shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
You're unlikely to need the golf glove. I think you'll like it.
Buffalo Bore 38 +P in 642?
- Thread starter Pine
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You're unlikely to need the golf glove. I think you'll like it.
Rpg
Member
Use ammo you can hit the target where you point and that is comfortable to shoot.
Forget the whiz bang stuff. You're better served with a 148gr target load you can hit something with than something with gee whiz ballistics.
Arreating the background won't help. Ammo that beats you up doesn't do what you want - stop the bad guy. Ammo you can hit the bad guy with will!
Forget the whiz bang stuff. You're better served with a 148gr target load you can hit something with than something with gee whiz ballistics.
Arreating the background won't help. Ammo that beats you up doesn't do what you want - stop the bad guy. Ammo you can hit the bad guy with will!
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
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I agree with this. The old 38/44 load is mostly for entertainment, and to see what the FBI used in their Colt Police Positives back when they bought those guns. Our choices these days are better, and agree with the FBI load (158 gr LHP +P) or the Speer GD Short Barrel. Both are fully tested and proven.
I've gotten some good opinions on this site regarding the Buffalo Bore 38 +P 158 gr lead semi wad cutter hollow point in a S&W 642. Thanks to all.
I ordered a box and took my 642 to the range today to see for myself how it handled. DAMN!
The 642 is my preferred carry. I use the two finger grip because of its concealability. I was hoping the B.B. 158 grain wad cutter would give the snubby some extra velocity and punch.
There can be too much of a good thing.
The recoil in that little light frame was overwhelming. A quick follow up shot was out of the question. I'm 6'1", 230 lbs and have been shooting all kinds of weapons for 45 years. This ammo was too much for me to feel confident about use in a critical situation if more than one shot is required. I'm afraid the power and slug weight is mismatched to the 642.
I use other Buffalo Bore ammo and love it in my .45, 9mm and .380.
This .38 ammo might better be great in a K frame or some weapon heavier than the J frame. For me, I'll stick to Federal Premium Hydra Shok +P 129 grain JHP in the 642.
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I ordered a box and took my 642 to the range today to see for myself how it handled. DAMN!
The 642 is my preferred carry. I use the two finger grip because of its concealability. I was hoping the B.B. 158 grain wad cutter would give the snubby some extra velocity and punch.
There can be too much of a good thing.
The recoil in that little light frame was overwhelming. A quick follow up shot was out of the question. I'm 6'1", 230 lbs and have been shooting all kinds of weapons for 45 years. This ammo was too much for me to feel confident about use in a critical situation if more than one shot is required. I'm afraid the power and slug weight is mismatched to the 642.
I use other Buffalo Bore ammo and love it in my .45, 9mm and .380.
This .38 ammo might better be great in a K frame or some weapon heavier than the J frame. For me, I'll stick to Federal Premium Hydra Shok +P 129 grain JHP in the 642.
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badge 851
US Veteran
Try the 20C (standard pressure) load; it's specifically made for shooting in Airweight® guns. Recoil is not a problem for me with this load.
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For an Airweight I would use the STANDARD BB 158 grain LSWCHP which out of a 2" gun will give you around 880 fps - a VAST improvement over the BIG 3 +P offerings and will not harm your gun.
Leave the BB +P's for the steel framed guns and you'll be fine.
Leave the BB +P's for the steel framed guns and you'll be fine.
hotrod150
Member
BB offers two loads in non- +P 38 ammo that I like the looks of : a soft lead 158 gr SWC-HP at 850 fps, and a hardcast 150 gr WC at the same 850 fps. I think the BB people prefer the full wadcutter-- read their description of each of these loads and you'll see that they really rave about the wadcutter's virtues. I handload my own version of each of these and kind of go back & forth on which ones I want to carry in the gun for self-defense purposes. Right now the guns are loaded with the full wadcutters, but the quick-strips have the SWC-HP's in them.
Soft it ain't and it doesn't expand worth a damn:
Buffalo Bore .38 Special 158 gr Semiwadcutter Ammo Test - YouTube
According to Rim Rock, the bullet has a Brinell hardness of 5, and I can mark them with my fingernail. How much softer could they be?
hotrod150
Member
Per their website, Buffalo Bore offers several non-jacketed loads:
standard pressure ("short barrel low flash" per BB):
#20C - 158 gr soft lead SWC-HP at 850 fps
#20D - 150 gr hard cast WC at 850 fps
plus-P
#20A - 158 gr lead SWC-HP with gas check at 1,000 fps
#20H - 158 gr hard cast 158 gr SWC at 1,250 fps ("outdoorsman")
Their soft SWC-HP's are cast, not swaged, and apparently both loadings have gas checked bullets. Like I said, I handload the equivalent of #20C & 20D, and would feel confident using either of these for a self-defense carry load. I personally would like to handload a soft solid-base full wadcutter,but so far I haven't had any luck finding anyone who manufacturers one. I think that one of those, with sharp shoulders & maybe a cup point to imitiate a very moderate amount of expansion, would be the best of both worlds.
standard pressure ("short barrel low flash" per BB):
#20C - 158 gr soft lead SWC-HP at 850 fps
#20D - 150 gr hard cast WC at 850 fps
plus-P
#20A - 158 gr lead SWC-HP with gas check at 1,000 fps
#20H - 158 gr hard cast 158 gr SWC at 1,250 fps ("outdoorsman")
Their soft SWC-HP's are cast, not swaged, and apparently both loadings have gas checked bullets. Like I said, I handload the equivalent of #20C & 20D, and would feel confident using either of these for a self-defense carry load. I personally would like to handload a soft solid-base full wadcutter,but so far I haven't had any luck finding anyone who manufacturers one. I think that one of those, with sharp shoulders & maybe a cup point to imitiate a very moderate amount of expansion, would be the best of both worlds.
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