38 special 158gr ammo?

[mike56]

Picked up a new Smith model 10 with 4 inch heavy barrel.
Will be a general purpose sometime carry, walking the dog, next to the back door, in the glove box kind of gun. I reload so practice stuff is easy, but any suggestions on a 158 gr lead hollow point load? Winchester used to have one, a +p version, but I'm not seeing much out there these days.

 

[Robert B]

I searched the net and called my local gun shops and all I can find for my Dad are lead round nose target loads. I do recommend Speer's 135 grain GDHP in +P for short barrels. Can't find any though.

 

[whitecoyote]

BuffaloBore ammo!
http://www.buffalobore.com/ind...?l=product_list&c=22
http://www.buffalobore.com/ind...?l=product_list&c=23

 

[Andy Taylor]

Buffalo Bore, Winchester, Remington & Federal all make versions of the "FBI load" IE: 158 Grain LSWCHP +P. Good loads, all of them, but the lead is softer in the Rem and BB versions and work slightly better in snubs. Out of 4" or more, the difference is negligable. I will say that I prefer the Buffalo Bore version.

 

[John R]

There are a lot of people on the wrong side of the grass, because of plain old lead round nose bullets.
Use what you can get, for now.

 

[Gov]

That Winchester 158gr LSWCHP +P is my carry ammo for the 642, and damn if it isn't getting harder and harder to find.

Thanks to all for posting "alternates" that they like... I'll have to look into the Buffalo Bore.

~GOV

 

[ABCDE]

I load my model 60 no dash with Federal 158gr LSWCHP +P. It's the only .38SPL LSWCHP at my local GS.

 

[GatorFarmer]

All .38 special ammo is hard to find right now. Recently all Midway had was 1 dollar a round premium 130 grain Winchester and blanks. Not much to choose from. If you're lucky enough to find them at your local Walmart, UMC or WWB 125 gr JHP will work in a pinch. Otherwise, just keep looking around and see what you can turn up.

 

[Pioneer461]

Lots of good, modern, .38spl expanding, self defense ammo out there. Welcome to the 21st century.

 

[tom turner]

I've got a bunch of the Georgia Arms-manufactured 158 grain Lead Semi-Wadcutter Hollowpoint +P for my .38s and .357s.

It is a great self-defense load . . . very accurate, and regulated to shoot P.O.A. in my vintage Smith revolvers.

I bought 'em well before the elections, back when you could get just about anything you want. I doubt GA Arms has much in stock these days.

T.

 

[nitesite]

Stephen A. Camp has great things to say about the 158-gr Georgia Arms .38 +P LSWCHP load from 4" barrels. If it's good enough for him, it's good enough for anybody.

I chrono'd some a while back and the ES/SD numbers were both single digit and they were extremely accurate. It smokes a bit but it is very affordable. Well worth the wait to get in line for some.

 

[Old Salt]

I picked up a box of MAGTECH 158 grain SJHP +P, 50 rounds for $25.00. Shoots good out of my S&W 442.

 

[Spotteddog]

The 20/20 Buffalo Bore loading, is about the best you'll find currently. It will exceed 1000 FPS easily (it's rated for 1000 FPS out of a 1 7/8" barrel) That all having been said, you'll be packing the gun, that so called "line" of ammo was developed for! Of those 3? Of the usual big 3 choices I'd likely go with Remington? Only because in the tests I've seen and read, they're the best performers. (their lead composition seems to be the softest)
YMMV?

 

[Munsterf18]

Originally posted by tom turner:
I've got a bunch of the Georgia Arms-manufactured 158 grain Lead Semi-Wadcutter Hollowpoint +P for my .38s and .357s.

It is a great self-defense load . . . very accurate, and regulated to shoot P.O.A. in my vintage Smith revolvers.

I bought 'em well before the elections, back when you could get just about anything you want. I doubt GA Arms has much in stock these days.

T.

+1

They still have some. And it shoots to point of aim in my 642.

 

[Shooter10]

I have for many years purchased Georgia Arms ammo, often went to the local gun shows more for that purpose than any other, however, I guess due to lack of stock, they have not made the last 2 or 3 shows locally. At one time that was my only surce for .44 special and .41 magnum ammo, with all I ever puchased working just fine when tested on water media or wet newspaper packs. I do have a small supply for the .38 and .357 carry guns, but have been shooting what ever I could find for practice. When it can be found, good ammo at fair prices.

 

[BigNC]

All good choices. If you don;t want +P, don't get it. Otherwise, don't over think it. Just saw some 125gr Federal Nyclads in stock for $39.95/ 50. Not bad for new stuff but feels wrong since I just bought Fed Classic 158gr +P LSWCHP for $28/ 50 rds in March. As has been said, get what you can! Thank goodness I only pay for carry ammo (and roll my own for practice!)

I have purchased from www.ammunitiontogo.com and www.mahsupplies.net recently and www.grafs.com in the past...

 

[kdm2]

Originally posted by whitecoyote:
BuffaloBore ammo!
http://www.buffalobore.com/ind...?l=product_list&c=22
http://www.buffalobore.com/ind...?l=product_list&c=23

I have been using the Buffalo Bore 158gr load in my 2" 64. It's a pretty snappy load, I haven't tried in in a J frame yet.