Ammo for the Airweights/Ti revolvers...

[GF]

What do you load in your lightweight revolvers for daily carry, .38 spl. caliber?

I have a 337 3 inch...

... that is a " Jacketed ammo only " revolver. I'd looked at the "Critical Defense" brand of ammo in the non +P ( not much difference than the +P's @ 100 fps more ) in the 110 gr weight. Seems a little light.

I like a 158gr bullet in most 38 spl. ammo, any reason not to use it in this revolver? I know not to use lead because they "pull" in Ti guns but maybe in a jacketed bullet?

May be over thinking this, probably just use the same name brand factory ammo that I'd shoot in a Mod 36 or 60 but I welcome your thoughts on what would be best for a CCW.

GF

 

[safearm]

I carry Federal 158 grain Nyclad SWCHP+P in my 340PD. S&W warns of using any bullet less than 120 grains, and I've carried the 158 grain load, in one form or another, since 1978 and I'm very satisfied with it. I also have Speer's 135 grain +P Gold Dot, and I'm confident with that too.

 

[APS]

Speer Gold Dot 135gr+P. I can get it at gunshows and online for ~$30/50rnds so I can buy more and practice with it more. Mas reports satisfactory results for the round in street use.

 

[coach22]

The 120 minimum bullet weight applies ONLY to 357 Magnum ammo.
That is straight from a few horses mouths at S & W.
My 340 PD is loaded with Buffalo Bore 125 JHP 38 +P's.
A close second is Corbon 110 DPX 38 +P's.
Lead bullets can't be crimped as tightly as jacketed.
In a Scandium frame, JHP's eliminate the possibility of bullet pull.
These 2 bullets also make fast follow up shots easier for me.

 

[GF]

" The 120 minimum bullet weight applies ONLY to 357 Magnum ammo. "

I guess I should have known that, on other scandium frame revolvers in larger calibers minimum bullet weight is noted on the barrel engraving. My 337 doesn't.
And it's interesting that you went with lighter weight ammo, as in the 110 gr bullet. I figured the heavy bullets would recoil less than fast light ones.

I have some older mfg. Corbon in the 110gr, but I think it's actually marked " +P+ " and I don't think it would be something I'd shoot in a J frame.

I'll also try some of the Gold Dot ammo, it's often mentioned in CCW ammo threads.

GF

 

[photoman]

I have some older mfg. Corbon in the 110gr, but I think it's actually marked " +P+ " and I don't think it would be something I'd shoot in a J frame.

CorBon stopped making +P+ .38 Special many years ago. Keep those for old times sake and use DPX.

p.s. That's a really cool gun you have. I've never seen one like that with the 3" barrel and adjustable sights. Should be a great carry gun.

 

[Jamie]

Speer Gold Dot, Short Barrel is what the wife carries in her snubbie, seemed like a good choice since it's designed for it.

 

[Elmer]

CorBon stopped making +P+ .38 Special many years ago.

Thank God.....

Keep those for old times sake and use DPX.

DPX is a much better choice.

 

[HKSmith]

I've got a 342PD in my pocket right now loaded with Speer 135 grain Gold Dot Short Barrel ammo. I've also carried reloads with 125 grain Remington Golden Saber bullets at somewhat higher velocities than the Speer ammo. I feel well-protected with either.

By the way, it's not true that the light, high velocity bullet will produce greater recoil than the heavier, slower bullet. At any given muzzle energy, the reverse is true. That's because the muzzle energy of the bullet is proportional to its mass and the square of its velocity while the recoil energy of the gun is proportional to the square of the bullets mass and velocity.

 

[pff]

Hello,

Since you asked what we carry in ours, my AirLite (a 342) is loaded with either the 158gr JHP from Aguilla or the Federal 125gr NyClad. Same two loads in all my snubs, depending on mood and supply, even late steel frame ones. Since I have several pieces not +P rated I prefer to keep it simple.

From the AirLite my HANDS are not +P rated.

From your 3" I'd guess the NyClad would be going near 900FPS and its not a +P load. In several 2" guns, I've clocked it at just over the advertised 830FPS and at 960 from a 4".

Federal has started making them again and I hit a deal on 50 round boxes at $19. Yes, I bought a bunch.

The other reason I don't like lead loads in the Ti cylinders is the possibility of scratching through the surface coating when scrubbing lead out.

Nothing against the other loads listed; I just have history with those two. Been carrying Nyclads for close to 20 years and got into the Aguilla during the ammo shortages.


