38 snub ammo question

A

anzafrank

New member
Kind of cornfusing when you see ads saying 38+p's in the 120's weight are best for sd, but I would think 158 would be better with deeper penetration because most won't reach 1000 fps, although I would think the kick would not be too nice using my 442. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Frank
 
Frank
Recoil is the price you pay for any effective load. At the higher velocities attained by +P lighter bullets, I can't see any difference in recoil between them and standard velocity 158. However, when you get into +P loads for both, the heavier bullet kicks harder.
However, should a SD situation arise (God forbid) recoil will be the last thing on your mind.
Pick a carry load based upon it's reputation, (FBI load, 135 gr SB, etc). I carry the 135 +P Short barrel load in my 642. Buy enough of the stuff to practice with, get used to the recoil, and problem is solved.
 
+p loads in a .38

Make sure your revolver is rated for +p loads my 642-2 is and I carry Federal Hydroshok @129 grains daily
 
I hve carried Federal 125 Nyclads in my LW Colt snubbies for some time and it's a good load but I have recently started experimenting with the Hornady 158 grain XTP in non +p. The recoil is no more than the Nyclad, it has better penetration, and shoots to POA in my guns. I like it.:)
 
Frank,

You are correct the +P 38 Special is a very good SD load. I have said before that recoil and muzzle blast are range issues. If you ever are thrust into a SD situation you not feel the recoil nor consciously hear the blast due to a massive dump of adrenaline. With that in mind use the most effective ammo you shoot well with.

Bob
 
Snub loads, Buffalo Bore/Speer Gold Dot....

To me, the best carry/protection .38spl snub(J frame) loads are; the Speer Gold Dot 135gr JHP +P, the Corbon DPX, the Ranger T .38spl load, the MagSafe SWAT .38spl, & the proven 158gr lead SWC-HP +P.
The 158gr lead SWC-HP +P is sometimes called the Chicago load or the FBI load because of it's regular use by working cops.
I got a box of 158gr lead SWC-HP +P from Buffalo Bore. The Speer Gold Dot 135gr JHP +P was good also. It was designed for J frame snubs & the sworn LE officers in the NYPD.

Clyde
 
I saw a letter on the web somewhere, from SW stating that a limited number of +P rounds may be fired through their steel revolvers whether it's stamped +P or not.
 
I carry 158 grain Speer GDHP .38 +P in my S&W M&P 340 (1-7/8" J-Frame).

I tried several:

PMC .38 +P 125 grain SFHP 815 fps

Speer .38 +P 135 grain GDHP 850 fps

I load a 158 grain SJSP bullet using 6.2 grains of Unique. I get about 860 fps, and the felt recoil is less than with the Speer GDHPs.

I practice with the 158 grain reloads and carry the Speer GDHPs in the 1st 4 chambers and a .357 magnum in the 5th chamber.
 
Last edited:
I was able to get 911fps 230ft/lbs with a 125 Speer Gold Dot and 8.0gr of HS6 out of my 642.

The most energy I was able to get was a +P load. I used a 158 LSWC and 6.0gr of Power Pistol. It made 876fps or 269ft/lbs.
 
For range shooting I generally shoot the 158Gr +P "F.B.I." load by Federal, for S/D I load the Federal 147Gr. +P+ load. Either should work well in a 2" 38 special revolver.
 
^ Yes many threads on this issue. The Buffalo Bore standard pressure, low flash, short-barrel 150 grain hard cast wadcutter will blow through two feet of ballistic gelatin. Will work real good. Even regular wadcutters will work real good. I recently added the following to my wadcutter stash, Grizzly Cartridge
38 Special 158gr WFN. Standard pressure, they do make a +p version, should work real good. The large meplat looks to be very effective. Penetration should be fantastic and straight-line.

Caliber: 38 Special
Bullet Wt: 158gr WFN
Velocity: 900fps

http://www.grizzlycartridge.com/store/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=GC38SP8
 
In my opinion, the Speer Gold Dot 135 gr +P for Short Barrels is probably the best load from a .38 spl snubby. Speer designs the Gold Dot to expand reliably at relatively low velocities -- 800 to 850 fps
 
People certainly are hung up on +P JHP ammo these days. It almost seems incomprehensible that we were able to kill millions of people with non expanding bullets for the last hundred years or so. Think of all the people shot during the Civil War with lead balls. They must have been wimps.:D
 
Think of all the people shot during the Civil War with lead balls. They must have been wimps.
Click to expand...

No, most of those people died from infection.

jmortimer,

How many people have you actually seen shot with 38 wadcutters?
 
Lethality vs incapation....

Some of the forum members seem to confuse lethality with incapation(stopping power). A bullet may cause a lethal wound if the damage is severe but that injury may take TIME. A well engineered load(+P, frangible, JHP, etc) may increase the incapation or speed up the reaction(stopping power).
The short barrel(2-3") & smaller caliber(.38) create harder requirements for a duty/self defense round.
In order to assess a .38spl round's value, you should go by how well it performs with test media(FBI protocol/gel-milk jugs-wood-auto glass-etc) & real, documented use of force incidents.

Clyde
PS: Author & sworn LE officer; Massad Ayoob wrote that he uses the Buffalo Bore 158gr lead SWC-HP +P over other brands. He also said the Speer Gold Dot 135gr JHP +P was a solid choice.
 
Something else to consider when testing defense ammo is bullet pulling. This is when bullets are pulled out of their cases while the gun is firing. If they come out far enough, they can lock up the action. I experienced this with 158gr +P ammunition in an 11oz. J-frame (not bad enough to lock up, but very visable).

You can test this by loading all chambers with defense ammo, and firing 3 rounds. Now open the cylinder and examine the remaining rounds. Compare them to additional rounds that were not in the gun. Close it and fire the 4th round, and examine the 5th (assuming 5 chambers total). If it has pulled out at all I would probably select a different round, but if it only pulls out a tiny bit you might consider that acceptable.

Besides causing malfunctions, bullet pulling can also change the pressures the cartridge will achieve, which may be dangerous for the gun and/or cause the hollowpoint to not achieve the needed velocity to expand.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top