38+P LSWCHP- any former LEOs remember it?

[Biff_Biffington]

I started my carrer in Law Enforment in 1987- carrying a 65-3, the small county agency I worked for until 1991 had this strange deal that Deputies were to carry .357s, but were were only allowed to carry the .38+P LSWCHP rounds, the so called 'FBI load". I remember at the time that it was considered my many to be the best .38 around, and still is no slouch today as a man stopper. I was not personally involved, but I do remember a fellow Deputy that got involved in a deadly force incident where he hit a 6-4" 250lb robbery suspect who was armed, high as a kite, and stopped him cold in his tracks with two torso hits

I was wondering if anyone else has/had any experience with this round, and what your thoughts are.

 

[pasound]

I found a box of the Remington 158gr LSWCHP +P a few years ago. Haven't fired any yet. 30+ years ago, I had a source at a LGS for many boxes. Shot them in a S&W 10 HB, and got 1-2" groups at 15 yards, and four burst milk jugs on tests. Recovered bullets were nearly 3/4" expanded. Only my Ruger SP101 also burst 4 jugs, and only with 357's. In the 70's, early 80's this was the FBI load?

 

[Vtgw938]

The FBI or Justice Dept. load is still available today from Federal. I picked some up this summer. They do a run of it every so often. Always carried magnum loads back in the day. If I'm lugging a K frame today, this is the load I carry.

 

[BC38]

Just curious but how much difference is there between the "FBI" LSWCHP +P load and the "Treasury" load - or are they the same thing?

 

[Dump1567]

Just curious but how much difference is there between the "FBI" LSWCHP +P load and the "Treasury" load - or are they the same thing?

Treasury load is a 110 +P+ round made by Winchester. If you're interested, here's an article.

Ammo Evolution: .38 Special Treasury Load – RevolverGuy.Com

My old Dept. use to issue the Winchester version of the FBI Load. I still have some.

 

[five 0]

When we carried the Model 10 in the middle 70's that is what we used before we went to semi autos.

 

[Dave Baird]

I carried 158gr JHP Winchester Silvertips.

 

[demkofour]

When I went on in 1982 my duty weapon was a 4” 64-3 and our duty load was the 158 +p SWCHP. I don’t recall for sure, but I do think the issued ammunition was both Winchester and Remington.
Still have several boxes in the stockpile and would not hesitate to carry it today.

 

[armadillo]

Yes, during the 80's. Then my agency switched to +P+ which was very hard on my M-60. I never shot anybody with either load.

 

[BC38]

Treasury load is a 110 +P+ round made by Winchester. If you're interested, here's an article.

Ammo Evolution: .38 Special Treasury Load – RevolverGuy.Com

My old Dept. use to issue the Winchester version of the FBI Load. I still have some.

OK, so then the FBI loads were 158gr LSWCHP +P...
...and the Treasury loads were 110gr LSWCHP +P+

Thanks for that clarification.
If I had to choose between them I think I'd choose the FBI load.
A little less velocity but a little more lead.

 

[Muley Gil]

OK, so then the FBI loads were 158gr LSWCHP +P...
...and the Treasury loads were 110gr LSWCHP +P+

Thanks for that clarification.
If I had to choose between them I think I'd choose the FBI load.
A little less velocity but a little more lead.

No, the Treasury load was a 110 grain jacketed hollow point (JHP), not lead.

My instructor at the police academy was a big fan of the 4" M13, loaded with the FBI load.

Me, I carried a .45 ACP 1911 with the Speer 200 grain JHP, also known as the Flying Ashtray, at about 1000 FPS or a .44 Special loaded about the same way.

 

[biku324]

It was my duty back-up and off-duty carry round in an M49 for over 20 years. Still is when I choose to carry the M49 (which isn't often now). It was called the FBI load, but I never worried about why it was named that. I just bought some at Midway last year.

 

[BC38]

No, the Treasury load was a 110 grain jacketed hollow point (JHP), not lead.

OK, my bad, I missed the part about it being jacketed.

Despite that, I still think I'd choose the +P 158gr LSWHP for the heavier bullet, despite any advantages the jacket might provide the 110gr bullet - even when combined with the increased velocity of the +P+.

 

[charlie sherrill]

I still carry the FBI load occasionally when I'm not carrying a high cap bottom feeder of some sort. It's one of my favorite tractor/zero turn loads around the farm. When I'm on the road I'm usually carrying a high cap nine with a 10 mm backup nearby...and maybe J frame bug with the FBI loads.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

My choice as a duty load as a cop during the 1970s and 1980s. Still have a couple boxes of Federal .38 Special 158LSWC-HP in my stash. I'll still choose that over all the new-and-improved super-duper advertising hype. Proven record for performance.

 

[chief38]

At the time, (1980's-90's) I'd say the old FBI load was about the most reliable round available for SD. I still have at least 6 -8 boxes of them. I suppose if the shot placement is good, they will still get the job done.

Now days there are better loads such as the Buffalo Bore version of the same load but much hotter. It will do 1,025 fps out of a 2" Chief's Spl and over 1,100 fps from a 3" bbl. I have personally chronographed this load many times and so I know this for a fact, not just by reading an article. The Speer +P GDHP at 135 grains is also a proven load with less velocity (about 860 from a 2" bbl.) and ft. lbs. of energy of course, but has less of the felt recoil.

While the Remington +P 158 grain SWCHP has less velocity and energy than the two loads mentioned above, it also has way less recoil, will allow for quicker follow up shots and as long as shot placement is good, like I said above, it will get the job done. Don't expect much expansion out of a 2" bbl. though.

 

[Old cop]

This was our duty ammo when I was forced into a confrontation in the early ‘80s in the lobby of a local motel. One round put the suspect down and out of the fight.

 

[BKLooney]

It's my favorite load for .38 Special, still have 1K round case tucked away in one of the safes.

 

[demkofour]

I actually have a few boxes of the so called Treasury load from the early 1980’s. Noted is the disclaimer printed on the boxes and the two different head stamps on the cartridges. The Secret Service agent on the box carried this round in his duty revolver at the time.

 

[tom2]

I got both loads long before ammo turned to gold. I bought 4-5 boxes of the Federal premium 50 rd. 158 +P Nyclad blue bullet loads. As I recall they are not bad to shoot in a K frame. Or outrageous in a steel J frame. I also got a box of Win 110 +P+ cheap too. I fired 5 of those out of a K frame snub outdoors and never again! 45 left and maybe not as bad from a 4 or 6 inch barrel? BTW the price tag on the 50 rd Nyclads was 13$. What is that now, 3 or 4 times?