S&W M642 - Need load for 125gr Rem SJHP

S

Slip Shooter

New member
Hello all, I am a newbie, first time to post on any Forum.

I have recently purchased a new S&W Model 642-2 with Laser grips.

Personal defense load is Winchester +P 158 gr LSWC. The recoil is quite stiff.

I am looking for a good 750 fps load using the Remington 125 gr Scalloped JHP (I have 1000) for range use. Seems this should be a lesser recoil load in thie M642. I have searched this and other Forums with no success. Is there any merit to the possibility of the jacket splitting on these bullets and being left behind in the barrel.

Thanks for your input

Charlie G
 
Have you searched your handload manual? Data for any 125 grain jacketed bullet will do since you will not be up to the maximum.

You can load a JHP pretty light but do not cut it below the starting load shown. I have seen one barrel bulged from a jacket left behind as the core separated due to too light a load.
 
I have searched several manuals, but there seems to be to much variation in listed loads for the 125 grainers. I will be using Winchester 231, Accurate Arms #2 or Bullseye.
 
Is there any merit to the possibility of the jacket splitting on these bullets and being left behind in the barrel.
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I've never loaded - or even seen for that matter - the Remington bullet you're speaking of. Remington lists the bullets on thier website as semi jacketed though.
I have loaded the Speer half jacketed bullets though, which may or may not be the same type.

If the jacket material stops short of covering the rounded part of the bullet, then yes it can and will shed the jacket if you drive it too slow. Speer cautions not to drive their half jacket bullets slower than 1000 fps. I foolishly ignored that and stuck a jacket in the barrel once. The jacket stuck midway and the lead core continued on. The only thing that saved my bacon was the fact that was working up the load at the time and firing into a stack of old magazines testing penetration. When I dug the bullet out and noticed there was no jacket, I knew right away what happened - and sure enough it was stuck in the bore.

The good news is that the bullets you have now, have an unlimited shelf life. You can either set them aside for a future time when you may load up a 125 gr to magnum velocites - or - possibly trade them to someone else for something more suitable.

Personally, my bad experience left me using either only lead bullets, or full metal patch. On the rare occasion I load a JSP or a JHP, I use only bullets that have a very small amount of lead showing at the tip.
 
Thanks for the info HAL. Indeed these are the Remington Semi-JHP you mentioned. They are manufactured with a petal or scallop in the jacket.

Your advise along with others on another forum has shown me to use them in full power loads only in the .38 Special. I'll be using the Speer #13 manual and it's "Do Not Reduce" loads.

Thanks for everyones help.
 
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