[tbeb]

Here is Remington's reply to my question about using their .38 special+P Golden Saber in a 2 3/4" .357 magnum revolver for self defense:

"One of our best rounds in the 357 Magnum short barrel is the 38
Special +P Golden Saber. A Sheriff who tested this in Ballistic
Gelatin at one of our demo’s had penetration to 10 to 10½ inches
with expansion to between .55 and .60 inches. He switched right
there. The 38 Golden Saber has a thinner jacket and softer
core. Go to www.remingtonle.com for some pictures on Golden
Saber bullets."

Newer technology is giving us bullets that expand after passing through clothed ordnance gelatin. Is seems penetration suffers though. I like light recoiling, hollow point ammo. But, I'm wondering if a 148 gr. hard lead wadcutter doing about 800 fps from a 2 3/4" or a 158 gr. hard lead semi-wadcutter doing about 750 fps from a 2 3/4" would be a better choice than the Golden Saber. (I know their's other ammo, but I'm talking light recoil.)

[BluesBear]

While a hard cast leat bullet with a good meplat is no slouch in the SD department, I personally feel that the Golden Sabre is one of the best .38 rounds on the market.

For self defense aganish humaniod type dangers I'd go with the Golden Sabre.

For defense against much larger mammalian types I go with the hard cast SWC. Although I condsider ANY .38 Special load to be inadaquate for this.

[stans]

One problem with full wadcutter rounds is in performing a quick reload. The flat bullets can get hung up on the edges of the chambers. This is where JHP bullets really shine as their rounded ogives tend to guide them into the chambers. SWC ammo can also suffer from the driving band getting caught on the edges of the chamber, but it seems to be less of a problem than with full WC ammo. I discovered this when I started into IPSC/USPSA competition shooting with a Ruger GP-100. My 148 grain WC rounds in speed loaders were sometimes tough to line up with the chambers, SWC's worked much better, JHP's worked best.

[Gary A]

Stans, you're exactly correct. I've noted the same thing for sure. It can make a big difference in a smooth and speedy reload.

[tbeb]

Point will taken on speedloading. My reload at home is a second gun. When I'm not at home my speedloader is loaded with JHP's. If I need to reload in a self defense senario, there's a good chance the bad guys will be all over me before my reload is complete.

[Magnum88C]

IMHO wadcutters would only be really effective at SD if driven fast. I'd stick with the Golden Sabres or the 135-gr +p Gold Dots.

[stans]

My reload at home is a second gun.
And that would be the world's fastest reload! :)