Best self defense ammo. for J-frame .38

skywarrior · Apr 19, 2010

I saw an article that said that the best self defense ammo for a .38 is only available to law enforcement. Does anyone know if this is a fact? If so, what in your opinion would be the best ammo to use? I would imagine a +P load but I have read that they are actually too much for a J-frame. Any help would be appreciated.

sipowicz · Apr 19, 2010

Many depts. mine included, use the Speer Gold Dot 135 +p designed for snubs. It is not LEO only.

hobby-gunsmith · Apr 19, 2010

There are several manufactures that are producing 125 grain ammo for those specific guns with low recoil. Check with the owner's manual if your particular gun accepts +P ammo. If there is no mention of +P ammo in your manual, call S&W for verification.

anchors · Apr 19, 2010

If you can't or won't use +P, Ammunition To Go has Federal 125gr Nyclads non +P in 50 round boxes.

smitty_bs · Apr 19, 2010

Either the Speer 135 grain load designed for short barrels, or the tried and true "FBI" load - 158gr lead hollow point.

medic15al · Apr 19, 2010

Also Buffalo Bore has potent standard and +P ammo.

I carry this flavor:

Heavy .38 Special +P Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

Standard pressure:

Standard Pressure Short Barrel Low Flash Hvy .38 Spl (Non + P) Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

zainyD · Apr 19, 2010

I like and carry the Speer 135grn +P short barrel rounds.

photoman · Apr 19, 2010

+P is fine for all J frames built after 1957 or so but might not be the best option depending on you shooting ability.

Speer Gold Dot 135gr Short Barrel+P
CorBon 110gr DPX+P
Federal 158gr LHP+P

Winchester 110gr Silvertip
Remington 110gr SJHP
Federal 148gr Gold Match Wadcutter
Federal 125 gr Nyclad HP

Try them all and see which your gun and you can shoot best.

Steve_NEPhila · Apr 19, 2010

Hornady's Critical Defense line comes in both standard pressure and +P loadings. The bullets used in the Critical Defense line represent the cutting edge in modern bullet design. I carry the +P 110 grain load with reloads of the same and 158 gr LSWCHP FBI loads.

Why not carry two types of ammo?

jw-1 · Apr 23, 2010

i find the speer short barrel load ( 200 GRAIN) is great in my m29-4 with 3' MAG-NA-PORTED BARREL. VERY LOW FLASH AND 16" OF penatration IN TO VERY HARD RED CLAY, GD OPEN AII THE WAY. RECOIL VERY LOW. I PAID $700 FOR IT. DID I PAY TO MUCH OR NOT? ALL MOST PERFECT EXCEPT FOR WHERE THE PORT HAVE TURN THE BARREL A SILVER COLOR. I DID ADD A SET OF XS CYLINDER LOCK UP SPRING. I HOPE I POSTED IN THE RIGHT PLACE. IF NOT YOU ALL CAN PICK ON MY SPELLING.

gunlovingirl · Apr 23, 2010

As you can see, favorites, and opinions, vary. But I carry the Nyclads mentioned above in my Mod 60.

m41 · Apr 23, 2010

I keep my J frames loaded with 38 wadcutterts. My wife can handle these very well and I would rather have a load she wasn't afraid to use than have something more potent and her skittish to use the gun if she needed to.

Stainz · Apr 23, 2010

My choice for my 642, 2" 10, and 4" 64 defenders is the Remington R38S12 +P 158gr LHPSWC. A bit of recoil in the 642, but fine in the steel K-frames. I suggested 148gr full wadcutters, clad or lead and normally a target round, for the recoil-shy and a 642. I verified this suggestion again yesterday by shooting a friend's 148gr lead full wadcutter over 2.7 gr Bullseye. Shoots to POA at 10yd and offers a mild recoil.

Stainz

pittpa · Apr 23, 2010

My friend has been looking around SW PA for Hornady Critical Defense in 38 special non +P for his colt agent. Have not seen any. Still never heard any bad press on the 158 GR LSWC hollowpoint, the so-called treasury load.

corky52 · Apr 23, 2010

smitty_bs said:
Either the Speer 135 grain load designed for short barrels, or the tried and true "FBI" load - 158gr lead hollow point.

+1 Nice expansion with either in poor mans ballistic gel. (Wet phone books.) ;-)

H&K 4 LIFE · Apr 23, 2010

My main carry is the Speer Gold Dot 135gr. +P "Short Barrel". For a long time I carried the Speer 125gr. +P before recently switching to the short barreled load. The Speer 135gr. +P Short Barrel load is also what the NYPD uses in their backup snub nosed revolvers.

I also really like the Win. PDX-1 130gr. +P which was accurate and surprisingly light recoiling (compared to the Gold Dots) for a heavy 130gr. round.

I have tried the Hornady Critical Defense 110gr. +P, which was very low recoiling for a +P round, a sort of "watered down" +P. I am also not entirely sold on the lightweight bullets or the polymer tip, but it's low flash and light kick seems like a good choice for those who might be a bit recoil sensitive.

Jimmymac46 · Apr 24, 2010

anchors said:
If you can't or won't use +P, Ammunition To Go has Federal 125gr Nyclads non +P in 50 round boxes.

If you can tell me where to find them......out of print to my knowledge.......I would really appreciate it.

Jimmymac46 · Apr 24, 2010

m41 said:
I keep my J frames loaded with 38 wadcutterts. My wife can handle these very well and I would rather have a load she wasn't afraid to use than have something more potent and her skittish to use the gun if she needed to.

I concur for all the reasons you listed. There is also the added benefit that they have a relatively mild recoil, generally shoot to the sights, have little or no muzzle blast, and don't require expansion in that they provide a full caliber impact by design.

anchors · Apr 24, 2010

Jimmymac46 said:
If you can tell me where to find them......out of print to my knowledge.......I would really appreciate it.

Go to www.ammunitiontogo.com they sell the Federal 125gr non +P Nyclads HP's in 50rd boxes and the Speer 135gr short barrel +P HP's.
Their prices are great.

deercop · Apr 24, 2010

I received a few boxes of the Nyclad 125 gr (from Ammunition To Go) earlier this week. I haven't had a chance to test them yet, due to my father being hospitalized. If they perform as well as my "old stock" of Nyclad's did, I will probably be ordering some more, for my "arthritis days".

Ammunition To Go : 50rds - 38 Special Federal 125gr. Nyclad Hollow Point Ammo [P38M] - $34.95

Best self defense ammo. for J-frame .38

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