RP Golden Sabers /.38 +p for SB Revolver?

[GCF]

Gents -
I see the Buffalo Bore 158LSWC-HP / Gold Dot 135 +P comparisons frequently. Consensus seems to be that price aside, the heavy BB load is King, although the soft alloy HP's tend to get deformed - if bumped around.

Question here, is what about the RP 125 Golden Saber /.38 +P round, for short barrel (2" M640, 3" M64, 3" M65, etc.) urban carry guns?

They look good on YouTube, & on paper, but do they hold a candle to the afore mentioned?

I know some of you guys have done extensive testing on .38spl +p loadings. What do you say?

Enquiring minds need to know...

Thanks in advance!

 

[shouldazagged]

I used to carry them, on the recommendation of the retired LEO who owned a gun store I frequented, but went to the 158gr. LSWCHP. Initially used the older Remington +P version, and now carry the Buffalo Bore standard-pressure rendition that clocks the same as the +P Remington.

The Golden Saber 125gr. shot fine for me but a tad lower than the 158gr. At halitosis range it wouldn't make a bit of difference.

I just liked the track record of the old FBI load with its heavier bullet.

I've never done comparative expansion tests.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I shot factory GD 125 and reloads in my M49 snub and was very
disappointed in the results of the bullet.
One of four did not even start to open up. I believe the jacket is too heavy and for 4" or 357 magnum use.

I vote for the Rem 125 GS and also the ......
Winchester 130gr PDX1 for the lowest recoil for a SD load out of a snub nose...............
before going to the full power 135 GD.

Some like the old FBI load but the new ammo has dropped down to 822 fps or lower, out of todays 2"......... not a good thing.

 

[alwslate]

I have chronographed Rem 125gr +P Golden Sabers out of my mod 60
at around 875 fps in different lots. At that velocity they are not any
hotter than other brands of +P 125 ammo. The bullet looks impressive
but I have no way of duplicating gel tests. I would guess they are at
least as good as the other name brands. Speer 125 gr +P HPs ran
slower out of the same gun.

 

[30-30remchester]

I have never shot anything with the 125 grn, but I did recover a Golden Sabre from a 380 ACP. I shot an antelope that had just fallen to my 30-30. I often use recently deceased big game to test handgun bullets. The bullet expanded quite well. Somewhere in these archives is a picture I posted of it.

 

[Valmet]

I think the majority of modern SD ammo is apples to apples side by side but I've been a die-hard Remington GS fan for years and carry it in my G-19 and S&W 442 (as well as in the G-23 in my nightstand). That said, I haven't done any testing but I rest assured that at right here, right now range- it's going to do what it was designed to do...stop the threat.

 

[GCF]

Thanks for the input Gents. Reason for my initial inquiry was - couldn't find the Speer 135GD/SB, that I was looking for.

As it turns out, I found a couple boxes of the 135GD/SB.

The RP 125 Golden Saber does sound like a viable round though. Be interesting to see a side by side, short barrel revolver test - against the 135 SB Gold Dot.