Ammunition Confusion...

S

softouch

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New shooter looking for some help with ammunition.
I have a Smith & Wesson 686-6+ and a Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 38. Took Basic Pistol and CHL Training (qualified with a semi-auto cause I could). Instructor said don't use any ammunition with an animal's name & stay away from "White Box" and anything made in China.
All shooting that I have done is at an indoor range using full metal jacket target loads, but when not at the range the revolvers are loaded & carried with Hornady Critical Defense in .38.
But I digress, when looking for ammunition I see:
38 S&W
38 Special
38 Super
38
38 SPL +P
38 Super Auto +P; AND
357 Magnum
357 Remington Magnum
357 Sig

There are more descriptions/names, but what's the difference? I understand about bullet weights, and the different loads (I think) - .38 Special +P = more power than .38 Special; .357 Magnum gives more flash, recoil and feels good when stop shooting:).
Buying range ammo at the range 1-box at a time is expensive & I will begin buying by the case soon. I know re-loading will be cheaper still, but I am not ready to do that yet. Cheaper still would be a hole punch from Office Depot & I could probably improve my target groups too.
Will all .38's shoot in my guns?
 
Your Bodyguard can safely fire ammunition labeled as follows: .38 Special ("Special" is sometimes abbreviated as "Spl"), .38 S&W Special, and .38 Special +P. Your revolver could also safely fire .38 Long Colt ammunition, but that is an obsolescent cartridge that is neither common nor affordable. The +P designation means that so-labeled ammunition may be loaded up to and including 10% over maximum standard pressure. S&W specifically rates the Bodyguard .38 for +P ammunition so it is safe to fire, however do not under any circumstances fire ammunition marked ".38 Special +P+" as it may be loaded to much, much higher pressure than either standard pressure or +P .38 Special ammo and may be unsafe in your revolver.

Your 686 can fire all of the same ammunition as your Bodyguard as well as .357 Magnum ("Magnum" is sometimes abbreviated as "Mag"). .357 Remington Magnum is an erroneous designation that is sometimes applied to .357 Magnum (Remington was not involved with the development of the cartridge, though they do make .357 Magnum ammunition), but do not under any circumstances try to fire .357 Remington Maximum ammunition as that is a completely different cartridge that is much higher pressure than .357 Magnum is.

.38 S&W (no "Special") is an older cartridge that should not be fired in your revolvers. While it is shorter and much lower pressure than .38 Special, .38 Special +P, and .357 Magnum, it is also slightly larger in diameter and thus may not even chamber properly in your revolvers' cylinders.

.38 Super Auto and .38 Super Auto +P (different names for the same cartridge) are semi-automatic cartridges that cannot be safely fired in your revolver because they are both dimensionally incompatible and higher pressure.

.357 Sig is yet another semi-auto cartridge that is unusable in your revolvers because it is dimensionally incompatible and will not chamber (it's basically a .40 S&W bottlenecked down to 9mm).
 
Ammunition sizes and types can be very confusing to someone new.
For your guns, the 686 is chambered for the 357 Magnum (Also known as 357 Remington Magnum). It will also chamber the 38 Special, and 38 special +P. The +P denotes higher than standard pressure according to the Small Arms Amunition Manufacturing Association (SAAMI). +P should only be used in guns rated for +P by their manufacturer. the 686 being built to withstand 357 Magnum pressures is also adequate. The reason the 357 will shoot the 38 Special OK is that it was designed as a higher powered version of the 38 Special for stronger guns. To keep from having people chamber it in weaker firearms they made the case 1/10th of an inch longer. The actual bullet diameter of both the 38 Special, and the 357 Magnum is .357 A similar situation is found in 44 Special, and 44 Magnum.
38 S&W is a shorter cartridge pre dating the 38 Special. 38 Super is a cartridge for semi auto handguns that is basically a longer, and more powerful version of the 9MM Luger round. 357 Sig is also a round intended for semi autos to improve on the performance of the 9MM. It is a "bottle necked" case to provide more powder capacity while maintaining the 9MM bullet size. All these 9MM rounds use a bullet diameter of .355
It would be well worth the cost, and effort for you to get a copy of the book Cartridges of the World. You will learn a lot about ammunition for firearms from everywhere.
 
Until you learn more about ammo, go to a gun shop and ask for guidance. Tell'm what you expect and let'm suggest something.
 
Webleymkv: : good job, I'm not sure anyone could really add to that. That's pretty much it , right down the line.
 
Hi, some less expensive range ammo to check out are:
  • CCI Blazer
  • Magtech Sport
  • Remington UMC
  • Speer Lawman
  • Winchester USA

Midway USA and Cheaper than Dirt are big online sources that allow you to compare relative prices from a variety of makers and products, even if you buy locally.

For shooting on an indoor range, I personally like the range ammo designed to produce less smoke, residue and noxious fumes, like:
  • Remington UMC Leadless
  • Speer Lawman Cleanfire
  • Winchester WinClean
...these cost a little more, but are healthier and more pleasant to shoot, and don't leave as much crap in your gun to clean later... my local range has lousy ventilation!
 
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Instructor said don't use any ammunition with an animal's name
Click to expand...

That's hillarioius. What he was talking about is a "wildcat" cartridge. That is a non-standard caliber that is made by making an commercial case either bigger or smaller to handle a different diameter bullet.
 
I suspect he was taking a slap at Russian-made Wolf ammunition, not at "wildcat" ammo, which is pretty uncommon in handguns.

Jim
 
James I thought about that, but there shouldn't be any reason not to shoot either Wolf or Bear. He must have some anti-American bias if that is what he was meaning.
 
If you're really interested in guns you ought to buy a copy, new or old, of 'Cartridges of the World'. It has about 99% of everything you might like to know about ammo.
 
What? No animal names? How about reptiles?

Does that no animal name on ammo include animal name to gun manufacturers?

Here I went and bought a 'Colt', horse, and 'Python', reptile. Dang it!
 
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