I'm not new to guns but I'm new to the 642 and the best ammo for it. Can I ask for opinions on the best round of the following choices and why you would choose that round? (Super new to forums so apologies for missteps.)

1. Remington .38 125-grain Ultimate Home Defense bonded jacketed hollow point
   
2. Speer Gold Dot 135 Grain Hollow point
   
3. Winchester Ranger 130 Grain Bonded Hollow point
   
4. Corbon DPX 110 grain copper Hollow point
   
5. Federal 38 Special 110 grain Hydrashok

Many Thanks and Safe Home

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Steven T. Smith

Be sure to search the forums. Lots of discussion on this lately.

Any of those rounds would likely do the job provided you did yours, i.e., get rounds center-of-mass quickly and keep firing until the threat stops.

I chose Speer's Gold Dot as that's the round from the list with the most established real-world efficacy based on police shootings.

I did see discussions but I had 5 specific round to ask about and I wanted to limit the discussion to those. Thank you though for the reminder.

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Steven T. Smith

Thank you for taking time to answer.

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Steven T. Smith

I don't like 110gr bullets for the .38 Special. They just don't belong are only used to inflate the velocity numbers because many in the USA have a fascination with excessive velocity.

The best ammo for your gun is the ammo that is most accurate in your gun. I see you didn't list the FBI Load, why? I voted for the Speer GDHP short barrel load because it's most accurate in my current carry, a S&W M442. When I was carrying a M36 I carried the FBI Load and when I carry my M640 I load it with 145gr Winchester Silvertips, again, the most accurate in those guns.

If the old Remington 158gr SJHP ammo is most accurate load with those. Don't worry about the name of the ammo and for goodness sakes don't choose your ammo by excessive velocity numbers.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

I tend to agree that lightweight bullets would not be my first choice. I prefer medium-to-heavy weight bullets for self defense, so in .38 Special I'd consider 125gr and heavier to be good bullet weights. However, if the 110gr bullets turn out to be what you shoot best and they're readily available then I would consider that acceptable.

Also, while accuracy is important, there are other factors to consider. Is it controllable? Is there too much muzzle flash and/or blast? The most accurate round isn't any good if it has too much recoil/blast/flash/etc. to get quick, decent hits on target. It's about finding the right balance. For me, that's the Speer 135gr SB-GDHP (what I voted for) with the Buffalo Bore standard pressure 158gr LSWCHP a close second. For you it might be a different load.

I had done some brief research on recommended round and came up with those and thought I would limit my question to those. In reality, I want whatever the best round is but I didn't want to duplicate even more in the forum.

Good info - thank you.

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Steven T. Smith

I specifically choose the Gold Dot because it is +P and was designed for short barrel revolvers for the NYPD. I also like the heavier bullet. More mass, better penetration.

I have read the NYPD has had good results from this round.

From my experience accuracy has been excellent in all of my S&W j frames. 640,642 442, and my 340. I have not fired it from my 36's, however I would expect the same accuracy.

By the way I have had good luck finding this ammo at luckygunnerammo.com

Thank you.

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Steven T. Smith

Out of the limited round selection offered, I voted for the 135gr. Gold Dot load because I have a lot of respect for the accuracy of that plated bullet. To be honest though, in my 642 and 60 I carry nothing but +P rated 158gr. LSWC's for serious duty.

If I was restricted to carrying only rounds of 130gr. or less, then I'd rather pack my SIG938 9mm. Light pills I feel defeat the purpose of carrying a 38Spl.

Latest thank you to springer99

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Steven T. Smith

^^^this^^^

I'll respond to the original poster by copying and pasting a response I made to similar question a while back, in regards to 9mm ammo.

"My two cents? Experiment and shoot all of them. 115, 124, 125, 147, whatever else you can find. Whichever brand and bullet weight is the one you are most accurate with, use that one."

Everyone has been great, thank you.

Last question and I will quit being a bug:

135 gr or 158 gr for snubbie? (158 too much?)

Safe home and God bless.

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Steven T. Smith

It really depends on the load; grain alone isn't enough to make the call as either 135 or 158 are fine if the load's a quality defense one.

Guess I will show my ignorance: What do you mean by "load?."

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Steven T. Smith

After a brain fade. Ya'll stay safe.

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Steven T. Smith

I "voted " for the Speer Gold, with the belief you were referring to the Speer GDHP-SB 135 gr, +P, short barrel SKU- 23921- 20 rounds or 53921- 50 rounds. I carry it because of its proven performance and it shoots accurately out of my 1.5- 2" j-frames & derringers. You have to shoot any ammo that you choose to carry in YOUR gun, to test function, accuracy, feel ( recoil ), muzzle blast and see if they meet meet your needs. Be Safe,

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I BACK OUR BLUE

Where does bullet construction come into this assessment for you? The all-copper 110s in .38+P seem to perform impressively and consistently in penetration and expansion.

Thank you.

I get the feeling the ammo choices are like what I learned about car owners. There are diehard Chevy, Ford, Dodge, etc., fans and you'll never move them off their choices. Then, there are those who support "Ammo XYZ" and everything else is bad. Maybe that's a bit simplified but you're right: shoot any ammo that you choice to carry in YOUR gun.

