158gr LSWCHP+P again!

[ArchAngelCD]

If anyone's interested Ammo-To-Go has the Federal FBI Load in stock for only $20.99/50 rounds. They also have 500 and 1000 round lots available on their site too. For only $21 a box I just ordered 100 rounds even though I have a few hundred rounds of the FBI load already. You never know when it's going to be unavailable again.

The also have the Winchester FBI Load to but they want $33.95/50 rounds and that's way too much IMO considering the Federal ammo above is only $21/50 rounds.

 

[Wheel-er]

Yes, prices do seem to be going up.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Hi, ArchAngelCD

Funny how the ammo makers want another $10 to leave the expensive copper jacket off. And use a bullet we can all cast on the stove top smelter w/ the right form.

BTW, I was under impression only the full lead bullet at 158gr was considered "fbi load."

Is it copper jacketed hollow points, too?

That Federal ammo is a Lead SWC HP bullet from what I know about it, not a jacketed bullet.

 

[Wheel-er]

Prices seem to be going up in everything.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Reliable expansion is the reason I use the Remington FBI Load in a short barrel revolver. The lead they use is soft enough to expand even at the lower velocities associated with short barrel handguns. In a 4" barrel I would choose the best accuracy between the Federal, Winchester and Remington loads. IMO all 3 are fine in the longer barrel and in reality I would choose the Winchester first followed by the Federal and then the Remington in a 4" barrel. BUT, since the Federal ammo is so much cheaper that's what I carry.

 

[scattershot]

Thanks for the heads up. I use this ammo in my truck gun, and it's pretty hard to find recently.

 

[Wheel-er]

Good point.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

This should probably be a separate post, but is Federal considered as good an ammo as Remington or Winchester?

IMO all 3 are equally "good" but that depends upon what application you're asking about. Like I said above I prefer Remington in short barrels. Winchester seems to have the highest velocity. Federal seems to be more accurate than Winchester. I guess what I'm getting at is, you will have to try them in your revolver to see which performs best for you. None take a backseat to the others depending upon your revolver.

 

[Andy Griffith]

I believe lead bullets are a bit more problematic to load on high speed equipment- it just needs to be cleaned a bit more often- not really a problem, but more of an aggravation to management of these companies that want loads that have the "bling" of those expensive, highly advertised HP's that they can make a much larger margin on. I think Winchester is the worst of the gougers on the ammunition, as it almost seems they don't want to make it (or want to make their standard margin that they would on their "designer" defense loads), as $30.00+ a box is just more than the market will bear for it.

It's kinda hard to get the unknowing public to ante-up some extra cash on some no-name lead hollow-point bullets that have been made since Elmer Keith was alive and writing articles. Anyway, those SWCHP's don't have a moniker or snappy name with them that they can advertise easily and any company can make them, so there is no brand name that can be attached to them from the big guys.

However, it seems that Buffalo Bore is doing a darn good job at making this part of their marketing scheme and doing a very good job of it. They make this load, that has been made for years by nearly every company, but they make it at more consistently higher quality than any other company currently. I think they've got a great idea here- rather than being a "me too" company that brings out some new-fangled whiz-bang (pun intended) jacketed HP to push sales, they specialize in good, consistent and accurate ammunition.

 

[JohnnieB]

I tried some BB 158gr LSWCHP +P in my 637 airweight a while back and was more impressed with the recoil than any of its other attributes.

It was okay in my all steel snubbies, but follow up grouping wasn't anything to write home about.

When shot out of a 686, it felt like a mild .357mag, so that's how the remainder of the box was finally used.

I picked up a case of Federal 38G a couple years back and it shoots well out of everything I own in .38/.357 caliber, including the 637 and a Rossi M92 carbine, so that's what they are loaded with when not at the range.

I haven't tried the BB non+p LSWCHP, but I might look into them if I ever run out of the Federal 38G.

More realistically, my 38G stash will most likely be around long after I'm gone since I practice with LSWC reloads in the 637 that have the same POI and recoil as the 38Gs.

When all is said and done, what it boils down to is try them all, use whatever works best for you and practice, practice, practice.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and will have a Happy New Year,
John