CCI Blazer As A Carry Load?

D

Druggie

New member
:confused:I have a LOT of handguns, and I use Blazer ammo more than any other brand for range practice. I like it--it's reliable, it's clean, and I can usually find it pretty cheap.

My primary carry gun is my S&W AirLite Ti .38 spl. If I have ever switched carry loads on a monthly basis, it has been with this gun (usually based on what I've read, opinions, etc.).

What I like about my 337 is how feathery LIGHT it is. When I took the off the stock Uncle Mike's Boot grips and switched them with Hogue Bantams (now stock on the S&W PD models), it knocked off 0.8 oz. of weight...bringing the total weight of the empty gun to 11.0 oz. Blazer ammo has aluminum casings, which are also a lot lighter than brass.

Five rounds of Blazer .38 spl ammo is approximately 0.7 oz. lighter than, say, five rounds of Hydra-Shok. I checked the "Calibers" website, and CCI Blazer .38 spl. JHP +P's match Speer, Federal, or any other +P round BALLISTICALLY, in fps and energy. I'm carrying the CCI +P round in my 337 right now--the loaded gun weighs less than 13 oz.

Opinions please?;)
 
>>CCI Blazer As A Carry Load?

Why not! Although I think you are cutting it a bit fine when dealing with .1's ounces, I am a great believer in carry what you practice with. (I'm a recreational shooter, and don't carry, but if I did I WOULD carry what I practice with!) That alone justifies you carrying the Blazer. As long as it it realiable in your gun there is nothing wrong with aluminum case Blazer ammo, IMHO.

justinr1
 
I had considered that the .357 Blazer 158gr JHP would be an adequate defensive load for a HD gun. It is a heavy bullet, cheap enough to practice with, and loaded a bit less than many 158s at a nominal velocity of 1150 fps from a 4 inch barrel (still quite a bit faster than a 158 grain .38 plus P). However, recent lots of this ammo that I have purchased show that Blazer has changed the round significantly. Older lots show a semi-jacketed hollowpoint with a fairly deep hollowpoint. Recent lots have been fully-jacketed and the hollowpoint has been reduced to little more than a dimple. I don't know the reasons Blazer did this (no mention on their web site) but the potential of the round as a defensive round took a nose-dive, at least in my estimation. I like shooting Blazer, at least in revolvers and I particularly like shooting the 158 .357 so I'm sorry to see them change it.
 
I have noticed that too, Laz.
I don't know how much a good 38 would expand anyway, but every little bit helps.
It looks like a jsp that is jacketed all the way to the tip, then drilled about 1/4" deep.
Not the first thing I think of when I see the letters JHP.
That is still my favorite practice load in my light weight .357's.
I think they knew that people would still buy them, so they could make them cheaper, and sell more of them.
To be honest, I really don't think they INTEND this load to be used for defense, but for practice.
It's still better than .38 spl wadcutter, or LRN.
 
i've shot blazers in 9mm and .45 acp without any problems...it just seems "right" to carry the lightweight stuff in a lightweight gun :)

however, i shot some 200gr jhp (gold dot?) .44 spl loads out of my smith m-696 and had some cases hang up during ejection. it was during qualification and i didn't have time to figure the cause then. i'm thinking dirty chambers...it was during a 36 round course.

i still have them in the bedroom gun and figure they should be good for the first reload (always works during practice)
 
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