Favorite factory snub nose .38 round (target/defense)

C

ChrisCT

New member
Looking for which ammo to pickup for my 642 which is on it's way to me. I've obviously read a lot of good things about the Speer Gold Dot 135 +P which seem to be made for snubbies. Any other defensive favorites?

How about cheap ammo for punching holes in paper and getting familiar with the gun? Does Winchester make any 100 round target boxes in .38 special, or am I stuck with 50 round boxes. What cheap ammo do you all like best?

Thanks!
 
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For defensive rounds I don't think you can beat Magsafe, in a .38 they should be a big help.

For Target I perefer PMC ammo. It's not super cheap but it's accurate and the brass is nice, for reloading later.

One thing to stay away from, in my opinion is the 'blue box' reload S%$^, they have been selling all over. It's dirty and not very accurate.

If the ammo is so cheap you really can't keep it on the paper, you're defeating the purpose.
 
Mine is currently loaded with 158 grain lead semi-wadcutter hollow point +P from Winchester. They are accurate and the recoil isn't too bad. I practice with 158 grain semi-wadcutter reload's using Titegroup powder.
 
While the Speer 135 grain +Ps are supposedly the latest and greatest (specifically for snubbies), I've not had any sucess in locating at local stores or the last 2 guns shows ...
 
While the Speer 135 grain +Ps are supposedly the latest and greatest (specifically for snubbies), I've not had any sucess in locating at local stores or the last 2 guns shows ...
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I have found them online at Midway for $12.50/box of 20. Plus shipping of course, which can sometimes kill you when ordering ammo online.
 
For defensive rounds I don't think you can beat Magsafe, in a .38 they should be a big help.
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Someone posted a link here (or maybe GlockTalk) to FBI tests of the MagSafe .38 round. I'll try to find it for you, or maybe you would have luck googling it. After reading that report, I think you'll probably stop using MagSafe.

That is if you put any stock into FBI tests. The results were truly horrible.
 
Winchester does make 100 round boxes of 130 grain .38 special
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Yah, but they're full metal jacket roundnose. Hardly a defensive round. You want a heavy lead semiwadcutter or jacketed hollow point. Never tried the new Speers but have heard good things about them.
 
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Winchester does make 100 round boxes of 130 grain .38 special

Yah, but they're full metal jacket roundnose. Hardly a defensive round. You want a heavy lead semiwadcutter or jacketed hollow point. Never tried the new Speers but have heard good things about them.
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Your're right, but I also need a good plinker round to get used to the gun in general. I think I'm going to put together a variety pack from MidwayUSA and try a whole bunch of brands.

Question: do the non-jacketed bullets make a big difference in how dirty the barrel gets? I've noticed many of the .38 Special rounds are non-jacketed lead.

Thanks.

edit - MK-11, can you find those Winchester 100 packs at Wally World? I hate that store but I'm going to go check out the ammo situation.
 
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