I have the same gun, 158gr Buffalo Bore JHPs run 1320/611 ft lbs out of my gun. Recoil IS there but is controllable. It is one of my two CCW guns. Don

 

I've only chrono'd the .44mag HSM 'bear load' and it was butter soft. I'd go buffalo bore 180gr for that one if you want the stout heavy bullet experience....but really in my 3" sp101, I really like the 145gr silvertip. In the woods, my biggest concern is peoples and big cats or feral dogz.

 

Wow, that's really flying, DonD.

 

Berto, I carry my EDC (G-19 or G26) on my strong side hip and the SP101 on the weak side hip. EDC is for the two legged miscreants that desire to cause me harm, while the SP101 is for the 4 legged ones that want to eat me.

 

Can I ask why the two guns? Normally hikers try to minimize weight. I'm sure the SP101 will handle two legged predators just as well as the Glock.

 

Make sure the twist will stabilize the really heavy bullets.

 

Buffalo Bore
HEAVY 357 MAG OUTDOORSMAN - 180 gr. Hard Cast LFN-GC
3 inch S&W J frame
Item 19A/20-180gr. Hard cast LFN = 1302 fps

 

Freedom Munitions:
357 MAG 158 gr. XTP Hornady New
357 MAG 158 gr. FP New

And then practice until you can hit a 4" target, rapid-fire, out to some reasonable range.

Big, scary, expensive misses don't count.




Nutter

 

I carry mine with either the 180 grain Buffalo Bore or the 200 grain CorBon. Those hard cast loads offer a lot of penetration. I put a set of Hogue Monogrips on mine. I like the trigger guard to be covered with heavy loads and I also want to be able to get a good grip on the gun if it is wet. The SP101 loaded with a good hard cast is a great little backup gun for the woods.

 

Great choice. You won't be disappointed.

Thanks for your responses.
Is your SP101 that you carry with the Buffalo Bore 180 a 3"?
Do you notice any extra wear on your SP101 with this load?
How do you percieve the recoil with the BB 180?

 

When I lived full time on a remote ranch in Idaho I carried a 3'' sp101.

The standard load that was carried was, first chamber, shot load, second
chamber, 158 rnfp cast at around 950fps, last three chambers was a
187 LBT FNGC at 1300+fps, for snakes, skunks/dumpocrats and
bear and mt lion or what ever.

With the 187gr loads it would not be a problem for deer at 50yds.

Most full sized 10mms have a hard time beating a 3'' sp101 with
that big boolit.

 

If you want to be able to load a load that is better than that 180 BB load for around
18 cents a shot, I can help you.

 

Deleted

 

My 2.125 inch 640 shoots extremely high and right with 180 gr XTP bullets and Longshot powder. Unfortunately, I have never tried the .357 bullets in either brand. I bought some 9mm loads from Buffalo Bore and I was very disappointed. I have bought and used some HSM 41 magnum loads that grouped very well in a S&W 57.

 

Don't have any experience with either of the two rounds you mention, but I do pack a short-barreled 357 magnum when traipsing about in my neck of the woods. I recently acquired a few boxes of Barnes Vor-Tx 140 gr XPB ammo and am very pleased with the way it handles out of the snubbie.

If interested, may want to check this out...

 

I've used Buffalo Bore hard cast loads, but never in .357mag.
I wouldn't hesitate to carry them in bear country.

 

Thanks ruffterrain. I'm don't think I want an expanding hollow point for my purposes.

 

Thanks ruffterrain. I'm don't think I want an expanding hollow point for my purposes.

Actually, that 140 gr Barnes bullet is known to penetrate deep. It is actually a hunting round and I wouldn't hesitate to carry it.

 

Thanks PattonT. I will research it a little more.

 

I'd rely on Buffalo Bore's chrono data.

 

You are probably correct. I would not think there would be a significant difference in the velocity from a 3" Smith to a 3" Ruger.

 

I started carrying my SP101DAO 2 1/4" when wandering off-road back when I decided my Service-Six 4" HB was becoming a bit heavier than really necessary. I'd long since traded off my snub nose Security/Speed-Sixes, or I'd simply have gone back to using them.

The only feral animal threats I reasonably anticipated where I wandered feral dog, coyote or mountain lion. (However, I'd not lose much sleep carrying 158gr LHP +P for those potential threats.) That meant my larger .357's & .44's stayed retired in the safe.

That being the case, I usually carried something in the 125gr, 140gr, 145gr, 158gr or 180gr range, depending what I had available at the time. When "in town" I settled on the 125gr-145gr loads.

Nowadays, though, I'd consider any of my smaller .40 pistols to be comparable choices to a small .357 Mag belt gun, especially if loaded with any of the better quality 180gr JHP's offered by Rem, Fed, Speer or Win. My G27, 4013TSW, M&P40c or 4040PD would be decent lightweight options. My larger plastic .40 would ... larger.

I always wanted a 3" SP101. I had to settle for the 2.25" DAO, though. It's been such a dandy little heavy snub, that I simply forgot to ever look at finding a 3" model. When I saw one in a case about a year ago, the price was more than enough to make me continue to forget about the 3" barrel.

Would'a, should'a, could'a ...

 

Well, I went ahead and ordered the Buffalo Bore 180.

 

Their velocity number are very honest. I've chronod a few of their .38sp loads, two exceeded the adv vel per bbl length and one was short 50fps in one gun but right on the numbers in two others.

 

Well, I went ahead and ordered the Buffalo Bore 180.

Great choice. You won't be disappointed.

 

Thanks, Ak.Hiker. Waiting for delivery of the BB 180.

 

It is different ammo but American Eagle 158 gr. JSP chronos 1250 fps out of my 3 " SP101.
It is readily available.

 

Thanks. I may just have to pick up a box of those tommorrow. Not sure if the Buffalo Bore 180 I ordered will arrive by the time I go backwoods x-country skiing next week.

 

One thing to remember with small lite guns, SP 101, and recoil,
they are good boolit pullers because of their recoil, a 2.25'' SP
shooting a 187gr fngc at 1350fps has much boolit pulling potential.

I have shot that load many times, I still have four SPs in 357.

 

One thing about the Buffalo Bore hard cast loads I have shot from the 180 grain 357, 305 in 44 Magnum, and the 325 in 45 Colt and 454 they have never pulled. And that is a great point to bring up when running hot heavy loads in a light weight gun. I would never consider running them in one of the ultra light 357's for sure.