Best NON +p .38special?
- Thread starter circa1981
- Start date
Knightrider03m
Member
Yea I also want to know as I'm kind of getting tired of my +p out of my J-frame too.
I only carry Speer Gold Dot SB 135 grain +P in .38 special. Now I shoot all kinds/ brands of .38 special in lower loads for plinking and practice.
But for carry why downgrade? Your chances of ever firing a CCW are very slim in the 1st place. So those shots if they are ever taken should be with the best ammo you can find. And +P gives you more punch.
But for carry why downgrade? Your chances of ever firing a CCW are very slim in the 1st place. So those shots if they are ever taken should be with the best ammo you can find. And +P gives you more punch.
11e40
Member
148 hbwc target loads. best i've found for airweight .38 spl. hth.
I carry +P in all my older snubs, none rated for it, and if I have to use it the gun will go into evidence for a very long time. Your revolver is only a tool and +P gives it the best chance of optimum performance. This is the safety of you and your family at stake, why use something less than +P?
One good one
Hornady makes a 125 grain XTP in plain .38 special that should do the job.
Many practice with lead ammo that is not +P and shoot some of the +Ps just for familiarity and keep the rest for defense purposes. Shooting defense ammo for practice/target is way too expensive for most people. You are right, the ballistic gain isn't much, but I want every little bit I can get. Besides +P ammo these days is rather anemic compared to the old stuff.
Hornady makes a 125 grain XTP in plain .38 special that should do the job.
Many practice with lead ammo that is not +P and shoot some of the +Ps just for familiarity and keep the rest for defense purposes. Shooting defense ammo for practice/target is way too expensive for most people. You are right, the ballistic gain isn't much, but I want every little bit I can get. Besides +P ammo these days is rather anemic compared to the old stuff.
At the range I shoot .38 wadcutters, I carry only one load for self defense. The Speer Gold dot load for short barrels-yes it is plus p.
At the end of most practice sessions I fire a round of full house self defense loads. With my current shooting habits, I probably shoot more than most people who wear a gun for living. YMMV
At the end of most practice sessions I fire a round of full house self defense loads. With my current shooting habits, I probably shoot more than most people who wear a gun for living. YMMV
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
Buffalo Bore is marketing a non-+P 158gr. LSWCHP they say is safe for all revolvers including alloy frames. They claim it leaves a 2" barrel at 880 fps, with reduced flash and a soft-lead bullet with a large cavity for enhanced expansion. If the claims are true it would be a fine carry round in an Airweight. I carry an all-steel J-frame so I don't worry about it, but I may try that load. I'd bet it has pretty hefty recoil in a lightweight gun.
riverrat38
US Veteran
Buffalo Bore tests their ammo with real guns, and they list the guns used on their web site. Their reports are reported to be accurate by list members who have clocked the ammo. I have used the above ammo, as well as their 150 gr hard cast WC's. Also non plus P. Since recoil is more a function of power factor (momentum) than peak pressure, it has plenty of "kick".
Double Tapp also has a hard cast 148 gr WC that is about midway between target loads and the BB stuff.
I like both loads and think the WC is an effective SD round, but they both shoot high in my 2 inch J frames. Otherwise, I would use the BB in my steel gun and the Double Tapp in my M442. Due to the high point of impact, I have been carrying Speer SB in my J frames. The Speer GD bullets have a much larger meplat than most other HP bullets that I have seen, like the XTP. Should the bullet not open for any reason, I think the GD will make a better wound channel. I would not want a non plus P JHP to expand when fired from a 2 inch barrel. It is asking too much to expect to get good penetration with an expanding bullet at such velocities. Since the WC's get good penetration and a full caliber wound channel, I feel well served using them for carry.
Best,
Rick
I carry this. 38 Special Plus P 110gr DPX | COR®BON/Glaser Self Defense | Dakota Ammo
It is a +P round but has low recoil. Yet it manages to push a 110gr bullet 1050 fps.
IF you can find it!
It is a +P round but has low recoil. Yet it manages to push a 110gr bullet 1050 fps.
IF you can find it!
jimmyj
Member
Winchester-Western Silvertips (standaed velocity)
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I don't like standard .38 Special ammo but not because of lack of velocity but because of bullet construction. The bullets used are very old and probably won't expand reliably at the lower velocities associated with a short barrel. The one exception I've found is the Federal Nyclad ammo but it was almost impossible to find even before the "shortage" hit.
Lighter bullets usually produce less felt recoil. That might be the way to go if you are tired of beating yourself up. I shoot either the Speer 135gr Short Barrel .38 Special +P ammo or the FBI Load depending upon which revolver I'm carrying.
Lighter bullets usually produce less felt recoil. That might be the way to go if you are tired of beating yourself up. I shoot either the Speer 135gr Short Barrel .38 Special +P ammo or the FBI Load depending upon which revolver I'm carrying.
G.T. Smith
US Veteran
In my M37 I don't take a chance with anything but 158 grain LRN. 45 years old and still shoots great. No cracks. I would not want to be shot with them. I believe they would do the job just fine. I carry the exact rounds that I practice with, and it seems that with a snub it does take a little practice to be comfortable with using it for SD.
Peace,
Gordon
Peace,
Gordon
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I would agree with you about almost any bullet but the LRN bullet in a .38 Special. You do realize the LRN bullet has the nickname of "The Widow Maker" right? The LRN bullet that was originally loaded in the .38 Special performed so poorly it gave the .38 Special a bad reputation that to some point still remains today. IMO the LRN bullet is the worst bullet to use for SD. I would however use a LSWC/HP without worries like in the FBI Load. I highly recommend you rethink using a LRN bullet in favor of a LSWC/HP bullet instead.
66 shooter
Member
I carry Federal Ny-Clad for my carry ammo in my model 37, but I have heard a lot of good things about the 158 gr. Buffalo Bore rounds from other shooters. I agree with OldCop though if you are fine with the +P carry it, if it's not a steady diet, your Airweight won't mind and practice with other standard ammo.
NON- +P, Standard 38 special ammo will work for SD with the
Nyclad, Winchester silver tip or lead target ammo but one has to know with the lower velocity and energy, 2-3 body hits may be required to stop a threat, if there is penetration to the vitals.
Some times just one shot will stop an attack, other times you
need more ............Even LE's with 40 years in the field never know what the out come will be.
Nyclad, Winchester silver tip or lead target ammo but one has to know with the lower velocity and energy, 2-3 body hits may be required to stop a threat, if there is penetration to the vitals.
Some times just one shot will stop an attack, other times you
need more ............Even LE's with 40 years in the field never know what the out come will be.
