Ammunition choice - dead horse, maybe - J frames only - .38 Specials only

[ISCS Yoda]

Let's keep it simple. You carry a J-frame. Any model. You load .38 Special only. Any other caliber need not apply. What's your ammunition choice and why? How you carry the gun is not an issue.

For starters, I've been carrying a M649 stoked with Mag-Tech 158 grain FMJ-Flat cartridges for some time now. Why? I can't remember but I think they were left over from a range session so I retained them for carry. To avoid over penetration in the unlikely event of a confrontation I'm thinking of going back to Hornady Critical Defense ammunition.

That's my story for today. What's yours?

I know, the horse is not dead but not well, either, but this came up in a conversation earlier so I had to put it in writing.

 

[murphydog]

Speer Gold Dot 135 gr Short Barrel. Good enough for NYPD, good enough for me.

 

[mckenney99]

Also for my M649-1 with my preferred Uncle Mikes Boot Grips.
Buffalo Bore #20C/20. It's a standard pressure, short barrel, low flash, heavy bullet (158gr soft LSWCHP-with gas check). Rated at 850fps from a 2 inch barrel.
The round is comfortable to shoot and easily controllable for a defensive round.
The round hits point of aim, point of impact at 15 yards.

 

[Alk8944]

It makes absolutely no difference if your 2" nominal length barrel revolver is a J-Frame or K-Frame, so forget that qualifier. To keep it simple my preferred ammunition is the Remington FBI load. Remington because the lead is softer and more likely ti expand than either the Winchester or Federal versions.

I have done expansion tests over many years and am not convinced that any jacketed soft or hollow-point bullet .38 Special load gives any advantage over the lead bullet FBI load! Especially when fired from a 2" barrelled revolver

 

[Frailer]

I also carry Speer Gold Dot 135gr +P Short Barrel.

As to why: I bought a bunch several years ago, they have as “proven” a track record as any other load, and they shoot to the sights of the gun I carry.

 

[snuf]

I carry Underwood or Buffalo Bore 150 Grain Wadcutters

 

[BRHP]

FBI load because of real world track record. I went with Federal because they supposedly had the softest primers in the 80's. Still carry it 40 years later. I have a 442 Ultimate Carry on order and I might go to the Speer 135 Gold Dot in that if the FBI load doesn't shoot close to point of aim.

 

[Valmet]

Double Tap 148-gr WC. If it’s a newer Airweight I’m going for Buffalo Bore or Underwood WCs.

 

[Piwo]

If I could only have one load it would be a 158 Lead SWC cast (Not hollow point) loaded with 5 grains of Unique. Not quite a plus P, a little more than standard. What animals I have shot or have seen shot with a 38 snub fell most reliably with that type of load. I have not seen that hollow points were any more effective. Because I am concerned about feral dogs as much as anything else, I want the penetration. This load gives all the penetration to be had out of a snub, shoots to the sights, is controllable and performs consistently with no surprises. As a matter of fact, it is my preferred load in any 38 revolver of any barrel length.

 

[max503]

Wadcutter off my Dillon. I turn up the powder charge for SD ammo, turn it down for range use.

Had to requalify for my CC permit last week. Our instructor is one of those guys trained by Massad Ayoob.
He seemed to like my snubbie. I was the only one in the class with a revolver.

 

[Dump1567]

Based on the Ballistic Gel testing I've seen, I've gone to the new Federal Hyda-Shok Deep. Good penetration and expansion. Based on my research, this is probably the best SD ammo out right now. And performs really well in other calibers. I carry the same ammo in .32 H&R. 380, & .32 acp. But I prefer HP ammo for SD over WC.

Here's a excerpt from a Revolver Guy's article.

The .38 Special Hydra-Shok Deep Journey – RevolverGuy.Com

When fired from the 1.875” barrel of a snubby revolver, the 130 grain, .38 Special Deep bullet clocks about 800 feet per second at the muzzle, as a result of careful powder selection. According to Federal’s Chris Laack, this energy allows the bullet to penetrate 13.2 inches of bare ballistic gelatin, and expand to 0.551 inches (1.54 times it’s starting diameter), according to Federal’s numbers. In FBI-standard Heavy Clothing, the bullet is said to penetrate 13.4 inches and expand to 0.548 inches (1.53 times it’s starting diameter) from the same, short barrel.

On the budget side, the Federal Punch also has good expansion but not as deep penetration.

I used to carry the Hornady CD, but the new Federal seems to be a better choice. The CD offers decent penetration with good expansion. And did fairly well in Paul Harrell's (RIP) meat target tests. It was also Gun Sams (You Tuber who does Gel Tests) #1 carry load, but I don't know if it still is?

 

[stansdds]

My 640-1 gets stoked with Speer 135 grain JHP 38 Special +P Short Barrel ammo. Proven load. My second choice would be Remington Golden Saber 125 grain JHP 38 Special +P/

 

[max]

I sold mt 36 a couple of weeks ago. If I were to carry it, it would be with factory wadcutters.

 

[.455_Hunter]

The 60-12 .38 only snub in my pocket right now outside the Lonetree Cabela's is loaded with the Remington/UMC 125 gr SJHP +P.

 

[Breakaway500]

Kimber 6XS. Same size/weight as my 642 only one extra round. . Remington 130gr fmj currently. It’s not fussy and shoots point of aim out to 25 feet. And if I’m really careful I can hit a 12” pan at 50 feet, if need be, with most ammo I’ve tried.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Winchester 125 grain JHP +P in my Kimber K6xs.

Kimber K6xs is zeroed for 125 / 130 grain bullets from what I read and that proves true when I have shot it out to 15 yards (45 feet)

 

[Model 15-4ever]

GT 145 grain SWCHP 5.0 grains W231 @ 865 fps.

Remington 125 grain BHJP +P @ 890 fps.

 

[eb07]

Speer gold dot short barrel 135gr +p in all my snubs

 

[rwsmith]

I have a few favorites...

... I invariably use standard loads of a few that perform well in tests. Federal HST, Speer Gold Dots, Remington Golden Sabers, Hornady XTP.

 

[Skeet 028]

my 60-4 3 inch w/sights is either loaded with Rem 38+P 125 gr SJHPs...if my loads they are loaded with a medium stout load of Unique under the 158 gr Rem SJHPs...the handload shoots well in the RIA Model 200 revolvers...They look to be a fair copy of the old Colt med frame revolver... They are well hidden truck/car guns..cheap guns but seem to shoot ok.