|
|
05-02-2024, 04:07 AM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 7,294
Likes: 19,233
Liked 11,367 Times in 3,365 Posts
|
|
.38/44 Heavy Duty
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.
__________________
Miss Buddies crsides & fat tom
|
05-02-2024, 04:49 AM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Great Lakes State
Posts: 30,037
Likes: 12,991
Liked 34,549 Times in 8,137 Posts
|
|
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
__________________
"I also cook."
|
The Following 5 Users Like Post:
|
|
05-02-2024, 05:28 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Upstate, SC
Posts: 2,063
Likes: 3,165
Liked 4,926 Times in 1,567 Posts
|
|
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)
Last edited by 6string; 05-02-2024 at 05:49 AM.
|
The Following 5 Users Like Post:
|
|
05-02-2024, 10:21 AM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Vermont
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 791
Liked 2,254 Times in 560 Posts
|
|
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.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
05-02-2024, 11:19 AM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: East Texas
Posts: 6,617
Likes: 3,172
Liked 6,430 Times in 2,505 Posts
|
|
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.
__________________
Wayne
Torn & Frayed
|
The Following 4 Users Like Post:
|
|
05-02-2024, 11:57 AM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Southern AZ
Posts: 1,660
Likes: 3,982
Liked 6,873 Times in 1,310 Posts
|
|
'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...
|
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
|
|
05-02-2024, 12:00 PM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Dallas-Fort Worth
Posts: 4,265
Likes: 8,249
Liked 12,467 Times in 2,831 Posts
|
|
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
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
05-02-2024, 01:05 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: Ohio
Posts: 670
Likes: 1,913
Liked 1,017 Times in 381 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by s&wchad
|
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.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
05-02-2024, 01:33 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 8,326
Likes: 2,556
Liked 13,353 Times in 4,616 Posts
|
|
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.
__________________
Come and take it!!
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
05-02-2024, 01:36 PM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Tulsa OK
Posts: 1,507
Likes: 669
Liked 1,621 Times in 697 Posts
|
|
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.
__________________
S&WHF #946
S&WCA #3824
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
05-02-2024, 02:15 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Florence, Alabama, USA
Posts: 2,379
Likes: 41
Liked 1,443 Times in 795 Posts
|
|
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.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
05-02-2024, 11:18 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 11,111
Liked 2,681 Times in 1,022 Posts
|
|
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.
__________________
Wheel guns are real guns.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
05-03-2024, 10:12 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: Outpost 11
Posts: 878
Likes: 1,180
Liked 975 Times in 483 Posts
|
|
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.
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|