Best .38 Special & .357 Magnum Ammo: Self-Defense, Hunting & More

Revolvers are a popular entry point for many new shooters because of their simplicity and ease of operation.

With revolvers come calibers like the .38 Special and .357 Magnum.

There’s no shortage of choices when shopping for ammo, so how do you pick the best for your gun?

We can help with that! Today, we’re going to run you through some recommendations for our favorite .38 Special/.357 Magnum ammo across brands and ultimately help you decide what’s best for home defense, target shooting, and even hunting.

So, keep reading!

How We Tested the Best .38 Special & .357 Magnum Ammo

The Pew Pew Tactical editorial and writing staff have been shooting revolvers for collective decades. We've used a variety of ammunition in that time and our experience covers competition, law enforcement, military, concealed carry instructing, and plinking.

We've run through thousands of rounds to land on the recommendations on this list. We use these picks when we test and review guns, and they have been selected based on availability, cost, performance, and reliability.

Can You Use .38 Special in .357 Magnum?

Short answer…yes, if you are using .38 Special ammo, you can fire it safely through any .357 Magnum revolver. 

That means if you have a revolver chambered in .357, you can fire both ammo types without any issues. Caution: make sure you are not using .38-40 or .38 Short, though. Those don’t work the same.

But warning: the reverse is NOT true. You cannot fire a .357 Magnum from a .38 Special. The .357 Magnum cartridge is, in fact, too long for a .38 Special cylinder to close and lock most of the time.

Popping a .357 Magnum round in a .38 Special moves the revolver from handgun to hand grenade. We don’t want that, so don’t do that.

Now, onto the ammo recommendations! 

Best .38 Special Ammo

1. Federal American Eagle .38 SPL 130-grain FMJ - Best .38 SPL Training Ammo

Best .38 Training Ammo

Federal American Eagle .38 SPL 130-grain FMJ

$27

at Battlehawk Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$27 at Battlehawk Armory

Kygunco (see price)

GrabAGun (see price)

Lucky Gunner (see price)

Federal is one of those companies known for producing quality, consistent ammunition that you can rely on. Their American Eagle brand is a great option for those who want a decent training round that won’t completely break the bank.

The .38 SPL 130-grain FMJ pushes just over 800 FPS, which is more than enough to plink at the range or get some training time in. Not to mention, it’s decently low recoiling, so it shouldn’t ward off new shooters who might be nervous about shooting.

Ultimately, the American Eagle brand from Federal is a great option for practice shooting, especially for newcomers.

2. AAC .38 Special 125-grain FMJ - Best Budget .38 SPL

Best Budget .38 SPL

AAC .38 Special 125-grain FMJ

$21

at Palmetto State Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$21 at Palmetto State Armory

Another budget option for range days with your .38 is AAC’s 125-grain FMJ.

This option comes out to about $0.42 per round, which is pretty good if you need to blow through some ammo during training.

We’ve tried a variety of AAC calibers and couldn’t be happier with it. It’s reliable and tends to work well, especially for long days at the range. Plus, it’s reloadable if you’re into that sort of thing.

Overall, we dig this pick for range ammo for its value.

3. Hornady Critical Defense .38 Special +P 110-grain JHP FTX - Best CCW .38 SPL

Best CCW .38

Hornady Critical Defense .38 SPL +P FTX

$28

at Kygunco

Prices accurate at time of writing

$28 at Kygunco

Battlehawk Armory (see price)

GrabAGun (see price)

Hornady is a mainstay in defensive ammunition for good reason. The company has a history of providing high-quality ammunition that is consistent and reliable in performance.

The Critical Defense line is no different. The .38 SPL +P 110-grain JHP FTX might be a mouthful to say, but don’t let that deter you. This round brings a lower recoil, perfect for those newer to concealed carry or those who just want a lighter recoiling round.

Using Flex Tip technology, the round offers consistent expansion, which you want in a defensive situation. All in all, Hornady’s Critical Defense is a solid defensive round, whether you want it in your carry revolver or loaded in your bedside gun.

