Which .38/357 magnum...
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Arik
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Lenny_D
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I'll be honest with you. I've got no idea. There are so many different results from different tests its hard to sort out the hype. A pure gelatine test, if done with all the different bullets shows how each bullet expands in a "perfect" scenario such as shooting an assailant who was naked and didn't have any bones.
I know that the testing is done for comparison only but I'm not sure how valid any of the results are in the real world. It's been said that the 125 grain 38 caliber bullet has the most "one shot" stops. I believe that is from a .357 magnum. If I ever and I pray I don't, have to shoot someone I don't plan at stopping at one hit I will shoot till the gun goes click so "one shot" stops don't account for much in my opinion.
I think that it is so much more important to hit a vital area with a bullet than depend on any bullet to expand. There are just too many variables ie. speed of bullet,clothing,bone ,obstructions etc. to consider that any bullet will expand every time. A caliber sized hole in a vital area will let the air out an assailant and stop the threat. This is all just my opinion. You should do your research and reach your own.
Len
I know that the testing is done for comparison only but I'm not sure how valid any of the results are in the real world. It's been said that the 125 grain 38 caliber bullet has the most "one shot" stops. I believe that is from a .357 magnum. If I ever and I pray I don't, have to shoot someone I don't plan at stopping at one hit I will shoot till the gun goes click so "one shot" stops don't account for much in my opinion.
I think that it is so much more important to hit a vital area with a bullet than depend on any bullet to expand. There are just too many variables ie. speed of bullet,clothing,bone ,obstructions etc. to consider that any bullet will expand every time. A caliber sized hole in a vital area will let the air out an assailant and stop the threat. This is all just my opinion. You should do your research and reach your own.
Len
David LaPell
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Oh boy that's not an easy one. I know my Hornady XTP's open up to about .50 caliber. I know Skeeter Skelton wrote of his campfire cast #358156 hollowpoints opening up to .60 in some cases after passing through game. Some of mine when tested opened up to that when I shot them into wet newsprint. My advice, get a few different rounds, like Remington Golden Saber, Hornady XTP's and then test them in some wet newsprint to see which of them give you the best expansion. I assume you want these for personal defense.
125 grain handloaded Hornady XTP's moving at about 1,400 fps fired into wet newsprint from my .357 Magnum
cast #358156 Hollowpoints moving around 1,250 fps fired into wet newsprint
125 grain handloaded Hornady XTP's moving at about 1,400 fps fired into wet newsprint from my .357 Magnum
cast #358156 Hollowpoints moving around 1,250 fps fired into wet newsprint
The variables between specific gun and load combinations make this impossible to answer without either an academic paper's amount of research or more specifics on which gun and load you're talking about.
A lame stab at an answer would be: all things being equal (same gun, same ammo maker using the same weight and kind of bullet in the same product line), the .357 will expand more due to greater velocity.
A lame stab at an answer would be: all things being equal (same gun, same ammo maker using the same weight and kind of bullet in the same product line), the .357 will expand more due to greater velocity.
It looks like, in David's test rounds, the cast hollow points produced a nastier wound channel. Beyond that, I have no answer to the original question.
Even the best of the best can turn out to be duds if you get a bad box of ammo.
Many test have gone bad and and the tester has asked the major ammo maker to send a different lot number,hoping the test turn out better.
Do you feel lucky ??
Well do ya ??
Many test have gone bad and and the tester has asked the major ammo maker to send a different lot number,hoping the test turn out better.
Do you feel lucky ??
Well do ya ??
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