Best load for Charter Arms .38 snub?

[Alex Johnson]

I was at the gunstore the other day and found a deal I couldn't pass up. A brand new mid 80's vintage Charter Arms Off Duty in the box for a little over $100. I know this pistol is not sanctioned for +P loads and that's all I shot in the last snub that I had. I've always liked the snub .38's, but what are the choices for non +P defensive loads out there? The only ones I've seen in the category I'm looking for are the Federal Personal Defense 110 grain loads, are there any others out their?

 

[M58]

That and the regular Gold Dots. In the 60s we used wadcutters. We even loaded the hollow base ones backwards!
Of course now we have real HP.

 

[Al Thompson]

Alex,

Many of us with alloy frame guns carry +P's and practice with non-+P's. FWIW, the 158 grain lead semi-wadcutter hollow point +P loads seem to find favor in all ballistic camps. (M+S/Fackler)

Mine shoot both loads close enough for practice. I do like to run the occasional cylinderfull of +Ps through to reconfirm POI/POA.

An option is the 125 Federal Nyclad loads. I've chrono'ed those at an honest 925 FPS in a J frame S&W.

Giz