I've recently purchased a nice model 36 Chief's special to use as my summer CCW. I have some military surplus Winchester match ball ammo that I shoot in my longer barrel revolvers and it works great in the snubby. It is remarkably accurate. What I'm looking for is a similarly accurate standard pressure hollow point round to use for personal defense (not +P). I tried some Federal Hydro Shock (low recoil) today and was very disappointed. It was very inconsistent in terms of accuracy (don't think I want to "depend" on that stuff).

Do any of the forum members have any recommendations?

I shoot the Federal Self-Defense ammo and have experienced no problem(s) with it including LEOSA qualifications.

Shoots spot on outta my 642.

Be safe.

I just looked thru my .38 Special cache and found non +P HP ammo by Remington, Hornady, and Aguila in 158 grain and Fiocchi in 148 grain. I believe you will find that these weights will hit closer to POA with the fixed sight J frame than the lighter bullets at 7 - 10 yards.

I've always used Winchester SilverTips in all calibers....Try a box....

The best load that fits your criteria is Buffalo Bore's 20C/20.

I also would consider Remington's 158 LSWCHP +P and Speer's 135 Short Barrel +P. Neither will hurt your gun and both are very controllable and easier to find locally than Buffalo Bore.

There isn't a nickel's worth of difference between the premium self defense ammo fired out of a short barreled .38 specials.

My advice has always been...carry what you shoot the best in that particular gun; spend your money on that ammo, not gadgets, and practice, practice, practice the basics till you are good.

Will and skill wins gun fights.

MOONDAWG

I load Winchester 158 gr. JHP under 5.5 grains of Accurate # 5 and CCI primers to practice with. It is extremely accurate out of my old S&W Highway Patrolman. This load ramped up would more than fill my needs if I carried this revolver as my duty weapon or for regular carry. Right now I carry my M&P 9 most of the time and my m&P 40 the rest both with Gold Dot +p loads. Like I said the accuracy from the revolver with that load for practice is excellent.

Fiochi ammo *used to* run hot in .38 special, but they seem to have toned it down. The factory catalog only claims 750fps from the 148 gr JHPs, and that is probably from a four inch barrel. I haven't seen gelatine tests, but I don't think one is going to see expansion from them.

The Hornady XTPs would also be iffy, at best, out of a snub unless something has changed with them as of late.

Other than the Buffalo Bore offering that Wyatt mentions, the best bet might be to simply use SWC or WC ammunition if you've opted not to use +P loads. (Laser Match even offers a 148gr WC tracer. It seems to be loaded with a bit more "oomph" than most Wadcutters.) Once expansion becomes iffy - which does tend to be a problem with short barrels and standard velocity ammunition - it comes down to cutting a hole and making sure that this hole is deep enough.

If you opt for +P ammunition, then there's either the Remington 158gr SWCLHP or the 135gr Speer short barrel load, both popular choices.

quote:

If you opt for +P ammunition, then there's either the Remington 158gr SWCLHP

This or the same thing in Winchester guise is my choice. I like the sharp shouldered semi-wadcutter design and the weight of the bullet over the lighter weight projectiles. It also shoots very close to aiming point in all fixed sight .38 Special revolvers I've tried over the years.

I have a box of Buffalo Bore +P 158 grain loads but haven't had opportunity to test it over the chronograph and on paper yet.

In standard pressure I'd use wadcutters and not even hot one's. Hot ones will simply overpenetrate. Wadcutters don't need extra velocity to penetrate deeply. Jim Cirillo liked them and that's good enough for me.

I still think, unless you have some sort of physical infirmity, that +p is a better choice.

If I'm not mistaken MAGTECH loads a standard Velocity 158 gr. LSWC. Probably wouldn't do to bad. I know I've got a box or two just for that purpose. They are marked for a nice model 36 that's in the vault.

flop-shank, looks like you and I have the same idea.

quote:

Originally posted by bmcgilvray:
I have a box of Buffalo Bore +P 158 grain loads but haven't had opportunity to test it over the chronograph and on paper yet.

You're going to like it. First, its shoulder is even more sharply defined than other SWCs I've seen commercially loaded. Second, there is some serious horsepower behind that bullet.

I've you believe the chrono data posted by Buffalo Bore, right at 1000 fps from a 2" gun and 1170 from a 4". That's trucking.

That's what rides in my Airweight.

ETA: I'd be interesting in knowing your chrono results.

Wyatt, Don't you think that a tad too hot for a m-36?

I once met an FBI agent who carried standard wadcutters in his m-36 BUG. When I asked why, he explained that if he was down to his BUG he was probably in deep trouble and he wanted an accurate, low recoiling round that would do a lot of damage if placed correctly. Makes a lot of sense to me, but I carry the 158gr. (standard velocity) semi-wadcutters (Keith bullets) in my speedloaders.

Regards,

Dave