Guys, I need some ammo help. I know this is a topic that's been covered before, but being in MA, I have limited resources for some ammo that gets tossed out there all the time. I'm going to call around for some Speer SB, hopefully I can track some down.

Some anyway, I have a 642-2 Airweight and I will be obtaining a Classic Line +P Model 36 in December. I can obtain the following SD ammo quite readily.

Hornady CD - Standard & +P
Winchester PDX1
Federal HS +P 129 gr.

I currently have on an hand a couple of boxes of standard Hornady CD & a box of HS +P's.

Are there any downsides to what I have on hand? I can't seem to get a definitive answer anywhere. Any help would greatly be appreciated!

Thanks!!

I think you're on the right path. In fact, I admire your research ethic, most people just buy the latest-greatest out of gun magazine or, worse yet, something that comes in a pretty box.

(In my youth, I once bought a box of hollowpoints for my Python because the box was trimmed in gold, and the guy in the picture was holding a revolver that had a vented barrel, like mine!)

I try to make good choices, but as a reloader I seek out loads that consume powder in shorter barrels. I've seen a "beach ball of flame" in front of a revolver when slower burning powder was used.

Your choices are fine. I carry the Remmington FBI +P (158 grain HP) in my 442, but it is really about shot placement. The Tourist was spot on re: buying the latest & gratest and in reality any +P will do the job w/adequate placement.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

my 2 cents

CorBon DPX with Barnes all-copper bullets

acceptable pressure
exceptional bullet performance
Barnes bullet-building experience

We have them in all our SD handguns regardless of caliber.

And they look tactical. And we all know how important that is.

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Professional Trainer

I carry +P SWCs in my j-frame.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

Some good suggestions from others in this thread, particularly the CorBon DPX line which is probably the best bullet out there but you really pay through the nose for them...

But you asked for specific information on the loads readily available to you.

I'd opt for Hornady Critical Defense; here's why:

<b>.38spl: Hornady FTX vs. Speer 135gr GDHP vs. CorBon 110gr DPX</b>

hi-powers--handguns: Informal Tests: Hornady Critical Defense .380 & .38 Special

http://www.brassfetcher.com/38%20Spe...one%20Test.pdf

Not a flawless round but on balance an excellent one. Its detractors cite Hornady's own admission that it was designed with civilian self defense in mind and may not meet all FBI criteria; it's yours to decide if that's an issue for you -- I look to to the tests to reach my own conclusions.

I don't like the Winchester PDX in .38; here's why:

Winchester PDX1 Bonded .38 Special +P SIM-TEST w/Denim - YouTube

Winchester PDX1 Bonded .38 Special +P *** RETEST *** - YouTube

I'm iffy on Hydrashocks (although the HST line looks good, if that's readily available to you); here's why:

Best Choices for Self Defense Ammo

As always, placement is king; Old Cop's primary point is right on.

We all have our favorites, but it usually boils down to justifying and defending our choice of what we carry. I carry a 642 at work as a back-up, and most often during hot summer weather as my primary off duty. I whole-heartedly agree with your ammo choices, and believe that the modern development of self defense ammo is a quantum leap ahead of what it was just a decade ago. With the advent of modern ammo design, the "lowly" .38 spl. has become a viable self defense tool that can be carried in confidence.

I look for reliability, deep penetration and controlled expansion, which can be found in virtually all modern, US made self defense ammo. I presently prefer Hornady's Critical Defense, +P, which is engineered for short barrels.

In my admittedly non-scientific testing against water filled plastic jugs, the Hornady CD bullets consistently expanded to about 1/2 inch with 12 - 14 inches of penetration. A half inch. That's .50 caliber. Anyway, that's my opinion.

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Retired Police, Life NRA

Thanks guys! All the input is appreciated! I saw some ballistic results in regards to the standard vs. +P Hornady and the +P expanded a little better. Hey, you gotta be prepared, winter's coming and that means heavy layers. Lucky for me, I called a local LGS and the have Speer SB .38's...thank the lord! Picking them stat!

