Opinion about 38Sp ammo

K

k in AR

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I'm curious about 38 special / 38 +P ammo for a 4 inch 586 & what is the best buy, yet tried and true factory ammo for both self defense and accuracy . I have been sticking to 125 XTP for the last few years but I know there are other affordable options & would like to hear your opinions.
 
For a 3-"4" revolver I prefer the old "FBI" load, a 158 grain +P lead semi-wadcutter hollow point (LSWCHP). Remington is one source in their HTP line. It clocks 890 FPS out of my 3" and almost 950 FPS from my 4". Easily controlled for followup shots and proven on the street.
 
I have reloaded my own for 35+ years and have shot 1000s of the 158LSWC from a variety of makers. Lead bullets in factory fodder SHOULD be less cost than plated or jacketed 38 or 38+P.

Ammoseek is one site that should help you find the lowest cost
 
I know there are other affordable options & would like to hear your opinions.
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I've shot LOTS of Georgia Arms ammo, both their reloaded and factory fresh, over the last five years and NEVER had any problems with it. It's not always in stock, and when it is is sells out quickly. When it's in stock I order extra.
 
I've found most of the .38spl loads these days are a bit watered down from previous years. Seems to get worse with each decade. Even the Remington 158gr LSWCHP loading in the HTP packaging seems reduced from the previous version of the same load under the old Express label. Forget about Winchester and Federal, their FBI loads been reduced for years now. Haven't tried Underwood, but Buffalo Bore's offering seems to be the best right now as far as being truer to the classic FBI load. It's what I use, but it is a bit more expensive and is not common in most stores.

Two other factory loads I like are the Speer 135gr "Short Barrel" Gold Dot and the Remington 125gr Golden Saber (not to be confused with the Remington Ultimate Defense BJHP). Both of which are also getting a bit harder to find as well.

Moving away from .38Spls, I like the options of the 110gr .357 loads from either Winchester or Remington. These "357-lites" are, cheap, relatively easy to find, and a nice compromise between .38s and .357s. I use these in my HD guns when I can't find any of the "true" FBI loads.

It's too bad Corbon doesn't offer the FBI load any more. I only have a partial box left from my old stash.

corbon.jpg
 
I have been a fan of tbe 38Spl for as long as can remember ..
I have a half a dozen 38 spl revolvers at this time ..Myself like many others carry semi- autos more often , due to lighter weight a capacity and their prices ..

I like the 158 gr LSWCHP 38spl +P load .. That load sorta separates the 38spl from the 9mm ,,, I also found the Remington brand of the FBI load seems to expand well even in a 2 inch barrel ..
The Remington 125 gr +P is my second favorite..... I picked up a couple of boxes of Hornady 110 gr FTX standard pressure for my wife to shoot in my 12.5 oz Charter 38spl ..

They make more quality 38spl ammo now than ever !!!
 
When I shoot the Buffalo bore .38 +P 158 Keith's outdoorsman out of my LCRx (2"), they feel like magnum loads!:eek:
With the hogue tamer grips, they are just tolerable.
 
Another fan of the old Remington Express R38S12 FBI loading. I bought a 500 round case of it about a half dozen years ago and I'm down to my last full box :eek:
Rather than going with the new Remington HTP FBI load, I have decided to stock up on the Winchester Ranger 38 130 Grain +P Bonded JHP when I finally run out.
 
COP 38+P is some good stuff. And Super Vel is back !!!!!!!! 38 spl Super Snub 90 grain JHP from a 2 inch barrel at 1235 FPS.
 
"... whatever is cheap".

For fun shooting and plinking, that is fine, and I also endorse reloads, including my own. But when/if things get serious, that is not good thinking. I am sure many folks will cite chapter and verse to prove the opposite, but in general the higher the price the better the product. Sure the big factories can goof, but IMHO they are far less likely to produce junk than the guys who turn out those "plastic bag" reloads you see at the gun shows, or that small "factory" that uses range pickup brass, salvaged powder and badly stored primers.

When things get "interesting", you want the best and most reliable gun and ammo you can find. Cost is not a consideration unless you put a "not worth much" sign on your own life.

Jim
 
When I'm carrying day-to-day, I like 110gr Federal Hydra-Shok or Hornady critical defense in my LCR. In the woods, I carry a GP100 or SP101 and usually carry with full .357 rounds, but after a broken clavicle I was only using .38s for a while and I really like DoubleTap Hardcast Solid (+P) and Buffalo Bore (not sure if they have a variety of options or not- mine were 158gr). I don't buy ammo for plinking very often, I just reload and not for any particular accuracy so much as for end of day range therapy so I don't really have an opinion of that type of ammo for this cartridge :)
 
Cheap ammo from Ammo Surplus

http://www.surplusammo.com/38-special-ammo/

Caliber: 38 Special, 130 Grain, FMJ (Bi-Metal Jacketed)
Bullet Casing: Steel with phosphate polymer coating, Non-Reloadable
Bullet Primer: Berdan, Non-Corrosive
Muzzle (Velocity): 890fps.
Made in Russia by Ulyanovsk Cartridge Works

$209 plus shipping for a 1000 rounds of FMJ mostly-round nose, slightly flat on the top .38 Special non+p. The cases are matte black steel, not the gleaming brass of most other 38s. I paid $267 including shipping, which brings it all it to $13.35/box and $0.27/round. For a cheapster like me this rocks!
Update: Pics of the Ammo. I shot 100 rounds out of my S&W 649 and 438. I had one instance of a stock ejector on the 438. I had to punch out the shells by pressing the rod against the table; the seize was MAYBE due to unburnt powder, or maybe an over-expanded case. I'm wondering if this is due to the cases made of matte-gray steel, which seems slightly less smooth than standard brass. So this ammo isn't world class, but great enough for practice, and also the round warheads work fine with speedloaders.
 

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I'll stick to a 6 cent 158 gr cast bullet over 3.2 grains of bullseye and a primer for about 10 cents a round for target and plinking.

These are as cheap for me to shoot and more availible than 22 lr.

Otherwise federal 158+p is my preference
 
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Federal just came out with a new HST defense ammo in .38 caliber . I just saw a picture of it today on another forum ( THR ) and the bullet is seated like a wadcutter . I will be watching for a review on this ammo .
 
Winchester and Remington both have .38+p 125 gr JHPs available at local WalMarts for a little over $20 for a box of 50. Difference in performance(both accuracy and terminal) and between them and those $1 a pop boutique type SD ammo is minuscule if at all. Reliability is the same. Wadcutters may give you more penetration thru barriers, but that is not always what civilians need. Even with today's technology, there still is no magical bullet. Folks still need to find ammo that performs well and shoots accurately from their gun. Folks also need to practice enough with their firearm to become/remain proficient with it. Hype and advertising sells, and it's easy to fall prey to it. Test ammo yourself and trust it because you know it works for you, not because someone on the internet uses it.

I roll my own using Remington 125 gr SJHPs. They work well for me, outta my 637. All that matters.
 
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