Remington's HTP 125-grain is a semi-jacketed hollow point, with the jacket stopped short of the nose to leave the lead core exposed at the tip. Remington lists 1,450 fps and 584 ft-lbs for this .357 Magnum load, a power factor of 181 that clears the 165 major floor by 16 points. From a 25-yard zero the bullet is 0.7 inch low at 50 yards and 6.4 inches low at 100. The case is nickel-plated brass, which reloads like plain brass. The recoil estimate is second-highest in this set, behind only the two Hornady 125s.

Remington UMC 125 JSP is the same load with a soft point in place of the hollow point: identical 1,450 fps, 584 ft-lbs and recoil estimate, in plain brass. Winchester PDX1 Defender 125 is the mild one, 125 fps and 97 ft-lbs behind. Hornady Critical Duty 135-grain FlexLock lists 1,275 fps and 487 ft-lbs, 175 fps and 97 ft-lbs behind, at about 7 percent less recoil energy in the same revolver. Hornady American Gunner 125 XTP and Hornady Critical Defense 125 FTX list 1,500 fps and 624 ft-lbs, 50 fps and 40 ft-lbs ahead, with about 6 percent more recoil energy; Hornady rates its loads under different test conditions than Remington, so the 50 fps is a published gap and in one revolver the three 125s sit closer than that.

Buy this for a full-power 125-grain hollow point in a mid-size or larger revolver, where a power factor of 181 leaves room for a slow barrel and still makes major. If the recoil estimate is more than you want, Winchester PDX1 Defender 125 is the mildest 125 here and still makes major at 166. For a practice load, Fiocchi's 142-grain FMJ-TC at 1,420 fps and 636 ft-lbs produces about 25 percent more recoil energy in the same revolver, so it is a step up from this load, not a stand-in for it.