Joshua M. Smith
March 10, 2007, 04:59 PM
Magtech is a lesser-known Brazilian munitions company. According to their website, their ammo is used by the Brazilian military.
I bought some today as the S&W ammo I have is older than I thought, and semi-collectible. I also had a "phobia" about firing +P in my Rossi snub after hearing some horror stories about the results. Luckily, I still have my face and all my fingers, and the revolver is no worse for the wear. I still believe it would be prudent to limit my shooting of +P, but carrying it for defensive purposes shouldn't hurt a thing in my opinion.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b191/WabashShootist/Guns/box.jpg
This is the Magtech box. I picked it out and I found it had no price tag. I told the salesman what it was likely worth, and he gave it to me for less than I stated. Nice guy.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b191/WabashShootist/Guns/Original.jpg
When I think ".38 Special" I associate it with a lead round. These still don't have the visual appeal for me, but hey, if it works...
I do not have pictures of the actual test. I was sloshing ankle deep in mud due to the melting of the winter's blizzard snows, and I didn't want to expose my camera to that.
My primary range was inaccessible. The creek is actually up over the bridge, and I'll likely have to replace the bridge again this year... figures. So I filled up four one gallon milk jugs and headed out to the backup range. Firing distance was seven yards - I was hoping not to get any water on me as I had forgotten to rinse this batch of milk jugs out! I wasn't disappointed.
If subjective recoil is any indication, this stuff is just barely +P. It felt no different than the standard pressure loadings I've been practicing with, both 130gr jacketed and 158gr Magtech standard pressure LRN.
The round struck the first jug dead center and blew out its sides, and duplicated that performance to a slightly lesser degree on the second. The third was leaking from both the front and the back, and the fourth was dented, but not penetrated. I fished the spend round out of muddy water in between the third and forth jugs (don't you just love what I go through for ya'll? 8-) )
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b191/WabashShootist/Guns/Expanded1.jpg
The expanded round showed what I would accept as OK performance from a 2" barreled revolver. Not thrilling performance, but OK.
As you can see, it about half-expanded. It held together well, losing a single petal. It was just beginning to exhibit jacket separation. At its widest deformation point, it is a little less than 1/2" wide.
Is this stuff my first choice? No, it's not. The American Eagle (Federal) standard pressure my dealer has ordered likely won't be my first choice either. However, they're acceptable choices while I find what I like best.
Josh <><
I bought some today as the S&W ammo I have is older than I thought, and semi-collectible. I also had a "phobia" about firing +P in my Rossi snub after hearing some horror stories about the results. Luckily, I still have my face and all my fingers, and the revolver is no worse for the wear. I still believe it would be prudent to limit my shooting of +P, but carrying it for defensive purposes shouldn't hurt a thing in my opinion.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b191/WabashShootist/Guns/box.jpg
This is the Magtech box. I picked it out and I found it had no price tag. I told the salesman what it was likely worth, and he gave it to me for less than I stated. Nice guy.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b191/WabashShootist/Guns/Original.jpg
When I think ".38 Special" I associate it with a lead round. These still don't have the visual appeal for me, but hey, if it works...
I do not have pictures of the actual test. I was sloshing ankle deep in mud due to the melting of the winter's blizzard snows, and I didn't want to expose my camera to that.
My primary range was inaccessible. The creek is actually up over the bridge, and I'll likely have to replace the bridge again this year... figures. So I filled up four one gallon milk jugs and headed out to the backup range. Firing distance was seven yards - I was hoping not to get any water on me as I had forgotten to rinse this batch of milk jugs out! I wasn't disappointed.
If subjective recoil is any indication, this stuff is just barely +P. It felt no different than the standard pressure loadings I've been practicing with, both 130gr jacketed and 158gr Magtech standard pressure LRN.
The round struck the first jug dead center and blew out its sides, and duplicated that performance to a slightly lesser degree on the second. The third was leaking from both the front and the back, and the fourth was dented, but not penetrated. I fished the spend round out of muddy water in between the third and forth jugs (don't you just love what I go through for ya'll? 8-) )
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b191/WabashShootist/Guns/Expanded1.jpg
The expanded round showed what I would accept as OK performance from a 2" barreled revolver. Not thrilling performance, but OK.
As you can see, it about half-expanded. It held together well, losing a single petal. It was just beginning to exhibit jacket separation. At its widest deformation point, it is a little less than 1/2" wide.
Is this stuff my first choice? No, it's not. The American Eagle (Federal) standard pressure my dealer has ordered likely won't be my first choice either. However, they're acceptable choices while I find what I like best.
Josh <><