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

[Law-dog]

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...
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I love the Lucky Gunner testing. That said, they do not test everything For example, the most common is 38 Special Plus P 125 grain white box ammo. Testing along side other brands with multiple 2 inch J Frames, we found it went 888-913 fps, in identical models 637. And expansion was great, as good as any on this list, and it is the cheap stuff. Fired some this week and noticed the recoil was hot from the model 637.

My point? The generic white box ammo is equal to any of the premium cost ammo. I like Supervel or other fast ammo, but have no problems with the white box ammo. I think the FBI protocols have created fear that your ammo might not be as good as some that is $3 per round, lol.

So, the debate is anything from wadcutters at the 158 grain to $3 per round ammo and people like it on both ends. Does it really matter?

 

[Smeckler]

My EDC S&W 442 is fed Remington Golden Saber 125gr +P. They're designed for reliable expansion from a snubby and the independant testing I've see shows that they do.

Hiking, fishing, or general outdoor recreation will have me carrying a Taurus 856 and that will be loaded with Underwood Hard Cast Keith 158gr +P loads.

 

[Malkovich]

I love the Lucky Gunner testing. That said, they do not test everything For example, the most common is 38 Special Plus P 125 grain white box ammo. Testing along side other brands with multiple 2 inch J Frames, we found it went 888-913 fps, in identical models 637. And expansion was great, as good as any on this list, and it is the cheap stuff. Fired some this week and noticed the recoil was hot from the model 637.

My point? The generic white box ammo is equal to any of the premium cost ammo. I like Supervel or other fast ammo, but have no problems with the white box ammo. I think the FBI protocols have created fear that your ammo might not be as good as some that is $3 per round, lol.

So, the debate is anything from wadcutters at the 158 grain to $3 per round ammo and people like it on both ends. Does it really matter?

It might matter to some, which white box of ammo did they test and reveal is as good as which premium branded ammo ?
Speer seems to have done extensive research for the Big Apple PD back in the day (135g+P Short Barrel ammo) and Buffalo has some ammo that may perform better than other ammo in certain applications.
There are other offerings that are worthy of a looksie too, pricing matters to some and maybe to many ?

 

[walkin' trails]

Currently Federal Gold Medal 148 gr wadcutters. I don't like ammo that recoils terribly hard anymore. I've been keeping my eyes open for the Gold Dot 135 short barrel, but it doesn't seem to show up in my neck of the woods. I have Hornady 110 +p Critical Defense, but don't care for its accuracy from my two inch guns. I like to hit POA with a snub, or at least close to it out to 25 yards, and the CD from a two inch doesn't seem to want to it, even as close as 7 yards. I recently found some Punch 120 grain. Will try it for accuracy next time at the range. Will also likely get around to ordering some Georgia Arms 148 grain personal defense war cutters if the Punch is found to be lacking in the accuracy department. In the meantime, it's the Gold Medal.

 

[Rocketmedic40]

Hornady Critical Defense, not sure on weight or pressure.