Recommendation for .38 Special Ammo (?)

[oldfella]

The only caliber ammo I shoot these days is .38 Special. I need recommendations for a sweet shooting round, one that is clean burning, soft shooting for in-you-face-practice shooting only... not a kicker. Any ideas? Thanks.

Pete

 

[pete950]

What you shooting it out of?

 

[oldfella]

Mostly M640 and 2.5" M66 Thanks.

Pete

 

[Erich]

Pete, the 130-gr ball rounds loaded to about 800 fps (4" tube) by Winchester and Federal should suit you. I believe MagTech has something similar as well. Clean (for the most part), decently accurate, easy-shooting. And relatively inexpensive as well.

 

[linde]

Pete, . . . I believe MagTech has something similar as well. Clean (for the most part), decently accurate, easy-shooting. And relatively inexpensive as well.

+1 on the MagTech (made in Brazil). I just fired several hundred rounds of their 158gr lead round nose (product code BMO317 L-835)and was very pleasantly surprised. Not only was it clean burning, but the model 64-3 cleaned up easily.

Good shooting, Russ

 

[cshoff]

I've had good luck with the Mag Tech as well. We've shot thousands of rounds of the Mag Tech in .38 Spl. in our CCW classes with consistent results. It's pretty decent brass too, if you plan to reload at some point.

 

[oldfella]

Thanks gents - now for the hunt... my best bet, I guess, is to order it and let it hang on backorder.

Pete

 

[scottaschultz]

Forget MagTech! If you are going to buy foreigh-made ammunition, you just gotta love PRVI Partizan. This stuff is made in Serbia and is really good! It is 158gr LRN.

Wideners has it in stock right now at the ridiculous price of $13.90/50! Can't beat that with a stick! I have bought it from AmmunitionToGo, but they appear to be out at the moment and only sold it in 500 and 1000 round lots. Luckygunner also has it, but they want $19/50@

Just remember to leave a few boxes for your old pal Scott for letting you in on one of his secrets!

Scott

 

[oldfella]

Thanks Scott - I'll check it out. Does this ammo shoot "clean" - or do I have to scrub the dickens out of my guns after shooting?

Pete

 

[skeeterbait]

I am using gunbroker.com to buy ammo these days. There are a lot of little stocks of ammo out there and Gunbroker helps locate it. It beats putting stuff on backorder and waiting months.

Just go to www.gunbroker.com and search for 38 special and take a look at what's available.

 

[roaddog28]

American Eagle 158G round nose works for me. This is made by Federal. My my model 10 4 inch shoots point of aim with this round. Very good practice round.

Good Luck

 

[oldfella]

Yes, there seems to be a good supply of ammo out there. This morning I received an offer from a feller here in Tennessee - 4 Box/100 Winchester 130 Gr. for $55 bucks, but he is located further than I'm permitted to drive... too old to venture out beyond 15 miles of so

Pete

 

[ChinaSeaSailor]

I also am recoil sensitive - use 38special 125gr in a 686 - recoil is VERY mild - maybe the weapon is why I can fire these light loads but they work well

 

[oldfella]

The 686 is build like an M1 tank. I never fired any 357 magnums through the various 686s I've owned, but I bet that from 4" and longer barrels and rubber grips enclosing the back strap the recoil wouldn't be that bad. I once owned a 340PD, now that beast beat the daylight out my hand with 125 Gr. .38 special rounds - I got rid of it as fast as I could.

Pete

 

[JayDubya]

I have recommended reloads from Mastercast (www.mastercast.net) for years, and still do -- if you have been saving your brass. Right now, due to the current insanity, Mastercast cannot provide their product unless you send spent brass of the same type and number. (Do that by USPS Priority Mail. I send them a thousand spent cases in a nine buck box, with room for more). I have tried four of their range loads (at least 500 rounds each), 9X19 115 gr lead truncated cone, .38 sp. 100 gr LWC, .38 sp. 148 gr LWC and .38 sp. 158 gr LSWC. All are hard cast and none have ever leaded my handguns. All are dead smack reliable. The .38 sp. 100 gr LWC feels and sounds almost like a .22, yet is accurate as far out as I shoot (10 yards). From my 637 snubby, this load tends to tear strips from some targets (NOT keyholes), but from my 4" 686+ it does not do this. I am a senior geezer, but have no injury/arthritis problems with my hands -- just with the thinning of my skin. I have standardized on the 148 gr LWC. I shoot it weekly, mostly from my 686+ but when I want to punish myself, I use my 637 -- with a big bandaid on the web between thumb and hand.

For price and reliability, you cannot beat Mastercast -- if you have brass to exchange.

Cordially, Jack

 

[oldfella]

Thanks, Jack - Excellent idea, but since I don't shoot that much lately, I'll have to wait until I have enough to send. Thanks for the heads-up about these folks.

Pete

 

[Spotteddog]

I think you need to find someone in your area to take a mini road trip with then Pete! Breakfast, and then sight seeing along the way.

 

[scottaschultz]

Thanks Scott - I'll check it out. Does this ammo shoot "clean" - or do I have to scrub the dickens out of my guns after shooting?

Pete

It (PRVI Partizan) shoots pretty clean. I use it in a Ruger Blackhawk (but I do have S&W semi-autos... I swear!), and I have had (knock wood) zero failures of any kind.

Scott

 

[aterry33]

+1 on the Magtech, it is great stuff.

Keep in mind that the 130 grain and 158 grain stuff will shoot to different point of aim.

 

[oldfella]

+1 on the Magtech, it is great stuff.

Keep in mind that the 130 grain and 158 grain stuff will shoot to different point of aim.

For Personal defense practice, 3 to 7 yards, just about any round will do