38 ammo
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If you are sensitive to recoil I recommend 148 grain wadcutter ammo. Meant for target shooting it has lower recoil due to lower velocity, but also has an excellent reputation as a defense round because of its shape and ability to penetrate.
If you want hotter ammo 135 grain Speer Gold Dot has a good reputation and has been used by the NYPD.
Unfortunately due to the current ammo craziness you may have difficulty getting anything.
If you are sensitive to recoil I recommend 148 grain wadcutter ammo. Meant for target shooting it has lower recoil due to lower velocity, but also has an excellent reputation as a defense round because of its shape and ability to penetrate.
If you want hotter ammo 135 grain Speer Gold Dot has a good reputation and has been used by the NYPD.
Unfortunately due to the current ammo craziness you may have difficulty getting anything.
ContinentalOp
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Welcome.
This topic does come up fairly often, so you might want to do a search if you haven't already.
People are going to have a lot of different opinions about what ammo they use in their snub revolvers for practice and carry.
For practice I like to use some form of 130gr full-metal jacket (FMJ). Recoil isn't too bad in a lightweight snub. 158gr lead round nose (LRN) or semiwadcutter (SWC) are other options.
The general consensus on the best defensive load is the Speer 135gr Short-Barrel Gold Dot JHP +P. It's what I carry in my 642-1.
Alternatively, the 158gr lead hollowpoint (LHP), or lead semiwadcutter hollowpoint (LSWCHP) as it's often called, in +P, often referred to as the FBI load, is another good choice.
However, both of those can have some pretty stiff recoil, especially in a lightweight snub like the 642, so probably not the best choice for a new shooter.
148gr target wadcutters are a good option for both self defense and range use, especially if you need a lighter-recoiling load. You do need to test the ammo at the range to make sure the bullets don't tumble, which can happen from such a short barrel. You can tell if it leaves tears in your targets instead of nice, clean, round holes.
Unfortunately, with the ammo availability problems we're having, it can be very difficult to find good ammo, or any ammo. You may just have to settle for whatever you can get and do the best you can with it. You can try using AmmoSeek to look for online sources of ammo. Best Ammo for Finding Ammunition 2020 - Guns Mags Reloading | AmmoSeek.com
Also, if you're new to shooting, I'd highly recommend you get some training. Shooting ranges often have courses for beginners and sometimes courses for self defense and concealed carry.
This topic does come up fairly often, so you might want to do a search if you haven't already.
People are going to have a lot of different opinions about what ammo they use in their snub revolvers for practice and carry.
For practice I like to use some form of 130gr full-metal jacket (FMJ). Recoil isn't too bad in a lightweight snub. 158gr lead round nose (LRN) or semiwadcutter (SWC) are other options.
The general consensus on the best defensive load is the Speer 135gr Short-Barrel Gold Dot JHP +P. It's what I carry in my 642-1.
Alternatively, the 158gr lead hollowpoint (LHP), or lead semiwadcutter hollowpoint (LSWCHP) as it's often called, in +P, often referred to as the FBI load, is another good choice.
However, both of those can have some pretty stiff recoil, especially in a lightweight snub like the 642, so probably not the best choice for a new shooter.
148gr target wadcutters are a good option for both self defense and range use, especially if you need a lighter-recoiling load. You do need to test the ammo at the range to make sure the bullets don't tumble, which can happen from such a short barrel. You can tell if it leaves tears in your targets instead of nice, clean, round holes.
Unfortunately, with the ammo availability problems we're having, it can be very difficult to find good ammo, or any ammo. You may just have to settle for whatever you can get and do the best you can with it. You can try using AmmoSeek to look for online sources of ammo. Best Ammo for Finding Ammunition 2020 - Guns Mags Reloading | AmmoSeek.com
Also, if you're new to shooting, I'd highly recommend you get some training. Shooting ranges often have courses for beginners and sometimes courses for self defense and concealed carry.
littleriver1
US Veteran
I wouldn't leave home without it. go to the range and get use to it. Don't worry too much about the ammo. It's a tough gut to hit anything with at best but a great carry gun.
Self-defense with a handgun is less ammo sensitive than you might imagine. Bullet placement is criteria #1. Almost anything will do the job if you can hit with it. Adequate penetration is criteria #2. Ideally you want about 12" or a tad more penetration into gelatin. That means it is fairly likely that the bullet will be able to get to important stuff on an actual human. Everything else is a distant, almost inconsequential #3. As noted, right now buying ANY ammo can be an exercise in futility. All that being said the Remington Ultimate Defense round for short barreled handguns and the Federal HST both look very good from a performance perspective, but are very hard to get right now and very expensive for routine range use. The Speer Gold Dot for short barreled handguns would also probably be outstanding. Good luck and good shooting.
mgriffin
Member
For just starting out, you can't beat the 148gr lead target load to learn how to shoot your light weight snub nose, revolver, if you can find them. They should be around 650-700fps and have a recoil from 2.6 to 3.2 ft/lbs +/-.
The 158 Lead 38 special load should be from 600 to 670fps and have a R factor of 2.5 to 3.7 ft/lbs
The standard 110 JHP at just 866 fps will have 3.2 ft/lbs with a +P at 960fps at around 4.1 ft/lbs.
The 135 Gold Dot at 851 fps has a recoil factor of 4.38 ft/lbs.
Good luck finding ammo and have fun with the new weapon.
The 158 Lead 38 special load should be from 600 to 670fps and have a R factor of 2.5 to 3.7 ft/lbs
The standard 110 JHP at just 866 fps will have 3.2 ft/lbs with a +P at 960fps at around 4.1 ft/lbs.
The 135 Gold Dot at 851 fps has a recoil factor of 4.38 ft/lbs.
