The PMC bronze line is a budget range ammunition and this .357Magnum offers all the benefits of cheap shooting ammunition with a reliability that’s better than comparatively priced range reloads and other budget import ammunition. The 158 grain projectile is a soft point clad bullet, and the Boxer priming and brass case makes it easily reloadable.
It’s not perfect, but the PMC Bronze line does offer a lot of great features for the price point. Traditionally, .357 Magnums that are lever action and semi-auto struggle more than revolvers to find a load that makes sense for consistent shooting; this load actually is well suited for those applications and may not run as smoothly through very high tolerance match revolvers or revolvers that haven’t had many rounds through it.
The cleanliness of the powder is a point of note, as comparatively, this ammunition is much cleaner than competing reloads and remanufactured type rounds. The soft point offers the option to use for self defense but the line, being a budget line may not have some of the same benefits of using more premium ammunition for defensive needs.
This round is well suited for general shooting, but maybe not the first choice for guns with match tolerances; fulfilling it’s market position well given the price point.
theman –
i have been shooting pmc ammo and shot shells for some time now. the 357 ammo shoots great and very accurate in my s&w model 28. the shot shells were in 12 gauge and shot very good and at the time the price was very good. i will keep on shooting pmc as long as they are affordable. buying from bulk ammo helps a lot also. a very good company
Cowboy –
Tried a box for my taurus tracker 627 7shot, first 5 shots shot 3″ @15 yd went to open clyinder and it would not open. Could not get cylinder to open for about ten minutes, fired remaining two rounds so i could safely transport the gun home.father in law could not get it to open either. Next day cylinder popped right open like normal. Cleaned gun and locked it up. Went to shoot a few months later, fired about 150 rounds of handloads and box of Magtech 38spl flawlessley, decided to try pmc again, fired three rounds, cylinder would not open again. After about five minutes it opened, fired three cylinders of mixed ammo flawlessly, popped in a cylinder of pmc and surprise the cylinder would not open. Do not rely on these for self defense or you will be using your gun as a club after it is empty!
Chevy ll –
Clean shooting and reliable.
Andy1952 –
I tried a box of 50. 5 out of the first 25 shells Failed To Fire.
(I still need to try the other 25 shells).
This is not acceptable. I will not purchase PMC again.
WyOr –
I shot about half of the 50 rounds that I ordered and thus far have not had any issues. I have a S&W revolver model 686 and these rounds shot cleanly and without issue. I gave 4-star ratings as there have not been issues thus far, but with having shot only 25 or so rounds there’s plenty of room left for problems to arise.
Riley –
All the brick and mortar shops around had little to no stock of the ammo I was looking for so I turned to ordering some online. These were just what I needed at better rates than anything else I have looked at.
Reciprocal –
I shoot lots of these. They function very well in my S&W 686+, 6 inch bbl. Group well, never a misfire. These 158 gr soft points penetrate all the way through a car battery at 15 yds, where similar Fiocchi 158 gr FMJ would not exit. This cartridge is hard hitting, ideal for target practice, plinking or hunting medium size game, protection against dangerous animals, black bear, feral hogs. They could be too much for smaller handguns. For home defense, no doubt lethal but over penetration would be the reason for choosing hollow points if possible. These would be excessive for conceal carry guns imo.
Cpt J –
Tried several 357 ammo, but this is my first choice for price & performance. MV is true magnum quality, even with the heavy 158 SP. use it in my Henry lever and S&W revolvers and I trust it to stop whatever it’s directed at. I’m a 1911 guy but this ammo is “old school” done right at a price anyone can afford.