The 642 is sighted for 158 grain ammo (according to Roy Jinks). Anyone have an opinion as to how "off" shooting the speer stuff will be?

I haven't noticed too much of a problem.

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Aaron Terry

Then I'd run with the stuff. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Shoots fine in my 642s out to the 25 yard line. I've not fired it past that point, but I wouldn't worry about it too much.

I was shooting 158 grain SWC Ultramax (non +P) last week and it was absolutely awful out of my 640-1 centennial (the .357 version of the 642). It was so far off I was considering some drastic things. So, yesterday, I thought I would try my carry ammo (that I had never gotten around to testing) which is Speer Gold Dot 135 grain short barrel, but in .357 Magnum. I was nailing the bullseye at 7 yards every time. It was dead on accurate and didn't kick as bad as some of the other rounds I had tried. I was very, very pleased with the ammo.

I have a 638 bodyguard (a .38 +P similar to the 642) loaded with the .38 +P Speer Gold Dot 135 grain short barrel...this spring, I will test some of that in water jugs, but it's just too cold right now. I am fairly certain in one of the Airweight guns, the Speer Ammo will be the most accurate and the best performer w/ respect to terminal shape, penetration, weight retention, etc. I tried the Buffalo Bore SWCHP .38+P that everybody talks about, and it was a powerful round. But when it hit my waterjugs, the bullet expanded and the outer ring of lead just pulled off the bullet and it turned into a very small piece. I may not be saying it right, but it basically fragmented when it went into the water...the small center section over-penetrated, and the outer ring (the part that expanded) just fell right off early in the water. So, I don't like the Buffalo Bore for that reason. The Speer is a bonded ammo, so I'm hoping it does better in the water jugs.

Probably too much information, but yes, I think the Speer is the best ammo you could get for the 642. Later, B

I should have also said, that Winchester PDX1 also does very good. Remington Golden Saber does good. There are several other good ones available. Later, B

"I tried the Buffalo Bore SWCHP .38+P that everybody talks about, and it was a powerful round. But when it hit my waterjugs, the bullet expanded and the outer ring of lead just pulled off the bullet and it turned into a very small piece. I may not be saying it right, but it basically fragmented when it went into the water...the small center section over-penetrated, and the outer ring (the part that expanded) just fell right off early in the water. So, I don't like the Buffalo Bore for that reason. The Speer is a bonded ammo, so I'm hoping it does better in the water jugs."

That happens in water, regularly, most likely would not happen in meat.

Right. Water is not a worthless test medium, but it has faults. Expansion should be more violent in water than flesh. Over expansion isn't a red light, but failure to expand is.

If the water jug explodes and everyone is smiling, it is good stuff. If everybody gets wet it is even better!

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Shoot fast & live long
Warren

I'm considering the Speer SB 135+P, and the 158 SB Buffao Bore loading myself. I want to try them in my K-frame snubbies; M19/66s, M64-2, 2" , my Js, M640-1, 2.125" , 638, and my M65-5, 3".

Any one have any ballistics they can share?

I have the "regular" Speer load, I think 135+P and it's a tad heavy recoiling in my Js. I shoot a lot of 148WCs and Federal 158gr SWCHP+P gets the nod in my Ks so far!

Yes. I tested the Speer load by firing it into Perma-Gel. The results are in the Perma-Gel Test Results thread I started in this forum. There are also results for one, or both loads, at www.stoppingpower.net (test bed forum) and www.brassfetcher.com ("old website" link).

I chronographed the Speer 135 +P Gold Dot in my 642 and got 842 fps.
At 7 yds it was "accurate enough", but not outstanding.
I also carry a 640-1, 357 mag, and load Rem 158 gr 357 mag SJHP in it. Chronographs at 1140 fps from the 2 1/8" bbl. It was very accurate at 7 yds.