Snubby SD load recommendations

[Univibe]

158 grain standard pressure LSWC.

Plenty of penetration and mild recoil. Don't overthink it; they'll do as well against a Thug as anything else.

 

[vonn]

Shot placement! You have to hit the right spot.

 

[gwpercle]

Here is mine :
38 Special +P

160 grain cast WC (Lyman #358432) discontinued
now reproduced by (NOE #360-160-WC PB 360432)

5.2 grains Ramshot True Blue or 5.2 grains Unique
True Blue has less flash ... but Unique has worked for years .

925 fps - S&W model 60 - 2" barrel tested .
CCI 500 small pistol primers

Gary

 

[fordson]

Thanks all for your suggestions and recommendations. My current loading of Bullseye and a 158 LSWC chronographs at 611FPS out of my 2" Taurus 85UL. Not exactly a power house loading. Looks like I can certainly up my game some.

 

[diyj98]

As long as you are not using FMJ, or round- nosed lead, anything will work. Even those loads work better than you might think.

Very true. While round nosed lead wouldn't be my first recommendation, there's a lot of people in the ground due to the old round nosed lead rounds.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Answer #A - The same SD loads as in your 4 inch revolvers , unless your have physical injuries / infirmities that mandate minimum recoil.

Answer #B - * I'm * convinced to use factory loads for delibert SD , and use equivalent reloads for practice and field shooting . The number of instances where it became an issue ( primarily in analysis of distances where rounds fired ) is significantly more than zero , just in cases where Mas was an expert witness . Even if defendants usually prevailed , no need to cause unnecessary hurdles for your defense . And particularly in the modern era when every caliber vaguely suitable for deliberate SD has plentitude of good SD options that can't be materially improved with cannister powders within pressure specs .

But y'all do what you're gonna do , and I'll save my internet efforts for important issues like 115 vs 147 , or Appendix vs Pancakes .

 

[USSR]

7.0gr of HS-6 behind a 158gr LSWCHP. 940fps out of my 2.5" Model 19. Current Hodgdon load data does not show this load, but Winchester (developer of the powder) listed up to 7.1gr of W540 (same powder) for a .38 Spl +P load. Here is the result (bullet on right).

Don

 

[BC38]

Shot placement! You have to hit the right spot.

...or at least hit A spot (don't miss) enough times to stop the threat.
If hitting the exact "right" spot was the ONLY solution - and one you could unerringly achieve - then even pipsqueak mouseguns like 22 and 25acp would be all you would need.
Since no one but John Wick can accomplish that, multiple center mass hits from a decent SD caliber is the realistic goal for most of us.
Making whatever SD caliber you shoot well the best solution - and having more ammo ready to go is a plus.

 

[BC38]

Hodgdon states a 4" barrel...

I didn't see that anywhere - but I did see THIS which certainly seems to indicate that the testing was done with a barrel length of 7.700". It even specified the barrel twist rate that was used for the test (1:18.750").

So....

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Reference my Post #14: the data shown by Hodgdons for 38 Special (& +P) was from a 7.7" barrel. 357 Magnum from a 10".

Cheers!