Best load for SP101 3 inch

[38SPL HV]

With the longer three inch version of the SP101 what would be your favorite factory loads for defense and outdoor use?

I was leaning towards Rem/Fed/Win 38 Spl +P 158 gr LSWCHP loads.

 

[murphydog]

If you are referring to 'personal' defense, the Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel in either .38 +P or .357 would probably do nicely. If by "outdoor" you mean larger four-legged targets I would likely opt for a 158 gr .357 hard cast SWC but wouldn't enjoy shooting it much, except for practice.

 

[geeollie]

Luckygunner has an interesting list of .38 special rounds they tested in gel.
Many various rounds were tested and their tests seem to be pretty close to other gel tests I have read about (all tests seem to vary a little).

Their tests showed:
Federal HST 130 grain from a 2 inch barrel expanded .73 inch and penetrated 13 inches. From a 4 inch barrel it went 15.1 inch and expanded .71

Winchester 130 grain Ranger Bonded from 2 inch barrel expanded .60 inch and penetrated 13.8 inches. From 4 inch gun penetration was 15.1 inch and expansion .58.

read it here: https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/revolver-ballistics-test/

 

[Zebra War Wagon]

My choice would be the Buffalo Bore; 158 grain SWCHP +P. IMHO, this is an excellent load for short barrel, J Frame magnum sized revolvers. Although the SP101 is stouter than the J's, it still barks like a wild dog with full house magnums.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Back when I had a 3" 65 I carried it loaded with either Buffalo Bore .38 Special 158gr LSWCHP standard pressure or either the .38 Special or .357 Magnum SB-GDHP loads.

With a SP101, I might be tempted to try the BB +P FBI load. If I could find some, I would be very interested in trying some Winchester 145gr Silvertips.

As to the outdoors use, I can't really help. My only experience with the great outdoors is limited to well-marked trails and the only wildlife encountered has been deer or some wild turkeys (the animal, not the bourbon... ). I would think a heavy, deeply penetrating round would be applicable, as murphydog mentioned.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The difference of only 1" in your barrel should make no difference. If you have a favorite ammo for a 2" barrel revolver use it in your 3" barrel too as long as it's accurate in your new revolver.

 

[transit]

One of the nice things about using .38 Special in a revolver that can also shoot .357 Magnum is that you get a little bit extra on your extraction because of the shorter .38 cases.

Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel .38 Special +P 135 grain.

Federal Micro HST .38 Special +P 130 grain.

Buffalo Bore .38 Special Standard Pressure 158 grain LSWCHPGC.

Buffalo Bore .38 Special +P 158 grain LSWCHPGC.

I would look no further.

If I HAD to have ".357 Magnum" in my J frame, I would step up slightly to the Speer Gold Dot 135 grain Short Barrel .357. -Some more velocity (-but not too much) so some more energy. At the same time, the longer case to eject... And honestly, the Buffalo Bore +Ps would mathematically seem to have more energy than the Speer Short Barrel .357s, while still having shorter cases to eject.

I would not go to legitimate .357 Magnum loads in a J frame revolver. That's just me.

We've talked about the big 3's FBI loads. I think the fact is that today, they've simply moved beyond caring about them and their quality.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Your 3" is almost a 4".................

For indoors, the 38 +P loads is the only way to go if you have to use them without eye and ear protection in a emergency.

Even my 686 is loaded with 125gr Jhp "Treasery loads" until it goes outside the house, in these winter days.

 

[F224]

From an older post of mine, I still carry this load daily:

"I posted this elsewhere in this forum, my previous test results:

Federal 38spl + P HST Micro

Well I had a chance to chronograph this ammo. At about a buck a round, I only shot five through each of three guns. Not truly scientific with such a small sample, but it appears to be right on for factory claims regarding consistency of velocity, but in my 2" & 3" guns the velocity is well below the factory published number of 890 fps. I do not see on Federals website what barrel length or type they are using for their numbers.

2" S&W M337:
High 800 fps
Low 799 fps
Yes, a total for five shots of 1 fps variance.

3" Custom Colt Agent:
High 859 fps
Low 855 fps
Extreme spread of 4 fps.

4" S&W M67:
High 889 fps
Low 885 fps
Extreme spread of 4 fps.

Just for a control group, I then fired five Federal 148gr HBWC Gold Metal Match through the M67 for an average velocity of 753 fps and an extreme spread of 26 fps and a standard deviation of 10 fps. This M67 will shoot into 3.5" at 50 yards with the FGMM ammo off of sandbags.

Ammo lot # R12P1394144 Federal Premium P38HST1S 130gr HSP JHP 130gr "

 

[DADoser]

I can't speak to ballistics, but the round I find the most enjoyable/fun to shoot out of my 3" SP101 is Winchester 110gr .357 JHP.

If I carried my SP, I would have no issues carrying it with that round.

 

[kaaskop49]

I can't speak to ballistics, but the round I find the most enjoyable/fun to shoot out of my 3" SP101 is Winchester 110gr .357 JHP.

If I carried my SP, I would have no issues carrying it with that round.

^^^what he said. I carry this load or the R-P equivalent in my Model 60 and M&P 340s. They're great loads: the W/W is packaged as a generic and is less expensive. The 3" SP is even heavier than my Model 60 so it should be even more fun to shoot and the 3" bbl provides extra ballistics. I consider these 110gr mags the perfect ammo to shoot in steel cylinder, small frame mag revolvers. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[jerry52]

Rem golden sabers 125 a mid range 357 a oldie but a goody

 

[ContinentalOp]

^^^what he said. I carry this load or the R-P equivalent in my Model 60 and M&P 340s. They're great loads: the W/W is packaged as a generic and is less expensive. The 3" SP is even heavier than my Model 60 so it should be even more fun to shoot and the 3" bbl provides extra ballistics. I consider these 110gr mags the perfect ammo to shoot in steel cylinder, small frame mag revolvers. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

While I generally prefer medium-to-heavy for caliber bullet weights, I would not feel at a significant disadvantage with this round. Keep in mind that, ballistically, it's about the same as 9mm 115gr +P. Also, IIRC, I believe this was the standard issue ammo for the U.S. Marshals Service when they carried Ruger GP100s (I could be wrong, though).

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
If you are going with 38spec for the shorter case that is one thing.
The short barrel SD 357 loads are not much hotter than a +P 38.
For woods I would carry 357 110s SJHP or a hard cast 158 swc.
But for city or anyplace where you CAN'T have over penatration---
I REALY LIKE the Supervel Super snub 90gr 38+p.
Out of your 3in they may break 1400fps[give or take]
They WILL deform [impact over 1000fps]
The only thing is they only go about 9in deep.
As most of us will never shoot through glass,car doors,or cover.[we shoot at the TARGET not in the general area]
FBI spec means nothing to me....
BUT going through the target in a group of people gives me the willies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!