Hollow Points in a "J" Frame

[jimmyj]

Hi:
Does Hollow Points expand reliable in a 2" barrel ?

 

[redlevel]

I carry the Buffalo Bore +p hollow point. It is supposed to be very soft lead, a 158 grain hp. It is gas checked so it won't lead the barrel. I would think a very soft lead bullet like that would be more likely to expand than a jacketed hollow point, or a harder lead bullet. It also gets a documented 1000 fps from a two inch barrel, so that would make it more likely to expand than the 825 fps stuff from the majors.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Probably the Nyclad 125gr Chief load, because it was specifically designed to do so. Maybe the 158gr Nyclad +P load, because it might be moving fast enough.

 

[kablamo]

i used to carry buffalo bore 158g LSWCHP +P until I looked at some testing done and it did show great expansion.

 

[eb07]

Heres is a good read.

BUG's: .380 ACP vs. .38 Sp - M4Carbine.net Forums

Hence why I chose to carry the speer gold dot 135gr JHP +P in all of my snubs.

38 Sp Speer 135 gr +P JHP Gold Dot (53921), ave vel=856f/s
BG: pen=13.1", RD=0.56", RW=134.5gr
4 layer denim: pen=13.6", RD=0.53", RW=134.1gr
auto windshield: pen=9.4", RD=0.51", RW=129.6gr

Downside to the 135 gr +P Gold Dot is the appreciable recoil and relatively poor intermediate barrier performance.

.38 Sp Corbon 110 gr JHP DPX (using Barnes XPB all copper bullets), ave vel=1021fps
BG: pen=13.0"; RD=0.52", RL=0.52", RW=109.5gr
4 layer denim: pen=12.4"; RD=0.52", RL=0.51", RW=109.7gr

135 GD and 110 gr DPX--notice the failure of the Hornady .38 Sp 110 gr FTX "Critical Defense" load to expand after 4 layers of denim

 

[hotrod150]

My preferred load is the soft swaged 158 gr SWC-HP. I think the weight will give good penetration while the soft lead construction should give some expansion. I don't really trust the lighter bullets to reliably do both.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I noticed those were the "Good" pictures posted.

There are also pictures of speer and hornady bullets that were "Rejects" with jacket or lead imperfections and the company shipped a new lot of bullets to make their test look better. Just goes to show that there can be bad bullets made every now and then.........and why there is ammo recalls......

and yes you can get standard JHP bullets to expand out of a snub nose . A while back I posted a picture of a speer gold dot 125gr bullet that went through water jugs at 840 fps and expansion was...."ZIP", nada,zero,nothing.
The same bullet at 905 fps looked like the pictures in the previous post.
However,I don't know about the 140gr Jhp bullets,since they
need higher speeds to open up with the XTP type bullets and I don't think the little J frame is up to that task,with all the recoil and preassures that is needed,for it to work,correctly....
but the 140 xtp does make a very nice practice load for the expensive 135gr speer SB bullet with 4.4grs of RedDot.

PS;
I also had a #8300,110gr Sierra Jhp go through 4 water jugs on my first water test for my snub nose.
I was expecting 3 jugs maximum,per the internet pictures and test.........
Since they were not as accurate as the 125gr win / rem / speer Jhp's I did not retest this bullet but
I may later if I get boared. Velosity was at 880 fps at 8 feet.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Hi:
Does Hollow Points expand reliable in a 2" barrel ?

Not trying to be smart, but it really depends on the hollow point and who made it, and whether it was designed of materials designed to expand at lower velocities, etc.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Hi:
Does Hollow Points expand reliable in a 2" barrel ?

That is so dependent upon who's ammo you're asking about! There are so many different brands and so many different bullets used out there it's impossible to give a blanket answer to that question.

I shoot Speer 135gr SBGD .38 Special +P at times.
Other times I shoot the FBI Load.
And in one revolver I shoot Federal Nyclad ammo.

I feel all 3 will reliably expand in a short barrel and at the reduced velocities associated with a J frame revolver.

 

[eb07]

I noticed those were the "Good" pictures posted.

There are also pictures of speer and hornady bullets that were "Rejects" with jacket or lead imperfections and the company shipped a new lot of bullets to make their test look better. Just goes to show that there can be bad bullets made every now and then.........and why there is ammo recalls......

and yes you can get standard JHP bullets to expand out of a snub nose . A while back I posted a picture of a speer gold dot 125gr bullet that went through water jugs at 840 fps and expansion was...."ZIP", nada,zero,nothing.
The same bullet at 905 fps looked like the pictures in the previous post.
However,I don't know about the 140gr Jhp bullets,since they
need higher speeds to open up with the XTP type bullets and I don't think the little J frame is up to that task,with all the recoil and preassures that is needed,for it to work,correctly....
but the 140 xtp does make a very nice practice load for the expensive 135gr speer SB bullet with 4.4grs of RedDot.

PS;
I also had a #8300,110gr Sierra Jhp go through 4 water jugs on my first water test for my snub nose.
I was expecting 3 jugs maximum,per the internet pictures and test.........
Since they were not as accurate as the 125gr win / rem / speer Jhp's I did not retest this bullet but
I may later if I get boared. Velosity was at 880 fps at 8 feet.

Totally agree. All handgun rounds are marginal at best. If you expect trouble grab a rifle

In reality your shot placement and penetration is much more important than expansion. Bone, flesh, clothing, etc all do strange things to bullets traveling at handgun velocities.

I would rather carry a .38 that I can shoot accurately one handed and on the move than a .45 that I am iffy with under the same circumstances.

There are plenty of good modern rounds out there that will do the job. Use what your firearm shoots reliably and what you can shoot accurately.

 

[Florida J Frame]

That's what the Speer 135 grain SB was designed for.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I have to admit that using Alliant data for the winchester 110gr SJhp bullet, in my all steel J frame snub nose, I did get this bullet to go across the chrony at.......................

Cor-Bon speed of 996 fps with 4 of the 5 bullets at .38 inchs in a group, 1" right of poa.

+P, yes, but not a load that I trust for a SD load that needs energy and penetration, all the time,at all angles and time of the season.

 

[Waywatcher]

Hi:
Does Hollow Points expand reliable in a 2" barrel ?

The good ones do. Not all hollow points are created equal. Here's some reading to get you started: Loads for Short-Barrel Handguns

 

[getoff]

i shoot the hornady critical defense in all my snubbies. me and some buds did a little "ballistic" testing of our own and found good reliable expansion in 1 7/8, 2, and 3" j-frames. the speer gold dot and remington golden saber also faired quite well. hope this helps some, as i am not an expert, but do rely on my BUG daily.

 

[eb07]

Here is another test someone did with bone for anyone interested

http://www.brassfetcher.com/38 Special/38 Special Bone Test.pdf

 

[Nevada Ed]

Boy Howdy....................

That "Bone TEST" really popped my ballon !!

Is that why they say to fire "Two shots" ??

Mercy.

 

[kmrcstintn]

here's a few...

Speer Gold Dot 'short barrel' 135gr jhp +p
Federal Nyclad 125gr hp non +p
Remington 158gr lead semiwadcutter hollowpoint +p;
several Hornady Critical Defense loads...110gr FTX +p, 110gr FTX non +p, 90gr 'lite' FTX non +p