After reading about the anemic performance of .38 spl +p 129 Gr Hydrashok I decided I want to "roll my own" for my wife's J frame.

Based on the reloading data I have, I can get just as much velocity with a much heavier bullet, and the LSWCHP have a great reputation as manstoppers in the "FBI load".

The problem is the ones I've found online from Speer and Hornady are labeled as "for target use" not self defense use. Are these the same bullets as the old self defense loads? Will they expand?

Those are swaged bullets and considered to be too soft for very much velocity.

I normally load a HBWC upside down for use in pocket rockets, like a derringer or some such. No worries about the skirt coming off and leaving a bore obstruction and they will stand 900 fps or so, but they expand pretty dramatically.

This article BBHFarm Gallery :: Handloader's Digest 6th Edition, 1972, covers the concept.

The Speer LSWCHP or the Hornady LSWCHP will both work. I perfer the SPeer, I think it's a bit softer & expands well @ 900fps, about +P in most 4" guns & some 3", maybe 875fps in a 2" snub.

I too prefer the Speer-though the Hornady does shoot okay-it just isn't as pretty and doesn't have as cavernous a HP. FWIW Midway sometimes has the Remington 158SWCHP for sale. The Rems had a great Rep in factory "FBI" loads. The Speers are consistently available and have never given me leading problems at .38 spl velocities.

You certainly can "roll your own" but there are also plenty of other brands and weights out there if you don't like the 129 Hydrashock.

Rem GS, Speer GD, Win PDX. etc, etc.Try some of the Buffalo Bore 158 LSWCHP +P and I guarantee you will not be underwhelmed. They are brutal.

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Still Running Against the Wind

If you are going to roll your own the Speer from midway, or the 158 SWCHP from Magnus bullets.
Or just buy the factory loaded ones from Ammunitiontog.com or
Sgammo.com.

Pete

Rim Rock Bullets makes a very soft lead 158 LSWCHP with a gas check to prevent leading. If anything is going to expand, these will. They can be quite accurate as well.

Not cheap, but they look good!

g/ch .38spc .357mag 158 gr. SWC-HP per 100 .38/.357 Cal. 158 gr. SWC-HP per 100 [SWC-HP] - $18.50 : Rim Rock Bullets, Premium Cast Lead Bullets

I prefer the Remington load.

Another vote for Rim Rock. IIRC they supply Buffalo Bore with this bullet for their 38+P load.

ETA http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php...t_detail&p=108

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Do yourself a favor and get a box of Buffalo Bore +P HEAVY 158 grain LSWCHP-GS bullets. Out of a 2" bbl they do an honest 1025 - 1040 fps and have 361 foot pounds of energy. From a 4" barrel they will produce over 1100 fps! They are accurate, reliable, and have a heavy crimp so they will not jump from recoil. Unless you have their secret formula, you are not going to be able to duplicate that. A box of 20 rounds will set you back about $25.00 + shipping, and they are the Benchmark for 38 Special defense ammo. While I am not a worry wart over legal issues of hand loads used for self defense, it would be one less thing for you to worry about should you ever shoot someone. Just a suggestion of course, but IMHO this is about the best SD load available on the market today.

If the load above is too much for your wife to control, try the BB NON +P 158 grain LSWCHP. Out of a 2 " Chief's Special it will do 865 fps at standard pressure - which is more than the "Big Three" Companies FBI +P loads will. Those will only produce 775 fps out of a 2" tube.

That said, if you are looking to load up practice ammo to sort of duplicate SD ammo, then I would but some hard cast RNL 158 grain bullets from any of the good casters and load them up hot. The RNL bullets are perfect for practice because they will not lead up the barrel as bad as SWC's and they will shoot POA = POI. I would not use RNL bullets for SD as they are poor at that task, but for practice they are great.

After reloading for 30+ years I have yet to be able to do better than what BB is currently producing. They really make great SD ammunition.

Chief38

You don't really need a gc, you aren't shooting 100s of these @ a time & a std LSWC can be used for practice rounds. The Speer are cheaper bought in bulk boxes, JMO, but I want a soft LSWCHP if loading my own 38sp+P.

$79 per 1000 here: http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=1249&dir=278|281|1083|1129

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Corripe Cervisiam

I like the Rim Rock bullets EXCEPT for the price. They are extremely expensive so I won't buy them... ($18.50/100)

I have been using the Hornady 158gr LSWC/HP ($25.50/300) bullets for several years for making replica FBI Loads and they work very well. The Speer bullets ($37/500) will also work just fine I just like the Hornady bullets better because they seem to be slightly more accurate in my revolvers.

Speer.... = $74/1000
Hornady. = $85/1000
Rim Rock = $185/1000

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Yeah, I'm looking for about 900 fps out of a 2-inch and should be able to get there based on Alliant's load data. Like you said fatory loads are all down below 800 (except BB). I think I'm going to go with the magnus bullets, I think soft lead would be better for this application.

There is a Magnus dealer here in town. I could pick up a box of 250. Magnus 158gr LSWC is what I reload the most. I didn't realize they made the hollow points because I was always looking at the cast selection online.

I like Buff Bore for target practice, coolness and range fun but I am not a big fan of it for SD because of the smoke. As for their secret ingredient, my guess is their propellants are not all nitroglycerine based and they add powdered aluminum and an oxidizer like ammonium nitrate or ammonium perchlorate. That would increase the energy content in the fuel and would also explain the smoke.

These are not cheap but are good bullets. I have used the FN.
With a BHN of 10 they are not that hard.

Hard Cast Bullets 38 Cal (358 Diameter) 158 Grain Lead Pentagon Hollow Point Box of 100

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Still Running Against the Wind

I have a FBI Load replica loaded with HS-6 that will average 889 fps from a 2" barrel all day long. It's very accurate too.
I'm fairly sure AA#5 will get you there too.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Except those are not LSCWHP. I still have a couple boxes of the Win & REm factory loads. Both do 850fps+ in my 2 1/4"-2 1/2" snubs.

I load the Speer 158gr LSWCHP's on top of 4.5 to 4.7 grs of W231 (Winchester data) in a Winchester case with WSP primer. This duplicates Winchesters +P LSWCHP load at around 900 fps from 4" revolvers and 780+ from a 2" snub.