Defensive ammo for short barrels

[blujax01]

Since there are a lot of you choosing the 135gr Speer Short Barrel .38 Special +P round, why not the 135gr Speer Short Barrel .357 Magnum round. It is the best .38 Special +P load available. (I'll explain)

The .38 Special +P is rated @860 fps from a 2" barrel
The .357 Magnum is rated @990 fps from a 2" barrel

Since the SB .357 Magnum load is just slightly more than a good .38 Special +P why not carry them in your M640? Both use the same bullet which was designed to reliable expand at the lower velocities associated with a short barrel but the additional 100 fps from the magnum round is just a little insurance. IMO it's a win-win without using a full power magnum load that's too difficult to shoot well...

And since the case actually fits the gun as intended they keep the chambers cleaner, and since the OAL fits the gun as intended, there is less rifling gap so the round will be more accurate.

 

[blujax01]

Perhaps for the same reason that many shooters purchase a 12 gauge shotgun with a 3 1/2" chamber and yet shoot 2 3/4" Walmart Federal bulk shells?

Maybe folks prefer the versatility it offers?

Why do people buy 120+ MPH automobiles or motorcycles when the speed limit is 75 MPH (or less)?

If you can answer the above, you can probably figure out an answer for your question.

You are right. I'm going out to the garage and pull 2 plug wires off my V-8. When I need more power, I'll reconnect them but for now I'll enjoy the better gas mileage of a 6 cylinder.

 

[blujax01]

Here's a few off the top of my head:

- The desire to both plink and go KA-BOOM! as need or whim dictates.

- Dual-use gun where the .357 load is preferred for hunting or mountain work, and .38 is the preferred load for home defense work.

- A particular model firearm that suits one's specific needs and happens to be chambered for .357 but the shooter prefers .38, e.g., a Model 66 3" for concealed carry with a full length extractor rod and target sites, and the FBI load is the shooter's ideal round.

- Greater number of options in a situation where ammo for whatever reason is in short supply; having a duel-caliber weapon increases your odds of finding useable rounds.

Okay I suppose if I wanted to "plink" with my primary defensive weapon, I would "plink" using the same ammunition I intend to defend myself with. I do not want to be surprised by the recoil and flash of a round I'm not used to.

F=MA. My purpose of a .357 over a .38 is to propel a projectile with a larger mass at a higher velocity. If your 125 gr 38 spl+P isn't over-penetrating, then my 158 grain at the same velocity won't either.

I agree that if there is ever a shortage of .357, .38 can be substituted. But these posts lead me to believe that a lot of .357 owners have no intention of shooting .357 ammunition in them and are on a perpetual quest for "suitable" .38 spl+ defensive rounds. And if you can afford Buffalo Bore in .38 you can certainly afford Remington SJHP (or similar) in .357.

 

[David LaPell]

Right now I carry some 150 grain #358156 HP's behind 5.0 grains of Unique in my 649. It's a decent load, has some good velocity although I am going to work a bit more with it. I cast these a little softer than my hunting bullets so I can get more expansion at the lower velocities.

 

[SSGT Pride]

Winchester Ranger 9MM +P+ Law enforcement (Black Talon version)

Ammunition To Go : 50rds - 9mm Winchester Ranger Talon 127gr. +P+ HP Ammo [RA9TA] - $34.95

I dont target shoot with the stuff hardly....Just use it in my carry gun..Either MP .45 or MP .40 or my 9mm

Ernie

 

[riverrat38]

For the life of me I cannot fathom why one would purchase a .357 and then shoot .38's in it.

You want .38 performance buy a .38.

It might be due to the fact that they don't make them any more! Both S&W and Ruger have made all their stainless steel revolvers in .357 Mag. only. You can't get a .38 Spec SP101 or an M60 anymore. Therefor, while I do have .38 Spec M442, my "heavy" guns are .357 Mag M60 and SP101. I shoot plus P in these guns due to old age intolerance to recoil. Also, due to the fact that I carry BB hard cast WC's, which are not made in .357 Mag.
I did consider buying an M60 used in .38 Spec, but didn't find any locally, and I don't like to buy used over the internet. Even if I can return them, it costs $150 for round trip shipping and FFL in these parts.

rat

 

[blujax01]

My point is why buy an M60 when an M36 is the same gun chambered in .38 special? They are marked "+P" on the barrel and made for the shorter .38 cartridge.
Shooting .38's in an .357 causes lesser accuracy and dirty chambers.

Now if you already had an M60 and due to Birthday Candle Disease (I'm headed that way so I can jest!) cannot handle .357 anymore, that makes perfect sense. I had not thought of that factor and you are absolutely right. Thank you for your insight.

 

[riverrat38]

My point is why buy an M60 when an M36 is the same gun chambered in .38 special? They are marked "+P" on the barrel and made for the shorter .38 cartridge.
Shooting .38's in an .357 causes lesser accuracy and dirty chambers.

Now if you already had an M60 and due to Birthday Candle Disease (I'm headed that way so I can jest!) cannot handle .357 anymore, that makes perfect sense. I had not thought of that factor and you are absolutely right. Thank you for your insight.

Actually, I did consider an M36 Classic, but I really prefer stainless steel for practical reasons. As far as dirty chambers from shooting .38 Spec in .357 Mag guns go, I tend to agree. I load .38 Spec plus P level, or a bit higher, in .357 Mag brass. The only .38 Spec cartridges that I shoot are a small amount of my expensive carry ammo. Given that I clean the gun after every shooting session, I don't have any problem with dirty chambers.
Another reason for using a Mag gun for me is that I like the option to carry heavier ammo on the trail. Hopefully, I wont need to actually fire any BB 180 gr .357 Mag hard cast in a J frame gun. But, if the need arrises, I will do so , and take a pain pill later! I doubt that I will feel the hurt at the time.

rat

 

[shil]

Being fortunate enough to own more than one .38 snubbie, my humble take on this is: For +P-rated guns, either the Speer 135gr GDHP or a +P 158gr LHP; for non-+P, the Federal Nyclad 125gr HP.

 

[Doug M.]

Actually, since expansion is not something one can rely on in the revolver formats being discussed, unless one shoots some really vile loads, the all lead SWC is not a bad load. I would actually carry that in preference to the SWC-HP in most .38s. Reliable penetration, not too rank to shoot, clean good hole all the way. When I carried a .38 snub for back up 20 years ago, that was my general choice.