I think I know the BEST answer, but that unfortunately that isn’t the answer I am hoping to find. Now for the question. All you folks that have and shoot a Heavy Duty, what ammunition do you prefer? I believe the best answer is probably “ammunition that I hand loaded myself”. Like I said, unfortunately, I don’t reload. So what ammunition do you folks use to get the best performance from your Heavy Duty that you can currently buy? Thanks, in advance, for any advice.
Larry
BTW, if you want to show pictures of your Heavy Duty, please do. We all love pictures.

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Miss Buddies crsides & fat tom

Buffalo Bore offers some high performance .38 Special ammo, but it's almost $2/round.

Heavy 38 Special + P Pistol & Handgun Ammunition
38 SPL +P OUTDOORSMAN

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"I also cook."

That Buffalo Bore ammo is, (as said above), $38.33 for twenty rounds.

You can buy a Lee Loader kit for the same money!
(The price tag for mine says, $10.98. But, that was a while ago!)

Everything you need to load all you want.
Use it once and it's paid for itself!
(Just a friendly pat on the back to give ya a little encouragement! )

Use the 1.0 cc dipper with 2400 under a 158 SWC. That was the classic 38/44 load.

I've attached the instructions.


"Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day. Teach a Man To Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime" (Confucius)

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Underwood has two loads that fit the bill. I have some of the gas check hollow points and they shoot to POA in my HD.

1. 158 grain hard cast at 1250 fps (advertised) - $23 box of 20

2. 158 grain soft gas check hollow point at 1160 -$33 box of 20

Shipping is $12 for two boxes.

You asked for best performance. Since I don't think you mean using a 60-90 year old revolver for defense, I would just use a 158gr.+P ammo. Yeah, I know, it's wimpy, around 950 fps., but it should group OK and shoot pretty close to POA.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

'Best performance' is a pretty broad term... my 38-44s are just for pleasure shooting, so I'm looking mostly for accuracy with economy.

When my 38-44s go to the range, I use a 158gr SWC at ~950fps. Basically the same range load I use in my .357s, just in a .38spl case. Not as hot as the original loads, but pleasant to shoot, accurate and reasonably economical.

For a non-reloader, if you're looking to max out the ballistic performance, the Buffalo Bore and Underwood offerings as mentioned above are pretty good, but pricey for shootin' fodder.

Oh, and pics? Sure...

I shoot whatever 38 Special I have handy in my HDs. I see no need to hotrod guns that are older than I am. But then I rarely shoot 44 Mags in my much newer 29s either. The HDs don't seem to care what they're fed as long as they get to the range once in a while.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

While expensive, I have found Buffalo Bore quality to be worth the price. If OP only plans to keep it loaded after testing/sighting with a box then it is worth the weight in gold. If OP is like me and insists on shooting his defensive ammo regularly then price could be a limiting factor.

This little 1931 beauty has been a safe queen for so long I can't recall what I ever used to shoot in it but if I was a betting man, and I am, I'd lay 8 to 5 I shot plain jane 158 grain .38 Specials in it.

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Come and take it!!

I do not have a heavy duty S&W. I do have lots of revolvers in that caliber. I personally prefer 148 grain wadcutters if you are just shooting paper.

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S&WHF #946
S&WCA #3824

In a brief fling with USPSA Revolver before the 8 shooters took over, I loaded some .38 Special Major for the purpose.
Major is a 158 at 1044+ fps so a safety margin for conditions and different chronographs gets you up to Heavy Duty.

I’ve owned a Heavy Duty for two weeks now, and have shot 158gr RNL, 158gr LSWCHP+P and 148gr Gold Medal Match Wadcutters out of it. They all performed well, but since I have more RNL than anything else I’ll probably use that when I take the Heavy Duty to the range. If I was going to carry it I’d use the old FBI load.

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Wheel guns are real guns.

Any .38 Special +P will do.

Along the same lines, my brother drives a Chevrolet Corvette and you don’t need to run it at 150 mph just to get to the market.