Buffalo Bore Plus Pressure 158gr LSWCHPGC in 638-3?

[sonofthebeach]

Anybody here tried this ammo in their Airweight? Or any recommendations of what SD carry ammo to replace my four year old Remington 158grSWCHP Plus Pressure?

Thanks.

[Old cop]

I've tried it in my 442 and found I had trouble w/follow-up shots, just a bit too much recoil for me. I'm using the Remington 158 grain +P HP, or old FBI load. Easier to control plus I know it works b/c I had to use it on the job.

[kaaskop49]

Listen to 'Old cop.' While the J-snub may be OK to fire with planet wreckers like the BB hot stuff, it is an absolute bear to control without bigger grips and maybe even with them. Loads like these are much 'friendlier' in service-size handguns.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
____________________
Best $1.80 I ever spent!

[vipermd]

158 gr LSWCHP +P great load out of my HB mod 10 4", Poor recovery for a second shot in 638 with me shooting, which is why my 638 is full of SB Gold Dot +p. Be Safe,

[riverrat38]

Buffalo Bore ammo is good stuff, and is available, though not cheap!
The non plus P FBI load is similar in velocity to the other brands plus P.
I am currently using Speers 135 gr short barrel GD's in my M442 for carry, but practice with 125 gr plated reloads at standard pressure. I like to shoot some of the carry ammo at the range, but am down to a cylinder full plus a speed strip. The Speer SB is hard to find.

Best,
Rick

[kaaskop49]

Hi vipermd, me again. Thanks for the backup. Come across any Faberge eggs lately? Good holiday, now.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
____________________
Best $1.80 I ever spent!

[Rpg]

You'll do better with 148 gr wadcutters in target loading than you will with any gee whiz ammo.

At over $1 per shot, you won't shoot enough of it to get very good with it.

Start with light target loads in wc

If you really think you need something more, move up step by step.

As you increase the pressure, noise and recoil will increase and you'll discover that your ability to quickly hit your target will decrease.

Find the right load for your skill level and tolerance.

You should fire at least 100 rounds of each load before you decide to use it for sd.

Most folks buy a box of the newest gee whiz stuff and carry it with very little practice with it: frequently less than ten rounds.

I'd be very surprised if anyone on this forum has actually fired 100 rounds of bb.

Use what you shoot most: almost certainly what you shoot best.

Just my opinion, of course.

[sonofthebeach]

Thanks for all your replies. What you all seem to be saying kind of agrees with what I've been thinking...that the BB, while not really painful with the "large" CT laser grip, will really not allow me to place more than one shot accurately, since follow-up shots will be difficult, at best.

And at the price of the stuff, I won't be able to practice enough with it to change that.

I think I'll try to find enough of the "FBI" load 158gr LSWCHP +p, to practice with for maybe 25 rnds a month, and use some 158gr LSWC reloads cranked up to similar velocities for most of the rest of my shooting with the Airweight.

So, you all think the aluminum alloy frame will handle 158gr loads at about 850fps out of the 1-7/8" Airweight without messing up the integrity of the frame or timing or anything...if I run about 100 rds/month through the revolver?

I don't know if I'll actually shoot it that much, but I'd really like to get enough practice in to feel confident with follow-up shots...the short-barreled revolvers have always been difficult for me to shoot accurately, and I want to practice more with the 638 to change that.

Thanks again.

[RetDep310]

If you like the Buffalo Bore, try their .38Spl 158gr SWCHP, low flash, low recoil. It's standard pressure, and made for the lightweight or older j-frames. Still has a little thump from my j-frame, but controllable.

[chief38]

The BB (HEAVY) 158 grain +P LSWCHP-GC "AIN'T" for lightweight alloy guns IMHO! This load is my carry load of choice in my all steel M60-7 and that is about as light a gun as I would shoot then in. In an alloy gun it would be quite painful to shoot, beat the heck out of the gun, and difficult to control or get follow up shots from.

I would recommend the Buffalo Bore STANDARD PRESSURE NON +P 158 grain LSWCHP which will give you higher velocities than the Big 3 ammo Co's +P offerings. You should get around 860 fps from your 2" snubby and that is more than the other +P's will produce. BB also uses soft HP bullets and has proven to perform well. BB is also reliable, consistent and does what they say it will do (quite rare these days).

[Old cop]

As an example I used my Model 38 for LEOSA qualification yesterday and scored 85% using standard pressure 130 grain FMJ target ammo. My normal scores for a 4" K frame, or my service Glock 23 is in the high 90's. In a deadly force confrontation skills erode considerably, I've been there.

As to your question about practicing w/the FBI load, that's a good idea if you can find enough of it. If not almost any +P load will give you the feel (e.g., felt recoil) of this load. I put a few rounds of whatever +P I have on hand, to include the FBI load, a couple of times a year to keep it as "real" as possible.

[wrangler5]

I don't have access to my data at the moment, but as I recall the velocity of BB's NON-+P 158g load was identical to the Remington +P with the same bullet out of the same gun. (And I DO remember that they are equally non-fun in an Airweight.)

