.38 ammo

R

rwilson452

New member
My sister has decided she wants a .38 revolver. I haven't carried one in decades. Looking for a good SD round.

Suggestions?
 
When I carry my snub, Remington Golden Sabers. My guess is that you're also going to get recommendations for Speer Gold Dots, Federal HSTs, and a number of others.
 
I have a Taurus model 85 (38) and a GP100 (357). Using 38 special +p rounds in that model 85 isn’t much fun and has quite a kick. Out of the GP100 it is much more manageable. Consider a beefier gun if possible. Have her try the guns at a range to check for herself.
 
A lot of people underestimate the ole wadcutter.
Seems to be changing a bit from some reading I've done lately.
 
I'd go with the wad cutter too. Not to hot either. She get's a light gun and shoot's heavy loads in it, she may not shoot it well at all. Especially +P ammo. I don't know one person that would like getting shot with a wadcutter even at a more modest vel. Self Defense should she be attacked, last first thing going through her mind should not be the recoil of the gun.
 
Yup, they sold the Nyclad Chief's Special load with Bullseye for short barrels. I used it as long as it was available, had been using it under the S&W brand before Federal picked it up.

My .38s now get the Speer Short Barrel 135 gr Gold Dot.
 
"...why Federal quit making the Nyclad..." Cost too much to make. Discussed on these pages in 2015.
https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=560241
Sis going to reload and practice? If she's not reloading, she'll have to try a box of as many brands and bullet weights as she can to find the ammo her revolver shoots best. Operatives words being 'she' and 'her'. You cannot do it for her.
Mind you, exactly which .38 revolver she buys matters somewhat. A .357 using .38's vs a pure .38 makes a bit of difference. Mostly in the weight. That will be a factor in how she carries too. You can't decide that either. Has to fit her hand, not yours.
 
X4 for the .38 wadcutter for the sister. Mild recoil plus damaging for self defense. I use them in my aluminum framed S/W M37.

.02. David. :)
 
I really like the Federal HST micro .38 specials which are the modern commercial vesion of the inverted wadcutter loads. They test for super expansion and good penetration in the gel and chrono tests.
 
"...why Federal quit making the Nyclad..." Cost too much to make. Discussed on these pages in 2015.
Click to expand...
Yeah - I read that. I don't know how true that is though about the cost.
 
As an added factor, she has her eye on my S&W mod 67. 4" bbl. It has been a safe queen for years I my just give it to her and pay the transfer fee myself.
 
Speer Gold Dot 135 grain +P.

Also known as the "short barrel" load from Speer, this is one rare cookie in that it does very nicely from not only the snubs but also the 4" service revolvers. Most others either won't expand well at snub velocities or will over expand and under penetrate at service gun speeds.
 
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