My wife and I go with the Hornaday Critical Defense but not +P. We find we're both more accurate after the first shot than we are with the +P in our 442 and 642. Figure it's better to have 2 or 3 shots of the slightly less powerful load hit the target than the stronger load just sailing past the target.

Your selection is excellent. I do prefer the FBI or "Chicago" load 158 gr SWCHP, but in fact have found that a little harder bullet in just plain SWC with a large metplat does just fine. Put any of those(or any of yours) in the proper place and you will seriously discommode any threat that may appear. Remember, bullet placement trumps everything else. A solid hit with a CB Cap is superior to a near miss with anything else-honest.

Speer makes a 135 grain hollow point round specifically for short barreled revolvers. It was designed to expand from the shorter barrels, something that other HP designs apparently don't always do. I've heard that they're a pretty effective defensive round. When I retire from my present day job and don't have to carry their .38 load in my snubbie, I will probably use the Speer. The advice on the 158 grain SWCHPs is still sound, as they are a great all-round bullet, and will likely shoot as close to point-of-aim as anything.

Walkin' Trails, I believe you're talking about the 'Gold Dot' ammo. That's my preference, but I can't always find it. The most recent ammo I bought was Hydra-Shok; that's what I could find--the Gold Dot ammo I carried had been in my gun and pockets for months, but went 'BANG' when I touched them off.

Carry whatever ammo you can accurately shoot. During an altercation misses won't count . If you don't hit the target you loose. I carry 38 spcl target hollow base wadcutter loads in my airweight J-frame...why , because I can shoot them accurately and fast. If you have ever been in a shooting take my word for it that accuracy then speed becomes realy important . the light recoiling target loads allow fast dbl action shooting and the target loads are known for accuracy.

Now a lot of people will disagree with this, it's my take on the situation.

Personally I carry these in my .38 model 60-1 for EDC.

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.ph...duct_list&c=23

I carry the 158gr non +P. I feel adequately armed with these.

Well, I ended up getting a couple boxes of the Speer short barrels, haven't shot em yet though. I shot about half a box of the 129 grain Hydra Shoks... remind me to wear gloves next time. My hand was killing so I went back to my Shield for a while. I have a Talo 642-2 with the Altamont boot grips. Accuracy was good at 15 and 20 feet, but kicked like a mule. Can't wait to see what the Speer's are like.

That's the fastest standard pressure load I've fired in my 38s (over 800fps from a 2" barrel, over 900fps from a 4".) I can duplicate the velocity with 158g Speer lead hollow points, but have to use the +P reloading pages to do it. Buffalo Bore must be run by magicians.

+1 for the Buffalo Bore. Check them out - thay have some very interesting choices, including reduced recoil and flash loads. I have found BB to be more accurate out of my 640 and 638 than the Gold Dots (but they are also an excellent round with a good track record). Your other choices are good as well. There are plenty of quality loads available for SD these days.

Remington UMC Ammo 38 Special +P 125 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point

This has been a tried-and-true LEO round for a long time. And at $.35 per round you can afford to get good at using it.

In my opinion...

I shoot my own 158gr soft lead SWC-HP handloads, but if I was gonna stick to factory cartridges I'd be inclined to go with something like that good old 125 gr JHP Remington or the good old Winchester Silvertips. Since concealed carry has become more widely legal & practiced, there's been a helluva lot of new factory loads with fancy names & high prices. I'm not sure how much is hype and how much is better performance, esp at reduced 2" barrel velocities, so I'm sticking with what has worked well for years-- even if it doesn't have a catchy name.

I too am from Mass. I live in Billerica . The gun shop I buy from is in Pelham NH...I can get just about any ammo you can think of for your 38's. My favorite load is the FBI 158 GR SWC-HP +P...I know where plenty of that ammo is, plus more if I can help you out let me know. Send me a PM. My town is close to Boston and NH kind of 1/2 way between the two. Could pick up some ammo and meet up..let me know. I have a M-36-2 Nickle love it!

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Model-60 Chiefs Special

Low pressure solid, square front rounds are your friend. Standard SWC or WC loads are easy to shoot and will perform as well as anything you can shoot in .38 Special. HPs are very unlikely to expand and will not cut and crush as well as a good SWC or WC.

