Best .38 Special Standard Pressure 158 gr FMJ Range Ammo?

.455_Hunter

.455_Hunter

Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2007
Messages
1,575
Reaction score
2,117
Location
Front Range of Colorado
Looking to stock-up on some .38 Special (Non +P) 158 gr FMJ range ammo. I want something at the standard 158 gr / 755 fps / 200 fpe performance level, NOT something that actually yields higher values. I know that some of the Euro loadings may list as standard pressure, but actually give +P velocities. Thoughts? I don't really want a loading that has a reputation for hard primers, true duds, large velocity variations, etc. Thanks!
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
Most standard 158 lead ammo is pretty high in cost, these days.

The 130's arecheaper but not what you are asking for.

I will not pay the price for lead that my stores are asking for.

Best deal right now is Armscor 158 FMJ, box of 50 for $23 plus tax.
 
I've been using Remington 130 grain leadless range ammo...cleanest ammo I've ever used and accuracy is maybe not match accurate but very good nonetheless.
 
Check out SGAmmo, they have a couple different brands at $22.95 for 158gr fmj. Of course it's even cheaper by the case and free shipping.

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk
 
Older revolvers are pretty soft and so using lead bullets will wear things a lot less than FMJ and might even save you some money. Of course, I gather some ranges require jacketed bullets, if so then your hands are tied.
 
I was just on ammoseek.com looking for about the same thing except I was looking for LRN, leaded round nose, which I prefer for my older pre-Victory. They have lots of choices there of various brands of ammo. SG Ammo is also listed as one of the vendors.
 
Last edited:
This is one subject where there is no "best", merely what you prefer based on your expectations and desires! Any .38 Special ammunition will do exactly the same thing in a range scenario, put holes in paper targets! How accurately this happens is mostly a reflection of your individual shooting ability, and not the gun or ammunition.

Don't worry about the performance figures either advertised or indicated on the packaging, it is extremely rare for any ammunition in any caliber to deliver these performance levels in actual firearms. There are many reasons for this. There is nothing "magic" about .38 Special ammunition at 750 FPS +/- or 200 FPE! If you do not own a chronograph you will never know what velocity your gun produces, and it doesn't matter!!!:):):)
 
Last edited:
Alk8944 said:
This is one subject where there is no "best", merely what you prefer based on your expectations and desires! Any .38 Special ammunition will do exactly the same thing in a range scenario, put holes in paper targets! How accurately this happens is mostly a reflection of your individual shooting ability, and not the gun or ammunition.

Don't worry about the performance figures either advertised or indicated on the packaging, it is extremely rare for any ammunition in any caliber to deliver these performance levels in actual firearms. There are many reasons for this. There is nothing "magic" about .38 Special ammunition at 750 FPS +/- or 200 FPE! If you do not own a chronograph you will never know what velocity your gun produces, and it doesn't matter!!!:):):)
Click to expand...

I appreciate your thoughts, but they are completely erroneous and simplistic in this situation. I am looking for this loading because in shoots to POA with the fixed sights revolvers in question, which were intended to fire 158 gr at 755 fps- the "standard" loading of the time. The 130s shoot low, regardless of the interwebz. The higher velocity 158s can vary, and definitely produce more recoil. And so you know, the 4" vented catalog ballistics are usually reasonably close to what you get out a quality Smith, Colt or Ruger 4" .38 revolver. I do own a chronograph, and have been shooting .38 Special for over 30 years, so none of this is "new". I want FMJ for ease of clean-up and not dealing with lead residue in the bore and everyplace else for family shooting sessions.

It may just come down to me executing my own testing with a box of each before making a 1000 round commitment. I figured I would at least ask here first about people's direct experiences with such ammo. That may or may not have been a good idea.
 
Last edited:
I just looked at the Magtech web site, and they have a ballistics chart. It states the velocity is 755 and tested in a 4-V barrel. I would think they mean vented, therefore like a revolver's speed. I have a supply of the Magtech LSWC, and the PPU LSWC. The Magtech LSWC has the same specs as the LRN. The PPU is definitely hotter and shoots a bit low in my fixed sight Smiths. The Magtech shoots to POI.
 
Last edited:
I recently chronoed Remington LRN ammo through my new Colt Cobra 2” and they ran 775 fps. PPU 158 grain LSWCHPs do 850 from the 2” Colt and a little over 900 fps from my 6” Python.
 
PMC I have been getting has been pretty good. May not be 158 Gr last boxes I got, but they shoot just fine. I think they're 132.

For me, finding actual 158 gr target rounds has been oddly difficult locally.
 
.455_Hunter said:
The higher velocity 158s can vary, and definitely produce more recoil.
Click to expand...
Have you noticed a consistant correlation between speed and how the point of impact shifts?

I do not have a chronograph, but have done some side by side comparisons, and had the same observation on the projectile weight; the 158 gr LRN tended to group higher than the 130 and 110 gr projectiles.


brewer1 said:
I recently chronoed Remington LRN ammo through my new Colt Cobra 2” and they ran 775 fps. PPU 158 grain LSWCHPs do 850 from the 2” Colt and a little over 900 fps from my 6” Python.
Click to expand...
Thank you. Interesting. I had been wondering if PPU's website info was in any way comparable to other brands published numbers.


Have you noticed if the Remington seemed cleaner than PPU?
 
For recreational shooting, who cares, really? Buy what you are willing to pay for. The paper target won't know the difference.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Cowboy .38 special ammo
Replies
1
Views
659
Valmet
Valmet
N
Technical drawing of .38 Special 158 grain bullet?
Replies
10
Views
934
max503
max503
D
Question concerning Winchester 9mm 124 gr FMJ
Replies
6
Views
944
SWFan27
S
R
Winchester 230 gr. ball ammo
Replies
4
Views
331
SnidelyWhiplash
S
bushmaster1313
Midway had good sale on IMI 5.56 55 gr. FMJ
Replies
1
Views
716
bushmaster1313
bushmaster1313

Latest posts

Back
Top