642 Airweight +P Ammo

[LadyShooter1]

Hi,I wanted some good personal defence rounds for my 642 but my local store only carries 38 Special +P Winchester Supreme Elite Bonded PDX1 130 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point Bullets.Any opinion on these? I have read many threads but not much mentioned on these.Thanks so much

 

[kablamo]

I carry the PDX1's in my M&P 9c and my Kahr CW9. Apparently a few PDs have switched to them because of their performance and ability to penetrate windshields and not fragment so much.

In my 642 I carry Big Bore 158g LSWCHP +P

 

[coach22]

Corbon DPX 110 +P's

 

[murphydog]

These should work fine; perhaps try a box and see if they print to near point-of-aim and how controllable they are for you, then invest in a few more boxes if they work for you.

 

[MichiganScott]

I carry 158gr. LSWCHP +P because they hit to point of aim in mine.

 

[Old cop]

I use the Remington +P 158 HP (FBI load) but any modern hollow point +P will do the job given good placement. One shot stops are a myth so pick what works best and train. Try placing a standard paper plate three yards away and shoot your carry load as fast as you can until your gun is empty. If all 5 shots stay within the circumfrance of the plate you're good to go.

 

[HotRoderX]

I don't seem them being a problem my understanding is the PDX1 is based off the Ranger Talon. I personally use Talons and PDX1's in my 9mm handguns.

Keep in mind any bullet is better then a hammer. Which is pretty much what a unloaded gun is in a self defense situation.

 

[LadyShooter1]

I've been practicing with Fiocchi 125 SJHP,that was all the dealer had when I bought the gun but the recoil was tough especially on the web of my hand so I ordered some Siles style combat grips which should be here soon... Don't plan on doing any trigger mods but hopefully it will loosen up a bit after a few hundered rounds.I wanted a low recoil self defence round that I would be comfortable with.

 

[Hapworth]

If they're all you can reasonably get your hands on, get them. I've avoided the PDX-1 in .38 Special based on these two tests -- a limited sampling, indeed, but I think this guy does good work...

Winchester PDX1 Bonded .38 Special +P SIM-TEST w/Denim - YouTube

Winchester PDX1 Bonded .38 Special +P *** RETEST *** - YouTube

Beyond that, I can't find much in the way of credible testing on the round, and that's usually a dealbreaker for me.

There've been a great many threads here on defense rounds for an Airweight J-frame snubby; run a search and learn much.

I think the best rounds for your 642 are:

- Speer Gold Dot 135gr short barrel +P
- CorBon DPX 115gr +P
- Buffalo Bore 158gr LSWHC standard pressure

Honorable mention to:

- Hornady Critical Defense 110gr standard and +P
- Winchester, Remington or Federal's FBI round, 158gr LSMHC +P

 

[LadyShooter1]

If they're all you can reasonably get your hands on, get them. I've avoided the PDX-1 in .38 Special based on these two tests -- a limited sampling, indeed, but I think this guy does good work...

Winchester PDX1 Bonded .38 Special +P SIM-TEST w/Denim - YouTube

Winchester PDX1 Bonded .38 Special +P *** RETEST *** - YouTube

Beyond that, I can't find much in the way of credible testing on the round, and that's usually a dealbreaker for me.

There've been a great many threads here on defense rounds for an Airweight J-frame snubby; run a search and learn much.

I think the best rounds for your 642 are:

- Speer Gold Dot 135gr short barrel +P
- CorBon DPX 115gr +P
- Buffalo Bore 158gr LSWHC standard pressure

Honorable mention to:

- Hornady Critical Defense 110gr standard and +P
- Winchester, Remington or Federal's FBI round, 158gr LSMHC +P

Thanks,I wrote these down,the next time we head out of town I'll know what to look for or I may order online.Thanks

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm carrying the Speer 135gr .38 Special +P Short Barrel rounds in my M442 and carry the FBI Load is other J frames.

 

[badge 851]

I've been practicing with Fiocchi 125 SJHP,that was all the dealer had when I bought the gun but the recoil was tough especially on the web of my hand so I ordered some Siles style combat grips which should be here soon... Don't plan on doing any trigger mods but hopefully it will loosen up a bit after a few hundered rounds.I wanted a low recoil self defence round that I would be comfortable with.

Shooting just about any +P load in so light a revolver is going to produce about 50% more recoil and muzzle blast than standard pressure ammunition. I have carried 38 Special Airweight® (like yours) & Ultra-Lite™ revolvers since 1971. ALL of them are loaded with standard pressure ammunition. As for ballistic charts, and gelatin shooting videos, take them with several large grains of salt. Four standard pressure loads my wife & I carry and shoot are in our light weight 38's are.........
• Buffalo Bore Standard Pressure 158gr LSWCHCGC (#20C/20)
• Federal® Premium® Personal Defense® Standard Pressure 125gr Nyclad HP (#P38MA)
• Federal® Premium® Personal Defense® Standard Pressure 110gr Hydra-Shok® JHP (# PD38HS3H)
• Hornady® Standard Pressure 110 gr FTX® Critical Defense® (# 90310)

Of these four, my wife (63), finds the Federal® Nyclad to have the lowest recoil; it is what she carries daily. I in turn elect to carry the above Buffalo Bore® load.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Minimum recoil jacketd bullets for SD are the winchester 110gr silvertip and the Federal 125gr Nyclad.

Most agree that the 125gr is the minimum that should be used
hoping for some penetration through heavy clothing.

That being said, the speer 135gr should be the lightest SD for
serious SD work with a copper jacket that will open up and expand. (per youtube test)

The 158 leadHP "FBI" is a proven stopper but also has the maximum recoil in a snub nose and comes down to if you can "Control it" and make it work for you in the light j frame revolvers.
One reason the little 148 wc target load is mentioned as a load that can work for a lot of people that work things out when all else fails.

 

[358156hp]

Perhaps this site will help you choose a load:

The Box O' Truth - Ammo Penetration Testing

Box o truth is always a favorite of mine

 

[Doug M.]

I am a fan of wadcutters for most .38 snubbies, and I will stay that way. If you are inclined to look for good ammo information, look for Gary Roberts' (DocGKR) strings on a couple other forums. I think you can find them pretty easily on M4carbine.net, or if you must, (b)arf.com (ar15.com). I am not sure about the Winchester loads; the Gold Dot short barrel +P has tested well, as have the .38 loads with the Barnes all copper bullet (I think you can get them from ASYM, Corbon, and maybe Black Hills).

 

[pippala]

Hornady Critical Defence 38 SPL +P 95 GN

Without testing a specific round in a specific weapon in ballistic gel with layers of denim in front then any recommendation is just opinion. It is well known hollow points can clog up with clothing and not expand.The Critical Defense Flex tip prevents clogging. The soft plastic plug will then mushroom the hollowpoint, given sufficient velocity, and fall away near the end of travel.

I have seen 38 SPL hollow points go through gel on you tube so slow you could watch it drill through without cavitation and slow to a stop. This is what you get with heavy bullets.

Velocity is the key in a short barrel. A light bullet at high velocity can be devastating, e.g. the .223

Energy = velocity(squared) x mass (weight). Favor is therefor given to velocity (+P loads) first and reduced bullet weight.