[vipermd]

Kaaskop49:10-4, A few new eggs have arrived. Have a safe holiday,

[sonofthebeach]

I wonder if the BB standard pressure 158gr LSWCHP is more available...I don't expect it to be cheaper than the gas-checked +p though.

As for the "Fun" factor of shooting these "FBI" loads in the Airweight, as long as they (BB non +p) don't crack, bend or otherwise screw up my 638, I'll handload some 158gr lead cartridges to similar velocities for practice. And maybe I'll also try Rpg's suggestion of loading some 148 LWC's at target velocities, and step up from there to see the effects of increased recoil and my ability to shoot the heavier loadings.

Thanks again, and have a great holiday weekend.

[sac-gunslinger]

Originally Posted by Rpg

You'll do better with 148 gr wadcutters in target loading than you will with any gee whiz ammo.

AND Buffalo makes a hard-cast 150 grain 38 Special wadcutter standard pressue load that produces around 900 FPS that should ring someone's chimes.

I carry their wadcutter load in my snubbies with a speedloader of their 158 grain standard pressure load for a reload.

[harley46580]

I agree with Old Cop on this one that is a good load and I still carry it in my backup gun.

[Groo01]

Groo here
I understand some people may have problems controlling
an ultra light 38 snub with heaver or +p loads
But a Kframe ?
What do you guys consider a too long recovery between shots.
I do 2 rnds per sec with M60pro,and Sp101 with 124 flame throwers
clear up to 3 inch 41mag 210 gr factory.
I don't think I am that fast but who knows??????

[vipermd]

Groo01: I believe he stated that he was shooting it in an air weight, J-frame, or that is what I thought. Be Safe,

[Lt JL]

I like BB in big guns. with a J frame? I think I'll just whack my hand with an 8 pound sledge.

[Groo01]

Groo here
Just get the grip to "FIT".
The rest will come with " buckets of bollets"

[Shorty 45 MK2]

This is a little off topic, but what grips/stocks do you have on your 638?

The reason I ask is because that can make a big difference in how the gun feels when you shoot it.

I carry Gold Dot 135gr +P and it's a little "lively" with the stock boot grips on my 642, but a good bit better with Pachmayer compac's that I currently use for carry.

You might want to look at Federal's Nyclad 125gr.

Hope this helps.

[shawn mccarver]

Originally Posted by sonofthebeach

Anybody here tried this ammo in their Airweight? Or any recommendations of what SD carry ammo to replace my four year old Remington 158grSWCHP Plus Pressure?

Thanks.

I do not know about the Buffalo Bore load you mention, but their "Outdoorsman" load (duplicates, or perhaps a little hotter than the original 38/44) works fine in the Airweight S&W. Not fun to shoot by any means, but works fine.

As to loads for defense, there are two obvious choices - the same load you have, which is known as the FBI load as it was what the FBI once used (Winchester is the original maker, but the current Remington version in the HTP line is apparently a lower velocity load according to a thread on this forum a while back, so I have concerns about the new Remington version of the FBI load), and the Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel, developed by Speer for the NYPD.

Winchester's product number is X38SPD.

Speer's product number is 23921.

[Jim Lawburgh]

Originally Posted by sonofthebeach

Anybody here tried this ammo in their Airweight? Or any recommendations of what SD carry ammo to replace my four year old Remington 158grSWCHP Plus Pressure?

Thanks.

sonofthebeach,
I use the BB 158gr LSWCHC-GC+P(item 20a), in two of my SD revolvers...327TRR8(1200fps), and 640 Pro(1070fps). Both guns handle it very well at 35 and 23 ozs.
This round borders on low .357 Magnum specs.
In my opinion, and the opinion of my 13.5 ouncer, there is just to much recoil for an airweight.
Try the BB standard pressure(item 20c) low flash, short barrel loading with same 158gr bullet.
Lot less recoil and still comes out the barrel at a little over 850fps.(haven't chroned it yet, but I've always found their specs to be accurate).
It works for me.
Hope this helps you some.
Stay safe and happy,
Jim

[kaaskop49]

Great post, Jim! That BB +P LHP is a planet wrecker. 1070fps out of a J-frame is serious business. And the N-frame velocity is out of sight for a .38! I think they're even warmer than the original WW LHP loads from 1970 which were no joke.

[Jim Lawburgh]

Originally Posted by kaaskop49

Great post, Jim! That BB +P LHP is a planet wrecker. 1070fps out of a J-frame is serious business. And the N-frame velocity is out of sight for a .38! I think they're even warmer than the original WW LHP loads from 1970 which were no joke.

Thanks kaaskop49,
My j frame adds a quarter inch of barrel over standard, but still, I was quite pleased.
A guy at the range had a Chrno, and he couldn't believe the fps I was getting out of the 640 Pro with just 38's in it.
Said he was going to put in an order.
Jim