Speer GD 135gr. vs Buffalo Bore

mgriffin

mgriffin

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I have a S&W 640 Pro I EDC. I currently carry Speer Gold Dot short barrel +P 135gr .38spl. I have a pretty good supply of them I bought a few years ago when you could find the 50rd. boxes. I have been thinking about switching my carry ammo to Buffalo Bore in either 150gr hard cast wadcutters or 158gr Soft Lead SWC-HC (both standard pressure for short barrels) and a speed strip reload of the Speer GD. Anybody carry either of these loads? I have been reading (maybe too much) about how much a lot of people prefer the wadcutter for carry. Thought I have read the 158gr in J Frames works well for POA-POI. I typically practice shooting at 7yds. or closer and can’t tell much difference between 130gr-158gr. FMJ as far as POI. Anyone prefer any of the Buffalo Bore rounds I mentioned? Completely open for suggestions.
 
You didn't mention how the Speer load works for you and your 640? If it does work well and you have a stash (advance planning, good for you!) I'd stick with it.

Buffalo Bore will probably run 3-5 times the cost of what you paid and you may not be able to practice as much with it. Good luck in your decision.
 
I have shot a lot of 158 lead target and the Remington "FBI" loads out of my
J frame snub nose as well as the factory 135 Gold dots.

I got a lot closer to point of aim with the 135 gr bullets, so that is what I load.

Both loads will work, they just need to be tested for best results.
 
For me, The Speer GD shoots a tighter group than the FMJ ammo I practice with. Maybe I'll just buy 1 box of the BB Wadcutters as an experiment. I was buying the 50rd Speer at a pretty good price a few years ago.
 
I have been very happy with the Speer 38 Special +P Short Barrel 135 grain Gold Dot load. It worked very well for the NYPD too, so it is a proven load. The only reason I would go to a wadcutter load was if I developed so much arthritis that I could no longer tolerate shooting full power ammo.
 
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stansdds said:
I have been very happy with the Speer 38 Special +P Short Barrel 135 grain Gold Dot load. It worked very well for the NYPD too, so it is a proven load. The only reason I would go to a wadcutter load was if I developed so much arthritis that I could no longer tolerate shooting full power ammo.
Click to expand...
I like the Speer Short Barrel loads, too.

Apart from the softer shooting aspect to the match wadcutter, their other value in a snubby J is cutting a good hole in tissue due to the sharp shoulder, whereas hollow point expansion is still iffy in short barrels (even with Speer's loading) and when it fails you've basically got an FMJ, which causes less tissue damage.

But the wadcutter as loaded by Buffalo Bore is a boomer compared to a match wadcutter -- I don't know if that's the best of both worlds or worst.
 
Either bullet is excellent. If you shot 5 of either of the Buffalo Bore rounds after shooting 5 of the (familiar to you) GDs you would MOST LIKELY be aware of any material differences in POA, recoil, sound, flash, etc.

Certainly enough to make a reasoned decision going forward... One would expect.

People (mainly reloaders) often strive to develop that inexpensive practice round that closely approximates the characteristics of their cho$en, typically much more expen$ive desired factory $D ammunition. Some manufacturers jumped on this concept with various offerings: "Train & Protect" comes to mind. I have ARX bullets in 40 S&W that are actually of different weights and design, and have different load data, but can be loaded to provide the same concept. At least that's how I regard and use them.

Regardless you should be well served by any of your choices.

Cheers!
 
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As I age I find that 148 gr. wadcutters work well for me in my 642 and in my K frames. I can put them in a quarter sized hole at 7 yards. If that doesn't solve my problem then I don't know that a round with more recoil will help.
 
I have been carrying the Speer 135gr GDHP SB load in my carry revolver and most of my snub nose revolvers for many years. It's accurate in my guns and I also have a good supply bought when the prices were much better.

The only snub I use a different round in is my M36 Chief's Special. That gun gets the FBI Load because it's a tack driver with that ammo.

Like said above, if the Speer load is working well stick with it especially since you have a good supply and buying the Buffalo Bore ammo with be very expensive right now.
 
