38 Defensive Ammo for Snub

[bmcgilvray]

I carry all .38 Special revolvers with +P 158 grain lead SWCS.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

With my big hand, small grip combo on j-frames, my follow up and control of +P loads isn't great. I'm looking to go with softer shooting defensive ammo and have a better chance at follow up shots. Any recomendations on what's out there that would be a good choice?

In your case I would choose either the standard pressure Federal Nyclad ammo ir standard pressure Hornady Critical Defense load. The Hornady load uses a 110gr bullet. A lighter bullet lessens felt recoil.

 

[photoman]

I'm looking to go with softer shooting defensive ammo and have a better chance at follow up shots. Any recomendations on what's out there that would be a good choice?

Try the following...

148gr wadcutter target
125gr Federal Nyclad HP
110gr Winchester Silvertip HP
110gr Hornady FTX HP

Please note that all of the Buffalo Bore ammo, while being standard pressure, is very much a full recoil ammo (read that... kicks like a mule in Airweights! ).

 

[Mike_M]

A couple of months ago I picked up my first J frame, model 442. I have about 300 hundred rounds through it mostly 158 gr. LRN or 130 gr. FMJ Federal ammunition. Both very controllable. I recently came across a box of Peters red dot 158 gr. LRN. The box was marked "high velocity." There was no +P marking on the box, but it was at least thirty years old. Man was that stuff brutal. Does anyone know anything about that load? Is it the equivalent of +P?

 

[G.T. Smith]

My first attempt shooting a M37 with a 1 7/8" barrel, was with Magtech 158 gr. LRN. Not a lot of recoil but accurate even for this inexperienced snubby shooter. They were 15 something for 50. They were standard pressure rounds. I don't really care about recoil, but I don't wanna damage the gun.
Peace,
gordon

 

[ContinentalOp]

The only +P load I can handle well in my 642 is Speer's 135gr Short-Barrel Gold Dot. I've tried both standard pressure and +P Buffalo Bore FBI loads...Never again! My hand was sore for three days.

Lately what I've been doing is carrying Nyclads in the gun with the SBGD as reloads. The Nyclads are pretty easy to shoot in the 642 and from what I've read they have a pretty good track record in actual shootings.

 

[LouisianaMan]

I load standard pressure 200g .38 SPL LSWC loads in the low 700fps from a snub-nose.

If I were to buy off-the-shelf standard pressure ammo, I'd probably select 125g Nyclad LHPs or 158g LSWC, depending on my assessment of the need to optimize expansion or penetration. AFAIK, the 158g SWC ammo is not available in hollowpoint standard pressure loads, but only in +P loads.