Hello to the forum,

My dad gave me his much prized Ruger Security Six 357 Mag. on my recent Javalina Hunt in Arizona. It is a dream come true for me to have it. I was looking through my "Pile" of ammo and dug out these pistol bullets(Win. 145 Gr. Silvertip HP's). Are these a pretty mild load? How do they rate for defensive purposes? What is the bullet alloy composed of and do they still make them? It looks like softer lead but not sure. I shoot the 200 Gr. 44 Special Silvertip HP's in my Ruger Super Blackhawk and I love these loads. They are a little hotter than the Federal stuff, but still mild. Just wondering if anyone uses the Silvertip loading for the 357 Mag. and can answer some of these questions. Thanks a bunch.

Silvertips are one of the original JHP handgun loads for defensive purposes, have been around quite a while. Also, there are silvertip rifle bullets, but a different critter.

The jackets on the ones I have are aluminum. Generally speaking, Silvertips have a reputation for being a bit 'soft' and not penetrating a lot, which is not a bad thing for a defensive load.

I don't know how they rate, exactly, compared to the more recently designed Hydra-Shoks, Golden Sabers, Gold Dots, Star-Fires, and who knows what is available anymore, can't keep up. BUT.... the joy of a .357 Mag is that you don't want to be on the receiving end of one, regardless of the load. My usual practice with defensive ammo is just to pick up a box of Cor-Bons and not worry about it.... however, I would not turn up my nose at your silvertip load. It'll be nasty on the receiving end, and the price was right.

Good luck with your new gun!

Thanks Mike....I'll swear....Aluminum! I guess it does look like aluminum now that you mention it. Yep......price was sure right. My dad recently qualified with it at night(works for Arizona Game and Fish) and he said after his first shot, no one wanted to be around him anymore. The fireball(3" barrel) and gas blasts were making people head for cover . He went to a small 380 Auto here recently....glad he did and that he gave me this wonderful little piece Thanks again for your help Mike.

Thanks Mike....I'll swear....Aluminum! I guess it does look like aluminum now that you mention it. Yep......price was sure right. My dad recently qualified with it at night(works for Arizona Game and Fish) and he said after his first shot, no one wanted to be around him anymore. The fireball(3" barrel) and gas blasts were making people head for cover . He went to a small 380 Auto here recently....glad he did and that he gave me this wonderful little piece Thanks again for your help Mike.

Well...those silvertips use to be Al. and still are in the .32ACP version...but in the larger calibers are using plated jackete material now. Al. has a nasty tendency to oxidize, and aluminum oxide is a dern good abrasive....so they changed to the plated stuff some time back.

HAven't had a problem with the Silvbertips...but wouldn't class then as an "old time" holoow point...don't think they came out until the 1980's...and the silvertips tend to actaully work where the oldtime hollow points of the 1960's and 70's didn't.

Silvertips are the round to use for a SD type of use have used them for years, and places like ammolab and such back them up for that type of use,,,

Now with that said DON"T use them for hunting, go with any of the rounds loaded with the XTP bullet, "scooters" are a small pig so they don't take alot of killing,, but stay with 140's or up you will be better off

Thanks Ribbonstone and Leadbutt. I cringe at the thought of putting aluminum down my gun....have become quite the the cast bullet snob. I like to baby my guns that much. I am now thinking of loading a good cast bullet with a wide meplat at moderate velocity. I just gave away all my Cast Performance pistol bullets to a guy shooting a 357 Winchester. Leadbutt, I was actually using my 356 Winchester Big Bore on those piggies(210 Gr. Beartooth at moderate velocity). It was my first larger game hunt with my Dad in my lifetime, as my mom and dad split when I was 10. Pigs were safe but we had a good time....next year.... :rolleyes: Thanks guys...

Chris, the 145 gr silvertip was out department's duty load for years and was a great defensive round. It might be a little overpenetrative for person to person use but not by much. We had to have something that would punch through car doors and windshields so we needed a little more in that area. I know that the round did well in quite a few shootings that our officers had. I have never had a chance to use this round hunting but I would imagine that it would do ok.

The original silvertips pistol bullets were aluminum and had to to lubricated like a cast bullet. The problem was that the lube wouldnt stay in the groove and would contaminate the powder. This caused a big loss in velocity and function problems with the autos.

Thank you for the input fellas! So, I wonder what they are made of now? I think I will take a pair of pliers to one and see what's in there. In the meantime, I just bout 200 38 Spec. SWC's from Ultramax....that should keep me busy for a bit. Thanks again. Chris

Thank you for the input fellas! So, I wonder what they are made of now? I think I will take a pair of pliers to one and see what's in there. In the meantime, I just bout 200 38 Spec. SWC's from Ultramax....that should keep me busy for a bit. Thanks again. Chris

The current Silvertips are mostly of conventional Jacketed construction with the neat "Silver" coating the exception being the .32 auto and in my last box the .380's.
My Python really likes the 145gr Silvertip, accurate and decent velocity. I've shot several deer and numerous 'yotes over the last couple of years and alternate between the Silvertip and 158gr Gold Dots depending on availability.

Some of the early Silver Tips that had the exposed lead at the base were leaving their jackets in the barrel. These were manufactured in the early 80's. Just check the manufacture date. if in doubt, you can pull one of the bullets, the newer generation has a solid jacket base.

Lee L.