Loose Rounds, Federal .38spl Nyclad.

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In the past, the decision on what ammo to carry was often based on marking hype, magazine articles, or gun store experts. Maybe some people still do. Unfortunately, I’m finding out that some of the advice I received years ago wasn’t so great. Today, the info available to us is much better allowing people to make better choices for their needs.



I recently found a 125gr .38spl +P Nyclad when I was rummaging around in my box of odds and ends ammo. I thought this would be the perfect round following the 9mm Nyclad I shot last week. I was hoping this one would do better but I really didn’t think it would. Turns out I was right.
One round into two 16 inch blocks of Clear Ballistics gel fired from a S&W model 442 Air Weight with a 1 7/8’s barrel. The Bullet hit with a velocity of 844fps and penetrated 17 inches. It stopped with the base forward and did not expand. You may notice the leading edge of the bullet looks like it started to expand but what you’re seeing is the nylon coating separating from the lead.
Another eye-opening and disappointing outcome.

 
I learned a long time ago: don't count on any hollow point bullet fired from a handgun to expand. Most times it just doesn't happen.

If it does, then consider it an exception and a bonus.
 
I often wonder if my wife is smarter than I am for carrying Fed Gold Match .38spl 148gr HBWC in her snubby. I carry either Remington's FBI load (+P 158gr LSWCHP) or a spunkier version from Underwood or Buffalo Bore.

Half the tests show the Rem FBI load (best of the FBI loads: Fed, Win, Rem) not expanding from a snubby. And the peppier UW/BB loads have beau coup recoil.
 
I've found HP lead and plated HP's seldom expand unless they are going about 1200 fps or faster. Typically 38's don't get pushed that fast. Light 357's would work if pushed to that speed.
 
Yeah, old technology not performing. I thought they would have done better than not expanding, but nope.

Lucky Gunner's tests of .38 and .357 opened my eyes to the difficulties of .38 Special hollow points out of snub barrels. Most either fail to expand due to the low velocity or fail to penetrate.

The premium Winchester loads did fine, Remington Golden Saber did okay, but I liked Hornady Critical Defense +P the most. While not every shot may not have hit the 12 inch FBI minimums consistently, they always came very close, close enough to call them a success from a 2 inch barrel.

That's for hollow points though, I still think that from a snub revolver, the best defense ammo is that which is designed to do damage from not expanding.

That leaves two loads that I know of and it's either a moderately hot hardcast wadcutter or those bullets with flutes in the nose that are supposed to use the rotation of the bullet to damage tissue.

I don't think one can go wrong with either, but lately I've been leaning towards the lightweight Polycase ammunition because the velocities are so high that they usually cause the bullet to tumble and do more damage than wadcutters or hollow points and because they also have slightly lower recoil.

Also because I'm of the opinion that the "range" ammo Polycase that doesn't have the flutes will do the exact same thing the fluted ammo does, which is tumble a few inches into the body and render the flutes useless. So, if the fluted defense bullets don't do anything because the bullet is tumbling, why pay double the price for them?
 
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Speer JHP 38+Ps vs. Winchester 38 (standard) 158 Gr LSWC fired into a wet phone book. Both fired from a Smith 642

Not much difference in penatration.

Just Saying

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I like the Remington 158gr. +p LHP. they've expanded in the water jug testing I've done from my 2" model 64 and my 642; the latter isn't fun.

the Remington load must use a softer lead than Winchester and Federal.
 
Soft lead is the way to go in a snub. If you can't get expansion, penetration and deformation will suffice.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
 
Don't know why you guys are having problems getting hollowpoints to expand when fired out of snubbies. Middle 158gr bullet came out of my 2.5" snubbie at a leisurely 840fps.

Don

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