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NHI, 10-8.

I load the Speer 135 gr +P Gold Dot in my 442 and 642. I have a good supply of the Winchester +P 158 gr. LSWC FBI load, but I reserve that for my 640 and 649.

The reason is simple. There have been reports of the heavy lead +P loads tying up the cylinder in the lightweight alloy frame guns. Through inertia, the bullets can and sometimes do set forward in the case when fired; sometimes enough to protrude through the cylinder face.

The heavier guns such as the steel-framed 640 and 649 can take the lead FBI loads without this problem.

My advice for those carrying the heavy FBI load in their lightweight guns is to range test the combination to be sure you do not get the protrusion problem. I'd load with five, fire four and then check the 5th round. If the bullet sets out farther than normal, I'd change to a lighter weight jacketed load. As for me, I don't even risk it - the Speer load is tailored for snubby lightweights, and I'm satisfied with it.

My wife can't handle the snappy recoil of her 442 with these loads, so she stokes it with full wadcutters - less recoil, and good "chopping" performance on the target. As always, shot placement is king, and she can put those right on the money.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I carry and like several Hornady loads in various bullet weights and calibers in my snubbies. However, Hornady .38 Special 110 grain FTX +P Critical Defense loads impact hilariously low out of my J-frames and SP 101......Shot placement??......Every time I decide to give'em another chance and touch one off, I think of that famous advice-under-fire, "Shoot low, boys, they're riding Shetland ponies".

I think a firm crimp will help prevent bullet jump ("protrusion") problems, as well as ensure consistant powder burn therefore consistant velocity & accuracy.

FWIW, the 158g lead SWCHP loads that I happen to have on hand (Remington +P and Buff Bore non-+P) both appear to have pretty substantial crimps. The BB crimp even has a cylindrical section ahead of the curved-in segment of the crimp - almost as if it completely filled the forward crimping groove in the bullet.

bought 638-3 and reccomended ammo at west coast armory, issaquah wa, practice pm22, hornady critcal defense 38 std 110 gr for carry. Those guys know thier business, i'm satisfied. Why? The input from this forumn and and other sites. Those pros will say Hornady ammo is high quality,and well engineered. Do i need 158 gr? what I need is ammo " designed" to penetrate "thru" clothing without clogging. Ammo that mushrooms consistanley. I believe I have that. Replys appreciated

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rogerb

Most fixed sight 38s will hit pretty close to point of aim with 158g ammunition. The lighter and faster the bullet, the lower it will generally hit - as sunday bill notes, the Hornady 110g +P (light AND fast) hits way low. You can practice a lot with your carry ammo ($$$$$), or a Crimson Trace grip can be adjusted to match pretty much any ammo. But if you have to rely on iron sights in a high-pressure shooting scenario that comes on quckly, it could be tough to hit what you want if POA and POI aren't close.

I am currently using the Hornady FTX 110gr standard pressure ammo in my Airwieghts. I've found this ammo to be very accurate in my guns. The light recoil is a benefit too.

The big drawback to this ammo would be the light bullet not doing well in barrier penetration situations.

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Centennial Every Day

I'm not sold on penetration with the lighter bullets. IMHO anything designed for "sure expansion" (esp anything that light) is too likely to fail to penetrate (or even come apart) on heavy clothing. If a light JHP penetrates but fails to expand, it is essentially a round nose and will cause very little damage.
On the other hand, even if the 158 gr SWC-HP doesn't expand, you still have the weight for good penetration,and a flat nose & full-caliber shoulder for plenty of tissue damage.
I guess it all boils down to how much you believe the marketing hype and/or trust the engineering behind the bullets. I'm a born skeptic, so in my case it's not very much.

Of the three you mentioned, I like PDX1 and Federal HS. That said, my preference in 38 Special is the FBI Load, 158 grain +P lead hollow point Winchester. Remington and Federal make the same load. If you want to have some fun, try a box of Buffalo Bore 1930s FBI load, 158 SWC at 1125 fps called the Outdoorsman.