Typical LEO load for 38 Special circa 1971 ?

[biku324]

The tiny sheriff's office I started with in '79 issued no weapons or ammo, but a regional training facility offered a qualification shoot once a year if you could fire 38 special. They provided 38 spl 148 grain wadcutters; several of the guys (there were no gals) simply carried those after qualifying to avoid buying more 'shells.'

We bought our uniforms, badges, leather, guns, and handcuffs to earn our princely salaries of $611 monthly.

 

[Alk8944]

My agency date-of-hire was 10-1-1969. At this time the issue revolver was the Model 15, and issue ammunition 158 gr. .38 Spl. RNL. In 1971 as I recall the issue ammunition changed to the 158 gr. LSWC+P, the FBI load. Brand was Remington as I recall.

This didn't last long as later in 1972 our department transitioned to the S&W Model 39. Ammunition for that was the Winchester 100 gr. JRNSP that, I believe, was called "Power Point" at the time. I would be happy if anyone who knows better would correct me on the name of that Winchester load/bullet!

An interesting aside about the above Winchester load. Another officer had cause to shoot a suspect with the cited ammunition, directly in the chest. The Perp. showed no reaction to being shot but just stood there and asked the officer "Why did you shoot me?" I don't recall any other particulars of that specific incident.

For several reasons, none having to do with the Model 39 itself, the department returned to the S&W Model 67 revolver around 1980.

 

[Ingramite]

Model 10 with 158gr. rnl until about 1975 or so. At that time we had the option to use a round that we called "Remington Rose Petals" which were a +p 125gr jhp.

There was a very popular bootleg hand loaded round that were called dum-dums which were a +p 148gr wad cutter that was loaded upside down in the case. Many carried these as the 158gr lead bullet was perceived as ineffective. You would never load these for roll call inspection but once you made relief the issue rounds came out and you rolled with the bootleg rounds.

 

[max503]

My school was on the way to the police station. I used to walk to school with Mr. Stried, a cop, who was my neighbor. He often walked to work. During our walks I would steal glances at the boolits in his cartridge belt. I distinctly remember them being round nosed.

 

[stykshooter]

We carried model 66's, but carried the .38 special 158 grain LSWCHP loads in them. I think they were manufactured by Federal and I remember they had L.E. on the head stamp. Our detectives carried model 36's and they carried Smith and Wesson 125 grain Nyclad ammo. It was actually manufactured by S & W. I was always jealous when I saw those black shinny bullets. Everything changed after the Miami shooting in the mid 80's. They started issuing us Winchester 125 grain .357 magnum ammo and the detectives started carrying 2" model 66's. We got speed loaders at the time as well. We still trained and practiced with .38 wadcutters. We were each allowed to shoot six rounds of .357 though our revolvers to see the difference in felt recoil. The thought process was the .357 was so hot that our K frame revolvers couldn't handle shooting too much of it.

 

[press-1-for-english]

I found these for sale on line.
Would this be considered a modern day version of the FBI load?

Remington HTP .38 Special +P Ammunition Specifications and Features:
Remington 22297 (RPT38S12A)
.38 Special +P
158 grain
Lead Hollow Point (LHP) Bullet
890 fps muzzle velocity
278 ft/lbs muzzle energy

 

[glenwolde]

I found these for sale on line.
Would this be considered a modern day version of the FBI load?

Remington HTP .38 Special +P Ammunition Specifications and Features:
Remington 22297 (RPT38S12A)
.38 Special +P
158 grain
Lead Hollow Point (LHP) Bullet
890 fps muzzle velocity
278 ft/lbs muzzle energy

I'd say yes.

 

[old bear]

In 1975, when I first went on the job, we were issued Model 19's and six rounds of what would become known as the Treasury or Chicago load. Most of us dumped those and went with one brand or another of .357 Ammo. Hope this helps. I would also note if you touched off one of the above, at night, you kiss your night vision goodby for sometime to come.

 

[press-1-for-english]

I really appreciate all the answers and comments.
And I really appreciate all of you current and retired LEO's.
I am only looking for issued/commonly used .38 special loads since I have a Model 15-3, not a 13/65/19/66

 

[Chuck Edwards]

I found these for sale on line.
Would this be considered a modern day version of the FBI load?

Remington HTP .38 Special +P Ammunition Specifications and Features:
Remington 22297 (RPT38S12A)
.38 Special +P
158 grain
Lead Hollow Point (LHP) Bullet
890 fps muzzle velocity
278 ft/lbs muzzle energy

Yup, and that's what I carry in most of my K frames.

 

[press-1-for-english]

Yup, and that's what I carry in most of my K frames.

Thanks Chuck!

 

[K Frame Keith]

My Dad was on the job during that time period. His department issued 158RNL. He carried Super Vel.

 

[press-1-for-english]

My Dad was on the job during that time period. His department issued 158RNL. He carried Super Vel.

Smart man.

 

[Bruceboy]

Up in snow country (Ontario, Canada) 1966, my department issued 4" Model 15's to uniform officers, and a variety of snubs, mainly Colt Cobra and S&W J frames to plain clothes detectives. Standard .38 Spl., 158 Gr., round nose for all. That lasted until the mid 90's when all departments in Ontario went to semi autos in either 9mm or .40 cal hollow points. Most departments use 9 mm, HP's now.

 

[Durango Slim]

Regulations required your bullets to be polished and I had to comply even though you couldn't see bullet heads in the speed loader pouch.

I have never heard of polishing bullets.

Why? And how?

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

As noted in my other thread I just picked up my model 15-3 circa 1971. I currently plan on using 158 grain RNL factory ammo in it. I would appreciate hearing from some of you retired LEO's and let me know what was the issue 38 special round for that time period.It is such a classic revolver I want to use the classic cop load too.

1971 so 158 LRN and it was Federal.

 

[shovelhead]

One of the participants in my cardiac rehab program about twenty years ago was retired from Detroit Police. He overheard the two guys running the program and myself talking about handguns. So the next day he asked me if I wanted some old ammo he had left over from his duty days. And of course I said "sure".

So in a few days he presents me with around 300 rounds of SWC all in nickel plated cartridges, various headstamps. I'm down to around a hundred rounds of this, it's "special occasion" used usually when a new revolver comes into the fold or when I take some out shooting that has never shot a revolver. They can experience the pre Glock era loads of DPD and punch real nice round holes in the targets at the same time.

 

[bgrafsr]

I was hired by Elyria, OH PD in September 1972. The Dept. had .38 Specials with blue or nickle finish, 4 or 5 inch barrels. The four of us who were hired at the same time were directed to go to a sportsmen's shop in Elyria, where we got Model 10-6's.
The load at the time was .38 Spl. RNL, and the ammo was quite old. One of our officers went to a call where the guy who was the subject of the call, pointed a gun at the officer and fired missing him. The officer fired back. 1st round barely made it out of his gun, 2nd round made it further, and the 3rd round struck the guy but bounced off of him. 4th round put him down.
It was determined that we needed new ammo , so the FBI load was bought and issued.
When I made firearms instructor along with another officer, we qualified every 6 months using the FBI load, and then bought new ammo for everyone.
We eventually purchased 4 inch Model 66's for patrol, and 2 1/2 inch 66's for detectives and other personnel, and stayed with the FBI load, as the City didn't want us using .357 Mag. ammo.
After the 66's, we were issued Sigs. 226's for patrol and 225's for detectives and other personnel. The load was 9mm 249 grn JHP.