.38 Win White Box 125g JHP

[ckpj99]

So I made a rare trip to Walmart for ammo today. I shoot .38 special more than anything else. The Walmart I go to pretty much only has Winchester white box in .38.

I have only see FMJ at Walmart. I find that white box FMJ is a little smokey, but it shoots consistently and doesn't foul my gun too bad.

Today, I walked in and saw a nearly identical box sitting next to my normal purchase. It said 125g +P jacketed hollow point. It was about $22 for 50 rnds. I think the FMJ was $19.

I opened the box and it was a little disconcerting. About a quarter of the brass was noticeably marred or dirty. I'm talking scratches visible at arms length and black dirt spots the size of half a dime.

On to the bullet. They looked like they were cast during the Civil War. The jackets were not at all consistent, and extended between 1/16 and 1/8 of an inch out from the casing. The lead was, to say the least, misshapen. The hollow is maybe 1/16 of an inch wide, MAYBE, probably smaller. It's the same for the depth.

It shoots fine... which I suppose is all that matters. But the only enjoyment I get out of white box versus some crappy factory reloaded bulk pack lead semi-wad cutters is that it (at least the FMJ) is nice and shiny and new looking.

I'm not sure if this white box JHP is new or not, but its crap. I'm sure it won't expand for crap, but I guess it's better than FMJ and it's cheap.

 

[Viper225]

I am not sure what happened to that box of ammo. I doubt that this is normal Winchester quality. I would check out another box. You might open the box for a look before buying it.

Bob

 

[ckpj99]

Unfortunately, they don't like you to handle the ammo before you buy it at Walmart. It's a pretty strange procedure. I suppose I could ask the clerk to look, but who thinks to do that, especially with Winchester.

 

[amd6547]

I have shot a couple boxes of that +P 125gn 38spl ammo, and never saw anything like that...and it shot well.
In fact, I just bought a box at Walmart this week, and it looks fine.

 

[Mobuck]

I'm holding a box of Winchester code#USA38JHP 38 SP+P 125 JHP. The bullets appear uniform in all dimensions and the cases are uniform brass colored.
Believe it or not, this is the ammo I load in my Ruger SP101 when I carry it. Gun Tests magazine did a test on this ammo some time back and found it to be the most uniform ballistics, best expansion, and adequately accurate compared to several other brands of ammo(even some higher grade stuff).
I've found this ammo to be very accurate out of my 3 1/16" Ruger and produces almost dime sized expansion when fired into wet newpaper or water filled jugs.
You may have got a bad box of ammo or QC has fallen down the poop hole since I bought a case of the stuff 4-5 years ago.

 

[Salmoneye]

Pictures, or it didn't happen...

 

[rodfac]

I've never seen Win White box with the corrosion problems you describe...definitely not saying your making it up...but it may be just a bad shipment, left in the wet perhaps, at that Walmart.

I will say that I've had great success with a variety of Win White box ammunition in 9mm (it's the most accurate factory round to date in a new G19 I own), .38 Special (good through my wife's S&W 637 and my Smith M36), and three .44 Magnum hand guns (Two Rugers and a Smith), as well as a pair of Marlin carbines. In that big caliber, it approaches an inch grouping at 25 yds from the revolvers and the same at 50 yds from the carbines. I can't do better than that with my well tuned handloads.

As to expansion, two deer shot with the .44's showed beautiful exit holes...both shot behind the shoulder and through the rib cage...one hand gun and one carbine involved....

I think you've bought the exception and not the rule...it's been good, reliable ammunition in my experience.

Take a look at that third bullet from the left in the pic below...I'd call that good expansion, and I chrono'd the load so the velocity is right for a 1-7/8" barreled S&W. The expansion medium was water for all six types fired. BTW, both my wife and I carry the .38 Spl +P Remington Golden Saber based on these results.

Best Regards, Rodfac

 

[Super Sneaky Steve]

I've used that brand before. Most of my HP's were clogged with media.

Don't trust your life to white box. It's union made I hear.