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mgriffin said:
I have a S&W 640 Pro I EDC. I currently carry Speer Gold Dot short barrel +P 135gr .38spl. I have a pretty good supply of them I bought a few years ago when you could find the 50rd. boxes. I have been thinking about switching my carry ammo to Buffalo Bore in either 150gr hard cast wadcutters or 158gr Soft Lead SWC-HC (both standard pressure for short barrels) and a speed strip reload of the Speer GD. Anybody carry either of these loads? I have been reading (maybe too much) about how much a lot of people prefer the wadcutter for carry. Thought I have read the 158gr in J Frames works well for POA-POI. I typically practice shooting at 7yds. or closer and can’t tell much difference between 130gr-158gr. FMJ as far as POI. Anyone prefer any of the Buffalo Bore rounds I mentioned? Completely open for suggestions.
Click to expand...

I use the GD 135 Short Barrel +P in my Smith 642 and 638 along with thr Ruger SP101. POI AND POA RIGHT ON BULL IN ALL THREE GUNS.
Works. Won't change.
 
I have the Speer GD in .38+P, but they also make it in .357. I have shot and carried both in a Ruger LCR. The .357 is very controllable and if I remember correctly it is an addition 80 foot lbs of energy over the .38+P, but harder to find.
 
I've yet to shoot my newly acquired 640 but I have her loaded with cci big 4 and speer 135gr +p gold dots, unbeknownst to me she arrived in a .357mag variant, yet I couldn't imagine shooting full house mags out of her...

Watched Paul Harrells videos on everything, .38 and BB seem pretty stout and performs well....
 
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Erocksmash said:
I've yet to shoot my newly acquired 640 but I have her loaded with cci big 4 and speer 135gr +p gold dots, unbeknownst to me she arrived in a .357mag variant, yet I couldn't imagine shooting full house mags out of her...

Watched Paul Harrells videos on everything, .38 and BB seem pretty stout and performs well....
Click to expand...

I have a M640 and my favorite .357 Magnum round is the 145gr Winchester Silvertip ammo. It's scary accurate in my M640 and surprisingly controllable. Winchester does a special run every 2 years or so and I then buy 2 to 3 boxes for SD use. Last time they ran a batch a box of 50 cost me $49, a little high at the time but dirt cheap by today's standards lol.

I don't bother with the 135gr Speer GDHP short barrel .357 Magnum ammo. It's hardly a magnum round so I feel it's not worth the premium price. I think it's only rated @990fps.
 
I'm a Speer GD Short Barrel guy.
You don't even need the .357mag,the .38spc GD SB 135gr is very good and let's you recover quicker for shots 2-3-4-5-6-? if they are needed.
Don't overthink the task relating to speed and power,marksmanship is your best weapon.
 
StakeOut said:
I'm a Speer GD Short Barrel guy.
You don't even need the .357mag,the .38spc GD SB 135gr is very good and let's you recover quicker for shots 2-3-4-5-6-? if they are needed.
Don't overthink the task relating to speed and power,marksmanship is your best weapon.
Click to expand...

I agree, good hits will stop the attack even with FMJ ammo.
 
mgriffin said:
I have a S&W 640 Pro I EDC. I currently carry Speer Gold Dot short barrel +P 135gr .38spl. I have a pretty good supply of them I bought a few years ago when you could find the 50rd. boxes. I have been thinking about switching my carry ammo to Buffalo Bore in either 150gr hard cast wadcutters or 158gr Soft Lead SWC-HC (both standard pressure for short barrels) and a speed strip reload of the Speer GD. Anybody carry either of these loads? I have been reading (maybe too much) about how much a lot of people prefer the wadcutter for carry. Thought I have read the 158gr in J Frames works well for POA-POI. I typically practice shooting at 7yds. or closer and can’t tell much difference between 130gr-158gr. FMJ as far as POI. Anyone prefer any of the Buffalo Bore rounds I mentioned? Completely open for suggestions.
Click to expand...
That’s my exact set up.. Buffalo Bore in my 640 & 642 and Speer Gold Dots in my speed loaders / strips.
 
That's ok.....

mgriffin said:
For me, The Speer GD shoots a tighter group than the FMJ ammo I practice with. Maybe I'll just buy 1 box of the BB Wadcutters as an experiment. I was buying the 50rd Speer at a pretty good price a few years ago.
Click to expand...

Because there ain't a thing wrong with the Gold Dots as carry ammo.
 
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