4" Barreled .38 Special & Non +P Loads for Self-Defense

I'm with Cajun.

What, you are getting in so many gunfights as to wear out a gun with top loads?

I prefer the 158 gr lead hollowpoint, the old FBI load. Even in my Airweights which will see maybe a box a decade for familiarization, tops.
 
If a person has a 4" barreled .38 Special for self-defense, be it for around the house or for concealed carry usage, and, for whatever reason is set firmly on using ONLY non +P ammuntion...

What would you recommend that revolver be loaded with?
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Buffalo Bore!!

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=110

Standard Pressure Short Barrel Low Flash Heavy .38 Special Ammo - 158 gr. Soft Lead SWC-HC (850fps/M.E. 253 ft. lbs.) - 20 Round Box

1. S&W mod. 60, 2 inch barrel - 854 fps (256 ft. lbs.)
2. S&W mod. 66, 2.5 inch barrel - 871 fps (266 ft. lbs.)
3. Ruger SP101, 3 inch barrel - 930 fps (303 ft. lbs.)
4. S&W Mt. Gun, 4 inch barrel - 979 fps (336 ft. lbs.

Due to customer demand, we've developed this defensive 38SPL ammo. Our customers wanted some devastating 38SPL loads that would fill the following criteria.

1. It won't hurt older/fragile/alloy revolvers. (Non +P)
2. Is effective as a "fight stopper" through the use of proper bullets.
3. Is more powerful than typical/standard, weak 38SPL ammo.
4. Generate much less recoil than our +P 38SPL ammo.
5. Is flash suppressed.


Yes over 950+ fps from a 4 inch barrel! Not bad at all! Beats the old FBI load!

Deaf
 
"...but I would rate it below the Critical Defense, Gold Dot, and Buffalo Bore offerings due to its relatively shallow penetration."
Nothing in standard pressure will out-perform the Buffalo Bore 150 grain hard cast WC. It will blow through two feet of ballistic gelatin in a straight line. The Buffalo Bore 158 grain SWC is soft cast and has a much smaller meplat and is nowhere close to the better choice, the 150 WC
 
Nothing in standard pressure will out-perform the Buffalo Bore 150 grain hard cast WC. It will blow through two feet of ballistic gelatin in a straight line. The Buffalo Bore 158 grain SWC is soft cast and has a much smaller meplat and is nowhere close to the better choice, the 150 WC
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I agree.
Howard
 
It will blow through two feet of ballistic gelatin in a straight line.
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I would like to see that. I would also ask what does that do for SD? I saw lots of people shot with 148 grain lead wadcutters from all manner of guns probably in the 750 fps area and they were generally unimpressed. The wounds that I saw on real people were shallow and the soft lead did not deform.

One was a fellow cop who was shot 2" bellow the belt on his left pelvis, he still killed the BG, reloaded his 357, and waited for us to get there.

My question is this; If the 148 grain LSWC is anemic and a very poor performer at 750 fps, what is 100 FPS gonna do to make it a "Manstopper"?

If you were to add 400-500 fps and a hardcast you may have something.
 
In the days before the .38 Special became popular, so I'm told,
The wounds that I saw on real people were shallow and the soft lead did not deform.
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gunshot wounds from 38 S&W, 32 Long Colt were described this way. 32 acps & .380s & 9mm GSWs were described differently because those bullets were mostly round nose jacketed bullets yeilding excellent penetration on people.

If I were packing a .38 Special and was limited to standard pressures, then it would be a very hard cast 158 or 148 semi-wadcutter. Hitting your target is number 1. But without penetration whats the use? Cover those two bases first, then we will talk about magic bullets.
 
I rendered first aid to a fellow who'd had an AD that put a .38 Special bullet through his thigh.
He'd thought he was about to be car jacked and had placed a cocked snubby on his lap. When he pulled away while trying to keep an eye on the gang of suspicious characters he hit a speed bump and the revolver fired when he tried to grab for it as it slipped from his lap.
(yeah he was not too bright)

The bullet went straight through with minimal damage, both entrance and exit wounds were not much bigger than bore size.

Looking at the wound while he was standing it looked like the bullet must have passed through the femur, but since he was seated and leaning forwards when the gun went off it may have missed the bone.

Personally I'd prefer that a pistol bullet make its way to the spine from any angle. A wound that leaves mascerated flesh only a few inches deep won't put a man or dangerous animal down as quickly as any impact on the spine.
Best of both worlds is a bullet that does expand creating a large temporary cavity yet still holds together and reaches the spine.
 
I use hornady critical defense 110 standard velocity. It's a good round with velocity running about 900 fps from 2 inch and with approximaetly 12 inches of penetration. This round will expand to about .48 diameter. Accuracy is good and much better recovery time.
 
"I would like to see that"
Me too, but Brass Fetcher took down most of their test results/videos so the link is no longer active. Here is testing confirming the same result from Brasstard web site article entitled "In Review:.38 Special Ammo Testing
http://brasstard.com/2009/12/22/in-review-38-special-defensive-ammo-testing/
For sure the Buffalo Bore wadcutter will "blow through two feet of ballistic gelatin."
Here is link to article, "Wicked Wadcutters" date 9-24-2010 from Handguns.com website that also supports the use of wad cutters due to low recoil, impressive straight line penetration, and inherent accuracy.
http://www.handgunsmag.com/2010/09/24/ammunition_hg_wickedwadcutters_200901/
That someone took a shot from a .38 in the left pelvic area means nothing and that would be the definition of poor shot placement. Put a wadcutter between the shirt pocket, as noted in the article, and the bad guy is a "goner." Use what you want, but I take a well placed shot from a hard cast wadcutter which goes through a vital area completely over an expanding bullet which may or may not expand and stops short of the "boiler room." There are stories of bad guys taking all six from a .357 and staying in the fight. Shot placement is what is key, as always.
 
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