Hope this helps.


Regards,

Pat

 

[papajohn428]

Hello,
Since you asked what we carry in ours, my AirLite (a 342) is loaded with either the 158gr JHP from Aguilla or the Federal 125gr NyClad.
Pat

I just picked up a box of the Aguilla stuff last week (good price) and have yet to test any. Is there any test data available online, or does anyone have any test/shooting results with them? Bullet construction looks good, and I like a heavier bullet in the winter. I have a couple of speedloaders in my coat pockets as spares on duty as I write this, and if it's good stuff I'd like to buy more for duty and practice ammo.

 

[photoman]

Thank God.....



DPX is a much better choice.

Yes. Another thing I've discovered about the DPX load is the recoil is noticeably less than other traditional lead/copper bullet 110gr +P loads.

 

[pff]

I just picked up a box of the Aguilla stuff last week (good price) and have yet to test any. Is there any test data available online, or does anyone have any test/shooting results with them? Bullet construction looks good, and I like a heavier bullet in the winter. I have a couple of speedloaders in my coat pockets as spares on duty as I write this, and if it's good stuff I'd like to buy more for duty and practice ammo.

No published tests on the Aguilla that I am aware of.

If it is optimized for any velocity I suspect its for the 6" barrels found in most security services in Mexico, but thats speculation on my part.

The factory data is 900FPS from a 7.9" barrel as I recall. (6" barrel plus cylinder)

From a 2" barrel I suspect expansion is wishful thinking. At the least it ought to flatten out some and behave like a SWC.

I need to pop a few milk jugs with it.

I started with it during the ammo crunch when it was all I could find. Pricing was $20/50 at the time, permitting me to shoot enough to be sure of function and POI.

It is quite accurate, BTW.

7 yards with the K-38. Thats the short side of a playing card. Seeing as it was _me_ shooting, I'm positive it can do better.


Regards,

Pat

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Jacketed ammo only? I would suggest Speer Gold Dot 135gr +P Short Barrel ammo. It's loaded lighter than most +P ammo but the bullet was designed to reliable expand at those lower velocities.

If you do change your mind about jacketed only I would suggest the FBI Load. (158gr LSWC/HP +P) The Remington, Federal or Winchester loads are all good from a 3" barrel.

 

[pff]

If you do change your mind about jacketed only I would suggest the FBI Load. (158gr LSWC/HP +P) The Remington, Federal or Winchester loads are all good from a 3" barrel.

Excellent loads, all of which will prolly jump crimp in the Ti AirLite the OP is using. Hence the warning on the barrel and in the manual to use jacketed only in +P.

Test it for yourself in your AirLite; mark the base of one round with a Sharpie and measure its OAL. Then fire the other 4 and measure again. Reload the four and fire/measure again. Repeat.

If it hasn't moved any then that lot may be OK for carry in your AirLite. I'd be VERY interested in the results; thanks in advance.


Regards,

Pat

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have shot the FBI Load in a 13oz J frame and none of the rounds have jumped crimp. It's possible the FBI Loads are made with a better crimp than most other lead bullet rounds because of it's intended use but that's just a guess on my part.

 

[safearm]

I carry the Federal Nyclad 158 grain load in my 340PD and have not had any problem with bullets "jumping crimp."

 

[off road]

Glaser Silver .38+P in the 342.

Hornady Critical Defense .357 in the 360sc "Kit Gun". (These are 125 gr, so flame cutting is a concern. This is what I carry in the gun for SD, but I don't go to the range and put thousands of these rounds through it either.)

I was in the process of buying a 340PD, but after considering that I could not load 80 grain Glaser .357's, I reconsidered and got the M&P340 which has a stainless cylinder instead of Ti. The only price to pay is an extra couple ounes of weight (which might help a bit shooting .357's)....plus the M&P has excellent night sights vs the useless hi vis sights on the PD!

 

[myanof]

My 340PD carries Speer 135gr .357 short barrel gold dots. My back up speed strip carries Speer 135gr +Ps. The 357s travel at 1,000 fps, and the +Ps travel at 860 fps. Personally I can not tell a ton of difference in the recoil in these two loads therefore I carry the .357s as my primary load.

 

[charliek]

The 120 minimum bullet weight applies ONLY to 357 Magnum ammo.


Also only applies to titanium cylinders. I shoot 110 JHP .357's in my SS cylinder M360 with no ill effect.