Best 38 Special Ammo for Snubbies:

[Piwo]

FWIW...Our department issued Winchester 158 grain LSWC Plus P (NOT hollow point) back in the day. It must have been loaded hotter than today's stuff as I had chronographed it in the mid 900 fps range from 4 inch guns .
Our Ordnance Unit Sergeant had told us that this load had never failed to stop in any departmental shooting when the round was placed center mass. I have no way of verifying that, but at the time I believed him. I have used that round on racoons and woodchucks. It seemed to work as well as any hollow point that I can recall, maybe even better in some cases. On vicious large dogs it worked very well as a stopper...again, assuming good placement. From what I have seen in my limited experience, jacketed hollow points are not reliable expanders in anything from a 2 inch snub. 4 inch barrels and longer is a different story. I have a stash of this ammo from back then and it is what I carry in a snub if I carry one. I know what it will do if placed right. It reliably penetrates and I don't worry about expansion. It's not dynamic by any means but no handgun load really is.
I know that some studies have shown that there is little difference in "stopping power" between the 158 gr. LSWC and the RNL in a 38. Perhaps that is true, but I recall the old timers speak of RNL failures but never with the SWC plus P. I have seen the difference on small game animals...The RNL killed them, but the LSWC seemed to smack them down. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Nevada Ed]

With the price of 38 Spl ammo, now,
most of use grab the cheap 130 target folders, if available.

If the price is right, the little 110 jacket stuff, will also work
in most revolvers, for killing paper.

When I go to a store, 50% of the time there is no target ammo on the shelf.
It was either sold or on order.

 

[Snub Nose Sasquatch]

My S&W 637 is loaded with 120 grain Federal Punch .38 Special + P.

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

Timely discussion. I had been carrying some Federal 147 grain Hydra Shok +P+ "Law Enforcement Only!" Stuff. I just recently learned from research (Thankfully not hard experience) that stuff is a terrible choice. Standard pressure velocity and incapable of expansion, even out of 4" barrels.

So...I started a quest to replace it. Going into yet another Alaskan Winter, I really wanted something reliable that wouldn't clog up with layers of clothing and would shoot to point of aim.

I finally handloaded some +P 140 grain LeHigh Deep Penetrators. I've heard folks claim they don't perform any better than a standard SWC. I ain't convinced that they're wrong. I do however like assured penetration and an ugly permanent wound channel.
I don't think it's likely worse than a 158 grain SWC, and it may be better. I don't mind that gamble. If all else fails and I can't hit the bad guy, I might be able to tell him the cost of the ammo I just launched at him and either give him a heart attack or make him realize that I'm definitely too broke to bother robbing.

Of course, after I completed this exercise, I lost patience for all of it and started carrying a .45 Colt again, at least for Winter.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

First of all, from what I saw, the list was compiled by an ammo company that sells it - right there you have to take it with a grain of salt - they are probably not going to recommend a brand or sku number they don't sell. Sort of seems nothing more than self fulfilling to me.

Exactly; Lucky Gunner is frequently praised for their Gelatin Tests of ammunition they sell.

Professional Training should be completed by anyone who carries a handgun. But the typical man will go with the newest handgun fad and boutique ammunition.

 

[S-W4EVER]

My S&W 637 is loaded with 120 grain Federal Punch .38 Special + P.

My 340PD & 442 are now loaded with Federal Hydra-Shok 129 gr. 38 Special +P.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Timely discussion. I had been carrying some Federal 147 grain Hydra Shok +P+ "Law Enforcement Only!" Stuff. I just recently learned from research (Thankfully not hard experience) that stuff is a terrible choice. Standard pressure velocity and incapable of expansion, even out of 4" barrels.

So...I started a quest to replace it. Going into yet another Alaskan Winter, I really wanted something reliable that wouldn't clog up with layers of clothing and would shoot to point of aim.

I finally handloaded some +P 140 grain LeHigh Deep Penetrators. I've heard folks claim they don't perform any better than a standard SWC. I ain't convinced that they're wrong. I do however like assured penetration and an ugly permanent wound channel.
I don't think it's likely worse than a 158 grain SWC, and it may be better. I don't mind that gamble. If all else fails and I can't hit the bad guy, I might be able to tell him the cost of the ammo I just launched at him and either give him a heart attack or make him realize that I'm definitely too broke to bother robbing.

Of course, after I completed this exercise, I lost patience for all of it and started carrying a .45 Colt again, at least for Winter.

