Best round for sw J frame airweight

[Jessie]

I carry the gold dots, buffalo bore standard or as close as I can get to the 158 gr. FBI load.
I do remember reading here of someone who either did or was quoting someone else ( we know how that goes) who used gold dots out of his snubby in a home invasion and had very negative results.
Like I said, it was at least a second person report so, who knows.
Test and read up on it and make your best choice.
Just shoot straight with whatever.

 

[Cal44]

The 125 gr 38 standard pressure buffalo bore load uses a Speer bullet.

It looks the same as the 125 38+p gold dot when looking at both side by side.

It shoots with higher velocity than the 135 gd short barrel.

Haven't seen gel tests, but I consider it a great load for j frames not rated for +p.

 

[crazyphil]

I have conducted my own extensive test of 16 different loads including
most of those mentioned above. My conclusion is that almost any load
will do the job, if you can do your job.

If you need to shoot, it will in all probability, be from a range of less
than nine feet. I believe that, more important than the load you are
carrying, is your ability to get your gun out quickly and get your front
sight on the center of mass.

 

[Lostaro]

Have to agree with that last post. I've tried a lot of different high-end loads in my 442....none of them consistently expand in my non-scientific test. (water jugs, foam blocks, cardboard etc.)

Some shoot better than others accuracy wise, but at defense ranges almost all will do. Getting a bullet, any bullet, into an important part of an attacker is the key.

I usually carry Remington swchp....it shoots well and seems to work for those with real world experience. Experience I hope to only read about!

 

[exfedagent]

Ray: I don't think they do. You can occasionally pick some up on Gunbroker. I have a few boxes and plan to keep them.

 

[silversnake]

I carry the same gun and shoot it at least once a week. I shoot mainly my own loads for practice. I carry Liberty Civil Defense .38 +P, 50 grn bullets at 1500 fps from a 2" barrel. Low recoil, low carry weight and amazing performance. Check the YouTube videos. You can argue bullets weights but low recoil and carry weight make this stuff different.

How has it performed in real-life situations?

 

[jeeps]

158 swc lead or old FBI Remington load in snubbys. Penetration is queen here. Reach the boiler room break bones if needed. Hollow points in lighter weights do not reach vitals. The plain old 158swc at 800 fps will put the bad guy down!

 

[TomkinsSP]

Over twenty years as a police officer including several real world incidents with barrels that aspire to be 2 inches long has convinced me that in the real world bullets don't reliably expand from J frames and the like. I like 150 grain flat based wadcutters over 3.2 grains of BE in my steel framed Js. Buffalo Bore sells a standard pressure round that precludes the need to roll-yer-own. In an Al-you-minimum or Scarry-um frame I'd use the 148 grain hollow based wadcutter over 2.8 grains of BE or its commercial twin made by Rem, Fed or Olin er Chestwinster.

 

[Dragon 1]

I have some j frames done by Karl Sokol SW 642 and Two done by Teddy Jacobson SW 442 and 340 PD (both great gunsmiths) Karl told me CCI Gold Dot 38SPL 135 +P short BBL. Teddy loves and said he likes and to use Corbon 38SPL 110 +p DPX he said has good primers for positive ignition. Good luck.

 

[crazyphil]

I have some j frames done by Karl Sokol SW 642 and Two done by Teddy Jacobson SW 442 and 340 PD (both great gunsmiths) Karl told me CCI Gold Dot 38SPL 135 +P short BBL. Teddy loves and said he likes and to use Corbon 38SPL 110 +p DPX he said has good primers for positive ignition. Good luck.

Karl Sokol worked my 1911 Colt over 10 or 15 years ago
and it has worked flawlessly ever since. 100% reliable.
He is a great gunsmith. I don't know the other one.

 

[smoothshooter]

Hollow base wadcutters at about 700-750 fps.

 

[badge 851]

Hornady® Critical Defense® 110gr FTX® (#90310) in my S&W® BG38. My wife carries the Winchester® Defend™ 130gr JHP (#W38SPLD) in her Taurus® Mdl 605SS2. We chose this different ammunition because for each of us these loads were THE MOST ACCURATE in our respective revolvers. Vice-Versa they didn't do well; go figure.

 

[ladder13]

Speer GD +P 135 gr for short barrels go in any J fame I carry.

