Best self-defense round in .38 spl +p?

T

TCW

New member
Looking for a good home defense round for my 4" GP100 that the wife could handle but would readily put down a BG. Are the heavier (158 gr) loads better?

Thanks!
 
Try the new Speer 135 grain +P. They are "suppose" to give higher FPS out of short barrel revolvers. Out of your 4" they should be very quick and easy to handle. Good Luck
 
Out of a 4" gun, I prefer the 158gr LSWC-HP +P. (I do like the new 135gr Gold Dots in a snubnose, though...)
 
You want a light,fast hollow point 110 to 135 grain +P for serious work.Use lighter loads for target shooting,butt also shoot some +P`s to know where they impact and know how they feel. Good shooting.
 
For the past 25+ years the load has been the 158gr LSWC-HP +P. It is in all our .38's. Wife can shoot this fine even in her snubby. I'd like to see the Gold Dot prove itself, anyone have any results from the steet to share? :confused:
 
Frangible?

If this is for in the house, maybe one of the exotic frangible rounds would be worth considering, to prevent the rounds going all thru the house, so to speak. I don't know if there are other people in the house, but that could be a factor. Problem is, if we are talking about something like a Glaser, practice would be too expensive! Maybe the 135's some talk about would be a good compromise between penetration and effectiveness. I live alone, and load the 158 +p in a snub as it is proven effective even from a snub. Cheap enough in 50 rd. boxes for good practice sessions. Not really that bad to shoot, and does not shoot low from a steel frame snub. Good project for some research, I would say. I can't think any of the high grade defense loads from the good makers would be a bad choice, unless they were too hot to shoot for her. And I suppose in winter, the lighter bullets might not penetrate thru heavy clothing as well as a mid weight?
 
My vote goes with Tom2 . I like the Glassiers and Mag-safe Frangable rounds. They were proven more effective (on goats anyway) than most HP rounds in the Strasberg (sp?) Tests. Makes sence as they leave thier energy in the BG not two walls down. I load them near exclusively in my house and carry guns.

p.s. I've fired a few just to get to know POI but practice withlight bullet +P rounds.
 
Semi-Mythical?? I remember reading about hese trials in more than one gun rag at the time. Seemed well documented enough. Are you saying they were proven false at some later date? :confused:
 
Semi-Mythical?? I remember reading about hese trials in more than one gun rag at the time.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but gun rags also talk about "brisk but manageable" recoil and "combat accuracy." ;)

Strasbourg where? PA? France? So far, your guess is as good as mine...
 
Tamara Wrote:

Yeah, but gun rags also talk about "brisk but manageable" recoil and "combat accuracy."

Strasbourg where? PA? France? So far, your guess is as good as mine...
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Strasbourg is in France, NE right along the German border.

In a 38 snubbie, I prefer a 125gr to 140gr JHP. Jump to the .357 Mag and I'll take the 125gr JHPs to save my hand a pounding.
 
You people sort of strayed from the original question.There`s a new kid on the block. Buffalo Bore has a new 38 Spl. load out. 158gr. lead semi wadcutter hollow point at 1000fps out of a 2" barrel. Awsome!!! January 05 issue of Guns@Ammo,page 71.
 
You people sort of strayed from the original question.There`s a new kid on the block. Buffalo Bore has a new 38 Spl. load out. 158gr. lead semi wadcutter hollow point at 1000fps out of a 2" barrel. Awsome!!! January 05 issue of Guns@Ammo,page 71.
Click to expand...

That's HOT for a 38......

Sounds like an SP101 load only.

:)
 
If that Buffalo Bore round is really moving a 158gr LSWC-HP up to 1000 fps from a 2" barrel, I have to believe that exceeds the pressure standards for .38 special (i.e. a +P+ round) -- and these are not good on small guns. It would also be pretty hard on a standard 4" .38 revolver too.

Back in the 70's, "the load" for .38's was a 145gr LSWC-HJHP running about 1000 fps from a 4" barrel (aka The LA Manstopper Load). From a 2" barrel that would likely be about 900~950fps). Fairly accurate too from a 2" S&W Model 15 that I had. Federal's 129gr Hydrashok is very similar methinks.
(950fps 255 ft-lbs).
 
I run 158gr LSWCHP +P's in both my 4" M28 and my 2" M15. Both are house guns. Both are easy for my wife to manage, though she prefers the M15 due to size. I trust the round and I trust my wife's ability to put all 6 where she wants to. She is not a shooter, but knows why we have the pistols and is more then willing to hit the range with me on a semi-regular basis to practice.

The new Gold Dot is interesting, but I'm a "go with what you know" kinda person.
 
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