Handguns are incapable of causing a permanent wound channel. Only long guns will.

When I lived there I carried a Smith 41 magnum with 210 gr jacketed hollow points. That was long ago.

Today I would carry wadcutters primarily and a monolith bullet such as the Lehigh.

 

[dobegrant]

I like the Hornady critical defense ammo

 

[BKLooney]

I hate to be a knucklehead, but that's not the "old Federal 158 grain +P Semi-Wadcutter HP load (38G)", that's the current version. The original version that the load made its reputation with used a different, softer bullet. The picture you posted is the first one I've seen with an expanded bullet; the others I've seen showed no expansion in gel tests. I'd dearly love for the bullet in that picture to be the norm since the current 38G is about half the price of the R-P and Winchester versions. The R-P and Winchester versions are apparently still using the original bullets they started with, and work just like they used to. I use the R-P version, but not in snubs, just in my 3" and 4" K frames.

I run Federal Gold Medal Match wadcutters in my M49 with R-P 158-grain standard velocity LSWCs as reloads, and Winchester Ranger Bonded 130-grain JHPs in my 642-2. I'd run wadcutters in my 642 but it's regulated for 125-130-grain ammo.

I've got a couple cases of this stuff, out of a 4" model 15 I see roughly the same expansion with this ammo in gel as depicted. Never have hit any gel out of my 642, most likely won't fair as well, but I'd venture to say, well enough.

 

[Fastbolt]

Somehow missed seeing this thread? Well, it's not like there's exactly a dearth of threads on this topic.

I used to almost agonize over choosing the 'best' .38SPL load for my snubs in the 80's. I didn't expect the JHP's of that era to consistently expand, especially when fired form a 2-3" barreled snub. Like many of us, I eventually settled on one or another brand of the LSWCHP (later called LHP) +P, although I did enjoy using some of the Nyclad loads (once Federal bought the rights). I still have a supply of the Remington, Winchester and Federal Nyclad 158gr +P loads, but mostly favor the Remington, since they usually did best in the HC and 4LD testing (softer lead).

Nowadays, though, I favor (in no particular order) Speer's 135+P GDHP, Winchester's 130gr +P RA38B, and Remington's 125gr +P Golden Sabre. I've not only seen them do well in the hosted gel lab events at ranges, but they've earned good reputations among LE users.

For my Airweight that isn't rated for +P (37-2DAO), I stick with 110gr standard pressure loads, and have some 158gr standard pressure LSWC to fall back upon (only because I don't have any remaining 148gr Target WC left in my cabinets ).

I've tried a lot of other loads over the years, and wouldn't lose sleep if forced to carry most of them. Granted, a 158gr RNL or 130gr Ball would be my last choices, given my druthers. I put my primary focus on accurate hits making the old service caliber effective. Not magic bullets.

Also, smaller revolvers generally demand more of the user, so more attention and effort to developing and maintaining skill is reasonably demanded of diminutive revolver users.

 

[john17427]

I wouldn't feel at a disadvantage with either HST, Gold Dot, Critical Defense, FBI loads, or my own home brewed 158gr XTP +P's. I figure they'll do their part if I do mine. In snub's I usually have HST or Gold Dot Short Barrel; in the 64 it's usually my 158gr +P's.

 

[scottr]

Handguns are incapable of causing a permanent wound channel. Only long guns will.

Um…I do not think that means what you think it means.

 

[50 target]

I worked in the banking industry most of my work life. Lending large sums of money to different business types, etc,etc. Analyzing income streams, cash flows, debt service, global debt service, ad nauseum to the point you were in a mental fog. What we called "paralysis by analysis".
There are so many variables to be considered in this discussion to overcome that trying to have one solution for all is overwhelming. I have seen enough unexplainable craziness as a Reserve Deputy when it comes to shootings that I have come to the conclusion that the "best" is whatever I have in my handgun when I needed it. A 12 ga pump was was always next to me when I rode.. FBI agent Mirellis(sic) who ended the Miami shootout was asked what advice he would give his LEO brothers. His reply was "carry just as much ammo as you possibly can".

 

[38SPL HV]

I rely on standard velocity 38 Spl in my S&W Airweight 1 7/8 “ snubs nowadays …good load is 4.0 grs W231 under a 158 gr cast SWC. In four inch, I’ll use Remington’s 38 Spl +P 158 gr LHP…anything less than four inches will not get you the velocity needed for expansion with the 158 gr LHP…in this case penetration reigns supreme.