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Old 01-24-2011, 09:32 PM
gto364cid gto364cid is offline
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Default 38 Defensive Ammo for Snub

With my big hand, small grip combo on j-frames, my follow up and control of +P loads isn't great. I'm looking to go with softer shooting defensive ammo and have a better chance at follow up shots. Any recomendations on what's out there that would be a good choice?
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Old 01-24-2011, 09:46 PM
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Either Federal Nyclad or Hornady CD seem to get good reviews
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Old 01-24-2011, 10:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gto364cid View Post
With my big hand, small grip combo on j-frames, my follow up and control of +P loads isn't great. I'm looking to go with softer shooting defensive ammo and have a better chance at follow up shots. Any recomendations on what's out there that would be a good choice?
This is what I use..................
CLICK IT
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Old 01-24-2011, 10:38 PM
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If softer shooting load is what you're after, use 148 gr wadcutter target ammo. It will do everything you want and is still a decent defense load.
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Old 01-24-2011, 10:42 PM
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Federal Nyclad 125 grain is what I use b/c of the same concerns you raised (my hands are like snow shovels), plus my carry J's are older models not rated for +P.
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Old 01-24-2011, 11:07 PM
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I recommend the Nyclads also. Adequate penetation, good expansion, no heavy recoil.
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Old 01-24-2011, 11:08 PM
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I shoot a lightweight snub loaded with CorBon DPX 110 grain Barnes Bullets.

I have thin, bony hands and adapt to the recoil pretty well when making follow up shots.

Might try some and see if they work for you.
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Old 01-24-2011, 11:16 PM
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I have used the Buffalo Bore +p's in my .38 snubby and they are downright painful to shoot--am sure they would feel pretty painful to a bad guy too. But I started to feel if I needed a follow up shot that I would rather get back on target a lot faster so I've been carrying the non +p Hornady CD load--love it so far and it still packs enough punch.
And honestly out of a 2" gun I dunno that the benefits of +p are even realized.
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Old 01-24-2011, 11:35 PM
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I too use standard pressure Buffalo Bore. Loaded with 150 grain wadcutters. 158 grain swchp in the speedloader.
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Old 01-24-2011, 11:44 PM
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I made the mistake of confusing "standard pressure" with "lower recoil" and paid through the nose for a box of BB .38 Specials.

The pressure may have been lower, but my hands couldn't tell the difference.

What really set me back on my heels was some 40 year old ammo from my dad's gun room.

Thinking they were standard pressure (there was no +P designation on the box), I lined up to shoot some paper with them.

YIKES!

I'm guessing some of the old .38 rounds were loaded with today's equivalent of +P?
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Old 01-25-2011, 12:36 AM
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W-W has a standard pressure 158gr swc lead load. Federal used to load one, too.........
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Old 01-25-2011, 01:44 AM
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Ammunition to Go has both Remington and Federal standard presure 158 swc in stock the Feds are $17.95 and the Rems are around $28.00.
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Old 01-25-2011, 01:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doc540 View Post
I made the mistake of confusing "standard pressure" with "lower recoil" and paid through the nose for a box of BB .38 Specials.

The pressure may have been lower, but my hands couldn't tell the difference.

What really set me back on my heels was some 40 year old ammo from my dad's gun room.

Thinking they were standard pressure (there was no +P designation on the box), I lined up to shoot some paper with them.

YIKES!

