Favorite 38 spl self defense load
- Thread starter Wfevans4
- Start date
Sorry 45 cal
Speer Gold Dot 135gr jhp in all of my 2”, 3” and 4” revolvers.
The old 158 grain round nose lead bullets are surprisingly effective (They upset in soft tissue.) and have a low chance of ricochet or over penetration. Semi-wadcutters are effective, too, but don't reload (The need to reload is, IMO, increasing in our world.) as easily (ie quickly) as round nose.
Well Armed
Member
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2014
- Messages
- 1,104
- Reaction score
- 1,361
Underwood 158 gr. 38 +P Keith Hardcast. Carried in my Ruger LCR or S&W 686+ 2.5".
walkin' trails
Member
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2006
- Messages
- 1,313
- Reaction score
- 730
I’m getting a little more recoil-sensitive as I go and find that some +P in small, steel frame guns is a bit more stout than I prefer. Case in point, I recently acquired some new mfg Federal 158 grain LSWCHP +P for my steel Js. I’ve got a couple boxes of that load made by Winchester, buts it’s pretty old. Anyway, from my 640, the Federal was as bad as .357 Magnum in a J. I had also taken some of the Winchester to the range and it’s its recoil impulse was a lot less. I started running it thru my four inch Model 19-5 and it was still potent so will likely use it for that gun and my 66-1. Hopefullybthe forcing cones are safe.
Anyway, I have never fired any of the Gold Dot Short Barrel stuff, so I’m a little skeptical of how it handles. My main carry revolver is an old 640 .38 Special. I used to fire Hydra Shok 147 grain +p+ in it on a regular basis and the spank was less than the Federal LSWCHP. Other than that, it’s probably a personal problem and I’ll likely go shopping for some wadcutters from Buffalo Bore or Georgia Arms.
Presently, the 640 is loaded up with some Critical Defense 110 +p I’ve had on hand but don’t care for it due to perceived accuracy issues. I’m going back to a range and work with it to see if it just POA out to 25 better than I remember. I haven’t shot any 130 grain hollow points, but picked up a couple of white box 130 grain FMJ flat points accuracy was surprisingly on the money and recoil was decent for a training round.
Obviously, I want a minimum of 12 inches of gel penetration and POA accuracy all the way out to 25 yards. I don’t consider that criteria a o be unachievable in this day and age despite everyone saying it’s all over at five yard.
Anyway, I have never fired any of the Gold Dot Short Barrel stuff, so I’m a little skeptical of how it handles. My main carry revolver is an old 640 .38 Special. I used to fire Hydra Shok 147 grain +p+ in it on a regular basis and the spank was less than the Federal LSWCHP. Other than that, it’s probably a personal problem and I’ll likely go shopping for some wadcutters from Buffalo Bore or Georgia Arms.
Presently, the 640 is loaded up with some Critical Defense 110 +p I’ve had on hand but don’t care for it due to perceived accuracy issues. I’m going back to a range and work with it to see if it just POA out to 25 better than I remember. I haven’t shot any 130 grain hollow points, but picked up a couple of white box 130 grain FMJ flat points accuracy was surprisingly on the money and recoil was decent for a training round.
Obviously, I want a minimum of 12 inches of gel penetration and POA accuracy all the way out to 25 yards. I don’t consider that criteria a o be unachievable in this day and age despite everyone saying it’s all over at five yard.
larry8
Member
I don't know what bullets are in my 38, I have loaded it with whatever I had around a year or so ago. I'm sure that I bought a box of bullets based on price and that is what is in the gun. I figure that any bullet that I shoot at the bad guy will do the job.
Walkin' trails, I'm using a 442 and 340PD these days and find the Georgia Arms 148 gr. wadcutter very controllable with 3 shot strings. The BB is hotter so try both and compare groups and speed.
158 grain LSWC in the cylinder,
130 grain Federal FMC in the speed strips.
158 grain LRN in the speed loader.
130 grain Federal FMC in the speed strips.
158 grain LRN in the speed loader.
The PDX1 that BrBa mentioned is almost certainly the same round in smaller commercial packaging at a higher cost per round, but potentially more widely available than the 50 round Ranger boxes.
I've been carrying the Ranger 130 gr, but I was lucky enough to get some 50 round boxes a few years ago.
GyMac
US Veteran
Remington 158 grain LHP +P, although I’m sure Buffalo Bore would be even better.
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2024
- Messages
- 3
- Reaction score
- 1
Speer Gold Dot 125 + P or Federal HST or anything from BuffaloBore, Doubletap or Underwood
