Baby Chief & +P JHP

[rusty37874]

I have a 1953 era Baby Chief .38 and am considering using it as my EDC. I have some Federal 129 GR. JHP Hydra-Shock ammo on hand, and not knowing much about ballistics, was wondering if these rounds would be suitable and sensible for this snub?

 

[walkin jack]

Please be careful Rusty. I would not fire a +P load in a revolver unless and until I had verified that it was rated for the extra pressure. Depending upon how and how much it has been used you might want an armorer to give his blessing first.

 

[Rpg]

Smith says +p is ok in model numbered guns.

As a practical matter, it's ok in most non model numbered K frames.

There is lots of commercially loaded ammo that isn't +p that works great for sd including target wadcutter loads.

I wouldn't be interested in using + p in a Baby Chief, but I'm not interested in using +p in anything. I don't see a real benefit.

 

[rusty37874]

Thanks for the response Walkin Jack & Rpg, that is exactly the info. I was looking for, -- I managed to find a box of 158 GR. Full Point Lellier & Bellot, I think these would be more suitable for my use. The box is also marked 4.4 Boxer, along with the other .38 stats, a new one for me.

 

[walkin jack]

Actually I think Rpg makes a very good point. In crowded urban situations lightly loaded wad cutters are very useful. They maximize ballistic performance and minimize penetration which minimizes collateral damage.

Once when visiting in the country I took some regular solid lead .38s and did an experiment. I leaned a 2 x 12 up against a tree and fired one of the solid lead .38s into it from about 25'. Then I took one of them and cut the tip of the bullet off and cut and X in the flattened end.

The regular bullet came out the back and raised a few splinters but the one I altered made a massive hole coming out the back. You can get the same result with a semi jacketed hollow point but if all you have is the solid lead bullets.....either will "jelly" a lot of tissue as it goes in.

 

[walkin jack]

Also, it just occurred to me to ask if you have been firing this gun lately. If it hasn't been maintained, lubricated, fired lately you need to inspect the cylinder. Make sure it locks up nice and tight. check this bot with the gun cocked and uncocked.

You don't want any "play" in the cylinder at all. Firing a revolver with a loose cylinder can be very hazardous to your health.

 

[Old cop]

Probably OK to carry it but not shoot it. If you ever have to use it, i'll work better, go into police evidence and you may never see it again.

 

[Arik]

9/10 times to take advantage of +p you need longer barrels. Preferably 4 inches and longer. Otherwise it's just more noise. There are a few exceptions like the Speer Gold Dot 135gr +p short barrel ammo but it stated that it's made for short barrels.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[rusty37874]

Probably OK to carry it but not shoot it. If you ever have to use it, i'll work better, go into police evidence and you may never see it again.

I would hate to carry something I'm not prepared to shoot, maybe I should look for a substitute carry instead of my BC. -- Probably a good idea anyway, Thanks for the input all.

 

[TomkinsSP]

Probably OK to carry it but not shoot it. If you ever have to use it, i'll work better, go into police evidence and you may never see it again.

Exactly why my irreplaceable M40 (bought almost 40 years ago) retired. I would hate to see the 640 impounded, but it is replaceable.

 

[riverrat38]

If you do want to carry a non plus P rated revolver, and don't want to use plus P ammo, Buffalo Bore makes some potent standard ammo, like the hard cast 150 gr WC's and 158 gr FBI loads. For practice, I use 125 gr plated flat point bullets over 4.5 gr Trail Boss. No lead ammo at my range. These are easy on my old wrists and revolvers. Finish off with a cylinder of whatever I carry.

Best,
Rick

 

[model3sw]

With a Chief's Special you're toting a 2" barrel smaller frame ... a virtual 5 shot mini-me of the .38 M&P 2" ... (on the baby chief).

While firing +P on occasion or to carry, if you must, likely won't hurt it however I would not feed it a steady diet of +P ammo.

Most important (to me) is control. I find standard .38 Special, JHP like the older Hydra-shoks ... or the S&W brand Nyclad HP to be much more manageable and the better ammo choice. I had also found an older box of Silver Tips in Standard .38 Special caliber (non +P).

The recoil is even more exacerbated in a Chief's Airweight frame. Using a +P in an Airweight with steel cylinder (never with older alloy cylinders) will withstand the added trauma to the frame, it will likely not be as accurate at the standard .38 Special load.

The "go to" round for a .38 Chief's Special (IMHO) is a S&W Nyclad HP (non +p) or search for an older box of Federal Hydra shocks (non +P). Both of these ammo types are no longer manufactured but I'd imagine there are others out there if you search for them.

I feel it is much better to hit what you're aiming at with a standard load .38 Special round then to risk a miss from the harsher recoil of the .38 Spec +P round in "this" particular case.

There are even .38 Special +P+ (boxes marked Law Enforcement use ONLY) but not a good idea in a Chief, I think.