I'm guessing some of the old .38 rounds were loaded with today's equivalent of +P?
Possible you got some of that old High Speed stuff that was designed for the S&W Heavy Duty N Frames and Colt New Service. If it is don't shoot that stuff in a J frame and dunno that I would shoot too much of it through a K frame.
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Old 01-25-2011, 08:35 PM
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If you handload, I recomment 170 grain Lyman #358429 cast bullets over a moderate charge of Winchester 231. That is my standard load for my .38's.
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Old 01-27-2011, 05:02 PM
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Another vote for the BB Standard Pressure load! I've used and liked the Nyclads, but haven't seen them in the shops I go in lately.
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Old 01-27-2011, 09:09 PM
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Back in the day the old Super Vel was hot stuff!
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Old 01-27-2011, 10:24 PM
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wadcutters will get the job(s) done.
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Old 01-27-2011, 10:46 PM
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big agreement on the wadcutters.
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Old 01-28-2011, 01:42 AM
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If you load your own, 5.0-gr of Unique and a 148-gr BBDEWC cast bullet is good juju from a snub. This load has many proponents right here on this forum.



Buffalo Bore manufactures an identical load if you want factory ammo.

Standard Pressure Short Barrel Low Flash Heavy .38 Special Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

You sound like a smart shooter. Spend some time examining this round.
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Old 01-29-2011, 11:50 AM
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I carry Nyclads in my backup 2 1/8" 60. I have shot the BB 158 +Ps but with a backup gun I practice shooting one hand/off hand. The Nyclads have a good record at backup distances and are soft shooters even off hand. For me, J Frames are for up close and personal distances and with only five rounds I want each to count....
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Old 01-29-2011, 01:01 PM
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I carry all .38 Special revolvers with +P 158 grain lead SWCS.
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Old 01-29-2011, 05:22 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gto364cid View Post
With my big hand, small grip combo on j-frames, my follow up and control of +P loads isn't great. I'm looking to go with softer shooting defensive ammo and have a better chance at follow up shots. Any recomendations on what's out there that would be a good choice?
In your case I would choose either the standard pressure Federal Nyclad ammo ir standard pressure Hornady Critical Defense load. The Hornady load uses a 110gr bullet. A lighter bullet lessens felt recoil.
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Old 02-13-2011, 03:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gto364cid View Post
I'm looking to go with softer shooting defensive ammo and have a better chance at follow up shots. Any recomendations on what's out there that would be a good choice?
Try the following...

148gr wadcutter target
125gr Federal Nyclad HP
110gr Winchester Silvertip HP
110gr Hornady FTX HP

Please note that all of the Buffalo Bore ammo, while being standard pressure, is very much a full recoil ammo (read that... kicks like a mule in Airweights! ).
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Old 02-21-2011, 02:54 PM
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A couple of months ago I picked up my first J frame, model 442. I have about 300 hundred rounds through it mostly 158 gr. LRN or 130 gr. FMJ Federal ammunition. Both very controllable. I recently came across a box of Peters red dot 158 gr. LRN. The box was marked "high velocity." There was no +P marking on the box, but it was at least thirty years old. Man was that stuff brutal. Does anyone know anything about that load? Is it the equivalent of +P?
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Old 03-19-2011, 10:30 AM
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My first attempt shooting a M37 with a 1 7/8" barrel, was with Magtech 158 gr. LRN. Not a lot of recoil but accurate even for this inexperienced snubby shooter. They were 15 something for 50. They were standard pressure rounds. I don't really care about recoil, but I don't wanna damage the gun.
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Old 03-19-2011, 11:17 AM
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The only +P load I can handle well in my 642 is Speer's 135gr Short-Barrel Gold Dot. I've tried both standard pressure and +P Buffalo Bore FBI loads...Never again! My hand was sore for three days.

Lately what I've been doing is carrying Nyclads in the gun with the SBGD as reloads. The Nyclads are pretty easy to shoot in the 642 and from what I've read they have a pretty good track record in actual shootings.
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Old 03-19-2011, 08:18 PM
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I load standard pressure 200g .38 SPL LSWC loads in the low 700fps from a snub-nose.

If I were to buy off-the-shelf standard pressure ammo, I'd probably select 125g Nyclad LHPs or 158g LSWC, depending on my assessment of the need to optimize expansion or penetration. AFAIK, the 158g SWC ammo is not available in hollowpoint standard pressure loads, but only in +P loads.
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