38 Special non +P

[Robert B]

I always thought that 38 spl standard pressure velocity from a four inch bbl was around 750-830 fps. I thought that penetration in bare gelatin was about nine inches. Then I saw some info on brassfetcher.com where a 158gr sjhp ran at 880fps and penetrated bare gelatin 14 inches. This was from a two inch bbl. Is this data true? What have been your experiences with standard pressure 38's? How much penetration can be expected from a 125gr std pressure Nyclad in a four inch bbl?

[JayDubya]

Not directly addressing your question, but I consider Brassfetcher to be one of the better sources on the topic available.

Cordially, Jack

[flop-shank]

Originally Posted by Robert B

I always thought that 38 spl standard pressure velocity from a four inch bbl was around 750-830 fps. I thought that penetration in bare gelatin was about nine inches. Then I saw some info on brassfetcher.com where a 158gr sjhp ran at 880fps and penetrated bare gelatin 14 inches. This was from a two inch bbl. Is this data true? What have been your experiences with standard pressure 38's? How much penetration can be expected from a 125gr std pressure Nyclad in a four inch bbl?

See the Perma-Gel Test Results thread I started in this forum. Standard pressure .38 should be able to go much, much deeper than 9". The super light wadcutter round I load in my wife's model 60 is good for 15".

[TEB]

originally posted by Robert B "158gr sjhp ran at 880fps and penetrated bare gelatin 14 inches."

It was a handload. Buffalo Bore makes a standard pressure .38 special 158 gr. LSWCHP with similar ballistics.

[cocojo]

Standard velocity 125 Nyclads run about 10 inches. Hornady critical defense 110's run about 12 inches in bare gell. A round nose or swc 158 will penetrate deep 15/16 inches or more. Solids with no expansion like a Full WC, RN, SWC will give you some nice deep penetration. All the loads I mentioned are standard velocity. I prefer deep penetration of 12 to 14.

[mitchshrader]

The speed numbers the OP is familiar with fit RNL cowboy ammo, or some brands standard pressure lawyer-safe loadings. The penetration part fits ultra light&fast ammo that dumps its energy in the first few inches.

You can find them all in .38 loadings, just not at the same time. To only have 9" of penetration with RNL you'ld be at powderpuff strictly target loads of perhaps 600-650 fps. IMO.

[N_itis]

I recently purchased a good supply of 125 grain Nyclads. My intent was to use them in some older guns (an early airweight, prewar M&Ps...that sort of thing) since they are advertised as a standard pressure loading. In my snooping around online I found that the new Nyclad load was advertised as reaching 880 fps out of a Chief. Upon firing a boxful at the range, I noticed felt recoil similar to my 158 grain LSWC over 5.5 grains of Unique reloads which I have always considered +P. Not horrible, but not exactly what I had in mind for these old warhorses.

Does anyone have any data documenting the performance of the current 125 grain Nyclad loading (Chief and/or longer barreled guns)?

Also, does anyone know if any of the big manufacturers still make a standard pressure 158 grain LSWC load?

I would really like to find a standard pressure 158 grain LSWC factory load for use in these old guns but, for reasons that we all know (not looking for a debate, just a little information), I do not load ammunition used for defensive purposes.

Thanks for the help.

[pete950]

Remmington makes a nice standard 158 lswc load!!