38+P
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flop-shank
US Veteran
From a 4" barrel Speer Short Barrel 135 gr. would be excellent. As OKFC05 said, there are plenty of good choices.
Welcome to the forum.
Welcome to the forum.
UM? Satisfactory???
Guess the real question should be Reliable, (like 100%) and then it should be an actual man stopper, but without the 357 recoil, plus low flash.....
I know that everyone has a round that just is perfect, so do I, but everything keeps changing (notice I didn't say improving) so that is why I posted this, we can't find our prefered rounds anymore. Fed just doesn't make them anymore.
So what should we try? Thanks, k
Guess the real question should be Reliable, (like 100%) and then it should be an actual man stopper, but without the 357 recoil, plus low flash.....
I know that everyone has a round that just is perfect, so do I, but everything keeps changing (notice I didn't say improving) so that is why I posted this, we can't find our prefered rounds anymore. Fed just doesn't make them anymore.
So what should we try? Thanks, k
Maybe I am just old and cynical, but that statement sounds naive to me. All handguns and ammunition are engineering compromises and "perfect" is in the mind of the beholder.
If you don't know what the major defense ammunition brands are, look for Remington Golden Saber, Speer Gold Dot, Federal Personal Defense, Winchester Supreme, Hornady TAP, and similar products designated by the manufacturer for defense. Reliability in these products is expected to approach 100%.
GatorFarmer
Member
Look for Remington, Federal, Winchester, or Buffalo Bore 158 Lead SWC +P hollow points. That's a burly all steel gun, you might as well just go with the old "FBI" load if you can find it.
If you can't find that, then either whatever premium offering amuses you or else UMC 125 gr JHPs.
Unless you don't believe in those new fangled hollow points, in which case either use SWCs or cast some 200 grain bullets and file the points down.
If you can't find that, then either whatever premium offering amuses you or else UMC 125 gr JHPs.
Unless you don't believe in those new fangled hollow points, in which case either use SWCs or cast some 200 grain bullets and file the points down.
nitesite
Member
Call me whatever name you like, but I believe if you load #358429s to 900-fps then you or your wife would be well armed against most confrontations.
Factory ammo? Buffalo Bore 158-gr standard pressure LSWCHP is exceptional.
Factory ammo? Buffalo Bore 158-gr standard pressure LSWCHP is exceptional.
lemosqueezer
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A second vote for Speer Gold Dot +P
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I'm guessing that M586 is a 4" revolver. If that's true I would (and do) shoot the "FBI Load" in that revolver. (158gr LSWC/HP .38 Special +P) I like the Remington and Federal ammo but the Winchester FBI Load is just fine in a 4" barrel too. In a revolver that heavy that load will feel soft. It's also a proven round and will do a good job in needed.
Andy Taylor
Member
+1 I prefer the BB version myself, but with at least a 4" barrel, they will all work fine. If you go to a snubby, then pick either the BB or Remington versions.
I think you would do well with either Winchester 130gr PDX1, Speer 135gr Gold Dot, or either Remington or Federal 158gr SWCHP's. Of course there are others, and as pointed out previously, you may have to settle for what you can find. I think Walmart carries a Winchester White Box 125gr SJHP +P offering. You may want to check it out.
badge 851
US Veteran
IMHO the Buffalo Bore 158gr LSWCHPGC is the load to get. It's what the wife & I have in our 4" 686 for home defense. CLICK HERE
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safearm
US Veteran
The Speer 135 grain GDHP+P or any of the 158 grain LSWCHP +P.
I liked GatorFarmer's whole post, but the above was the best part. If you want a second opinion, you could ask Erich what time it is, and, if he answers, read his signature.
Oops. Just saw that you are new to the forum. Here is Erich's last word on EVERYTHING:
Shot-placement is king. Adequate penetration is queen. Everything else is angels dancing on the heads of pins.
bmcgilvray
Member
Yep, GatorFarmer's amusing comment along with Erich's last word sums up .38 Special ammunition selection.
I still like ol' 158 grain +P.
I still like ol' 158 grain +P.
Spotteddog
Member
Let's put it this way.
I wouldn't want to be hit by any .38 Special, fired by any of the folks who responded. Because this quality of shooter will kill you deader than corned beef, no matter what bullet they do you in with!
I wouldn't want to be hit by any .38 Special, fired by any of the folks who responded. Because this quality of shooter will kill you deader than corned beef, no matter what bullet they do you in with!
I wanted some of that green FBI ammo so bad I bought it at Gander Mountain, and we all know how much that cost.
kmrcstintn
Member
all depends on her perception of felt recoil and the barrel length; here's a few different scenarios indicative to include ammo shortage;
my dad has an airweight snubby, is getting arthritis, and needed something that recoils less: optimum load=> Federal 125gr Nyclad lhp .38 spl non +p; reality check=> only place that has them in my area put a 1 box per customer per day limit on it (the place is 20 miles away & driving 2,3, or 4 days in a row is not economically sound); solution=> Winchester Silvertip 110gr jhp .38 spl non +p that I snagged before the shortage got really bad
my airweight snubby: optimum load=> Speer Gold Dot 135gr jhp 'short barrel' .38 spl +p (it's very, very rare); solution=> Remington UMC 125gr sjhp .38 spl +p (able to get 2 full boxes amidst the shortage)
my Ruger GP100 w/ 6" barrel: optimum load in .357 mag=> Remington Golden Sabre 125gr jhp medium velocity load (again very, very rare); solution=> Winchester WWB 110gr sjhp (low recoil and able to get 3 boxes amidst the shortage); .38 spl load for HD=> Remington UMC 125gr sjhp .38 spl +p or Remington 158gr lswchp .38 spl +p (slowly built a decent stash during the early days of the shortage)
summary: not always necessary to plunder and pillage for optimal designer loads when there are older proven loads floating around
my dad has an airweight snubby, is getting arthritis, and needed something that recoils less: optimum load=> Federal 125gr Nyclad lhp .38 spl non +p; reality check=> only place that has them in my area put a 1 box per customer per day limit on it (the place is 20 miles away & driving 2,3, or 4 days in a row is not economically sound); solution=> Winchester Silvertip 110gr jhp .38 spl non +p that I snagged before the shortage got really bad
my airweight snubby: optimum load=> Speer Gold Dot 135gr jhp 'short barrel' .38 spl +p (it's very, very rare); solution=> Remington UMC 125gr sjhp .38 spl +p (able to get 2 full boxes amidst the shortage)
my Ruger GP100 w/ 6" barrel: optimum load in .357 mag=> Remington Golden Sabre 125gr jhp medium velocity load (again very, very rare); solution=> Winchester WWB 110gr sjhp (low recoil and able to get 3 boxes amidst the shortage); .38 spl load for HD=> Remington UMC 125gr sjhp .38 spl +p or Remington 158gr lswchp .38 spl +p (slowly built a decent stash during the early days of the shortage)
summary: not always necessary to plunder and pillage for optimal designer loads when there are older proven loads floating around
Spotteddog
Member
You betcha'!
Put in the right place, the soon to be departed won't know whether it was a plain Jane 158 SWC that did him in or not? That's what I meant about a good shooter with decent ammo being a far more deadly a foe than someone using a $3.00 per round whiz bang load, who can't hit the ground when he's taking a leak!
Put in the right place, the soon to be departed won't know whether it was a plain Jane 158 SWC that did him in or not? That's what I meant about a good shooter with decent ammo being a far more deadly a foe than someone using a $3.00 per round whiz bang load, who can't hit the ground when he's taking a leak!
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