millerj7
Member
Those are exactly what I was talking about. I contacted Federal and was told all Micro loadings have been discontinued due to low sales.
Thanks for clarifying what I was talking about.
Favorite 38 spl self defense load
- Thread starter Wfevans4
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Thanks for clarifying what I was talking about.
Didn't know that...thanks. Happily, I was able to score a coupl'a boxes early on. Accuracy is great, but I can't speak to real world terminal performance. Unfortunately, they look like they'd be a Bitch to try to speed load! But you could always back them up with a speed loader full of easier loading rounds.
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millerj7
Member
I too bought 4 boxes when first introduced. Shot up 2 cylinders full to assess accuracy (very good through my LCR and S&W M60) so still have 3 and a half boxes to last me. Have conventional loads (Critical Defense) in the speed loaders.
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A good overview and analysis of 38 snub nose ammunition is done by Paul Harrell here
For my mod 49, I've settled on Nyclad 125 gr +p for summertime and for winter Gold dot 135 gr +p or BB 158 gr swchp standard pressure.
Rimfire Fanatic
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For me, it's Federal Punch or Hornaday Critical Defense.
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I like, in no particular order, the "FBI Load" (also called the St. Louis or Chicago load), which is a 158 grain Lead Hollow Point +P, the Gold Dot Short Barrel, and the old 38/44 load adopted by the FBI in their Police Positive revolvers when the standardized on the Police Positive in 1934, give or take. The 38/44 load is a stout load consisting of a 158 grain Keith semi-wadcutter at around 1,150 fps. You do not have to go around front to figure out if your gun just went off!
Buffalo Bore makes the 38/44 load and replicates the 1929 load pretty well. I believe BB calls theirs the "Outdoorsman" naming it after the S&W revolver.PauldL
Member
Underwood 100gr Xtreme Defender
I've always had good results with PPU , and I looked closely at this same ammo recently, but it seemed to have a lot of negative reviews, largely due to the very soft lead used, and how badly the lead residue stuck to their bores.
Tony Tiger
US Veteran
I got the bullets from midway on a closeout and reloaded my own, they all shoot to POA. 130 gr HST
Used by a friend and worked great to stop a robbery; 148gr hollow based wadcutters seated upside down on 7grs of Unique. 2 went in and never came out the other side... Perp dead before he hit the floor. 1cas
STORMINORMAN
Member
What's your current CFE Pistol recommendation for that projectile, please...?
Cheers!
Sebago Son
Member
Working on my 2nd case of this now... I have not seen any of the issues noted... get a box or two and find out for yourself.
Decades ago the cops went from a soft lead round nose bullet to a Keith style semi-wadcutter soft lead bullet. It worked well , had penetration and due to the fact it was made of soft swagged led it often expanded as well. Most cops I knew back then did not use any special souped up loads either, just standard pressure loads.
My 1974 Colt Cobra has 148gr. Georgia Arms wad cutters in it. The speedloaders have 158gr. SWC in them.
Tony Tiger
US Veteran
Looks like 5.0 Gr on the scale beam.
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
In 2025 did anyone buy Nyclad 38 Special?
I don't see it listed by Federal and Googled it and the Companies that list it shows it out of stock.
I don't see it listed by Federal and Googled it and the Companies that list it shows it out of stock.
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
Winchester Ranger 135 JHP in 38 Special is what the Police Department I retired from issued.
It was discontinued ~20 years ago.
158 grain lead semi-wadcutters, standard velocity. If I need something more potent I have a couple .357 magnums. I am of the opinion Plus-P was the answer to pandering politicians whining about shooting bad guys with magnums.
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