Personal Defense Ammo

M

marappl

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I have an older S&W Model 36 short barrel revolver that is not rated for +P ammo. Looking for the best choice (recommendation) in standard pressure
.38 special ammo for personal defense. Thanks.
 
As far as hollowpoints go, my two choices for standard pressure .38 Spl would be Hornady 110gr Critical Defense or, if you can manage the recoil, Buffalo Bore standard pressure 158gr LSWCHP-GC.

While S&W did not rate any of the J-Frames for +P ammunition until the 1990's, it is commonly accepted that older all-steel J-Frames including the Models 36, 40, and 49 can be shot with a limited amount of +P ammunition with no ill-effect. In my own personal M36 no-dash (early 70's mfg), I feel comfortable using +P ammo for CCW and occasional practice (50-100 rounds per year).
 
+1 on the recommendation for Hornady Critical Defense rounds. The standard .38spl loads are low-recoil; they'll be quite manageable through any snubbie on the market. One other advantage- they're a tad cheaper than a lot of the other specialty ammo; a box of 25 rounds goes for about the same as you'd pay for a 20rd box of most other brands. I've switched over to using the Hornady stuff in all of my carry guns (though I lean towards the punchier loads).
 
Federal has also re-issued its standard pressure 125 grain Nyclad which fills a useful middle ground between the lightweight Hornady and heavyweight Buffalo Bore.
 
I have a model 36 no dash. If you can find them the Federal Nyclad 125 gr works very well with the model 36. But they are hard to find. I would say the Buffalo Standard pressure LSWC 158 gr would work too. Buffalo also makes a 150gr wadcutter that has good reviews.
Good luck,
Howard
 
I usually have the aforementioned 110gr Hornady in mine, too (36, no dash). Another choice out there is Winchester Silvertip 110gr standard pressure. I haven't tested it, and it's older technology, but it's my understanding that it does what's it's supposed to do. It's also sold in boxes of 50, which I appreciate.
 
I just found some Winchester 158 gr LSWCs (standard, not +p) for about half the price of Buffalo Bore.

Winchester makes some great LSWCs.
 
Suggest trying the Fioochi 125ge Horandy XTP loads.

Seem to have a good POA/POI in my J's.

I'm working thru the last of my Hornady 140gr XTP form a couple years ago,

sort like the medium weight bullet instead of the lighter weight.
 
Federal has also re-issued its standard pressure 125 grain Nyclad which fills a useful middle ground between the lightweight Hornady and heavyweight Buffalo Bore.
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This is the only standard .38 Sp load I use for social work.
 
Nothing wrong with wadcutters. Very easy on recoil. Good penetration, though there is no expansion, they are very accurate.
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I agree..may not expand but frontal area is .357-.358 already ..and I'm very suspect of expansion of 38 Spl HP ammo...but with a heavy 148 gr Wadcutter moving at a moderate velocity punches it way deep...and true
 
Here is a cpl pics of some work I did awhile ago with my wife's +P rated M-637 Smith. These are all +P rounds but might give you some idea of bullet styles. All bullets were shot into a swimming pool for comparative expansion purposes. Yep...I know a water medium is not flesh and bone but it does give you some idea of comparative expansion...the velocities noted are actual chronograph readings taken by me with the gun noted. (The Federal Hydra Shok load at 129 gr's chrono'd 840 fps from the S&W 637...forgot to add it to the pic captions!)

BTW, based in part on these tests, my wife and I use Remington's Golden Saber 125 gr HP's as our carry/nightstand defensive ammunition. Her's is the fore mentioned 637, and I have a 3" bbl'd S&W M-36. The additional inch of barrel in the 36 made very little difference in either velocity or expansion, BTW.

The 2nd pic shows the results of a handload vs. the Remington Golden Saber. The 3rd are the results of a hand load vs a Remington factory offering from a 4-5/8" bbl'd Ruger BH (again, those are my actual chrono'd velocities). Best Regards (I've posted these pic's here before...all bullets were shot into the water.), Best Regards, Rod

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357Bullets.jpg
 
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Was testing a 38 spl vs 380 vs 25 ACP yesterday, for penetration thru two standard grade spruce 2x6s, saw your thread, thought I'd pass this 2 cents along.

Remingon 38 spl 125 gr SJHP. Stout recoil. Penetration -1/2" - very shallow.

Winchester 38 spl 130 gr fmj. Softer, yet snappy recoil, Penetration - thru the first 2x6 and 1/4" into the second 2x6.

Remington .380 95 gr fmj. Mild recoil. Penetration - made thru both 2x6s.

Winchester 50 gr fmj. Very light recoil. Penetration - 1 and half 2x6s.

After all this, shot a 45 ACP, went thru the two 2x6s, it broke both 2x6s in half and left a large splintered exit cavity.

The specialty HP ammo needs to hit a soft area to be effective: heavy clothing, fat, cartiledge, bone, leather belt, hard cover, etc can defeat it.

If my wife needs a 38 spl J-frame, would load it with standard pressure 158 fmj or solid lead round nose or wadcutter.


Pics below, handguns used in test: S&W 38 spl J-frame M438, 380 cal Sig P238, 25 cal Walther PPK, and 45 cal SA Micro 1911 at top. Barrels 3" or less.
 

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Thats why I chose the Remington 158 gr. JSP for use in my Puma 16in barreled Levergun...3 large Bucks three shots ..6 holes..no recovered bullets ..( a few fragments in one Bucks exit wound embedded in the rib....) great hunting bullet .....That bullet and the Rossi Puma makes the 357 Mag . a good short range Deer / Hawg carbine:D


357Bullets.jpg
 
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