem like a good choice, but the semi-wadcutters and the hollow-point semi-wadcutters and that standard velocity sound interesting too. Thanks!

This what I'd probably do to start with:

1. Choose an EDC load first.

2. Choose a SWC or SWCHP or even JHP bullet of close to the same weight and load it to the same velocity so POI is close to the EDC load.

My personal preference is SWC's for general purpose wandering in the weeds and practice, but other options are viable.

I carry the Speer 146 gr 3/4 Jacketed Semi Watt-Cutter HP loaded with Unique in my Ruger SP-101.

If you are going to carry 357's in it, go get a pair of Hogue grips. The stock grips whack my middle knuckle. The Hogue grips feel like they change the angle, gives you knuckle more room, and you have more control muzzle flip.

I have lately been impressed with a cast gas checked bullet the 358156, which casts to about 160grain, or the 170grain version. Both are basically keith's design of a semi wadcutter.
I pushed them to about 950fps, and about 1100fps in 357mag.
I was up in the bradshaws a couple months ago, and was busting river rock with that round. Pretty impressive to me.
I am sure if you don't cast you could find that bullet commercially made. I think it would go right through just about anything you would find in arizona.

I'm with Ron. I cast the same bullet. I load it over 3.5 to 4 grains of green dot. Accurate and fun to shoot. It'll do all you need, social or wilderness.

My SP-101

i should of added one other thing, can't edit the original post at this point.
the day i was shooting that river rock, a friend with me wondering up to where the rock was and picked up something, brought it back and asked me what it was.
It was a completely flattened gas check kind of like a dime, from on of the projectiles hitting that rock. It really thumped them.

Thank you all for the replies. Many great-sounding options here. For now, I'm leaning toward a SWC for a standard load, then a JHP for every day carry. Although, the 146gr Speer sounds very interesting.

RoninPhx...that cast bullet sounds awesome. May give that a run in my Vaquero!

As a FYI, the SP101 on the way is the TALO Wiley Clap model. I'm open to buying new powder, but already have Trail Boss on the shelf from an earlier loading idea that never materialized. Wouldn't mind using that. Have some 2400 too, but I'm guessing would be best saved for the Vaquero.

Many thanks!

I also have a 3 inch brl. SP101. It was mine but the wife shot it and now I don't get to use it much. I load everything from 110 gr. to 200 gr. hard cast for it.
Built like, (well) a Ruger.
Erich

NIce rig!

One thing cool about wheel guns - you can load about anything, and at the same time too. When I carry my Ruger Vaquero or Single Six out in the desert, the first two cylinders carry bird shot, either for snakes, or to finish off a bird not hit quite right. The other cylinders carry who knows what...

..unfortunately Speer discontinued all of their 3/4 jacket bullets... The 146 grain .357 was one of them.

Closest thing I have to a SP101 is a 3" S&W 60-10 which has a 3" barrel and adjustable sights...wonderful gun for backpacking and fishing... Have not done any loading for it but have decided on the NOE 160. Can be cast HP or FP and should work in the other .357s I have also.

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/produc...50&osCsid=ae9njk382skgef1vrc1c4ccc93



Powder for a 2"...SR4756 was the greatest powder out there...was discontinued last year... I'm going to try some Unique and Power Pistol and see how it works in shorter barrels..

The 357156 is a great bullet...cast almost 20K of them when I was in my 20s for use in a Model 19... They are commercially available..

Bob

Universal has worked better for me than just about anything else.
Clean, low flash, with a pleasant recoil impulse.
Bullets? As RJM said, the 358156, or a Gold Dot or XTP in either 125gr. or 158gr.
A very interesting possibility would be an LFN style 150-160gr. with the mold set up with hollow point and flat nose pins.

In all seriousness, you may have to juggle your wants to what load the gun shoots to point of aim.
Fixed sight guns are funny that way.

+1 on Universal. Over several years it has become my most used powder in 38 special, 44 special, and 45 Colt. And for the same reasons you list. I also use it in reduced 44 magnum loads. A great powder, IMO.

All of them.

years ago when i was playing county popo, all i carried, all the time, was a smith model 19. I was messing up near williams this weekend with some handloads/cast in 41special, 180grain hp's, at about 1000fps or so. And got to thinking of that 19. I never felt undergunned with that at the time, and still don't really. except for crowd multliple target situations which is another story. But with the right loads as mentioned, i think it one on one would settle any hash in arizona one needed to settle. Reading Keith again, and the atvantages of a revolver, when i was shooting the 19 a lot, i could do a tactical reload and hit six targets each twice in about 7.5seconds. I think i need to get out and practice with it again.

That's good info...and an impressive reload ability as well! Making a list of scenarios where I would need to call upon a firearm during my way of life, there was hardly a category where the sub-nosed .357 couldn't work, if not excel during the situation. Size and weight was a big factor as well. That multiple target situation mentioned is the exception, but who knows when that might happen. And if I KNEW that were going to happen, since I don't carry a badge, I would be looking to vacate the premises unless I was protecting someone besides myself.

I've talked to locals and Universal powder seems to be the popular choice. Can't wait to get started! Thanks!