Best .357 Magnum Ammo

4. Sellier & Bellot .357 Magnum 158-grain FMJ - Best .357 Magnum Training Ammo

Best .357 Training Ammo

Sellier & Bellot .357 Magnum 158-grain FMJ

$30

at Battlehawk Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$30 at Battlehawk Armory

GrabAGun (see price)

We are big fans of Sellier & Bellot not only because it tends to be reasonably priced and accessible but because it performs well in a range/training environment.

At 158 grains, it does have some punch, but it's not completely unmanageable recoil-wise. Sellier & Bellot has a good reputation for consistent, reliable performance, and the .357 Magnum has performed well in our experience.

All in all, it offers a good balance that proves useful if you’re tearing it up at the range.

5. Remington Golden Saber .357 Magnum 125-grain JHP - Best for Long Barreled Revolvers

Best for Long Barreled Revolvers

Remington Golden Saber .357 Magnum 125-grain JHP

$28

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$28 at GrabAGun

If you’re rocking a longer-barreled gun, the Remington Golden Saber .357 magnum 125-grain JHP is what you want.

This round is optimized for use in longer barrels and brings a muzzle velocity of 1,220 FPS. We’ve used the Golden Saber lineup in other calibers, and again, it’s a consistent performer.

If you need a round for that longer barrel and want a round you can rely on when things go south; the Remington Golden Saber fits that bill.

6. Federal Personal Defense Hydra-Shok .357 Magnum 158-grain - Best CCW .357

Best CCW .357

Federal Personal Defense Hydra-Shok .357 Magnum 158-grain

$29

at Kygunco

Prices accurate at time of writing

$29 at Kygunco

Battlehawk Armory (see price)

GrabAGun (see price)

Federal hits the list again with its Personal Defense Hydra-Shok lineup.

The Personal Defense Hydra-Shok in .357 Magnum is a 158-grain round designed for self-defense. It offers decent penetration and expands upon impact, helping stop threats. In our experience, it does have a little more recoil but with some training, shouldn’t be an issue.

We’ll say it again, Federal is renowned for its quality control and reliability. So, you know you’ll have consistent performance time and time again – that’s important in the self-defense realm.

7. Buffalo Bore Heavy .357 Magnum 180-grain LFN - Best Hunting .357 Magnum

Best Hunting Ammo

Buffalo Bore Heavy .357 Magnum 180-grain LFN

$30

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$30 at GrabAGun

Battlehawk Armory (see price)

Looking to get out into the field? Our first recommendation for a solid hunting option comes from Buffalo Bore.

The Heavy 180-grain lead flat nose option in .357 Magnum is designed for deep penetration – needed for reaching vital organs and ensuring an ethical hunt. In addition to deep penetration, the round also offers plenty of muzzle energy to take down game.

It’s a reliable load with some versatility, making it a good option for revolver hunters.

8. Federal Vital-Shok .357 Magnum 140-grain - Most Consistent Hunting .357 Magnum

Most Consistent Hunting Ammo

Federal Vital-Shok .357 Magnum 140-grain

$26

at Battlehawk Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$26 at Battlehawk Armory

GrabAGun (see price)

Lucky Gunner (see price)

Federal makes one final appearance on our ammo stage with its Vital-Shok round.

This 140-grain round offers rapid expansion upon impact, creating a larger wound channel, making for an ethical hunt.

There’s a reason Federal tends to show up in our lists more than once, and that’s because we’ve found them to be extremely consistent and reliable with quality primers and brass.

If you’re intent on revolver hunting, Federal’s Vital-Shok is a good one to have in the cylinder.

Final Thoughts

As with any firearm, you want to make sure that you’re pairing the right round to the right job. Across the most popular shooting activities, we think the above choices hit the mark and balance performance, price, and best use case.

What's your go-to ammo brand? Let us know in the comments below. Shopping for a revolver? Check out our list of the Best .357 Magnum Revolvers.

Latest Updates

April 23, 2024: Added supplemental data and information to each product section to offer more information about each choice. Enhanced our How We Test section with additional information related to the testing of the ammo.

February 20, 2024: Rewrote this article with all new recommendations based on our testing and use.