I picked up some .38 Special Fiocchi 130 grain FMJ ammo. It indicates muzzle energy of 260 foot pounds, and muzzle velocity of 950 feet per second. It should be safe for my 1956-vintage M&P (pre-10) snub-nose, shouldn't it?

Yes sir it will be just fine. Given your weapon
is in good condition it will be fine with any
standard 38 Special cartridge. Keep in mind that
your gun's fixed sights were regulated from the factory for
158 grain round nose lead ammunition and therefore may not
shoot to point of aim with the 130 grain ammunition.
The 130 grain load may end up shooting a little low.

Good information here, I did not know this.

Nor did I. And the 158 grain will actually have less recoil than the 130 grain? It all seems backwards, doesn't it?

Yes sir peppercorn, back then they were regulated to the most common loading which was the 158 grain lead round nose; the standard police and self-defense cartridge of the day. Remington marked that ammo "Police Service." It was common to practice with 148 wads and carry 158 Lead round nose for duty/self defense and both will impact in about the same spot given the same point of aim. The newest fixed sighted S&W 38 spl I have owned was a Model 10 skinny 4" from the late 70s and it was spot on with 158 Lead RN and 148 wads but I can't personally speak for anything later/newer on how it is regulated.

Hoosier,

A lot depends on the charge of powder versus the bullet weight. You will not be able to tell that much difference between 158 and 130 in a standard load. They are both loaded to about the same pressure. European ammo tends to be a little hotter....like Fiocchi and S&B. A hot 125-130 may recoil more than a light 158 etc. Your snub will most likely perform the best with Remington 38Special 158 Lead Round Nose catalog R38S5 or its Winchester equivalent loading as this is the closest thing us modern folk can get to 1950s ammo.
148 grain wadcutters would also do great and they have probably the least amount of recoil of any 38 with stellar accuracy. The 148 wadcutters are a full wad that go about 600 fps out of a snub sometimes slower. Hope that helps.

I carry either an older non-shroud Colt Detective Special or S&W Model 36 for a back up/off duty gun in an old Bianchi ankle holster. I qualify them with 148grain full wadcutters and even at 20 yards accuracy with them is pretty good given their short barrels and recoil is minimal.

If your looking for the least recoil and making it easy on your gun then practice with the 148 wads. Also as an added bonus, unjacketed lead bullets are easier on your barrel than a jacketed bullet as far as wear and tear.

Enjoy your M&P, they are tough guns and a lot of fun to shoot!

For informal plinking and target work, I like the 158 Gr. RNL over 3.1 gr. of Titegroup or the Factory stuff is fine as well. Bullseye, W231 are also good powders.

If you are going to carry it, might I suggest Buffalo Bore STANDARD PRESSURE 158 grain LSWCHP. Won't hurt the earlier guns 'cause it is NON +P and still packs a lot more velocity and ft. pounds of energy than the +P Fed's. Win's & Rem's do.

For short barreled guns, the 158 grain bullets will usually shoot more to POA than the lighter bullets since that is what they were originally designed for.

Chief38

I just ordered a model well used model 10 from Buds, this was exactly the information I needed to read today.

Thanks for the original question 'Hoosier! I hope I haven't hi-jacked your thread?

I am looking forward to the Model 10. It will be my first fixed site revolver and has had me wondering just what to expect so, again, this is just great to know.

Not at all. Good information, all 'round!

My only concern with lead would be barrel and/or forcing cone fouling. Or is that not as much of a problem as I think?

Keep it clean and you should not have any problems!!

Sounds as if my best bet all around will be 158 grain lead round-nose for the range and a few of the Buffalo Bore non-+P "Chicago loads" for defensive use.

Here is a 4 inch ish group I shot today with my new to me 2" M&P at 25yds
Load was 2.6 of BE under a 159 gn 358311 Ideal sized to .3585
Steve