dougk: if you're going to try out some 200 gn 357s, try them on a larger hog. The heavy weight 357s penetrate considerably. A smaller hog might not give you any real indication of how hard they can hit if they have penetrated on through without too much resistance.
Ron Reed: you said "I do wonder however if combined with a rather thin jacket and the poly nose if they would not offer a less penetrating load with self defense applications".
I have two thoughts on that, if I can keep them both together. (1). Didn't Winchester first use a thin aluminum cup or jacket when they first came out with their Silvertip ammo and didn't that fail due to the soft jacket and the inability to penetrate as a result; and (2) why might someone want a less penetrative self defense round unless they were nyc cops who have already been told by the state's blind governor that he doesn't want to see them use such (currently) deadly boolits?? I am wondering if a defensive load with a plastic tip might not be considered more inhumane if it causes a violent bullet expansion like some of those 'peel-away' jackets (what were they, Black Talons) and get pounced on by the inhumane bullet group (IBG)?
How about a defensive electrical charge, like a Tazer, but one that fries yer innards afore he kin git off a shot - naw, the BHD group (Bad Hair Day) would probably say it's too demeaning when someone sees their hair start smokin...............
We could go bigger and slower - like a 90 caliber 500 gn wad-cutter at 500'/sec. Geez, ya figure a ounce and a quarter slug bigger than a 12 guage might do the trick.
Sorry guys, I'm just ramblin' (ramble, ramble, ramble) and babblin' (babble, babble, babble). It's early and I spilled my coffee already............Mikey.