I'm going to buy 1000 jacketed bullets online and would appriciate your opinion as to which bullet is better for GP .357 blasting use. I think the perfect weight for this caliber is the 140's, but the source i'm dealing with doesn't offer that weight.

The 158's are about $12 more if that makes a difference.

The powder I want to use is H110. I know that favors the heavier bullet. :)

Opinions?

Thanks.

Matt

BTW. If it matters, these bullets will be fired mostly from my GP100 4".

:)

I would go with the 158 gn. bullets. If you did deside to take your gp100 camping of hiking with you, you would have what you would need for cyoties and that unlikely chance that you would run into a big cat. That's just my two cents. Plus all i shoot out of my GP100 is 158 semi jacketed HP.

What is the primary use of the gun?

For years, the 125 grainers were THE law enforcement round and touted as the fight stopper/man stopper to end all.

The 158 is not as speedy as the 125, but packs a smack that will put down medium sized game, no doubt.

So if it just for blasting, I'd probably go 125.

I load for thes weights too, but also add a 132 Keith bullet and Beartooth 185.

All are loaded with H110. All shoot amazingly well, no matter the bullet weight, all from a GP100, 4 inch.

So if I was to carry this as a woods gun, where I may run into a predator, I would go 158 or 185. But if you are loading for plinking, why not load light?

I have also loaded some 148grain copper washed HBWC's that are surgically accurate.

I like to stick with classics, including the bullet weight that a cartridge was designed around. In the .38/357 that's the 158. You can load them to any power level you need and they'll do whatever can be done with that cartridge. I do, however, shoot nothing but cast bullets in the .38 or .38-level loads in the .357, and nothing but jacketed in full-throttle .357. That allows me to know at a glance what I'm dropping into the cylinders.

I'd stick with the heavier 158 grain. Like the other shooter said, the 158 is more multi-functional and hits harder than the lighter 125 gr. If you do decide to go camping or hiking, it is more likely than not you will encounter some four-legged critters that see you as part of the food chain. Carry the 158 and level the playing field!

158gn, but with the GP 4 inch bbl, I do believe I would switch to something a little faster burning than H110. I just happen to know first hand what a fireball the slower mag powders produce in that fine firearm, and it's not efficient in a 4 incher. Could understand if you are also loading for another with the same powder.

158gn, but with the GP 4 inch bbl, I do believe I would switch to something a little faster burning than H110. I just happen to know first hand what a fireball the slower mag powders produce in that fine firearm, and it's not efficient in a 4 incher. Could understand if you are also loading for another with the same powder.

I made up some rounds last week with Blue Dot and they did give quite a bit less muzzle flash then the ones I made with H110.

Next time I take my pistol out, i'll have to remember to take my chronograph and see how much speed i'm losing due to the shorter barrel.

I sure like the way this pistol shoots though. :)

http://picsorban.com/upload/GP100vRedhawk.jpg

You also need to be aware of the potential sandblasting effect, which is usually caused by fine powders like H-110 when used with light bullets. Forcing cone erosion and flame-cutting of the topstrap are likely effects, just another reason to go with the heavier bullets if you decide to stick with H-110. In a four-inch barrel, I'd stick with Blue Dot or something with a similar burn rate like AA-7. The only way you can get the most out of H-110 loads is with a rifle!

Papajohn

I don't care for H110, myself. I do have some that I use for carbine loads in 357 and 44, but I don't use it for pistol rounds.

For pistols I prefer Unique, AA#5 or WW231, in that order. These work well for me in all pistol rounds I load whether revolver or auto loader.

Contenders are a completely different story and I load them like rifle rounds for the most part.

I use 158gr bullets almost exclusively for 357 and 38spl since they work well for both light and heavy loads. The only other weight I use is 180gr JHPs for hunting loads in the Rossi 92, and those are the only 357 loads I make with H110.