Got some B Bore 125grn standard pressure ammo to test... noticed the bullet they used is identical to Win "white box" .38+p.

Wasn't sure what bullet B Bore was using now, I guess they used to load Gold Dots but apparently haven't for some time.

Not a complaint really as I shoot the Winchester ammo often and it shoots fine out of all my guns.

I shot the B Bore round into some water filled jugs and got similar results to the Win load...stopped in 4th jug with minimal expansion.

I'm a big fan a Buffalo Bore, their ammo is top notch no doubt...just expected more of this load. Thinking the Win stuff will do everything this load will at less than half the price.

Any of you guys tried the 125grn standard load? Opinions??

No, I haven't tried it. But you're only going to get so much performance out of a standard pressure 38 load no matter what bullet you put in it.

Have you tried their heavy Plus P?

I think it's good in .38-44 guns and in K-framed .357's, when we don't want to shoot full Magnum loads a lot.

I think it'd be good on raccoons, coyotes, etc. and on men. No doubt will kill deer at close range, like from a blind or stand, although I'd load full .357's for that.

I don't see why you'd expect much from a JHP bullet at std. velocity. I don't know why manufacturers even offer such a load.
The only one that seemed to work well was Federal's Chief Special load with a Nyclad bullet.

I like 158 grains in a .38 Spl Bullet. They shoot POA = POI which is great for fixed sight guns and the 125's tend to shoot low. I am also in the heavier & slower camp rather than the lighter & faster one.

The BB 158 grain +P LSWCHP-GC is the #! load in .38 Spl. to me. Out of a 2" Chief's Spl. it will consistently do 1020 fps and deliver 360 foot pounds of energy. Low end .357 performance from a 2" Chief's - without the noise, recoil, flash and pain.

According to Buffalo Bore, their 125 grainer produces about 1080 fps. & 320 ft/lbs. of energy (still pretty good) but less than the 1020/ 360 of the 158 grainer. PLUS.... the heavier bullet shoots to POA in most guns.

I use their 150 grain wadcutters as carry ammo in my .38 s&w specials, and their 158 grain swc (both standard pressure) for reloads (being easier and faster than full.wadcutters). I don't think that HPs reach the velocity needed to expand from short tubes in standard velocity .38 s&w special. YMMV.

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I have been playing with some 205 grain slugs, slow, but do they ever penetrate (pine boards at least.)

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BB's 38 Spl +P 158 gr "Outdoorsman" is an outstanding load. I do like the old style Remington 125 gr SJHP 38 Spl +P round - worked great then and still does.

Does the box list it as "Speer Low Vel"? Or did they change the verbiage? I'm looking at their website. It looks like their Heavy Duty 125gr +P is labeled as a "LV Gold Dot". I'd be interested if they used a different 125gr bullet between the two. Did you try contacting them?

Personally, I've only used their lead ammo in .38 Special - Both variants of their 158gr LWSCHP and their Outdoors load. They all seem to work well for me.
What were you shooting those 125gr loads out of?

Not listed as the Gold Dots...it's a sjhp that looks nearly identical to the bullet Winchester is using.

I haven't contacted them. Again I'm not bashing Buffalo Bore...I carry their 158swchp standards in my M36 and they work great. I was looking for something with a little less recoil for my M442. Thought I'd try these. Just seeing if any of you had tested them in something other than water jugs or carried them yourself.

They shoot fine in the 442, as do the Win. white box +p's. I wouldn't hesitate to carry either for self defense....I'm a firm believer that shot placement is by far the most important variable and type of bullet won't make a major difference... all else being equal.

Won't stop me from searching for that MAGIC bullet!

Have you shot anything animate with that Outdoorsman load? Coyotes, raccoons, deer? Javelina?


I think it seems like a good load for times when you don't need full .357 ammo, but want quite a bit more than std. .38 loads.

The 135gr Speer Short Barrel is the lightest bullet I fire form my 3" Model 66-2,2 1/2" 686-4 and 4" 27-2 revolvers with the overwhelming majority 158gr hand loads with various speeds.

I've loaded a great many 158gr bullets over 5.0gr of Unique.

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I've carried Cor Bon 110 grain +P HPs for a long time.
Never had a complaint about them.
That said, I prefer the WC and SWCHP loads from Buffalo bore, for reasons mentioned above.

StakeOut's preference carries a lot of weight with me, for obvious reasons. Good enough for him=good enough for me.

For practice shooting, I'm fond of the Hornady 140 grain Cowboy bullet.
Nice flat nose, just in case I have to use it for anything serious.
Shoots closer to POA than 110s and 125s.
Loaded with a light charge of Red Dot, it's a cheap and accurate practice load.
Loaded with a healthy load of CFE Pistol, it's an affordable load with some THUMP.

But, as with others here, my preferences in .38 are wadcutter 148s, SWC 158s, and SWCHP 158s.
Now, the Lee 200 grain round flat may change my mind. Maybe not.
Gotta get the molds and try some out.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

If you do get the mold I'd be interested in your loads and range reports.

Oh,you can send me 1000 samples to try myself.

EDIT:just ordered these for range loads.
.38 158gr, 500 ct. box, hard cast lead bullets, Summers Enterprises LLC

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Those are a really pretty shape. Prob make a really decent SD round as well. If you subscribe to the 3.0 multiplier for wadcutters ( I do ) that is what, a 2.65... So push it 40 or so fps faster than a full wadcutter, pretty easy being half exposed, and you have a winner.

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