 

[photoman]

Thanks guys...there are some listed i need to get and take to the range...got to practice with the actual stuff...

You're on the right track. Try the top five or so and see which one shoots POA/POI for your gun and doesn't have more recoil than can be tolerated.

 

[Valmet]

Nearly any modern SD load will do ok if you do your pet. I prefer Federal 158-gr+P SWCLHP, the old FBI load akin to what keeps suggested. I've carried them in my 442 Airweight for a long time.

 

[GaryS]

Those are in my 642. I haven't decided if I want to load them in my 36-1 yet. Just because it's not +P rated.

Speer GD +P 135 gr for short barrels go in any J fame I carry.

 

[Ziggy2525]

Just another internet story.

I have a 640 pro and a couple other j-frames. My 640 was shooting low with 130 gr ammo (+p and standard). I called S&W customer service and asked which ammo they tested with. The CS guy said they test/calibrate all the J-Frames with Federal 158 gr .38 Special standard pressure ammo. Not sure if it's true, but that's what he said. With 158 gr, my 640 is right on the money.

YMMV.

 

[blues7]

Just another internet story.

I have a 640 pro and a couple other j-frames. My 640 was shooting low with 130 gr ammo (+p and standard). I called S&W customer service and asked which ammo they tested with. The CS guy said they test/calibrate all the J-Frames with Federal 158 gr .38 Special standard pressure ammo. Not sure if it's true, but that's what he said. With 158 gr, my 640 is right on the money.

YMMV.

That very well may be true but it doesn't (necessarily) make it the best round for concealed carry or defensive purposes. It merely means that you may have to make adjustments for POA / POI with other rounds.

As you say, mileage and needs may vary.

 

[Ziggy2525]

That very well may be true but it doesn't (necessarily) make it the best round for concealed carry or defensive purposes. It merely means that you may have to make adjustments for POA / POI with other rounds.

As you say, mileage and needs may vary.

Just elaborating. I use a J-Frame as my winter coat pocket gun. I normally carry an lcp in my pants pocket or if I think I need something more, a G26 OWB. The lcp and G26 both shoot POI = POA with no mental adjustment (even the lcp with its small sights). I prefer the 640 to do that too so I can use a simillar sight picture as the other two pistols. If I need the 640 for real and I need to use the sights, i'm going to line them up and shoot. I won't be thinking about adjusting for the drop of a lightweight bullet.

In a couple previous threads, you've mentioned your LEO background and training (l was impressed). What's been your experience with ammo like the GD .38 Special 135gr short barrel ammo in the field. IIRC, there have been a couple other LEO's that post here that were involved in OIS's where lighter weight .38 special JHP's didn't penetrate adequately with multiple layers of clothing (say a couple hoodies), so they wen't back to heavy FMJ. Curious what your experience has been.

 

[blues7]

In a couple previous threads, you've mentioned your LEO background and training (l was impressed). What's been your experience with ammo like the GD .38 Special 135gr short barrel ammo in the field. IIRC, there have been a couple other LEO's that post here that were involved in OIS's where lighter weight .38 special JHP's didn't penetrate adequately with multiple layers of clothing (say a couple hoodies), so they wen't back to heavy FMJ. Curious what your experience has been.

Thank you for the kind words. I'm kind of low speed, high drag these days as I'm retired. (Though I do go for my LEOSA qual this morning.)

I haven't used GD in the .38 flavor as yet though I have used them pretty extensively over the years in my 9mm Glocks and am also using them in my AR. I like GDs quite a bit.

I am carrying the Winchester Ranger Bonded 130gr +P round as it was readily available when I was looking for a carry round and it was one that, (along with the GD), was highly recommended by Dr. Gary Roberts from extensive research.

I also have the Critical Defense in 110gr. These also were on Dr. Roberts' list but did not offer the same level of expansion / penetration compared to the above.

I am not averse to the +P load so that's what I carry.

As Dr. Roberts often says, pick one of the rounds with proven characteristics, move on and concentrate on training and skill development. Agonizing over the perfect round once you've made a solid choice is wasted effort.

Everyone is entitled to their own choice but I believe that the testing done by Dr. Roberts and his compilation of data from officer involved shootings and medical records is the most extensive and reliable data available.