Ammo Choices For CCW?

[UncleDuke]

I just recently picked up a very nice S&W 64 snubbie that I will carry from time to time, and my question is what are some good ammo choices? Are HPs generally considered effective in a short 2 inch barrel?
I will need to pick up some solid training ammo as well, so any recommendations are welcomed. Thanks.

 

[blues7]

Winchester Ranger Bonded RA38B is a good round...130 gr +P hollow point and what I carry.

The Speer Gold Dot 135 grain short barrel ammo, hollow point +P is very well thought of as well.

There are many fans of wadcutters but I'll let them tell you what they recommend.

I use American Eagle 130 gr FMJ ammo for practice.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Offhand, without looking at it because it's not with me but I checked recently due to another thread, my M64 snubbie has one +P hollow point round ready to roll up to fight but the other 5 rounds are all standard .38 Special rounds.

American Eagle or Winchester white box, or similar Sellier & Beillot rounds, are good for the range.

 

[CapnB]

I use Federal HST Micro. Developed for short barrel revolvers. You can check the gel tests at Lucky Gunner. The only drawback is its flat wadcutter profile, so you might want to go with something else for a quick reload.
Good shootin',
Doug

 

[crazyphil]

Find out what brand and type of ammo your local police department
and/or Sheriff's department uses. And, if possible, buy that brand and
type for your concealed carry. If there is ever a question about the
type ammo you used in a self defense shooting, it would be an easy and
logical explanation. I figure if it's good enough for my local PD it's good
enough for me.

 

[UncleDuke]

Thanks a lot for the reply's gentlemen. Its good to know that HPs can and do work with snubbies, and I know I'm not going to have an issue shooting a few of those here and there for familiarization.
Now its down to who has the best price now.

 

[dr. mordo]

I would get some of these.

 

[ContinentalOp]

My preference is for the Speer 135gr SB-GDHP +P. It's a well-proven load that's been used by NYPD and, I believe, Chicago PD.

Next to that would be some form of FBI load, a 158gr lead HP +P (nomenclature varies, but it's the same), also a well-proven load. My preference is the standard pressure Buffalo Bore version (same velocity as the +P of other makers), but the Remington +P version is also good.

Recoil shouldn't be an issue in a steel K-frame snub, so I won't go into low-recoil options.

 

[Lostaro]

Another vote for the Ranger 130+p...shoots great in all my guns.

Also like Underwood's version of the 158grn SWCHP...very stout, best in a steel revolver.

Most anything will work if placed in the right spot...repeatedly. But that's the hard part of course.

 

[Rammer Jammer]

Ditto on the Federal HST 38 SPL load

Golden Sabers for the reload

 

[Borderboss]

There's no right answer to your question. I suggest that you check out the ammo tests done by Lucky Gunner here, and then select based on what you see. There are plenty of great options these days.

 

[kraynky]

There are as many right answers as there are wrong answers I reckon, depending on who's doing the answering. And that answer is always subject to change.

My usual carry ammo in my 64-6 is typically wadcutters, 148 gr, running about 850 - 900 fps out'a the snout. I figure if they cut as good of a sharp edged hole in the lowlife that's threatening the life of me or my family as they do my targets, they can inflict enough damage to cease the threat.

But there will be those that disagree with that train of thought and have their own opinion. Which is perfectly fine with me. I'm only giving you my thoughts.

A 2" model 64 is a good carry gun as most others, considering it's size and weight. The 148 gr wadcutters leave nice little cloverleaf holes in my targets at 7 yards, when I take my time. And the 2" 64 is a natural point shooter for me.

How about a picture or two of that 64? This here is my little sweetie pie.

 

[SRG]

Speer Gold Dot .135 grain +p.

 

[Biggfoot44]

As from ContinentalOp above , Gold Dot 135 , and the various 158gr Lead HP are the two top choices . And both with significant real world track records , even from 2in . ( No more large LE Agencies standard issue .38spl , so we'd have to look at what usta be used . From the '70s to the end of the Revolver Era, 158 Lead HP and Treasury Loads were #1 & #2 in popularity . The 135 Gold Dot was developed at the behest of NYPD to be optimized for 2in , during the twilight of the Revolver Era . By that point .38spl was mainly used in NYPD for BUGs by Ofc carrying 9mm as primary .)

 

[StrawHat]

When I carried a 38 Special and was not required to carry issued ammo, I also went with the DEWC bullet. I cast kt a bit on the hard side and loaded it fast.

It worked.

Here is a bit of reading for you,

Ed Harris: Revisiting The Full Charge Wadcutter. - www.GrantCunningham.com www.GrantCunningham.com

Kevin

 

[blues7]

Here's a quote from Dr. Gary Roberts regarding .38 ammo based upon testing:

Currently, the Speer Gold Dot 135 gr +P JHP, Winchester 130 gr bonded +P JHP (RA38B), and Barnes 110 gr XPB all copper JHP (for ex. in the Corbon DPX loading) offer the most reliable expansion we have seen from a .38 sp 2" BUG; Hornady 110 gr standard pressure and +P Critical Defense loads also offer good performance out of 2" barrel revolvers.

Doc Roberts is generally acknowledged as the leading authority on this topic.

 

[jim lock]

I'm sure Doc Roberts would agree shot placement is one of the keyes to this discussion.
Jim

 

[CapnB]

As an indication of how fast this technology evolves, the above quote from Dr. Roberts is about 10 years old. More recently he has evaluated newer entries in the field of SD ammo, including Federal HST. I won't quote his findings, other than to say they were positive. He does emphasize picking your round of choice and becoming proficient with it.
Good shootin',
Doug

 

[roo_ster]

Low Recoil:
* Federal Gold Match Target Watcutters, 148gr HBWC

Moderate Recoil:
* Remington 158gr std pressure LSWC

A bit more recoil:
* Underwood/Buff Bore hard cast full wadcutters
* Remington FBI Load 158gr +P LSWCHP
* Underwood/Buff Bore 158gr LSWCHP-GC

Top End Recoil + Effectiveness
* Underwood/Buff Bore +P LSWCHP-GC

 

[blues7]

I'm sure Doc Roberts would agree shot placement is one of the keyes to this discussion.
Jim

Not if the discussion is simply about the rounds fed into the firearm...

...but of course he also stresses developing a warrior mentality and choosing a round which has proven adequate to the task after which one should not obsess on the minutiae of terminal velocity and expansion.