Met with a friend of mine out at the range the other day and he had gotten there early to do some chronographing. In particular he wanted to test a box of current production "FBI Loads", i.e. the much touted 158g SWC-HP +P, in this instance from Federal.

I asked him about his results and he showed me his extensive notes. He shot them in 4", 6" and 8-3/8" S&W 357 Magnum revolvers. The performance was singularly disappointing, with the factory ammo delivering a little over 800fps from the 4" barrel. It wasn't until he shot them through the 8-3/8" M-27 that the velocity finally reached what is claimed for this load, a little over 900 fps.

He was ready to take down the chronograph but I told him to try 5 of the Buffalo Bore Heavy 38 Special +P 158g SWC_HP GC loads, my preferred carry load for the 36 caliber revolvers. The BB rounds all came in at 1100+ from his 4" 586.

As others have posted here in the past, today's +P 38 Special loads from the big ammo makers are more like the standard 38 Special rounds of 30 or 40 years ago. Back then a standard pressure 158g 38 Special round would give you 800 fps from a 4" revolver. Today you have to go to +P loads to get that.

Just for your general fund of information...YMMV.

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

Being a newbie to the pistol (firearms in general) world I hear and read references to this topic and it makes me wonder, why so much concern on this topic? I don't mean to come across as anything but curious and wanting to know why it matters so much. Because if I pick up my pistol as a personal defense tool, does it matter how fast the lead is coming out and going towards the target? Or is the concern for target shooters and others?

Thanks for any information, I enjoy this site and am always looking to learn more about the world of firearms I have entered.

Dave, thanks for helping to debunk the +p myth. As another poster is found of saying, the awe of the +P ammo is on of the greatest marketing hypes, fed by a media/Internet frenzy.

Speed is important because the bullet, especially hollow point self defense loads, perform better (hollow point opens up inside the bad guy) at higher speed.

While much has been posted (and I do appreciate those who take the time to do the testing) about the best bullet/caliber nothing trumps shot placement.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

It does. Speed = power.

Speed (velocity) is certainly critical, but there can be too much of a good thing; must be weighed against specific bullet and gun or you get, say, expansion way too early.

Point being, speed (and more of it) isn't always ideal, and has to be considered in broader context, not as a standalone.

Dave,
I came to the same conclusion a few years back after doing my own chronograph testing. The Big 3 ammo Co's. +P "FBI load" was dismal from a 2" Chief's Special (well under 800 fps) while the Buffalo Bore "Heavy" 158 LSWCHP-GC consistently sailed down range between 1025 - 1040 fps out of the same gun. The BB has been my carry load ever since.

And by the way, not only is the BB a devastating defense round, it is also VERY accurate.

Chief38