deciding between two .38 loads

G

generallobster

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I have two calibers on hand to choose between for my 2in snub:
38 +p 158gr. LSWCHP from Buffalo Bore 1000fps, 351ft lbs out of 2in snub
38 +p 135gr. Gold Dot Hollow Point 860fps, 222ft lbs out of 2in snub

Just based on numbers it seems like the Buffalo Bore wins hands down but I have heard a lot of people say the gold dot is the best load for a snubby. Which would you carry?
 
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The 158 WC. More frontal area, speed, momentum, and track record.

Whoops I thought it was a wc. I'd still pick it over the GD. Just me.
 
It sounds like you have the Gold Dot Short Barrel round from Speer. Well, antipersonnel duty out of the snubnose is exactly what it's designed and tested for, and I have a lot of faith in Speer - that'd be my pick. Even if the numbers on the Buffalo Bore sound good, I don't think they have the R&D capacity of Speer, who's products consistently test out beautifully.
 
Have you shot either?

I think the speer gold dot might be more manageable out of a snub. I find the 158 gn rounds harder on the hand than the lighter rounds. Remington gold sabres have a good rep also. I choose PMC 125gn 38spl+p starfires. For me they seem to be "just right" to shoot. I must have shot 12 different types of ammo until I found the load I like based on accuracy, smoke, recoil, and price. You need to experiment. Unless you go to a range that only lets you shoot their target ammo. In which case asking people who have snub's similar to yours might be your best option. What kind of snub do you have?
 
the snub is a 642 SW airweight
I think this was the gun the gold dots were designed specifically for, but the buffalo bore's were also tested out of a SW J frame 2in snub.
 
i have a s&w m637 alloy frame snubby (which i LOVE FWIW) and havent tried the GD's yet (cant seem to find them here :( but the 158 gr lswchp hac a long tried and true good record from what i can tell, and i honestly didnt think recoil was painful or unmanageable at all, and i'm not a very great shooter, but i could hit a "human chest" sized target at 12 yds pretty well with a double tap with them so......just my 2 cents

maybe try looking at this article. i cant speak of its writer or its credibility, but it seemed to be pretty well done and informative.
http://www.handgunsmag.com/ammunition/pocket_dynomite/index.html
 
Those 1,000 feet-per-second Buffalo Bore loads out of a S&W 642--sounds pretty uncontrollable and painful to me. :eek:

I do like the 158-grain SWC HP +P from Winchester. I used it in my 642 equipped with Spegel Boot Grips. It would still be a problem with the skimpy factory grips.
 
158gr at 1,000fps from an airweight may be hard to manage.

I have the S&W 649 "Bodyguard" - all steel .357 version. The 158gr JHPs are stout but manageable. Shaving this gun's 23oz weight down to about 16oz would probably make them harder to shoot. The 649, with 158gr .357's will tun in my hand (flip up) and require me to regrip the gun between shots. I stick with lighter magnum loads.

The Gold Dots and Remington's Golden Saber have been getting good press lately. For best performance from a snubbie, look for Gold Dot - SB rounds where "SB" stands for "short barreled".

Remember, today it's not velocity, it's a high quality bullet design combined with accuracy that counts.
 
Forget all the numbers. Find what your revolver likes and you shoot the best with it. All those numbers mean nothing if you can't place the bullet where you want it.
 
Gold Dots

Are there two different types of Gold Dot bullets? One for regular 4" or longer barrels and one for 2" barrels? I bought a box of 125 gr Gold Dots to reload for my snubby and was wondering if these bullets are designed for higher velocities or will they work OK for the snub. I've heard about the 135 grainer being for snubbies. Is this 135 grainer a little softer to open up at slower velocities than the Gold Dots that I bought? Anybody know?
 
Does anybody know the difference between the current 158 gr. offering and the one that was discontinued awhile back? I remember the boxes were marked +P+. I definitely really liked that load out of my 640-1. Is the currently offered one the same?
 
Steve Morgan

Yes, Speer fairly recently came out with an *extra* group of cartridges designed specifically for short barrels, called "Gold Dot Short Barrel".

I am not sure what the difference is. If the problem in standard Gold Dot .38Special out of a snubnose is insufficient penetration, they would make them open up slower to correct this - keeping the bullets skinny longer will enhance penetration. However, if the problem in standard Gold Dot .38Special out of a snubnose is insufficient expansion, they would make them open up faster. They can adjust expansion rate with lead hardness, hollowpoint cavity dimensions, and jacket nose cuts (and to some extent with powder charge, but that is also tied in with penetration).
 
answered my own question

I went to the Speer website and they do have a different Gold Dot bullet. It's call the Gold Dot SB (Short Barrel). It says that it opens up quicker/easier because of the shorter barrel/slower velocity. I ordered some 135 grain but they offer them in 147 grain too... should be here next week.
Just for fun, I'll shoot the regular and the SB versions into something and see what the difference is. How would a trash can full of water do since I don't have ballistic gellatin? Just to add a little bit of uncertainty to the test, I will reload these myself. :eek:
 
Buffalo Bore out of a 2" barrel will be murderous on your hands.

Better choice is the 135 Gold Dot. Much quicker second shot follow-up and will work just fine.

If you must have a 158 LSWC-HP to feel better, go with the Remington R38S12 load.
 
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