.38 special recommendations home defense

[guskody]

We would appreciate your insight as to which .38 special personal defense ammo you would recommend.

Trying to keep in mind their ability to make follow up shots and at the same time minimize penetration and risk to neighbors.

Two specific people and the revolvers they will have for home defense:

-petite adult female, using model 66 with 2.5" barrel; neighbors close by

-eighties male, using model 686 with 2.5" barrel; neighbors extremely close by

both individuals can shoot their revolvers well at the range, using 130gr FMJ

FWIW, the following ammo is readily available to them if you think any of these would be great choices for either of them:

-Hornady critical defense lite 90gr FTX, listed as 1200 fps

-Hornady critical defense 110gr FTX, listed as 1010 fps

-Federal premium low recoil 110gr Hydra Shok JHP

-Winchester 110gr Silver Tip HP

-Buffalo Bore short barrel low flash 125gr low velocity JHP, lised as 900 fps

-Hornady Custom 158gr XTP, listed as 900 fps

-Buffalo Bore short barrel low flash 150gr hard cast wad cutter, listed as 850 fps

-Hornady critical defense +P 110gr FTX, listed as 1090 fps

-Federal premium +P 129gr Hydra Shok JHP

thanks.

 

[Cal44]

I vote for:

-Buffalo Bore short barrel low flash 150gr hard cast wad cutter, listed as 850 fps

 

[Peak53]

Buffalo Bore short barrel low flash 125gr low velocity JHP, lised as 900 fps. That should be enough fps to get performance out of the hollow point, but limit through the wall penetration due to lower velocity and bullet weight. Lower recoil a plus for both your examples. 2 cents.

 

[2hawk]

Any cartridge capable of good terminal performance is going to be able to zip through walls. If this is really a large concern then training is the key; ammo is only important if you can hit the target and know when and how to use the arm.

That said, any on your list will do the job with good placement, but I would stay with the heavier bullet weights. Generally less flash and bang than with the lightweight, high velocity loads. Better penetration as a rule as well.

ETA, the lightweight rounds will probably not penetrate walls (nor bad guys) as readily as the heavier slugs.

 

[Water-Man]

I vote for:

-Buffalo Bore short barrel low flash 150gr hard cast wad cutter, listed as 850 fps

Poor choice. Over penetration.

 

[Water-Man]

One of the best choices is Cor-Bon DPX Barnes 110gr. +P.

 

[shark_za]

Take the following off your list and chose anything from what is left.

Hornady 90gr Lite shallow penetration
Hornady XTP 158gr no expansion at 38 velocities
The 150gr hard cast - no expansion
129gr Hydrashok out of short barrels - no expansion out of 2"

Top two on the list, the 125gr Gold Dot from BB and the 110gr +P FTX

I currently carry Golden Sabers in my snubbies, both the .38+P and the .357 in my Model 19 2.5"
Out of a 4" I have tested the 129gr +P Hydrashok and seems to expand. Out of a 2-2.5 not so much.

 

[Rpg]

I would not use a special 'personal defense' load.

Unless you are independently wealthy or have a Federal grant, you'll never shoot enough of the 'gee whiz' ammo to get reliably good with it.

You really think you're going to buy 500 rounds of Buffalo Bore and shoot it, practice with it until you can draw from the leather and place center mass hits at 7 yards in 1.5 seconds ?

Buy 148 gr wadcutter target loads. Use them for practice and home defense.

Hitting what you shoot at is everything. A miss with 'gee whiz' ammo is worse than nothing.

Just my opinion, of course.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

First off, for home defense I would not be using a short barrel revolver. I'm a huge fan of revolvers and carry one daily but for home defense I would choose at least a 4" revolver.

As for ammo there is nothing like the time and street tested "FBI Load". (158gr LSWC/HP .38 Special +P) That is a very good choice for home defense IMO. That is the ammo I have loaded in my 4" pre-Model 10 that sits on my nightstand.

The Buffalo Bore ammo is good stuff but it's so expansive I can't practice with it and if I can't practice with it I can load it in a SD handgun. I'm also not a fan of light for caliber bullets used in many SD loads, especially a 90gr bullet. Even the 110gr and 125gr bullets are too light for me. IMO 140gr bullets and up are fine. (but that's just my opinion and many would disagree)

 

[steamloco76]

First off, for home defense I would not be using a short barrel revolver. I'm a huge fan of revolvers and carry one daily but for home defense I would choose at least a 4" revolver.

