130gr fmj for self defense?

[Gunsmithattheguncloset]

Hornady makes some great standard pressure 38 spl loads. The Hornady personal defense 158g hollow points are nice. Even nicer are their 110g Critical defense loads. Both rounds are offered in non +p Loadings and are very viable personal defense loads. My $1.37 for ya.

Trey

 

[pharmer]

Any .38 beats a .22, or .25. Joe

 

[camsdaddy]

Reading this I have wondered about the 130 FMJ as well. I dont carry my M38 yet because I have yet to shoot enough through it to know what it likes. I find the 130 for me shoots a little low. I doubt enough to matter and it may be me rather than the ammo. I figure the 158 will shoot poa as will the 147 WC. I wonder as well about poa poi for the 110 and 125.

 

[therevjay]

Neither 158 gr lrn or 130gr fmj is a very good choice for SD use. Both will however poke a hole through someone and are better then no ammo at all.

If I had to choose between the two, it would be 158gr lrn.

 

[trigtechr]

Good compromise load for a 77 year old widow lady who chose a J-frame because it fit her hand .....

trigtechr

 

[OKFC05]

Good compromise load for a 77 year old widow lady who chose a J-frame because it fit her hand .....

trigtechr

How about the Speer Gold Dot 135gr Short Barrel?
Much better bullet design.

 

[photoman]

How about the Speer Gold Dot 135gr Short Barrel?
Much better bullet design.

I just got back from the range with a magna gripped Airweight 642, testing some different loads, and there is a big (!) difference between 135gr +P and standard pressure 110gr or 125gr loads.

For a 77 year old, I would not recommend the 135gr +P load in any J frame. A 110gr, 125gr or even 148gr standard pressure load would be a much better choice. I might even (gasp!) handload some light loads for an older shooter.

 

[amd6547]

I have shot the winchester 130gn FMJ in my Model 15...It was quite accurate out to 25yds.
Would it be my first choice in 38spl SD ammo? No, but I would not feel poorly armed with it at all.
By the way, the winchester load has a large flat point profile...it ought to perform similarly to a wadcutter.

 

[38-44HD45]

I have shot the winchester 130gn FMJ in my Model 15...It was quite accurate out to 25yds.
Would it be my first choice in 38spl SD ammo? No, but I would not feel poorly armed with it at all.
By the way, the winchester load has a large flat point profile...it ought to perform similarly to a wadcutter.

I don't think it will perform like a wadcutter. Truncated cone FMJs have not been shown to transmit more "shock" than do round-nose FMJs, Col. Cooper notwithstanding. If recoil is a problem, actual 148 gr. target wadcutters would be superior to the 130s. Also, QC on the wallyworld WW stuff has been pretty awful. Recoil won't matter if it goes "click" instead of "bang."

As for the 135gr. Short Barrel loads being too snappy, they have a good deal less recoil than most other +P loads, including several with ballistics inferior to the Short Barrel ammo. If you can't handle that, then dropping back to standard pressure 125gr. Nyclads or 148gr. target wadcutters makes sense. There are lots of choices that are better than 130 gr. FMJ.

Just my opinion, but it's right. Remember what you paid for it.

 

[DanWales]

Snubby

I have a 642 with CT grips. I make it a point to shoot it at least every 60 days or so. I have found with even minimum practice I can double tap and keep'em in a ball cap at 5-7 yards. Actually I use paper plates.

Anything is snappy in a 642. LOL If I'm just burnin ammo I shoot 130's.
Now and then if I'm feelin kinda sporty I'll drop a cylinder or two of some HP's in it.

When I get home and she's ready to bow up I drop sone HP's in it.

If I was getting'em at a heck of a price like you are I'd shoot all I could buy.

But I think for self defense I would have several of the best laying around.

Dan

 

[BUCKAWHO]

self defense

I agree with cp....choose what suits you, and then go practice a lot with it. Bullet placement is MUCH MORE IMPORTANT, than what comes out of the barrel. If you accurately hit the target with a 38spl LRN bullet, you can be assured your adversary will stop his attack upon you. Police officers here in the US used them for many years in their side arms, and many bad guys went to their graves with well placed shots from them. My older home defense 38spl weapons use LRNs exclusively. Plus, if your weapon is a newer model, made of modern steel, then +P ammo will work just fine, and give you more confidence versus an adversary.
Practice, practice, practice ! BT

 

[jtpur]

My ,my. Perhaps the 130 FMJ is not the most perfect personal defense ammunition but I think its probably better than 158 LRN, which is not as good as Federal Hydra Shock 110 JHP, which is not as good as something +P which is not as good as something something...My point is it is better to hit a bad guy with 158GRN LRN than miss him with a 44 magnum....I have seen lots of people killed with .22's .25, .32, and all manner of bullets. I went to one shooting and found a guys head completely destroyed. I thought a shot gun blast had done him in only to find out the dead guy shot another guy with a .32 and the guy who got shot took the gun away from the shooter and beat him to death with it....true story too.....I have an older model 36 and I carry Federal 110 grn Hydra shocks JHP...not the best not the worst but I think a good compromise and if I only could affor 130fmj that's what Id carry....and anyone who doesn't think it is a good round can volunteer to stand in front...say ten feet in front of something loaded with it and volunteer to get shot with it.....any takers....

 

[Kanewpadle]

Consider Corbon DPX. Excellent penetration. Low flash and recoil.

 

[trigtechr]

Re: 148 gr wadcutter as alternate to 130 FMJ for widow woman:
One consideration is ease of reloading revolver, RN vs. WC.
With either, placement will be more important than projectile configuration.
And don't even think of recommending a hotter load - recoil is an important factor for an elderly woman with limited handgunning ability.
Reloads? Naw, I long ago switched back to factory only for serious social intercourse. If you're an active LEO, your department probably requires factory. If it doesn't it should.
trigtechr

 

[trigtechr]

ammo choice

Just a side note: my J-frame is loaded with 158 gr. Federal .357 Hydra-shoks.
Severe recoil on both ends.
Acceptable.
trigtechr