Camp Gun: 4" barreled .38 Special and what ammo?

S

Southern Shooter

New member
In another thread I addressed the issue of a short-barreled .357 for a defensive weapon in the woods.

Here I would like to address another issue...similar but not the same based on the caliber in question. I know...I know...the .38 special is hardly a hunting weapon or weapon designed with animals in mind.

Each of my family members has a 4" barrel service-size .38 special because of ease to use, low recoil, ability to aim quickly, etc.. They just plain like them. They practice and are pretty good shots. My oldest puts each slug in a 6" circle at 25 yards. Anyway, they brought up an interesting question:

Given its limitations, what .38 special ammunition would offer them the best critter protection...you know...an a handy camp gun to keep on the hip? Anyone out there with experience using a .38 special to dispatch problem animals? How large an animal was it? They all understand that these guns are not designed for such adventures. But this is what they have to use. I thought about the Winchester 158 grain +P lead semi-wad cutter HP. Velocity is 890 and fpe is 278. Winchester came to mind because its lead is a bit harder than other brand rounds of similar design thus pushing for deep penitration.

Input from the crowd, please.
 
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Buffalo Bore specs

At the suggestion of a fellow handgunner, I checked out the specs for 2 of Buffalo Bore's rounds. WOW !!!! The 150 grain very hard cast Wad Cutter sounds like it may be the ticket for a .38 special camp gun. Seems to me that "S&W Mt. Gun, 4 inch barrel—1005 fps (336 ft. lbs.)" breaths new life in the lowely service .38 special allowing it to be pressed into "woods duty". It is still not a cannon but appears to be a definite improvement. Any thoughts on that?


Standard Pressure Short Barrel
Heavy .38 Special

********
Item No. 20C/20 158gr. very soft lead cast, SWC-HC gas checked bullet — 854 fps (256 ft. lbs.) from S&W mod. 60, 2 inch barrel Per Box of 20
$20.99

Item 20C utilizes the same 158gr. very soft lead cast, SWC-HC gas checked bullet, we load in our +P 38 SPL ammo. It is designed to expand and then penetrate quite deep. (Approx. 14 inches in human tissue) This bullet is gas checked and will NOT lead your barrel. Note the below velocities that I recorded out of my personal revolvers—NOT TEST BARRELS!

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

********
Item No. 20D/20 Very hard cast 150gr. WAD CUTTER bullet — 868 fps (251 ft. lbs.)from S&W mod. 60, 2 inch barrel

Item 20D utilizes a very hard cast 150gr. WAD CUTTER bullet. The bullet is made hard, so it won’t deform or mushroom. It cuts/crushes a “cookie cutter”, full diameter hole in human flesh just like it does on a paper target. It penetrates deeply (roughly 14 to 16 inches in human tissue) and its full diameter profile maximizes blood loss as it cuts and crushes (not slips or slides) its way through tissue. Although I’ve never been shot with a full profile wad cutter bullet, I must assume that the initial impact of that wide flat nosed bullet, is crushingly formidable. As a teenager, I took to the woods on a regular basis and killed many a critter with heavily loaded 38SPL wad cutters’. The effect of a full profile wad cutter on small game was obvious and amazing, compared to regular round nosed bullets. That flat nose, literally hammers living things. These bullets are hard and properly lubed and will NOT lead your barrel. Note my velocities from real world “over the counter” revolvers—NOT TEST BARRELS!

a. S&W mod. 60, 2 inch barrel—868 fps (251 ft. lbs.)
b. S&W mod. 66, 2.5 inch barrel—890 fps (264 ft. lbs.)
c. Ruger SP101, 3 inch barrel—961 fps (308 ft. lbs.)
d. S&W Mt. Gun, 4 inch barrel—1005 fps (336 ft. lbs.)
 
I second Buffalo Bore. They also offer these in an impressive +P load, but make sure their guns are in good shape before you try them, since these are pretty hot loads.
 
Then there is this....

Buffalo Bore

Heavy .38 Special +P Short Barrel Low Flash

Item 20A: 158gr., very soft cast, semi wad cutter, (Keith) hollow cavity, with a gas check. This bullet will mushroom violently on impact and will penetrate roughly 14 inches in human flesh. Again, this bullet is gas checked and will not lead your barrel.

S&W mod. 60, 2 inch—1040 fps (379 ft. lbs.)
S&W mod. 66, 2.5 inch—1059 fps (393 ft. lbs.)
Ruger SP101, 3 inch—1143 fps (458 ft. lbs.)
S&W Mt. Gun, 4 inch—1162 fps (474 ft. lbs.)
 
Saw it late

Hey Capt. Charlie,
I did not see your post until after I had posted what you were refering to. Would softer lead or harder lead rounds be more useful in the woods for critters up to 200 lbs?
 
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