The Kid
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158gr SWC in either solid or HP form over 5.5gr Unique.
J Frame Snub Owners: What is your favorite carry load?
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Nyclad 158gr SWC
Depends on your amount of recoil you can take and be POA
and the number of shots you can put on POA in 5 seconds.
I like the 158 gr FBI but have the 135 Gold Dot as a back up with the 110gr JHP as my X-Lite SD load doing 966fps out of my 2" J frame, if I am having a bad recoil day.
and the number of shots you can put on POA in 5 seconds.
I like the 158 gr FBI but have the 135 Gold Dot as a back up with the 110gr JHP as my X-Lite SD load doing 966fps out of my 2" J frame, if I am having a bad recoil day.
I use a "full charge" wadcutter as defined by Ed Harris. Ed Harris: Revisiting The Full Charge Wadcutter. – www.GrantCunningham.com
This load is relatively easy to handle in all my snubs - S&W 342, 36 and 10; Colt Detective Spec., it penetrates well and cuts a full size hole all the way. I just don't have a lot of confidence in jacketed hollow points in short barrels. I've seen too many of them fail to expand too often, and then they're little better than a plain ol' lead round nose.
This load is relatively easy to handle in all my snubs - S&W 342, 36 and 10; Colt Detective Spec., it penetrates well and cuts a full size hole all the way. I just don't have a lot of confidence in jacketed hollow points in short barrels. I've seen too many of them fail to expand too often, and then they're little better than a plain ol' lead round nose.
I carried Frderal Nyclad 125 grain HPs for years, but although I have a few cylinder fulls left, that ammo is now nearly 40 years old. So I recently bought a few boxes of new production Federal 125 grain +P and have been carrying that. I try to shoot my model 60 a few times about every range trip for familiarity. Right now I'm working a new CSX into my EDC and spending some time getting familiar with it. But my old 60 is just so familiar and comfortable...
HardToHandle
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Me? 148 grain Wadcutter.
Numerous reasons, but most compellingly because of shooting to Point of Aim and lessened recoil.
For the OP, Greg Ellifritz has a good analysis based on a similar 340PD.
The Best .38 Special Defensive Ammunition | Active Response Training
Also suggest reading RevolverGuy. RevolverGuy.Com – Re-Inventing the Wheel
Numerous reasons, but most compellingly because of shooting to Point of Aim and lessened recoil.
For the OP, Greg Ellifritz has a good analysis based on a similar 340PD.
The Best .38 Special Defensive Ammunition | Active Response Training
Also suggest reading RevolverGuy. RevolverGuy.Com – Re-Inventing the Wheel
My 640-1 is currently stoked with CCI Speer 135 grain Gold Dot 38 Special +P Short Barrel ammo. Much easier on my wrists than most 357 Magnum loads. Point of aim issues? I can keep my shots on a 9 inch diameter paper plate at 25 yards, I think that is adequate.
Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 40 grain .22 Magnum as I consider eight rounds of 22 WMR superior in performance of .38 Special in 2” barrel.
Since the responses are about .38 Special I carry two rounds of shotshells and three 158 gr. Lead Semi-wadcutters in my J-Frame 38 stainless steel snubby. As it is made of stainless steel I carry it when fishing.
Probably neither response you are looking for.
Since the responses are about .38 Special I carry two rounds of shotshells and three 158 gr. Lead Semi-wadcutters in my J-Frame 38 stainless steel snubby. As it is made of stainless steel I carry it when fishing.
Probably neither response you are looking for.
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When I was still "on the job", I carried a Model 60 in an ankle holster as a backup. It was (and still is) loaded with Buffalo Bore "Standard Pressure, Short Barrel, Low Flash, Heavy .38 Special". It's a 147 grain lead, semi wadcutter, hollow point at 850 fps.
Maybe a little pricey, but it's not a range round. I only shot them once a year during annul backup gun qualification.
Maybe a little pricey, but it's not a range round. I only shot them once a year during annul backup gun qualification.
Green Frog
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I’ve still got enough of the old Federal FBI loads with the blue Nyclad bullets for serious use. I don’t practice with them , but have practice ammo with close enough POI at bad breath ranges to save the originals for serious social work
Froggie
Froggie
Rammer Jammer
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Federal HST in the LCR with Remington Golden Sabers for reloads.
Hornady FTX standard pressure in my Model 36 no dash because it is not rated for +P
Buffalo Bore 150 gr Hard Cast WC for me as well.
rockquarry
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Do they advertise that as "hard cast"?
I usually load a 158 grain FMJ Perfecta followed by 2 158gr Speer 158gr swchp handlloads and 2 cast swc handloads in a lcr. Right now I’m loading 6gr VV N340.
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The two best SD loads in my experience are the Buffalo Bore 158 grain SWCHP +P and the Speer Gold Dot 135 grain +P. The only downside to the Buffalo Bore load is the expense and the stiff recoil. Other than that I feel it's one of the best 38 specials available. The Speer GD is in my opinion in second place but still ahead of the rest f the pack.
Standard .38 Special/158 grain/FMJ/semi-wadcutters presently.
They'll do to ride the river with.........
They'll do to ride the river with.........
#1a: 148gr target wadcutters.
From whomever, preferably Federal. Switched to those when my shoulder was buggered, never went back.
#1b: Rem green box 158gr LSWC.
Current reloads in speed strip as they reload faster than full wadcutters.
#2: Underwood/BuffBore 150gr wadcutter with gas check.
Spicier than target wadcutters, but penetrate like crazy. My woods load when I take my snubby J-frame into the woods.
#3: Underwood/BuffBore 158gr +P LSWC-HP.
Used to carry these, but the recoil was too much when my shoulder was buggered.
I used to carry the Remington flavor of the FBI load in my snubby, but too many jello-junky tests show it is inconsistent expansion-wise in a snubby.
#4: Rem/Fed/Win .357mag 158gr SJHP.
One of my snubbies can manage .357mag. Any of the old-school hot .357 158gr SJHP loads will do the trick and expand at snubby velocities. 158gr is less punishing than 125gr .357mag, which sounds & feels like a bomb going off.
From whomever, preferably Federal. Switched to those when my shoulder was buggered, never went back.
#1b: Rem green box 158gr LSWC.
Current reloads in speed strip as they reload faster than full wadcutters.
#2: Underwood/BuffBore 150gr wadcutter with gas check.
Spicier than target wadcutters, but penetrate like crazy. My woods load when I take my snubby J-frame into the woods.
#3: Underwood/BuffBore 158gr +P LSWC-HP.
Used to carry these, but the recoil was too much when my shoulder was buggered.
I used to carry the Remington flavor of the FBI load in my snubby, but too many jello-junky tests show it is inconsistent expansion-wise in a snubby.
#4: Rem/Fed/Win .357mag 158gr SJHP.
One of my snubbies can manage .357mag. Any of the old-school hot .357 158gr SJHP loads will do the trick and expand at snubby velocities. 158gr is less punishing than 125gr .357mag, which sounds & feels like a bomb going off.
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