Who else is still carrying the world renound 158g +p Semi Wadcutter hollow points? I know I am. Currently carry new old stock federal in my snubbies

I love that round. Its in my 442 and 36 no dash right now.

Yes - the Remington for me, both in the M49 and my wife's Security Six. Carried it since 1981.

Think im gonna throw it in my 15-3 as well. I mean i have 300rnds of it. Why not. Also have a bunch of 158g Non hollow point semi wadcutters. May get a drill bit and make more hollow points hahaha

Is this ammo available now ?

Still have a couple of boxes of the old Federal "FBI loads" from the 1980s. Good ammo.

From what I have heard and read in recent years the more recent production has been less impressive.

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Life of the party until 8:00PM

In my pocket as we speak. The newer ones are wimpier, but that makes them easier to deal with from an airweight.

Remington still produces it. I believe the number is RS12 158 Grain LSWCHP +P. Not sure about Federal and Winchester.

Remington High Terminal Performance (HTP) Ammo 38 Special +P 158 Grain

I did, until I discovered Buffalo Bore 158 grain lead SWC HP +P.

Yup. Me too, when I carry a round gun.

I have around 10 boxes of Nyclad 158 +p. But it’s for plinking. I trust my snubbies to the Gold dot 135 +p.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

I have one box Federal ))

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I've been carrying Buffalo Bore for several years now.
I bought it because it was the only 158 SWCL HP available to me at the time.
Only down side I've found is the cost.

My house gun, a 686, is loaded with Remington FBI loads. However my EDC 642 is loaded with 148 grain wadcutters because of the reduced recoil for my 80 year old hands. The wadcutters do penetrate well and because of their shape cause lots of tissue damage. I think the FBI load is more effective when shot out of a three or four inch barrel.

I still have a couple of boxes of Winchester and carry it in my EDC. I haven't seen any for sale in a long time.

It's the only load that's ever in my 638 for EDC.

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I have tried the light 110 & 125 gr bullets but finally passed on them after
several test and brands for 100% results and penetration from 12 to 18".

The 135 Gold Dot and the newer 130 HST are my top two choices for my light J frame snub nose, right now
after all the test that I have done.

The "FBI load" is a great load with lots of proven time under it's belt but it just has a lot of recoil
for a lot of shooters, that keep them from shooting their best, due to the heavier Recoil than the new JHP ammo.

If you can master it, a heavy bullet is nice to have, going for you.

Remington and Winchester still produce them but they only do special runs.

I have several boxes of each of the 3 manufacturers and find the Winchester version to be most accurate in my M10, M36 and M442. ( not that the others are inaccurate)

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SWCA #3437

Would MUCH rather have the Buffalo Bore 158 +P than any of the Big Three loads...


1175 fps from a 4" barrel vs. 900 for the "FBI" load...

Bob

My favorite round. I even have some W-W from the early 70s, before the +P designation came about. Also the SWC version of this load. Not true "planet-wreckers," but decidedly hotter than modern versions.

One caveat with the newer Federal versions. I had 'bullet pull' when firing this round in the modern lightweight snubs: 637, 638, 642... No problem using it in steel-framed snubs. YMMV. Always test, and not just one gun-load.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I just went out today (11/5/2021) and tested a
110gr Gold Dot +P..........1005fps
148 BBwc full 38 spl........714fps...... and a
158 Lwc full 38 spl........... 720fps
for a light SD load for a friend, to check out the recoil.

The only load that shot at POA was the 158 gr LwcFN and it had manageable recoil.

I don't trust the 110 or 125gr bullets in a J frame for SD use, per all my test and stuff I see on the net.

The 158 Lead..................
or the new
130 HST or 135 Gold Dot are my three choices for a SD load in a J frame snub.

Ed: you use the term "full" quite often to describe loads...

Does this somehow mean you are filling ("full") the cases with some unspecified powder?

Somehow a 158gr lead bullet @ 720fps doesn't seem very "full" to me? It is a bit more than the Hodgdons START load for a LSWC using Trailboss, but...

Jus' askin'....

Cheers!

If you look at a 158 gr lead bullet at 720 fps out of a J frame snub nose 38 special..............
this is a "Full Load" in that gun before it becomes.............

wait for it..............
a +P load. which is a "Maximum load" in my book...............

light, full, maximum..................... get it ?

PS;
we all know that a starting load of trail boss is at the bottom of the list in fps, for all powders..... right?

Last time I LEOSA qualified, I used Federal 38G, in my S&W M640 No Dash. I had it in my safe. Couldn't get anything else.

Halfway through the course of fire, the rounds leaded the barrel so badly, that it changed the point of aim/point of impact.

I started shooting at the clock center and hitting the clock center. Then with the same point of aim, I started hitting at 11 o'clock. High and left.

I noticed immediately, and after two or three rounds confirmation, adjusted my point of aim to 4 o'clock.

Once again, I hit clock center.

Shooting fewer than 25 rounds, this load leaded the barrel so badly that they affected POA/POI.

Stay away from Federal 38G.

I have other posts here, over the years on the topic.

Just don't. My advice. Your mileage may vary.

I use Buffalo Bore's and Underwood's versions of the old FBI load.
My model 36 gets the standard pressure Buffalo Bore hard cast double ended wadcutter at about 850fps.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

"If you can master it, a heavy bullet is nice to have, going for you."

I'd opine it would be NICER to have them going FROM you!

Cheers!

P.S. With apologies to Nevada Ed.

Like I said in post #18 I have several boxes of all 3 company's FBI Load. They are all I really like to carry in my M36 when I do carry it and they also shoot great in my pre-10. My EDC is a S&W M442 which gets the short barrel 135gr Speer GDHP .38 Special +P ammo.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

I'm not knocking the "FBI load"..........
it is a great SD load but you do need to check the fps of the newer ammo to see
what the actual fps is in that box of ammo and see if it is over 800fps,
out of a 2" snub nose, if that is what will be used as the revolver........
instead of the standard 4" barrel, that works with all the ammo made for the 38 special.

If the ammo does not have enough energy or fps to mushroom & penetrate..........
I will not use it for my SD folder.