Nframecollector
Member
I keep a 4" security-six loaded with 13.5 grs. of 2400 behind Elmers bullet.
.38 special recommendations home defense
- Thread starter guskody
- Start date
Remington 158gr swchp +P.
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
Federal and Winchester make the +P 158gr. LSWCHP as well as Remington. I use the Remington because people who have tested and used it have told me the lead used is softer and expands more readily. I've carried it for years and, thank heaven, have never been forced to fire it to protect myself or someone close to me. I have confidence in it.
For a petite female and a elderly male w/ arthritis firing .38 special ammo for HD, taking into account the possibility of needing to fire follow up shots w/ some concern for neighbors close by...
-Hornady Custom 158gr XTP, listed as 900 fps
-Federal premium +P 129gr Hydra Shok JHP
There are many other choices. These will work well for what you have described. It is not at all necessary to shoot piles of high performance ammo to develop proficiency with a handgun. Shoot the 130 gr. loads locally available. Use 148 gr. wadcutters if they can be found. Do a lot of dry-fire drills, the more the better. Both of them also need to first see to exterior security of their premises. As far as follow up shots are concerned, such talk sells magazines. If it should be necessary, anyone whose routinely fired a revolver and practiced in dry-fire will do just fine.
-Hornady Custom 158gr XTP, listed as 900 fps
-Federal premium +P 129gr Hydra Shok JHP
There are many other choices. These will work well for what you have described. It is not at all necessary to shoot piles of high performance ammo to develop proficiency with a handgun. Shoot the 130 gr. loads locally available. Use 148 gr. wadcutters if they can be found. Do a lot of dry-fire drills, the more the better. Both of them also need to first see to exterior security of their premises. As far as follow up shots are concerned, such talk sells magazines. If it should be necessary, anyone whose routinely fired a revolver and practiced in dry-fire will do just fine.
boatbum101
Member
Every room in my house has a handgun readily available . 2 - 12 gauge shotguns & a few rifles also scattered strategically too . 38/357's all stoked with Buffalo Bore 20A load , 45acp's all with 230gr Fed HST , shotguns with Fed 3" #1 buck Flite Control loads . Recoil is the least of my concerns . Any SD load can be approximated with careful handloading . For the uninitiated a stiffly loaded cast wadcutter should be relatively controllable & easily duplicated . If one is NOT willing to train for the eventual betting the farm , then they deserve whatever outcome may happen .In my book whatever allows you to neutralize the threat as rapidly as possible is a move in the right direction .
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
Wow. Quite an arsenal. Talk about preparedness...
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baccusboy
Member
If you want low-recoil, go with wadcutters.
If recoil is not an issue, see TnOutdoors9 videos on Youtube. He has done multiple tests on .38 special loads, and had tests showing how much recoil they produce (visual) plus penetration characteristics, etc.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tnoutdors9+38+special&sm=3
ANY load will go through sheetrock and plywood walls, and even the Glaser Safety Slugs have been shown to do so consistently.
If recoil is not an issue, see TnOutdoors9 videos on Youtube. He has done multiple tests on .38 special loads, and had tests showing how much recoil they produce (visual) plus penetration characteristics, etc.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tnoutdors9+38+special&sm=3
ANY load will go through sheetrock and plywood walls, and even the Glaser Safety Slugs have been shown to do so consistently.
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smousefam5
Member
This is my vote as well
Buffalo bore 158 gr lead hollow point standard pressure. It expands reliably out of snubs, dead soft lead, excellent penetration thanks to the mass, I keep it in a 442- my favorite snub load.
The 150 gr HCWC from BB may overpenetrate, but the 158 gr LHP load is designed to expand and stay in the target.
hth
The 150 gr HCWC from BB may overpenetrate, but the 158 gr LHP load is designed to expand and stay in the target.
hth
Pigirondan
Member
Because of the Buffalo Bore 148 grain wadcutter load I'm handloading a lot of wadcutters my own self. YMMV
.38 FBI load
For the .38 a 158 grain lead semi-wadcutter HP at 980 fps is pretty much it.
Attaining the velocity out of a short barrel is the trick. The Buffalo Bore version has a soft lead slug and a gas check and is rated at 1040 fps from a 2" barrel. I think, past or present, that this would be a very effective round.
For the .38 a 158 grain lead semi-wadcutter HP at 980 fps is pretty much it.
Attaining the velocity out of a short barrel is the trick. The Buffalo Bore version has a soft lead slug and a gas check and is rated at 1040 fps from a 2" barrel. I think, past or present, that this would be a very effective round.
"...and is rated at 1040 fps from a 2" barrel."
I hope that is in a K frame!
I don't think my little J frame would last long firing that hot load. I fired three (3) at a average of 920fps last year, across my chrony before I stopped.
I also thought that the Remington 125gr SJHP was a good bullet design and really happy to develop a load for my snub nose at 870 fps that shot under an inch with five shots at ten feet.
Two weeks ago I saw on YouTube where that bullet was shot two (2) times through a Gel pack with four layers of Levi and both shots traveled over 22 inches and exited the block !!
Shot me out of the saddle, BIG time............Bummer.
I hope that is in a K frame!
I don't think my little J frame would last long firing that hot load. I fired three (3) at a average of 920fps last year, across my chrony before I stopped.
I also thought that the Remington 125gr SJHP was a good bullet design and really happy to develop a load for my snub nose at 870 fps that shot under an inch with five shots at ten feet.
Two weeks ago I saw on YouTube where that bullet was shot two (2) times through a Gel pack with four layers of Levi and both shots traveled over 22 inches and exited the block !!
Shot me out of the saddle, BIG time............Bummer.
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