What defensive ammo are you carrying in your J frame?

[GatorFarmer]

Originally posted by flop-shank:

Originally posted by GatorFarmer:
Rem/UMC 125 gr +P JHP, cheap and (relatively) easy to find. The lead seems softer than the Winchester White Box version. Not great, not horrible.

That's a very versatile bullet. Hopefully I get the chance to shoot Perma-Gel/denim with that load sometime. I'm curious how it does at .38+P velocities. I would suspect expansion would be more reliable than Remington's FBI load and that's a great cartridge.

WWB's similar offering was expanding to around .48 caliber in gelatin from what tests I remember seeing on it. (I think they were in Shooting Times some years ago.) I suspect that the Remington offering might do a bit better.

I have a drawer full of .38s lately and most guns seem to shoot the Remington offering fairly well, so it keeps life easy. Not that it is a match grade ammunition, but 100 round value packs simplify the task of making sure that there are no surprises in a given gun.

 

[JayDubya]

Yet another who keeps Remington's +p 158gr LSWCHP in his 637 snubby. Someday I might try Speer's +p 135gr Gold Dot SB. I have Speer's std press 124gr Gold Dots in my t-series Browning Hi Power.

Cordially, Jack

 

[coach22]

To flop-shank
You're right, it wasn't price.
The guns are factory sighted for 158's.
In the 640 (38) the +P gives what
you get out of a 4 inch barrel.
Almost 1100 fps with a 158 grain bullet.
I'm getting better results than with the
Gold Dot Short Barrel 357 out of a 2 inch.
In my 340 PD, the BB 125 +P is heavier
at about the same speed as the 38 DPX +P,
so I'm getting more energy.
In my 49 and 442, I went from a +P
to a standard pressure.
I loaded all 4 with DPX +P before I changed.
So this is in no way a knock on Corbon DPX.
I just made the change for the reasons stated.

 

[5_Shooter]

Speer 135 gr. Gold dots

 

[whelenshooter]

I use the Remington or Federal +P 158 gr. Lead SWCHP (what everyone calls the FBI load). I use it because it shoots to where the sights point in my Model 36, Model 37, Model 38, and Model 642. I've tried lighter HPs and they never seem to shoot where the sights point. The FBI load is supposed to work well, but I've never tested it. At close range it may not matter, but if ranges get extended for some reason I figure being able to hit where I point is important enough it could make a difference.

 

[S/W - Lifer]

Nyclad 125 gr. HP +P.

 

[Jerry in SC]

Buffalo Bore 158 LSWC-HC.

Standard for the Model 38, +P for the Model 60.

 

[BreakerDan]

Remington 38+P 158gr LSWC-HP

 

[acmf74]

Winchester 38+P 158gr LSWC-HP

 

[cassml1]

CorBon +P 110 gr for my 442.

 

[Spotteddog]

Very interesting posts in this thread, no?
Folks seem to be reverting to their roots and are tending towards running "heavies".
No judgement as to whether good or bad. Just interesting?

 

[1/7GRUNT]

Model 442
Speer Gold Dots 135+P

 

[sigp220.45]

Federal 147 grain +P+ Hydra-Shoks.

 

[Dale53]

Federal 158 gr SWCHP +P.

Dale53

 

[arkdweller22]

DoubleTap 125 Grain .357's out of my 640. I can reliably hit golf balls at 30yards. Very accurate and hot.

 

[elcruisr]

Out of my 638 I use either Speer 135gr +P Short Barrel Gold Dot loads or Double Tap 125gr +P. The Double Tap being the more accurate of the two in my revolver but both are acceptable.

 

[Eagle1*]

Originally posted by sigp220.45:
Federal 147 grain +P+ Hydra-Shoks.

sig, are you using these loads in an airweight J frame? If so, are they punishing?? I have heard these are the 38 version of 357 magnum rounds??? Let me know because I know where I can get some if they are like the standard +P rounds???

 

[sigp220.45]

I use them in a Model 36. They're really not all that stout - about 900 fps with the 147 grain bullet. It is very accurate, though, and the bullet expands well even out of a short barrel. If you can get some I think you'll like it.

 

[pps]

Originally posted by Spotteddog:
Buffalo Bore's 158 LSWCHP G/C +P.

+5

great minds think alike.

 

[Eagle1*]

Originally posted by sigp220.45:
Federal 147 grain +P+ Hydra-Shoks.

I located 2 boxes of this today, cannot wait to shoot it. Hope it does not beat up my hand/thumb to badly..