Chronographed 2 factory loads today

[drifterdon]

I finally got around to shooting some Buffalo Bore Non +P 158 grain SWCHP (20C) rounds today with my Model 60-15 3" barrel.

I also shot some Federal Hydra Shock 110 grain 38 special ammo.

The Buffalo Bore is definitely hot and the Federal is definitely not

Here are the results from my gun.

 

[Otreb]

Thanks for the info. The fed 110 hydrashok is a feeble load, yet I always hear of people who use it.
I also chrono'd the std pressure BB 158gr a few days ago from four Colt .38's:
2" Cobra- 849fps avg
4" PPS- 980fps avg
5" PPS (circa 1919)- 1009fps avg
6" Officers (circa 1912) - 1053fps avg

This is a great load.

 

[drifterdon]

Yea, I like it as well but think the Speer 135 Gold Dot +P was more comfortable to shoot and maybe just a bit more accurate. Too bad they are so hard to find right now.
In Black Diamond here.

 

[pittpa]

The fed 110 hydrashok is a feeble load, yet I always hear of people who use it.

Some people shooting light weight guns try to stay away from recoil, I guess. Still more than many other carry guns, even at 201 ft/lb. They guy below prefers a stouter load.

 

[moxie]

Yea, I like it as well but think the Speer 135 Gold Dot +P was more comfortable to shoot and maybe just a bit more accurate. Too bad they are so hard to find right now.
In Black Diamond here.

Here it is at a good price:

CCI Speer .38 Special 135 Grain +P Short Barrel Gold Dot Hollow Point - a - 50 Rounds per Box

 

[cocojo]

A feeble load, where did that come from? I chronied the Federal 110 hydra shoks from my Ruger LCR and got an average velocity of 935. That is 214 foot lbs of energy. If you think thats feeble you need a 357 mag. This round will put a nasty hole in you. I use it and have no quams about it. Too much is made about ammo these days. In reality it's a good round and will get the job done. I learned a long time ago that it's the wizard not the wand. I find it very accurate and has just enough recoil for quick follow up shots.

 

[kaaskop49]

I always appreciate when members with chronographs take the time/trouble to chrono factory loads and post the results. Many thanks!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[rwsmith]

I see your point....

The BB hits pretty good velocity for a 158 gr. slug. But you would expect that a 110 gr jhp should easily top 1000 fps but it's more like 900 fps.

I can trade weight for velocity or velocity for weight but trading weight AND velocity.....

In reality, though, either one would probably cause some degree of pain.

 

[moxie]

The 110s aren't likely to break 1000fps out of a snubby.

One thing to be wary of with the 110s is bullet jump because of the limited bearing surface. Especially in light guns like the alloy J-frames and the LCRs.

 

[camsdaddy]

I would have thought the numbers from a 3" barrel would have been a little higher

 

[rwsmith]

Not much diff......

I would have thought the numbers from a 3" barrel would have been a little higher

As per a recent thread, it seems that the extra inch of barrel doesn't gain too much.

You are right about the snub's velocity. It almost makes 1000 fps with the 110 bullet but no cigar.

 

[Otreb]

The BB hits pretty good velocity for a 158 gr. slug. But you would expect that a 110 gr jhp should easily top 1000 fps but it's more like 900 fps.

I can trade weight for velocity or velocity for weight but trading weight AND velocity.....

In reality, though, either one would probably cause some degree of pain.

The problem with the 110gr fed load is its too slow for being so light, resulting in little or no expansion or expansion with no penetration- like a .380 basically. That's feeble. I learned to shoot a snubby well enough to handle actual .38sp power.
The Corbon DPX or Buffalo Bore using the the same all copper bullet has a lot more promise.
I've chrono'd the Barnes 110 gr +p from Buffalo Bore in a 1.41" bbl Taurus View and 2.5" model 242, it scoots along....nearly 1100fps from the View and 1225fps in the 242.

 

[drifterdon]

I would have thought the numbers from a 3" barrel would have been a little higher

I would have thought so too but keep in mind this is "low recoil" non +P ammo.

 

[moxie]

Best to just go ahead and get the good stuff, the Speer Gold Dot 135+P.

Still in stock at ammunitiondepot.com as I stated in post #5.

The 110 grainers were in vogue many moons ago until most folk figured out they ain't any good.

 

[M E Morrison]

I finally got around to shooting some Buffalo Bore Non +P 158 grain SWCHP (20C) rounds today with my Model 60-15 3" barrel.

I also shot some Federal Hydra Shock 110 grain 38 special ammo.

The Buffalo Bore is definitely hot and the Federal is definitely not

Here are the results from my gun.

Makes me wonder what the +P would do?
Thanks for posting!

 

[M E Morrison]

Thanks for the info. The fed 110 hydrashok is a feeble load, yet I always hear of people who use it.
I also chrono'd the std pressure BB 158gr a few days ago from four Colt .38's:
2" Cobra- 849fps avg
4" PPS- 980fps avg
5" PPS (circa 1919)- 1009fps avg
6" Officers (circa 1912) - 1053fps avg

This is a great load.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Triathloncoach]

The BB hits pretty good velocity for a 158 gr. slug. But you would expect that a 110 gr jhp should easily top 1000 fps but it's more like 900 fps.

I can trade weight for velocity or velocity for weight but trading weight AND velocity.....

In reality, though, either one would probably cause some degree of pain.

I would guess most people who get shot would do just about anything not to get shot again. If running is an option, that would be the number 1 option.

 

[kaaskop49]

We see again, in the words of some very perceptive posters, how +P loads have been diluted over the years (decades!). True, factory MV tables can be overly optimistic, yet the Super Vel 110gr .38 load ran over 1100fps in 4" and the 110gr Treasury load pretty much duplicated this.

We have all seen numerous threads by posters wondering if their revolvers can safely handle today's +P ammunition. When these high pressure .38 loads first appeared in the late 60s/early 70s, they WERE a "handful" in a K-frame and we were concerned about the pressures generated by these loads. After a cylinder-full, the gun was hot! 6, maybe 12 rounds at a session were deemed to be the unofficial limit.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103