Ammunition choice - dead horse, maybe - J frames only - .38 Specials only

[AJ]

I have been known to use 148 grain wadcutters. Punches a nice hole in paper, will do so in other "soft" targets.

 

[rockquarry]

Whatever you shoot well. Consider accuracy, point-of-impact vs. point-of-aim, and quick recovery from recoil. Try five or six different ammos, standard pressure and +P if you're serious about selecting the best ammo. Also, work on improving your shooting skills and don't waste your time assessing ammo and your skills up close. Shooting at 20 -25 yards will tell you far more, then up close will be a breeze. Hitting your target consistently is far more important than obsessive esoterica. If you're concerned with matters like jello testing and "over penetration", get a good sharp knife with a 5" blade. Good luck-

 

[john17427]

Federal HST and Gold Dot Short Barrel. Gun is loaded with HST with the reload being Gold Dots.

 

[65-2x2]

The 60-12 .38 only snub in my pocket right now outside the Lonetree Cabela's is loaded with the Remington/UMC 125 gr SJHP +P.

That is what I load with as well. I am not willing to pay for some of the more exotic ammo. It is my opinion that the ammo choice is one of the least important parts of self defense with a handgun.

 

[walkin' trails]

Currently Federal 158 grain LSWCHP +p as it shoots point of aim out of my 640. Id carry the Speer if I could find it. Realistically, I’ll probably try to find some Buffalo Bore or Atlanta Arms Wadcutters. The 110 grain Critical Defense +p that everyone was talking about doesn’t shoot point of aim thru any of my Js. It still have this notion I have to be able to hit POA out to 25 yards due to my state’s LEOSA qual standards.

 

[hrdrgz7]

I’ve been carrying Underwood Ammunition 38 Special 158gr. Semi-Wadcutter Hollow Point Black Cherry Coated Soft Cast Self Defense Ammo LSWCHP in my S&W 442 PC
- Significantly less recoil
- Excellent round with high reliability

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

Gun, 442 or 340 PD. Ammo, 148-150gr. hardcast wadcutters. Reason, shooting wads for a real long time. Also I spend four weeks a year at the Jersey shore. Reloads LSWC. May move to Critical Defense because they have been approved by NJSP as not really hollow points and would slip in real easy. I still have a bunch of wadcutters left.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

For years it was Winchester 125 gr LSWCHP . I used it because I bought into the factory load only from a legal standpoint for carry ammo and it had an excellent record for one shot stops . Have since decided that the theory is a load of crap and Winchester dropped the load anyway so I carry my loads now . I use the 135 grain SBGDHP with a warm load of Longshot . It will kill a pig from a 2" barrel so I figure it will do for bangers as well. Never ran it across the chrony but it is fast enough to reliably mushroom to a much larger size without breaking up. That's good enough for me.

 

[WR Moore]

Speer 53720, 125 gr GD +P. Gave 12.58 inch penetration through 4 layers of denim, 0.54 in expansion from a 60.

My state had (at least) one shooting that was the poster event for carrying factory. Very close range shooting during a hand to hand. Lab tests came back saying not so. But: the Federal box was still there with lot number, checking the CSI lab test report, Federal determined that the state exemplar load used different powder from that used in the ammunition lot in the shooting. Lab report invalid. Aquitted. Federal records are those of an independent third party and are far more detailed than any records you might have.

 

[Matt_X]

What's your ammunition choice and why?

Hornady CD
As I recall because at the time my LGS didn't have any HP
And Lucky Gunner Labs, and then Paul Harrell's tests indcated to me it would be a reasonably good defensive round even with a short barrel revolver.
When I first bought some it was for an Undercover, but same idea. Since then I've bought more when the price was more reasonable.

Mag-Tech 158 grain FMJ-Flat cartridges for some time now. Why? I can't remember but I think they were left over from a range session so I retained them for carry.

I'll shoot Magtech but won't rely on it for competition or possible self defense for the reasons posted here.

Post in thread 'Ammo brands you avoid'

Apr 2, 2025

I've been avoiding Magtech even though it might be fine in revolvers.
Magtech at the Range - The Carbine Collector's Club
Just not worth having a primer cup caught in the bolt or such.

Today had a high primer in a box of Magtech 130 gr FMJ
In the J-frame it prevented the cylinder from rotating. But it cleared the recoil shield on the inboard side enough that the cylinder closed. In the Model 15 the cylinder would not shut.

• Matt_X

If you like 158gr keep an eye out for Underwood's SWCHP coated soft lead cartridge. I bought some on sale for K-frame but haven't tried it out yet. The little I could find about it sounds like a good SD cartridge and ought to hit about where a 158 gr LRN hits . We'll see.

 

[Rock185]

My employer issued the Federal 129 grain Hydra-shok .38+P for years, so that's what I carried. The 129 Hydra-shok did poorly in the Lucky Gunner tests. Since then, I've used several types, to include the Federal 130 HST micro, which did very well in the LG tests. But I haven't seen any of the 130 HST for sale lately.

I don't know how well it might do in gel tests, but the Underwood 125 JHP, and 158 grain SWC are the most powerful .38+P loads I've come across. In my 2" revolver, the 125 averaged 1090 FPS, the 158 1055 FPS. I used a lightweight S&W 642. Recoil was quite noticeable, especially the 158 load..

 

[shamus]

Let's keep it simple. You carry a J-frame. Any model. You load .38 Special only. Any other caliber need not apply. What's your ammunition choice and why? How you carry the gun is not an issue.

For starters, I've been carrying a M649 stoked with Mag-Tech 158 grain FMJ-Flat cartridges for some time now. Why? I can't remember but I think they were left over from a range session so I retained them for carry. To avoid over penetration in the unlikely event of a confrontation I'm thinking of going back to Hornady Critical Defense ammunition.

That's my story for today. What's yours?

I know, the horse is not dead but not well, either, but this came up in a conversation earlier so I had to put it in writing.

Speer upside down HBWC over 5 grains of Unique

 

[AJ]

Speer upside down HBWC over 5 grains of Unique

There are still a fair amount of people that seem to think that is a very good load.

 

[REParker]

I always find the Lucky Gunner tests to be informative. For .38 Spl. I refer to the following, scrubbing penetration vs. expansion vs. velocity. You might find it helpful as well...

 

[Treeman]

Any given Sunday....158gr lead swchp "FBI" in the gun and Speer Gold dots in the speed strip.(I dislike exposed lead chafing in my pockets). Woods carry ( yes sometimes I hike or fish with a snub) 160 gr cast flat nose.