I am looking for recommendations for self-defense ammo that can be effective and safe in the 15-2.

Thanks,

Craig in Clarksville

I used to have a blued 4" 15-2 (and a minty nickel 4" 15-3). I fired the classic FBI load 158 +P LSWCHP through mine. At the time I owned them, I used Winchester, though Remington is probably just as good if not better. I also fired mine with WWB 125gr +P (cheap at the time) and the somewhat hot but not +P labeled Fiochi 158gr FMJ. Any SAAMI specification ammunition should be safe to fire in a 15-2 that is in good mechanical condition/proper repair. (Consult a competent gunsmith if you have any doubts about the safety of your particular revolver.)

Midway or Natchez should have the FBI loads in stock if you can't find them near you.

+1 To GatorFarmers recommendation, you just can't go wrong with the 158gr LSWHP+P.

Thanks for the info GatorFarmer and for the endorsement idp4570. I was concerned that maybe the age of the 15-2 precluded +P ammo, but I see that was a naive concern. The gun is in great working condition and I can get the ammo here in town.

Craig in Clarksville

What those guys said.

I can't remember what the product code is for the Winchester "FBI Load". but the Remington equivalent is R38S12 (I remember it because that's what I use in my 15-3s and 37-2s since it's readily available locally).

As good as many
and better than most.
Depending on what you've shot in the past, FBI loads out of a 32-36 ounce K frame may feel positively genteel!
I know it sure is a break firing them in a K, after using the same stuff in a 13 ounce Ti J!

Again, thanks. I have had other K-frames and J-frames including a firebreathing Ti. I just never carried one for SD much, normally just buying the standard bullet-of-the-day for SD. For the time being I exclusively shoot Glocks, my own "custom" steel framed Glock and a couple of standard 9mm. I've put aside the notion of bigger is better and try to shoot more quickly and accurately. I am enamored with this 15-2, having traded my pre-Model 15 5-screw some months ago to my 82 yr old shooting partner. I didn't shoot the old gun much. But if you like revolvers, and I do, this 15-2 is a honey and I just might make it my carry gun. It was owned by a good IDPA shooter and is buttery smooth in DA with an as expected excellent little used SA. I need to test it for reliability and expect good accuracy. I need to make sure it is set up for a variety of primers, not just one or two like this IDPA guy likes to tune guns to. It also came with a pair of Ahrens grips. Traded a KelTec PF9 for it. I don't recommend the PF9 for the same reasons I don't recommend the little Ti J-frame in .357. Hard for me to use quickly accurately with good follow-ups when using stout ammo. I do trigger jobs on revolvers, 1911s and others for friends, so am quite familiar with the S&W workings. I'm looking over an old Colt Commando .38 right now. Got to rambling...sorry.

I've fired a number of nuclear handloads (158-gr LSWCs at 1230 fps from the 4" tube) from my no-dash Model 15 with no problems or loosening or other negativity, so your later gun ought to be able to handle some +Ps.

quote:

Originally posted by Erich:
I've fired a number of nuclear handloads (158-gr LSWCs at 1230 fps from the 4" tube) from my no-dash Model 15 with no problems or loosening or other negativity, so your later gun ought to be able to handle some +Ps.

Now thats stepping!!!!

That's THE LOAD!

Erich,
Must have been a load of giggles to go play in that .38/44 load sandbox! I love it when I hear about the .38 Special being obsolete. 'Cause it just ain't powerful enough?
RAOTFLMAO!

It's what I carried up Bear Canyon on hikes during the two+ months last year that I carried nothing but .38s. Plenty good enough.

I can't imagine that these "+P+" loads would possibly have any more deleterious effect on a model 10 or 15 than would .357 loads on a model 19....they're basically the same thing.

I keep the Remington 158gr lead SWCHP's in my favorite .38 Combat Masterpiece. +P. I think they're supposed to be doing 900-some-odd feet per second. Long track record of effectiveness, and relatively inexpensive too. I have a natural dislike of Winchester ammunition, though I don't really know why. I always gravitate towards Remington or Federal no matter what it is.

The Buffalo Bore +P 158gr SWCHP load should be awesome. I use their standard pressure load in my Chief's Special.

Greycraig, I'm only about 20 miles away from you.

Where can I buy, online, or within 20 miles of Clarksville, TN, .38+P LSWCHP? I'm interested in trying several brands so I can tune my 15-2 to particular primers. I was told by the guy I traded my Keltec PF9 for the 15-2 that the revolver was "tuned" to Federal primers. I find that curious as I have done a number of trigger jobs on S& revolvers, but with an eye to making sure they could fire anything that was stuck in a cylinder. I have several "extra" S&W hammer springs lying, so have some latitude in fiddling with this trigger/hammer combo.

Supposedly the Federal primers are the easiest to detonate with the lightest strikes so, perhaps that's what he had the action dialed down to/for?
Personally (like you) I want the thing to be able to shoot the oil soaked re-loads from Bubba's ammo and bait emporium, if required. I don't know if Federal even makes their version of the FBI load any longer? Remington and Winchester still do (Rem's seem to be a bit softer lead) Any online ammo source Midway, Cheaper Than Dirt, Sportsmans Guide, etc. should have them. Just a question of shopping price.