Newbie(inexperienced)??-good, clean, non+P, practice 38 special ammo

[yanici]

Hi guys. I'm gonna go buy some practice ammo for my 642. I've got 70 rounds of +P Federals, but I want to get some 38 special non+P rounds to practice with. I don't want the cheapest, necessarily, although price is important. I really want something good and clean. Then I'll follow up with some +P rounds to finish my practice. Thanks.

John

 

[yanici]

Hi guys. I'm gonna go buy some practice ammo for my 642. I've got 70 rounds of +P Federals, but I want to get some 38 special non+P rounds to practice with. I don't want the cheapest, necessarily, although price is important. I really want something good and clean. Then I'll follow up with some +P rounds to finish my practice. Thanks.

John

 

[GatorFarmer]

Walmart should have some type or another of 130gr FMJs. Either Winchester (White Box) or Remington UMC in the Green and Yellow box. Either are fine for target practice and not terribly expensive.

 

[yanici]

Thanks Gator. I'm not actually looking for where to buy, but what type of cartridge that is clean firing and of good quality in non+P, 38 special.

John

 

[OKFC05]

I recommend using wadcutters for most of your practice, and finishing with 5 rounds of defense ammo.
Many people develop the flinches learning to shoot a stubby.
If you shoot 25 wadcutters plus 5 defense rounds every week for a few months, you'll find out how effectively a stubby can be shot.

 

[Erich]

Wadcutters used to be cheap and easy to buy loaded. No longer. Nowadays you'll have a harder time finding and pay more for the target wadcutters than you will finding the 130-grain full metal jacketed ball rounds that were mentioned before by GatorFarmer.

Those are the rounds to which I refer new folks who do not reload (if you reload, go for wadcutter bullets

).

 

[OKFC05]

Don't be surprised if the 130gr "mil surplus" type loads keyhole out of a 642. There's nothing wrong with your gun that you need concern yourself.

 

[NiklasP]

I shot some Remington 158 grain round nose lead 38 Special (Green and Silver box, bought on sale) and some Ultramax 38 Special with hard lead SWC recently. The Remingtons gave nice little groups and the Ultramax gave fist-sized groups at about 10 yards. Gun was a S&W Model 60 with 5" barrel. No question which I will buy again. The Ultramax in this gun are only good for point shooting practice. Neither leaded barrel.

Bought 1000 Remington 148 grain WC bullets to load practice and field ammo. Perhaps 800 fps for practice and something over 900 fps for field use.

Niklas

 

[AJMBLAZER]

I'll second Erich's comment. Been looking for wadcutters or semiwadcutters up here since I got into revolvers almost a year ago...

Nadda except at Gander Mountain and for the price they want I could order two boxes online WITH shipping.
All the local places with reasonable prices have is 130gr FMJ. A bit more utilitarian but it works and is cheaper.
Local range does have wadcutters now though. Going to try and grab a box or two from them.

Also imagine my surprise when my 500 rounds of Georgia Arms "Canned Heat" 158gr plated SWC showed up last month...and it is actually plated lead flat point...close but no cigar...can't argue for the price I guess.

 

[indiandave]

You can try mastercast.net. They have cast 148wc's for 9.51 per 50, less if you supply your own brass. I don't know how clean they are thou.

 

[ACP230]

I had to buy some Winchester 130 grain FMJ .38s for a class a couple years ago. (No reloads were allowed).
They shot very well in my 649-2. They were accurate and hit point of aim too.
As noted above they are also one of the cheapest options in practice ammo.

 

[yanici]

Thanks guys. Since I live in MA I can't have ammo shipped to my home, my choice is limited to what's available locally. I guess I'll follow your advice and get some FMJ 130g. made by a reutable ammo manufacturer and have a blast.

John

 

[genepix]

I use Magtech for range shooting and find it clean burning and inexpensive. The last I bought was 158gr fmj at normal .38 pressure. I believe I paid less than $16 for a box of 50, don't know if it's available in your area.

 

[badge 851]

http://www.magtechammunition.com/sitepages/pid103.php?p...d=103&search=details

 

[Nightowl]

I have shot a lot of the 130 grain ball ammo from Winchester, Remington and Federal. By far the best is Federal. It is more consistent and is cleaner bruning. It does not leave the ring in .357 chambers like Winchester and Remington and what it does leave is much easier to clean.

 

[shooter7]

The Winchester WINCLEAN 38 is pretty clean burning I've found, but it does seem like it has a fair amount of muzzle flash to me.