.38 Special non hollow point loads for a 4"

[press-1-for-english]

Hello to all. I live in NJ where we are not allowed to use hollow point rounds for self defense. I have a 67-1 4" and a 10-8 4" HB.
We can use Hornady Critical Defense Ammo 38 Special 110gr Flex Tip. I prefer to stay with standard velocity rounds since I practice with what I plan on using in an emergency. I do have a 686-0 for large furry critters (God forbid). Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated from the fine and knowledgeable forum folks here.
If there is already a thread posted for this please give me the link
PS I do not reload.

 

[stansdds]

When limited to solid bullets in 38 Special, I'd say a 158 grain lead semi-wadcutter would be a better choice than the old round nose lead bullet. No need for +P with solid bullets as there is no possibility of expansion and penetration is usually not an issue. Most fixed sight 38 Special revolvers have sights that are regulated for bullseye hits at 25 yards with 158 grain standard pressure ammo.

 

[snuf]

Underwood and Buffalo Bore both sell a 150 gr hard cast wadcutter.
Don't forget plain old 148 gr wadcutters.

 

[rockquarry]

Assuming you shoot reasonably well, I'd get three or four boxes of different standard pressure 158 grain ammo. A one-time, well worth the effort expense that will tell you far more than any Internet forum. Practice shooting at varying distances of 10 yards and up to 25 yards. Whatever shoots best in your hands overall is your best choice. Consider: accuracy, recovery from recoil, and point-of-aim vs. point-of-impact.

Don't get bogged down with the esoterica of Internet gunfighting theory and YouTube crackerjacks. If you don't already shoot well, practice a lot with real ammo. Shooting well is far more important than all the ballistic trivia and you'll be way ahead of many. Good luck-

 

[X62503]

Underwood and Buffalo Bore both sell a 150 gr hard cast wadcutter.

Are hard cast bullets suitable for use in any properly functioning revolver?

 

[djohns6]

Why hardcast ?

 

[1sailor]

Plain old 148gr wadcutters are actually a great option also. No expansion but their flat face can really do some damage. Back in the day they were considered a good SD option. Check out the Lucky Gunner site. As mentioned earlier, 158gr semi wadcutters are also a good choice.

 

[rockquarry]

Why hardcast ?

It seems this is an often used term these days and a term many don't really understand. This is particularly true among those who don't cast bullets and who aren't familiar with alloy mixes. There is no recognized defining point where the BHN denotes "hardcast".

 

[press-1-for-english]

I thank you all for your answers. I consider myself a good shot and I usually go through 100-200 rounds 2-3 times a month. I was wondering about the 158 grain FMJ soft point style of ammo. I guess I will be ordering an assortment of 158 grain and see what works best in my revolver.

 

[Doug M.]

I would avoid that FMJ/SP configuration. The advice you got above is solid: a plain old wadcutter is a good choice if you are recoil sensitive; the 158 grain SWC is just fine too. Tat is in fact what I load most often in my 66; while I can and do qualify with hotter stuff once in a while, the actual shooting performance is far better with the SWC. Placement is the most important factor, followed by adequate penetration, which that load will do well.

 

[press-1-for-english]

Thank you Doug M. I was looking at the 158 gr. FMJSP option but I'm leaning towards SWC or WC.

 

[1sailor]

If you're not already familiar with it try browsing through Lucky gunnrs site. https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/

 

[stansdds]

I thank you all for your answers. I consider myself a good shot and I usually go through 100-200 rounds 2-3 times a month. I was wondering about the 158 grain FMJ soft point style of ammo. I guess I will be ordering an assortment of 158 grain and see what works best in my revolver.

The round nose profile will be no better than a lead round nose, only more expensive to purchase. The idea of a semi-wadcutter or full wadcutter is the large, flat nose of the bullet will punch and tear a larger channel through tissue.

 

[DWalt]

Many folks carry full wadcutters in their revolvers for SD. They tend to shed their energy more completely in tissue vs RN bullets. The bullet style and caliber is less important than being able to score hits in a vital area consistently .The one brief period in my life when I lived under potentially perilous circumstances requiring I take self-defense measures at all times, I carried a Colt DS with full wadcutters. But I never needed to use it.

 

[Alk8944]

Are hard cast bullets suitable for use in any properly functioning revolver?

Hard cast is really a misnomer! Do not believe the baloney on the Buffalo Bore web-site that hard cast are not lead bullets! They are simply a lead bullet alloyed with typically Tin and Antimony to create an alloy that is relatively harder than typical swaged lead bullets that Hornady and Speer sell for reloading. Hard cast bullets are 90% or greater lead with usually less than 5% total of the alloying ingredients!

Any semi-wadcutter bullet load from any of the commercial manufacturers will do everything you need them to do. There are also jacketed soft point loads available that are legal in NJ.

If you want to use so-called hard cast bullets just don't pay the premium price Buffalo Bore and Underwood charge! $2 a round for .38 Special is way beyond rediculous!

 

[Nevada Ed]

Nothing in a standard 38 special load, like the 158 lead bullet
if you don't want high vel or +P ammo.

If it has too much recoil , drop down to the lead 148 gr that will
get the job done with proper bullet placement and also fire 3-4 rounds
and still be on target, with practice.

Winchester 148 gr has the highest fps, that I know of.

 

[DWalt]

Exactly what benefits are claimed from using “hard cast” bullets? It just struck me as being simply meaningless advertising babble, but I never was interested enough to look into it

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I thank you all for your answers. I consider myself a good shot and I usually go through 100-200 rounds 2-3 times a month. I was wondering about the 158 grain FMJ soft point style of ammo. I guess I will be ordering an assortment of 158 grain and see what works best in my revolver.

Basic 158 grain LSWC is the best choice but 158 grain LRN works and that is what I was issued as a young cop.

You should consider reloading as a hobby. You shoot more than most people.

 

[Uraldriver]

I'd just shoot whatever for practice and carry the 110 grain flex tip for defense. Looks like they make or made a non +p version.

If not this then just go with a 158 grain swc.

 

[Nomadmax]

As mentioned before, the 148 grain WC is a good choice as is the 158 SWC. The one area I put the SWC above the WC is in reloading (the weapon). The SWC is much quicker into the cylinder because of the profile.