Model 642 Best ammo

[ocalabob]

Greetings,

I just purchased a 642 38 special & I am looking for Best Ammo recommendations. Both for the range and for personal defense.

Thank You for your input(s)


Bob

 

[Valmet]

Find a load that you shoot well with your gun. Most modern self-defense ammo will do it's job if you do yours. Federal, Speer, Cor-Bob, Remington, Winchester etc will all do fine.

I like the old Chicago load...158-gr+P SWCLHP in my 442.

 

[Valmet]

Sorry- double post.

 

[ContinentalOp]

There've been a lot of threads on this topic. I'd recommend you do a search if you haven't done one already.

 

[washerman]

i use Hornady Critical Defense. gets good reviews in every caliber they make it in....used a lot of it and every round went bang

 

[OLDSTER]

I use Hornady American Gunner 125 Gr. in my 642. I've found it's the best combination of comfort, accuracy, price, and effectiveness

 

[geartow]

i like 158 standard velocity semi wad cutters . I prefer penetration over expansion .

 

[Bill In Texas]

Welcome to the Neighborhood ocalabob!

There are many threads on this topic. My personal choice is any old .38 special for the range, whatever is cheapest. I roll my own.

Self defense is another issue. I prefer the Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 135 grain myself. There are others, hence the search feature as YMMV!

 

[RGVshooter]

I regularly carry a 642-2. I would first suggest replacing the stock rubber grips for Pachmayr compac grips. They make shooting the gun so much more enjoyable and most loads less punishing. Hornady critical defense gets very good reviews for a standard pressure load. If you want to go oldschool then try Federal or Remington 158gr LRN. However I personally use Remington 125gr Golden Sabre +P's for carry and for the range I shoot my reloads. 148gr wadcutters. With 2.7gr Titegroup the recoil is very soft.

 

[one eye joe]

Greetings,

I just purchased a 642 38 special & I am looking for Best Ammo recommendations. Both for the range and for personal defense.

Thank You for your input(s)


Bob

HI ocalabob, WELCOME TO THE FORUM. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PURCHASE. THE M642 IS A FINE REVOLVER.....

IMHO--THE BEST SD AMMO IS SPEER, GOLD DOT, .38SPL+P, 135 GR, JHP. ITS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR SHORT BARRELS. AND MARKETED AS SUCH. ITS THE ROUND THAT I LOAD, FOR SD AND HD, IN MY M642, AND MY 2 1/2" M686.....

IT IS A TRIED AND TESTED ROUND, WITH EXCELLENT PENETRATION, AND RELIABLE EXPANSION. IT HAS AMASSED A WELL PROVEN RECORD, IN THE FIELD. ITS THE DUTY AMMO ISSUED BY THE NYPD, TO ALL OF ITS OFFICERS, WHO CARRY A REVOLVER.....

SPEER ALSO MAKES A COMPANION ROUND, FOR TRAINING AND RANGE USE. ITS .38SPL, TMJ, 135 GR, SWC. ITS MARKETED AS "SPEER LAWMAN" AMMO--AND ITS PURPOSE, RELATIVE TO THE GOLD DOT AMMO, IS SPELLED OUT, ON THE BOX. IT IS ALSO WHAT IS IN USE, BY THE NYPD......

 

[Cal44]

I don't carry a 642, but in my Model 49 I carry Buffalo Bore 20C/20 158Gr SWC HC.

In the standard pressure version, it's a fairly hot load.

I'm not 100% sure of expansion, but if it doesn't expand then it's a 158gr SWC which is a good load anyway.

 

[sureshotbob]

I don't carry a 642, but in my Model 49 I carry Buffalo Bore 20C/20 158Gr SWC HC.

In the standard pressure version, it's a fairly hot load.

I'm not 100% sure of expansion, but if it doesn't expand then it's a 158gr SWC which is a good load anyway.

This is what I used also in my 642 .

 

[mgriffin]

Welcome! !'m also a big fan of Speer, Gold Dot, .38SPL+P, 135 GR, JHP. Thats what I carry in my 442.

 

[Arm]

This works well for me, accurate with mild recoil.

 

[Vlad883]

I decided to carry the Federal HST based mainly on how big the hollow point is among other things.


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