642 Ammo Preferences...Please!

[Big Dog Dad]

I just picked up a new 642,no-lock, to give my front pocket a break from the 640 I usually carry. I needed some weight savings since I'm rapidly becoming an "old fart." What is the general consensus on the best factory 38 special +P for this carry pistol. I have tons of reloads and wadcutters to practice with, but I need a good defensive round to carry. Recoil obviously doesn't bother me that much since I fire a lot of rounds for practice from the 640.

-=BDD=-

 

[xopher88x]

I'm a fan of the 135gr +P Gold Dot Short Barrel load if it's gotta be +P. But, I shoot standard pressure soooooo much better out of Airweights that I'm currently running Hornady's 110 gr standard pressure Critical Defense round. Try that Gold Dot round, lot of people like it.

 

[WrongWay]

I use Speer Gold Dot 125 gr +P. Don't have a clue about it's effectiveness, but it groups about 6"-8" at a full 10 yards, and none of the bullets jump the crimp.

 

[Hapworth]

- CorBon DPX 110 grain +P
- Speer Gold Dot 135 grain +P Short Barrel (good luck finding it)
- Buffalo Bore 158 grain LSWHC Standard Pressure

 

[RussellD]

Speer Gold Dot 135 +p
Buffalo Bore 158 HP

 

[poordevil]

I have mine loaded right now with 110 gr +p+ Winchester. I also load with 158 gr LSWHP +p

 

[TGDKYSER]

Winchester pdx1 +p 130grn. Standard FBI round.

 

[shadow1]

Winchester pdx1 +p 130grn. Standard FBI round.

Here too. Speer SB is hard to find here

 

[Hapworth]

Winchester pdx1 +p 130grn. Standard FBI round.

I believe the standard FBI round was 158 grain lead semiwadcutter hollow core.

 

[wrangler5]

I like to be able to reload practice rounds to match my carry ammo, so I tend to pick carry loads for which I can buy the bullets as components. I was unable to match the Speer short barrel 135 Gold Dot factory loads with any of the powders I have available, and so switched to the Hornady Custom 158g NON +P. I can duplicate those velocities, although I have to use low +P charges to do so.

For all day fun at the range, though, I tend to shoot a LOT more of what I call my "cowboy loads" - 158g round nose lead over a not-quite-full case of Trail Boss. Gives ~640fps from a 4" Model 10 and ~600fps from a 2". Very clean, and easy on my hand and joints.

 

[hudsonvalley]

Nyclad LSWC 158 grain.....

 

[michael thornton]

hand loaded 158 swc in mine

 

[StatesRightist]

Speer Gold Dot short barrel 135gr +P

I'd look at a grip change too...JMO.

 

[StatesRightist]

hand loaded 158 swc in mine

I will work for ammo...good motto.

 

[.45mtngun]

I prefer the Speer 135 +P Gold Dot for my 442-2 as they hit just above the front sight and are very accurate. Hope this helps!
Jim

 

[tguil]

158 gr. factory swc works for me.

 

[Big Dog Dad]

Speer SB - Where to buy?

I want to try some of the Speer SB, but it is really hard to find. Anybody know where I can get some?

-=BDD=-

 

[MichiganScott]

158gr LSWC +P, mostly because its the only ammo that hits POA in mine.

 

[Doug M.]

Standard target wadcutters of good quality (mine are Black Hills) are a winner. I would like to find a decent standard velocity 158 grain SWC for faster reloading, but it's low priority as a .38 J frame is almost never anything but a BUG for me.

 

[therealsuperdave]

I prefer reduce recoil for self defense, so I shot 5 rounds of each of these at 10 yards and selected the one with the tightest group: Federal Hydra Shok Premium Personal Defense Reduced Recoil JHP 110; Hornady Critical Defense in 110 gr.; Winchester Silvertip JHP 110; Cor Bin DPX +P 110 gr.; and Federal Nyclad 128 gr. The best grouping for me was the Federal Hydra Shok reduced recoil.