Just picked up a 640 (38) and was searching around for a good stout carry load, and the Buffalo Bore 158gr +P looks almost too good to be true...aside from the recoil, is there any reason why this isn't a great carry load? Have been using the speer 135 gr in a 642.
I've read all I could find on the 158gr +P from BB, but was curious if anyone has any experience that has yet to be reported?
(and trying to justify the $$)
cheers
Derek

Derek,
I no longer have a working chrono (too old, vacuum tubes and unstable. Come to think of it, it's just like me?) so all I'll say is subjective. The testing they do is with real live handguns, with barrel lengths noted. The velocities claimed are all well within the realm of possibility. They actually are nothing more than loadings that were widely used 4+ decades ago. But now, with the benefit of modern propellents and well chosen bullet materials, that weren't available then. Again, subjectively from the feel of their loads I've fired (Ti J in .38 Special) the soft compound gas check FBI 1000 FPS load, feels every bit of what it claimed. My Wife's currently has the standard pressure full wad (150 grain) hard cast in it. They both strike me as being a quite comfortable load to fire out of a 640.
Yes, they ARE expensive! But I figure $5 worth in the gun, and $5 more in a speed loader isn't too high a price to pay?
JOMO?

also looks like it would be a good load to put in my 3" 65 for the wife to have at home.
cheers
Derek

Of course Derek, you found it necessary to torture me with yet another Forum member having a 3" Model 65? I swear, if you tell me the Lady of the house, is sporting a 65LS, I may start gnawing on the muzzle of a 696?
One step closer, and I'll do it!

Yes, I think that load would be excellent in any K frame with a 3" or better barrel. In fact my Wife's 4" 66 has had the Remington FBI loads, replaced by my overflow B/B's.

Haven't tried it in either of my 3" 65s (sorry ) but I shot a round of it from a 1 7/8" Centennial into water about a week ago. It penetrated through 3 gallon jugs into the fourth, with ZERO expansion. If you are a deep-penetration kind of guy like Erich, this is the load for you. However, the deep, wide hollowpoint is deceptive. That lead is just too hard to be counted on for expansion, at least from a snubby. I'll try it from a 3" tube when I get a chance. I chronoed it several months ago, by the way, and got basically the BB-advertised velocity.

I don't have a chronograph but I was pleasantly surprised by the moderate recoil when I fired some through my Model 10 2" snubby.

The standard velocity load is pretty mild. I thought this gelatin test was pretty decent.

http://www.brassfetcher.com/Buffalo%20Bore%20158gr%20(non%20+P)%20SWC-HC.html

The standard velocity load must use a much softer lead than the GC +P load.

Thanks Arf!,
I hadn't gotten around to trying them yet in her K frame, good to hear! Were they near POA?

Thanks to 38/44 also! There's a dearth of places near here to "legally" do the jug tests. The greenie weenies have gone NUTS on lead, or any other heavy metal around here of late? The spot my bro-in-law has used for 35 years was just put off limits. (Thanks to Patty Murray (D) Washington)
I plead guilty to worship at the altar of penetration anymore. Reason? A fellow engineer I work with is a newly retired merchant marine. And I was looking at him at the Co. X-mas party while he was dressed in civi's. He's my height (6'0") but, while I weigh 172, he probably goes 250-260. Looking at that, as well as the sheep lined leather jacket he came in wearing caused me to do some dimension calculations, as to how far something would have to go before getting to his engine room, from different angles? Answer, LOTS!
Thanks again for the testing! That their claimed velocity is accurately stated, is reassuring. The level of penetration for me is icing on the cake!

quote:

Originally posted by 38-44HD45:
The standard velocity load must use a much softer lead than the GC +P load.

I don't have a brinell hardness tester, but it seems very soft. The bullet does have a gas check though. What's interesting is the velocities from a snubby...pretty dang good

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry in SC:
The standard velocity load is pretty mild. I thought this gelatin test was pretty decent.

http://www.brassfetcher.com/Buffalo%20Bore%20158gr%20(non%20+P)%20SWC-HC.html

Jerry thanks for that info. I realize this is the standard load but I did hope for a little more expansion. What are your thoughts on the expansion figures.

From what I have read on the Buffalo Bore site, the +P bullets are the same softness. Can we expect more expansion from the +P?

quote:

Originally posted by Drake:

From what I have read on the Buffalo Bore site, the +P bullets are the same softness. Can we expect more expansion from the +P?

Drake, check my post above. I got ZERO expansion from the +P in water, out of a snubby. I plan on trying a 3-incher soon. Maybe the run of bullets I got is different, but the lead in mine is pretty damn hard.

quote:

Originally posted by 38-44HD45:

quote:

Originally posted by Drake:

From what I have read on the Buffalo Bore site, the +P bullets are the same softness. Can we expect more expansion from the +P?

Drake, check my post above. I got ZERO expansion from the +P in water, out of a snubby. I plan on trying a 3-incher soon. Maybe the run of bullets I got is different, but the lead in mine is pretty damn hard.

Gotcha 38-44HD45, sounds a little odd as they say on their website that the slug is very soft lead. One would think some reasonable expansion would be certain even with their regular load. This is one of the things that decided me to try their +P as my carry load. Like the FBI load but even better. I'll be interested to see your results.

The petals fragmenting from the hollow point indicate (at least to me) that the bullet is expanding pretty violently in the ballistic gel. Plus it has excellent penetration.

I don't think you can compare bullet expansion in ballistic gelatin to expansion in water.

Also, please take into consideration that I use standard velocity loads for all my older non +P rated S&W's. And the 158's shoot to POA.

For +P guns, the Speer Gold Dot 135 grain is a great load. Don't have to be concerned about fragmenting due to it's bonded type bullet construction.

Just received my Buffalo Bore order from midway. the 158+p looked like the best option in my 640.
cheers
Derek