As for ammo there is nothing like the time and street tested "FBI Load". (158gr LSWC/HP .38 Special +P) That is a very good choice for home defense IMO. That is the ammo I have loaded in my 4" pre-Model 10 that sits on my nightstand.

A 4 inch revolver with six "FBI" 158 LSWC/HP +P is my chosen home defense primary for my wife and I, backed up by a 18.5 inch barrel pump shotgun. The classic FBI load is still the stopper in .38 Special especially when fired from a 4 inch or longer barrel.

 

[MichiganScott]

I would not use a special 'personal defense' load.

Unless you are independently wealthy or have a Federal grant, you'll never shoot enough of the 'gee whiz' ammo to get reliably good with it.

You really think you're going to buy 500 rounds of Buffalo Bore and shoot it, practice with it until you can draw from the leather and place center mass hits at 7 yards in 1.5 seconds ?

Buy 148 gr wadcutter target loads. Use them for practice and home defense.

Hitting what you shoot at is everything. A miss with 'gee whiz' ammo is worse than nothing.

Just my opinion, of course.

Valid points except for home defense the gun will be either in hand or in a drawer, not a holster.

Gun owners have the unfortunate tendency to buy a single 25 round box of boutique ammunition and never shoot a single round because they cost $1.25 each. They load their firearm and go about their daily business, ignorant of the fact that their gun may or may not function with their chosen load.

When I had a .38 Special at my bedside, I was loaded with 158gr. SWCHP +P. I've switched off to a M&P9FS loaded with generic 115gr JHP. More bullets, less recoil, and it's still point and shoot without safety levers to deal with.

Over penetration is only a problem if you plan on missing a lot. If you carry or have a gun for self defense, you owe it to yourself to practice regularly. Gun owners also have the unfortunate tendency to buy a gun, shoot one box of ammo, clean it, load it, and stick it in a drawer never to be shot again. It's very easy at any gun range to tell the shooters that seldom handle their firearms.

The shooters the OP mentioned should dump the snub nosed revolvers. Even experienced shooter have problems hitting their target under stress with short barrels.

 

[16thVACav]

Speer Gold Dot 135 gr +P JHP.

 

[duppie]

I keep Hornady Critical Defense loads in my snubby ...and yes I have shot a rather expensive 20 round box through her to not only satisfy my curiosity but to ensure the gun likes it and I'm reasonably accurate firing those loads.
The snubby is now a secondary HD gun since I've acquired a Mossberg short barreled shot gun to act as a primary ..... now you want to talk about choice in loads...... sheesh!

 

[Rpg]

I would not use a special 'personal defense' load.

Unless you are independently wealthy or have a Federal grant, you'll never shoot enough of the 'gee whiz' ammo to get reliably good with it.

You really think you're going to buy 500 rounds of Buffalo Bore and shoot it, practice with it until you can draw from the leather and place center mass hits at 7 yards in 1.5 seconds ?

Buy 148 gr wadcutter target loads. Use them for practice and home defense.

Hitting what you shoot at is everything. A miss with 'gee whiz' ammo is worse than nothing.

Just my opinion, of course.

Remember OP specified that the ammo was for a small woman and an 80 year old with arthritis. The firearms were also specified

I stick with 148 wc ammo.

Just my opinion, of course.

 

[Hapworth]

Remember OP specified that the ammo was for a small woman and an 80 year old with arthritis. The firearms were also specified

I stick with 148 wc ammo.

Just my opinion, of course.

Multiple personality disorder?

 

[badge 851]

For both I would suggest the Buffalo Bore® Standard Pressure 38 Special 158gr LSWCHCGC. It has the velocity and power of the 158gr+P FBI load; w/o the muzzleflash and recoil. I use it as my daily carry load, and in my home defense revolver.....
• https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=110

 

[moxie]

I prefer Remington Golden Saber 125+P BJHP.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

At over $1.50 a round can anyone really practice with Buffalo Bore ammo?

Like I have said before, if I can't afford to practice with an ammo I can't carry that ammo. (no, not bashing BB ammo)

 

[Nevada Ed]

Since the revolvers are a K and L frame I do not see any problems...........
With the snub nose you might look into the Speer 135gr Gold Dot +P for a top SD loading.

The others will work, but................what's good enough for the new standards of the NY PD and FBI is good enough for me.

 

[gunlovingirl]

I use Federal Nyclad in my Mod. 60