I know it has been beaten to death and is like asking for a favorite sports team, but in today's market of hard to find ammo sometimes we have to shoot what we can find. Having said that, I have two options right now for my 642: Hornady Custom 158gr (not critical defense, just standard jhp) or Speer Gold Dot 125gr JHP. Both are standard pressure. Which would you choose for EDC? Do I go for the heaviest or is that not the way to go out of a snubby?

Whichever shoots closer to point of aim. If both are similar, I'd personally go with the 125grain.

Snubbyfan knows his stuff. However, if different loadings are hard to find, I would simply go with what is available.

If I take a brand new gun to the range, and put 100-200 rounds of, say, wadcutters or 130gr practice ball through it, then that is what I will carry home that day. Because I know it works. Only carry what you have fired in it, and more than just one cylinderful.

The noted NYPD officer Jim Cirillo with tremendous gun and gunfighting experience, said that target wadcutters were the best load in a snubby. And another noted NYPD officer/homicide detective on this Forum confirms that.

I would carry the one you can shoot best in that revolver. The best ammo in the world with the fastest velocities will do you no good unless you hit what you aim at. Since both are good quality ammo carry for accuracy.

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Gold Dot. That's a top choice even in good times.

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Any particular reason to go with the lighter bullet? What about 110gr Hornady? Is lighter better in these little barrels? (assuming the round/shooter is accurate)

Get either of the listed ones and plan to replace it with either: (1) Winchester 158 grain +P Lead Hollow Point; or, (2) Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel whenever either of those become available.

The Gold Dot 135 grain Short Barrel rounds are better in a snub than the 125's. Their street record is excellent, the NYPD carries them, Doc Robert's tested them and recommends them, as does Mas Ayoob, last time I saw something from him on this subject. .

I usually prefer a heavy, non-expanding SWC but my recently acquired 340PD is causing me to reconsider, at least for this revolver. Heavy bullets make this revolver noticeably heavier when it's loaded. So now I carry 125 gr. bullets. I never thought I'd be saying this, but it's true.

Dave Sinko

sgammo.com has 125 gr. +P Golden Sabers in stock for $14.95. They will hold you over till you can get a box of the Speer 135 gr SB

Dave, You can actually detect .38 oz difference in the total weight of the revolver?

I second this, except that I prefer the Remington 158 grain +P LSWCHP over the Winchester.

Buffalo Bore also offers a standard pressure 158 grain LSWCHP that chronographs at +P velocity or better from a two-inch barrel and supposedly has less flash. Their +P version approaches .357 Magnum velocity, but would have to be a hell of a handful in a an alloy J-frame.

I'm doing some serious looking at that Gold Dot Short Barrel load, though.

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Oh well, what the hell.

All right, went out and tested a few. I didn't think bullet weight made that much of a difference in accuracy. The 158gr is about 4 inches high from my snubby but is dead on from the 4 inch K Frame at the same 7-10yds. This was true whether the Hornady 158gr XTP or some 158gr LRN reloads I had traded for. 130gr FMJ and the Speer 125gr JHP are both dead on from the 642 J Frame at 7-10 yards. Now, if I could only find some of the Speer 135gr +P Short Barrel...

Some of us 'J-hounds' will go to any extreme in the pursuit of our passion. I've gone to my jeweler to measure the weights of various J-frame grips on his scale. This was important to me... Couldn't sleep, truth be told.

It seems very human: If you carry a heavy caliber revolver, you want the most powerful load around. If you carry the lightest weight revolver, it follows that you want light weight ammunition. Let me stop.

Kaaskop49
J-hound extraordinaire

Blazer?

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This subject has been discussed to the 9's and you can do a search. There are what seems to be the 4 basic reliable & effective carry loads.

1) Buffalo Bore Heavy +P 158 grain LSWCHP-GC
2) same as above but NON +P
3) Remington 158 grain +P LSWCHP (FBI load) #R38S12
4) Speer Gold Dot 135 grain +P JHP - short barrel

Any of the above will work well from a 2" snub. Choose your favorite, but if you do a search there are others you might consider as well.

Thank you for the summary. Before anyone thinks I can't use a search feature, I am not new to forums in general. Rather than a search of the most popular rounds I was more concerned with a ballistics/personal opinion comparison of the ammunition I was able to find locally. I am not able to pay the huge shipping costs nor buy in bulk to offset them when purchasing online. (not that there has been much selection online either in the last 8 months.
I typically have shot 9mm semi-autos and am still learning about different calibers and revolvers. Another site had suggested a significant difference in accuracy between a 125gr and a 158gr from a 2 inch barrel. I had not noticed a difference in accuracy in my 9mm 4 inch barrels nor in my 4 inch K frame so that was a new idea to me.

That's just my personal preference. I have a degenerative peripheral motor nerve condition which causes weakness in my hands and wrists. The reason the 158 grain bullets shot higher is because the additional bullet mass causes more recoil and muzzle flip. Less mass, less recoil, easier to get back on target for follow up shots.
My personal carry load is 110 grain Federal Hydra-shok low recoil JHP.

Mainly comes down to what load will work for you..........

If you can handle a +P 158gr and hit your target great.

Some can't handle a light 110gr +P........

the 148gr target load might be the load that works out the
best for some shooters, in order to be able to hit their target.

What good is a full cylinder, drained of ammo and not one hole in a target or at least one in a vital area ?

Every shooter and weapon is different and there is no perfect round for this reason.

About the same as someone hit with five rds. of non-effective ammo.

I use 158-lswc at standard speed, they hit point of aim and penatrate 15" enough to reach vitals on raking shots. Hp don't open at snubby speeds and cost more to make you think there better,but are a waste. If they make you feel better use them it's your money and life.

135gr +p gold dot for short barrel.

Hard cast full WC over either 3.5 BE or 4.8 of unique

I take it you don't reload.

Forget the gee whiz ammo with huge numbers and wow ballistic gel photos.

If you don't hit what you're shooting at, the balistics tables are just stuff to occupy you on the 'throne'. holes in the air at great numbers don't matter.

What ever you shoot a lot and shoot well is what you should use.

Unless you have a Federal grant or are independently wealthy, what you will shoot a lot is inexpensive bulk stuff. That's fine. Use it!

A lot is 100 rounds/month.

Shooting well means hitting a saucer every time in timed fire at 7 yards. (1 1/2 seconds from the holster).

If you can do that, the least of your worries is which premium ammo you should hunt for.

If you can't, which whiz bang ammo to buy is the least of your problems!

Nonsense!

No one wants to be shot once, let alone five times with anything.

Just my opinion of course!

5 hits with any ammo is always better than no hits with the best ammo in the world. Like I said way back in Post #4, "The best ammo in the world with the fastest velocities will do you no good unless you hit what you aim at."

Hit someone in the fact with 10 rounds of .22LR and see if they have the will to keep coming at you. I highly doubt it under most circumstances.

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