Thanks for reaching out Craig! Generally speaking, a lighter bullet generates less felt recoil, follows a flatter trajectory, and deals less damage to its target. Speaking just as generally, a heavier bullet has heavier kick, follows a steeper trajectory (but also retains relatively more momentum at distances you're not likely to fire a handgun over), and deals more damage to its target. However, you will find that any 357 Mag bullet weight delivers more than enough power to neutralize a threat at close range (i.e. the distance you would defend yourself over). Ultimately, the most important criterion to selecting a bullet weight is what you prefer firing at the range. The differences are subtle, so it boils down to preference. In short, any 357 Mag ammo with hollow point bullets should prove more than capable of producing the results you would want for personal protection.