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Steven T. Smith

My all around suggestion for the average shooter is 158gr lead semi-wadcutter hollow point. It is close to the old FBI/Dallas/Chicago load and has a good balance between expansion and penetration. I have been using the new G2 Research Telos 105gr +p hollow point lately. It has up to a 3in fragmentation area and tops out just shy of 12in penetration. It does quite nadty work, but be ready for some snap. The 642 was made for 158gr bullets.

I have 4 boxes of the 110 gr and 1 box of the 125 gr Nyclads that I use in my 638.

As someone who has carried a M40 for nearly 40 years. IMHO hollow points don't reliably expand after being shot from a short tube. I carry Buffalo-Bore standard pressure .38 special 150 grain Hard Cast (flatbase) wadcutters in the gun. For reloads I carry B-B 158 grain LSWC also standard pressure (SWCs being easier to get into the cylinder quickly.) I would not carry handloads, (lots of opinions on web so I won't reiterate.)

On the job I carried (mostly Remington) 148 grain LHBWCs, and 158 grain LSWC (which WERE department issue before they drank the HP kool-aide).

The effect of the flat crushing metplat on tissue is absolutely devastating, and with the heavier round you are not trading expansion (if you get any) for penetration. You get devastation and penetration. This based on multiple observations, not opinion or theory.

The Js are sighted in for 158s significantly lighter rounds shoot low.

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Certified Curmudgeon

Anyone who expects published ballistic results from a 2" (or 1-7/8") barrel is due for serious disappointment. There is simply no way for any ammunition to provide the velocities or muzzle energies advertised when fired from the snubby revolvers.

Bullet expansion requires sufficient velocity (and attendant kinetic energy) to cause the bullet to upset and expand under the resistance offered by the target. Again, there are no reliable alternatives in ammunition that will provide any assurance of that happening when using the snubby revolvers. Velocities are simply too low to provide reliable performance with the high-tech ammo.

Shot placement is the most critical consideration when dealing with the short-barreled handguns. Wishing or hoping for spectacular terminal ballistic performance is foolish at best.

Ammo that consistently shoots to point of aim and functions flawlessly in the revolver in use is far more important than any published data or reviewer's comments.

I would much rather rely on a standard pressure .38 Special load with 158-grain SWC that shoots to point of aim than to rely upon any super-duper ultra-velocity super-expanding nonsense that won't shoot to point of aim in my revolver, and won't reliably eject with the shorty ejector rod of a J-frame snubby when I need to reload quickly.

Reality is only for those of us who wish to embrace it.

Buffalo Bore #20A 158 grain +P LSWCHP-GC 1020 fps/361 foot lbs. energy out of a 2" bbl. Not for the faint of heart and not for every day practice. In a 2" snub out performs most of the 158 grain .357 Mag's. from the "Big 3" manufacturers. While probably the best terminal ballistics it does take some getting use to in a J Frame.

The Speer Gold Dot 135 grain Short Barrel +P GDHP is my 2nd choice. It is a consistent, reliable and proven performer. Much easier to shoot that the BB load and won't beat you up as much while practicing. For most J Frame owners this is a more practical load.

Either one is accurate, reliable and devastating as long as you do your part!
I've NEVER had a FTF or issue with either one.

I had trouble locating the old FBI +P load & switched to the Speer 135 +P and found it easier to get follow up shots with my 340PD. I've also seen some inpressive tests w/the 110 grain +P (forgot the brand). Anyone know about this one?

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Excellent little stopper (SGD-135).

In +P the Speer 135 grain "Short Barrel" load is hard to beat if it is accurate in your gun, and Winchester's +P bonded 130 grainer is good, too. If the recoil of a +P load is too snappy in a light revolver, the Winchester 130 grain "Defend" in their " Train & Defend" line is very good.


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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

For a lighter recoiling load I prefer the discontinued Federal 125gr Nyclad. If I had to choose a similar, currently-available load, the Winchester 130gr Defend JHP would likely be my first choice.

I have always been a heavy for caliber kind of guy. I lean toward 158gr SWC, with or without a HP. But I recently bought a case of Speer 135gr SBHP, My LCRX is loaded with them, but my M-65 ladysmiths are loaded with 158gr SWCHP over 11gr 2400 in .38spl cases. I am leery of bullets less than 125gr in .38spl. This is all just my opinion and should be taken with a grain of salt.

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV

I've carried the good older FBI load--158 grain LSWCHP +P--or the standard-pressure Buffalo Bore equivalent in snubbies for about nineteen years. I chose it for its long record of effectiveness from both two- and four-inch barrels.

My snubs have been all steel and I can't speak to recoil in an Airwweight with that load, but it's no trouble in a 640.

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Oh well, what the hell.

This is a timely thread. I just picked up a 442 and have shot 2 boxes of Hornady 110gr FTX +p. The accuracy is terrible with a rested 10yd group of +4” and 3-4” to the left.

Cheap Monarch 158gr SJHP shoot consistently, are centered on target.
Just got 3 boxes of the new Fed 130gr HST’s to try, but I’ve been surprised by the extreme difference in the lighter bullets.