[Universal]

My current home defense gun is a Ruger SP101 .357 magnum. I currently load it with Federal Personal Defense .38 spl. ammo. This is a 110 grain Hydra-Shok round.

I am not very informed when it comes to revolver ammo and was wondering if anyone had an opinion on what a good .38 or .38+p round would be.

Thank you.

Universal

[Tamara]

My personal favorite is the 158gr +P LSWC-HP, available from both Winchester & Federal.

[Glamdring]

Most people would recomend 158 grain +P LHP (+P means higher pressure, LHP=Lead Hollow Point) for 38 special loads, it was the round used by FBI, Chicago PD, and other big LE agencies for a long time.

See link below for a little more info.


http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23727&highlight=38%2A

[ruger357]

I also use the 110 Federals.

[ACP230]

I won several boxes of Corbon .38 Special 158 grain LSWCHP + P ammo while playing trivia at the old Second Chance Bowling Pin Shoot. I've been using it for HD and concealed carry in my Smith M649 for years. Stout and accurate ammo which shoots to point of aim in the 649. I practice with 158 grain SWC reloads which, although slower than the Corbon shoot to the same place.

Unfortunately Corbon doesn't make the 158 grain LSWCHP load any more. When my supply dwindles I will probably go to the Winchester 158 grain load mentioned above.

[Jim March]

The problem with the Fed110 is it's been reliably clocked at less than 800fps from a 2" barrel.

That's just pathetic, and is part of an unfortunate trend whereby Federal "wimps out" on the powder charge.

The Winchester 130+P Supreme is interesting. It'll go just as fast as the Fed 110, and has a GIANT hollowpoint cavity. Expansion tests from 2" barrels have shown good results even through denim. That or one of the 158+P lead hollowpoints is my choice, and I rely on a snubby 38 too.

[sm]

What Tamara said. I still think this is the best load going.

I still have someWin. .38 spl 125 gr +P STHP , I used these for "in the office", because some guns shot this better I had scattered about. Bought a case years ago, one box left, I won't replace when finally gone.

[Erich]

I've got 147(?) gr. +P+ Hydrashoks in my Colt Police Positive .38. Nothing wrong with the FBI load everyone keeps mentioning.

[MR.G]

Another vote for the lead SWHP+P. Buy them when you can find them.

[Penforhire]

I went with the 38 +p Win Ranger SXT's (158 g if I recall correctly) but only based on not wanting full-house 357 mag for HD and liking how the SXT's shot. I might switch to Hydrashoks since I've always trusted them in my autos.

[chaim]

In a snub I tend to like the 158 SWCHP (+P is my first choice but if all I could get was standard .38spls I'd go this way over +Ps in standard HPs as well) and barring finding any of those (not everyone buys online and if you don't and can't find the SWC-HPs locally) try plain 158gr SWCs.

They are lead which is usually pretty soft so the HP is relatively likely to open. Even if it doesn't, or if you use the SWCs, you have a bullet design that has a very wide and sharp shoulder and the tapered design and full weight (158 grains) help lead to deeper penatration. It should give you better penatration than the very lightweight JHPs that it takes for reliable snubby HP expansion and if you go w/ a JHP and it doesn't open it is basically a round nose design which isn't as effective as the sharp shoulder SWC.

In a longer barrel I tend to like something in a Speer Gold Dot. I use the real deal and buy the ammo loaded by Speer, but any quality ammunition manufacturer who uses Speer's Gold Dot bullet would do just fine. This is pretty much my favorite (but not exclusive) self defense choice in all my calibers at this point.

[Universal]

Thanks to everyone for your advice. I forgot to mention that it is the 3" barrel version and I am not sure if that makes a difference.

Universal

[Dave Markowitz]

You'll see a few more FPS with the 3" tube, to be sure.

And, I'll second (third, fourth?) the choice of the FBI load (158 grain LSWCHP +P). It's what I load in my 3" S&W Model 640 carry gun, and even in my 4" Model 28 for home defense.

[Jim March]

3" tube doesn't change my answers. By 4" things are a bit more interesting, you've got enough speed to make a Gold Dot 125 load work. That's a delayed expansion round that just has to have speed to work but when it's got the speed, it dominates.

The 158+P lead hollowpoints work at much lower speeds. Peak expansion won't be quite as good, but they've been reliably geekin' bad guys since Eliot Ness walked a beat.

[sm]

One of my CCW is a model 64 HB 3"
It has the 158 gr LSWC HP in it now.

At one time I carried it more and then relegated it to an inside the desk pc.I used the STHP. This gun liked the STHP, POA/POI was good.

This gun really likes the 158 gr load better. I have used it to dispatch quite a few rabid dogs and such...oh yeah, bunch better in my testing from a 3" tube. Rabid doberman at ~ 10 yds frontal shot to the head (above left eye) plop DRT.

[E357]

I like pretty much agree with all the above listed 38 loads. Even just plain old lead wadcutters (when loaded hot) will give you both penetration and "cookie cutter" holes. But, you'll have to have someone make these up for you. Then there is still the old trick of the soft lead HBWC handed loaded in reverse (Huge hole forward). I favor these or Magsafes for home defense revolvers.

Elliot