I have a 642 with a 2 1/2" full under lug barrel. Just acquired a 627PC with 2 5/8 barrel as well. I will be shooting primarily 38 specials in the 627 and obviously in the 642. In these short barrels what is the recommended bullet weight, 130 or 158? I won't be reloading, just buying standard fmj target rounds.

Thanks for the input.

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In the 642, what ever shoots to point of aim

in my 627s and 327s I usually carry 125 JHPs

In 642 or 627, either 125, 130, or 158 grain is fine. Some find 158 easy to fire in shorter barrels. I would pick the 125 or 130 for the general higher velocity to compensate for the shorter barrel with personal defense intention.

135 gr. Speer Gold Dots, .38+P's in the Short Barrel version. Great penetration with the heavier round and little recoil for fast follow up shots.

Use to pack their 158 gr. .357's but can shoot these .38's much better and the ballistics are fantastic. Way easier on the hand too!

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Roger / SG

I agree with Sportsterguy. Those Short Barrel Speer Gold Dot's always do well in any ballistics gel test I have seen. The only other thing I would look at is the Hornady Critical Defence line.

Add me to those that use the Speer 135 grain 38+P Short barrel load.

NYPD has had more than one one shot stop with this load. I use it in all my short barrel snubs. VERY accurate out of my 2.5" 66-2 and 640-1. Regards 18DAI

The two best rounds for .38 special are Speers 135 gr +P short barrel load, and Corbons 110 gr +P DPX load.

Both of these reliably expand in gel after passing through 4 layers of denim (FBI standard).

If I read your post correctly, you're asking about bullets to shoot paper, not self-defense. If's that's correct, the gold standard is 148 gr full wadcutters. Personally, I shoot 158 gr hardcast SWC handloads almost exclusively in 38 Spl. There are several sources for these loads online, but for informal practice there's nothing wrong with the budget priced WW 130 gr plated bullet load that Wal-Mart sells.

I have a 642-2 with a 2.5" barrel. I carry it most days.
I shoot it at least twice a week or every time I go to the range.
(10 rds each trip. After 15 rds, my hand starts to hurt!)
My carry load is R-P 158 gr LSWC +P or Fed. Nyclad 158 gr SWC +P. I have a stash of these from 20 yrs ago.
The practice ammo I use is Georgia Arms 158 gr plated SWC.(G38H). They list it at 800FPS. The bullet is really a plated flat point, not a SWC.
Oh, did I mention it's $13 for 50rds? ($125/500rds)
It shoots to the same POA as the +P loads.
*** Please note*** I am not a shill for GA! Just one of the many ammo junkies they have hooked over the years!
This is the GA ammo at 8 yds.

The thumbnail shows the R-P +P load fired at 8yds today.

Attached Images

IMG_0894.jpg (54.3 KB, 19 views)

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Field Researcher. IGC

I hate Georgia Arms! They used to attend our Birmingham 'AGCA Gun Shows' - like this weekend's show. They lure you in - with great ammo values - then won't go to a city <100 miles away for a show! Some dribble about being 'behind' in ammo due to component shortages. Yeah, that's why a phone order means you 'take a number' for delivery. Seriously, good ammo at a fair price... and nice folks, too... even if they won't come to Birmingham. I'd be a shill for them - if I thought it'd make them appear at a local show... it won't!

All of that said, I use their version of the +P 158gr LHPSWC for range use, as it is ballistically equivalent to the Remington R38S12 +P 158gr LHPSWC, which I 'carry', as it is made of a softer lead than the GA round. I keep the GA rounds for my 4"+ barrels, as well as range use for all of them. I have used both the Zero Ammo 148gr LWC and their version, too - great plinkers - and light recoil carry ammo for a 642 for the recoil shy.

Stainz