Great information and thank you for sharing.

From my LEO experiences the 158 LRN got its job done too. When we went to the +P 125 JHP it did well too.

In retirement I am using Winchester 125 grain +P JHP.

Did you shoot it out of an alloy snub? Recoil?

Well now. I just finished testing (seat of the pants) The Buffalo Bore 19E "Lower" Recoil/Low Flash ammo in a 3" Kimber K6s. It appears to be loaded with a Hornady 158 gr. XTP. I fired 48 rounds at 30' all double action and I did not attempt to stage the trigger, just straight pull through. I was able to keep all rounds navel to upper chest and well centered left and right on the standard ATF silhouette target. I fired double taps with about 2-3 seconds between sets and did not lower the revolver until it was time to reload.
I am not recoil shy but 8 cylinders full was enough without risking a sore hand.



I "perceived" the felt recoil to be less than the .357 Mag. WW 145 gr. Silvertips, posted MV of 1,290 (536 ft. lbs.) barrel length unknown, I have been shooting but not by much.


BB posts a MV of 1,172 (481 ft. lbs.) from a 3" S&W M-65 with the 19E load which is 23 ft. lbs. more than their .38 Spec.+P FBI LSWCHP-GC with a posted MV of 1,143 (458 ft. lbs.) from a 3" Ruger SP101 with the 20A load. The .38 load seems to shoot "softer" than what the numbers would lead you to believe...might be the cast bullet...


Positive: The Hornady XTP has a good reputation for penetration and this is the cleanest .38/.357 factory ammo I have ever fired, ever, and I have fired thousands of rounds On an overcast day on a covered firing line there was no distracting flash firing with both eyes open.


Negative: This is most likely the lowest MV which will give any expansion from a readily available JHP. You can change weight and velocity but its an endless spiral chasing "enough" to give the energy, expansion and penetration to get the job done. But in a light weight, short barreled gun it is still a bit too much...


We need the Rim Rock LSWHP loaded to 950-975 fps from a 2-3" barrel in both .38 Spec and .357 Mag.


Best and good luck to you all.

Here is a review of Hornady .38 Critical Defense.

https://www.targetbarn.com/broad-sid...gr-ftx-review/
Penetration was good but expansion was not. Still, I would feel well armed with this round.

__________________
Buy American
Vote Responsibly

In all my j-frames, for carry, the Winchester Silvertip 110gr 38spl has been my go-to for years.

__________________
Heavily armed old man.

My wife brough home a S&W 360 J 357mag late last year that weights 15 oz empty and I have an old taurus 85 ss 38sp . First change made was a apex J frame trigger kit and next was a hogue mono rubber grip so 3 fingers can be used on it to help with absorbing recoil with the s&w . Now its shoot able for me with old rem 158gr sjhp and its a good solid all around load But not for my wife. Shes prefers the federal 130gr hst micro .

I hope we never need to carry a short barrel revolver as to many 9mm, 40sw and 45 just out preform these 357mag or 38sp .

All handgun bullets in .38 SPL and .357 mag. can fail to stop. Shot placement is king. I've killed small Texas deer from 40-50 yards with a Super Vel 137 gr. jacketed soft point with a 4" S&W model 28, back in the day. In my opinion, penetration trumps expansion.