Good luck finding ammo and have fun with the new weapon.
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
A quick reference check tells me that your new 642 is an alloy-framed J-frame revolver weighing 14.4 oz, with 1-7/8" barrel. My comments:
1. There is no .38 Special ammunition type that will consistently provide sufficient velocity from that barrel length to provide reliable bullet expansion. Results should be expected to be "iffy" at best.
2. Any .38 Special ammunition loaded to maximum acceptable pressure levels (to maximize terminal performance) will result in very harsh recoil with greatly increased muzzle flash and muzzle blast. None of those effects are conducive to accuracy, especially when rapid follow-up shots are attempted.
3. Many ammo manufacturers continue to publish ballistic performance based upon laboratory test barrel. Some use actual handguns, but typically those with longer barrels (6" or 4"). Unless you select (and are able to obtain) ammunition specifically tailored for, and tested in nominal 2" barrels, there is not much likelihood that the performance in your revolver will be anywhere near what the manufacturer has published.
4. I have owned and carried lightweight snub .38 revolvers for many years. I have always stuck with standard pressure (not +P) ammunition for these weapons. In my opinion and experience, any possible (or hoped for) increase in terminal performance is just not worth the added recoil, blast, and flash.
5. The fixed sights of your 642 are factory regulated to provide point of impact at (or very close to) point of aim at reasonable handgun range (probably 25 yards), when using "standard ammunition" for that caliber (most likely 158-grain bullets at standard pressure/velocity). Any changes (lighter bullets, higher velocities, etc) can be expected to result in changes in point of impact in relation to point of aim. Not much can be done to change this simple fact, so it might be best to just live with it.
6. My recommendation is standard pressure ammunition with 158-grain lead semi-wadcutter bullets. Since the majority of today's buying public seems to be afflicted by the "experts" claims of extreme performance levels with super-duper ammo, that recommended ammunition type will probably be much easier to find and purchase than all the high-dollar special-purpose self-defense ammo on the market.
1. There is no .38 Special ammunition type that will consistently provide sufficient velocity from that barrel length to provide reliable bullet expansion. Results should be expected to be "iffy" at best.
2. Any .38 Special ammunition loaded to maximum acceptable pressure levels (to maximize terminal performance) will result in very harsh recoil with greatly increased muzzle flash and muzzle blast. None of those effects are conducive to accuracy, especially when rapid follow-up shots are attempted.
3. Many ammo manufacturers continue to publish ballistic performance based upon laboratory test barrel. Some use actual handguns, but typically those with longer barrels (6" or 4"). Unless you select (and are able to obtain) ammunition specifically tailored for, and tested in nominal 2" barrels, there is not much likelihood that the performance in your revolver will be anywhere near what the manufacturer has published.
4. I have owned and carried lightweight snub .38 revolvers for many years. I have always stuck with standard pressure (not +P) ammunition for these weapons. In my opinion and experience, any possible (or hoped for) increase in terminal performance is just not worth the added recoil, blast, and flash.
5. The fixed sights of your 642 are factory regulated to provide point of impact at (or very close to) point of aim at reasonable handgun range (probably 25 yards), when using "standard ammunition" for that caliber (most likely 158-grain bullets at standard pressure/velocity). Any changes (lighter bullets, higher velocities, etc) can be expected to result in changes in point of impact in relation to point of aim. Not much can be done to change this simple fact, so it might be best to just live with it.
6. My recommendation is standard pressure ammunition with 158-grain lead semi-wadcutter bullets. Since the majority of today's buying public seems to be afflicted by the "experts" claims of extreme performance levels with super-duper ammo, that recommended ammunition type will probably be much easier to find and purchase than all the high-dollar special-purpose self-defense ammo on the market.
uncleted327
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Gold Dot or Federal HST micro. However in this market you'll probably have to settle for whatever you can find for awhile.
At this point, whatever is available...seriously.
SpikeIDMT
Member
I would say he still has time to change his mind and get a subcompact Glock 9mm instead!
lol
Lots more ammo available, even now.
lol
Lots more ammo available, even now.
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I'll shoot any standard pressure .38 ammo at the range. Dont care, whatever I can get, cheaper the better. For carry ammo, I have some Hornady Critical Defense +P and some Remington Ultimate Defense short barrel +P, and some Federal Hydroshok std pressure.
DWalt
Member
Use whatever ammunition you can find for sale. If bullet placement on the target is where is should be, thoracic area, head, or spine, any bullet will do an adequate job, even target wadcutters. I think most place too much faith in wonderbullets when good marksmanship produces much better results. A head shot using a .22 will beat a miss from a .44 Magnum every time.
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Self Defense:
Speer Gold Dot 135 GDHP +P
Buffalo Bore 158 grain LSWCHP-GC +P
Target:
158 Gr. RNL or FNL
148 Gr. Wad Cutter
Speer Gold Dot 135 GDHP +P
Buffalo Bore 158 grain LSWCHP-GC +P
Target:
158 Gr. RNL or FNL
148 Gr. Wad Cutter
I've got 1500 rds left of PPU .38 lswhp. Great stuff, I've shot at least 1K already. Non+P, full power and $13/ 50. Get it when the panic is over (again). Joe
In my recent wanderings, looking for ammo and reloading components, .38 Spl was the only cartridge I couldn't find; .357 mag was very rare. Good luck l
Ammo question
Thanks for everyone's reply on the ammo question regarding the 38. Taking all into consideration. Will need to get to a range as I have never used a 38 snub before and it would be nice to get the feel of all the ammo at some point. Thanks again
To y
Thanks for everyone's reply on the ammo question regarding the 38. Taking all into consideration. Will need to get to a range as I have never used a 38 snub before and it would be nice to get the feel of all the ammo at some point. Thanks again
To y
