Ammo recommendation for daughter's 38

[haywood]

I see others suggest securing entry ways to start. They think like me. Alarms, window blocks to let Windows remain open only enough to let air in not people. Dead bolts or the door blocking devices that have been shown here. If they make a lot of noise trying to get in you get plenty of warning and can prepair.

 

[Moe Mentum]

Any hollow point ammo will do nicely.

 

[.455_Hunter]

First thing to do is have the gun inspected by a licensed gunsmith and find out if a 60 year old gun is safe! and can use modern ammunition ( plus P or regular velocity)and has or can be upgraded to a hammer safety.

The is no fundamental reason why an almost 70 year old gun with a known history should be unsafe- no more than a brand new firearm. A 1948 M&P is fitted with the modern style hammer block from the factory and does NOT need to be "upgraded". Given the amount of ammo to be fired by the daughter, +P should not be an issue.

 

[BearBio]

In my snubbies, I carried either the FBI load (158 gr lead hollow points) or 148 gr wadcutters. In my Model 15, wife's K38, etc: 125 gr JHP (usually Hydo-Shoks)

 

[bigdaddyrobb]

What about ratloads or snake shot?

 

[star1]

If she can get the girls into her bedroom perhaps wait in there with a 20 ga shotgun with the revolver as backup.
from The Box O' Truth #22 - 20 Gauge Shotgun - The Box O' Truth

"I was surprised by the penetration of the #3 Buckshot in the 20 gauge. It performed much better than I would have expected. I would not be too quick to discount Buckshot in a 20 Gauge for home defense"

 

[nodpete]

Right off the bat, I'd be concerned with the different points of impact of those different types of rounds from her fixed-sight gun. Say she misses with a 158-grainer and it goes into something it ought not . . . she hasn't been practicing with these rounds and they have grossly different velocities/points of impact: my lawyer nose smells negligence in the water.

What's wrong with the Speer Gold Dot 135-grain +P rounds that seem to be state-of-the-art with police these days? They're pretty easy to find and she'll be able to practice with them. And they're the rounds that are issued by a lot of police departments who still authorize wheelguns.

Just answered the door bell and it was UPS with my order of these very rounds. I agree completely !

 

[Mister X]

Every other week she has her daughters (8 and 11) in a bedroom across the hall. The entry to the apartment is between the two bedrooms. It is a bad set up.

Maybe the answer is a .410 or 20 gauge?

I think sticking with a handgun makes the most sense since moving to the children/through the house is highly probable.

If it was my daughter, I would buy her a new handgun and retire the old M&P from defense duty and relegate it to simply being a family heirloom.

I also believe choosing a DAO weapon or having it converted to it if it's not already is a good idea on a defensive handgun. Needing to make a precise first shot isn't of high enough probability to offset the negatives associated with having single-action capability. Responding to a home invasion is very different from controlled range conditions. Panic will likely set in and you wouldn't want her rushing to the kids or directing them through the home with a cocked revolver.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

I like the 148gr. wadcutters, but as pointed out, above, they can be slow to load/reload due to the bullet design. I'd stay with a standard velocity, 158gr. bullet - particularly the LSWC (Lead Semi-Wadcutter) design. The revolver should be regulated from the factory for this ammo, it's relatively cheap, and it is much easier to load the cylinder with this ammo:

Cheap 38 Special Ammo For Sale - 158 gr LSWC Federal Ammunition In Stock - 50 rounds

Good luck,

Dave

 

[Gamecock]

I like the 148gr. wadcutters, but as pointed out, above, they can be slow to load/reload due to the bullet design.

I have wadcutters in my 38s. I have FMJFP in my speed loaders. Your reloads don't have to be the same as what's in the gun.