Favorite 38 spl self defense load
- Thread starter Wfevans4
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Sorry 45 cal
Speer Gold Dot 135gr jhp in all of my 2”, 3” and 4” revolvers.
The old 158 grain round nose lead bullets are surprisingly effective (They upset in soft tissue.) and have a low chance of ricochet or over penetration. Semi-wadcutters are effective, too, but don't reload (The need to reload is, IMO, increasing in our world.) as easily (ie quickly) as round nose.
Well Armed
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Underwood 158 gr. 38 +P Keith Hardcast. Carried in my Ruger LCR or S&W 686+ 2.5".
walkin' trails
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I’m getting a little more recoil-sensitive as I go and find that some +P in small, steel frame guns is a bit more stout than I prefer. Case in point, I recently acquired some new mfg Federal 158 grain LSWCHP +P for my steel Js. I’ve got a couple boxes of that load made by Winchester, buts it’s pretty old. Anyway, from my 640, the Federal was as bad as .357 Magnum in a J. I had also taken some of the Winchester to the range and it’s its recoil impulse was a lot less. I started running it thru my four inch Model 19-5 and it was still potent so will likely use it for that gun and my 66-1. Hopefullybthe forcing cones are safe.
Anyway, I have never fired any of the Gold Dot Short Barrel stuff, so I’m a little skeptical of how it handles. My main carry revolver is an old 640 .38 Special. I used to fire Hydra Shok 147 grain +p+ in it on a regular basis and the spank was less than the Federal LSWCHP. Other than that, it’s probably a personal problem and I’ll likely go shopping for some wadcutters from Buffalo Bore or Georgia Arms.
Presently, the 640 is loaded up with some Critical Defense 110 +p I’ve had on hand but don’t care for it due to perceived accuracy issues. I’m going back to a range and work with it to see if it just POA out to 25 better than I remember. I haven’t shot any 130 grain hollow points, but picked up a couple of white box 130 grain FMJ flat points accuracy was surprisingly on the money and recoil was decent for a training round.
Obviously, I want a minimum of 12 inches of gel penetration and POA accuracy all the way out to 25 yards. I don’t consider that criteria a o be unachievable in this day and age despite everyone saying it’s all over at five yard.
Anyway, I have never fired any of the Gold Dot Short Barrel stuff, so I’m a little skeptical of how it handles. My main carry revolver is an old 640 .38 Special. I used to fire Hydra Shok 147 grain +p+ in it on a regular basis and the spank was less than the Federal LSWCHP. Other than that, it’s probably a personal problem and I’ll likely go shopping for some wadcutters from Buffalo Bore or Georgia Arms.
Presently, the 640 is loaded up with some Critical Defense 110 +p I’ve had on hand but don’t care for it due to perceived accuracy issues. I’m going back to a range and work with it to see if it just POA out to 25 better than I remember. I haven’t shot any 130 grain hollow points, but picked up a couple of white box 130 grain FMJ flat points accuracy was surprisingly on the money and recoil was decent for a training round.
Obviously, I want a minimum of 12 inches of gel penetration and POA accuracy all the way out to 25 yards. I don’t consider that criteria a o be unachievable in this day and age despite everyone saying it’s all over at five yard.
larry8
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I don't know what bullets are in my 38, I have loaded it with whatever I had around a year or so ago. I'm sure that I bought a box of bullets based on price and that is what is in the gun. I figure that any bullet that I shoot at the bad guy will do the job.
Walkin' trails, I'm using a 442 and 340PD these days and find the Georgia Arms 148 gr. wadcutter very controllable with 3 shot strings. The BB is hotter so try both and compare groups and speed.
158 grain LSWC in the cylinder,
130 grain Federal FMC in the speed strips.
158 grain LRN in the speed loader.
130 grain Federal FMC in the speed strips.
158 grain LRN in the speed loader.
The PDX1 that BrBa mentioned is almost certainly the same round in smaller commercial packaging at a higher cost per round, but potentially more widely available than the 50 round Ranger boxes.
I've been carrying the Ranger 130 gr, but I was lucky enough to get some 50 round boxes a few years ago.
GyMac
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Remington 158 grain LHP +P, although I’m sure Buffalo Bore would be even better.
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Speer Gold Dot 125 + P or Federal HST or anything from BuffaloBore, Doubletap or Underwood
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From a 2" Chief's Special the +P version of the BB 158 Gr. SWCHP-GC does 1,025-1,035fps. From a 4" barrel it will do 1,150 - 1,165 fps. these are my actual chronograph results tested by 2 different units many many times.
Buffalo Bore ammunition Co, is pretty much the only ammo manufacturer that states TRUE velocities from ACTUAL gun models without all the "exaggerating". You can take their stated velocities to the bank! Now that is refreshing!!
MickeyR
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shil
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I have three snubs in .38 Special in rotation. None is rated for +P. For me, some jealously-guarded non +P "Chiefs Special" Nyclad 125 grain hollow points. A fallback would be a wadcutter load or just a 158 grain lead roundnose. Remember, it was one of those that took out Lee Harvey Oswald, from Jack Ruby's Colt Cobra.
I have two - depending on whether the gun I use it in is Steel or an Arweight:
Steel: Buffalo Bore Outdorrsman +P 158 LSWCHP - it goes 1000+ out of a 1 7/8" (I also carry that in my K-frame .357s as it is more effective in my experience on critters than a 125 gr. .357 JHP).
Airweight: Any 148 wadcutter that gets ~800 fps.
I have a bunch of the 147+P+ I brought back from the FBI Academy - tested it - it didn't expand (if it did that would be an excellent load). Neither did the Federal 129 +P or in fact the new wadcutter shaped .38 +P out of a 2" (forget the weight on that - it did peel one pedal back enough to tumble the bullet).
Of the big three FBI loads (158 +P) I've only had the Winchester expand in various test medium from a 2".
The above mentioned Speer Short Barrel load does expand from a 2" - but I dont trust light bullets that expand - expansion is like a drag 'chute - it puts on the brakes - I want to smash the spine.
YMMV and I only speak for myself (at least these days - once I had to decide for an LE Agency) - we each have to work out our own salvation - nobody gets any flak from me for whatever they choose!
Riposte
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Actually , two: The .38 spl 158 SWCHP by Buffalo Bore and Speer Gold Dot 135 JHP + P.
walkin' trails
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I retired from that other agency that trains and Quantico, shares ranges with FBI and generally followed FBI firearms and ammo protocol. They hung onto the 5-shots a little longer, I think maybe cause there were a few old timers in senior positions who wouldn’t let go. I know only of one 5-shot on-duty incident. Multiple suspects. Few details about the specifics were released and it didn’t occur in the office where I was assigned, but the agent was able to handle the situation, presumably with the 147s. That being said, there doesn’t seem to be any information regarding the 147 +p+ street track record. When Federal stopped making the 147, we were told to use the 129 grain HS. I recall articles from the late 80s about the 129 not expanding. I don’t think there was any more interest in the 5-shots as backup, undercover, or off duty guns.
Anyway, I appreciate yours and Sgt Buzzard’s wadcutters endorsements.
