[Topgun]

I have returned to .38 spl for CCW because my M36 will drop into a pocket and disappear where my 640 has the slightly longer barrel and rubber grips and shows the grips in the pocket.

I have started alternating the Silvertips with FMJ just for the added penetration as I would never know what an adversary might be wearing.

I train to shoot 3 at a time. So it would be ...expanding, FMJ, expanding ..
the way I have it loaded.

Any opinions on this alternating FMJ thingy?

Putting it in "Handguns" as should pertain to both revo and autos in marginal calibers.

[TheEgg]

You asked for opinions, just your luck, got some fresh in stock today, ready for issue.:D

I think that for .38 spl., just carry some quality hollow point, HydraShok or GoldDot, in a +P loading, and you should be good to go. I think FMJ is not the way to go, due to possibility of over-penetration, and possible lack of damage on target. I don't condemn use of FMJ, just think the quality of hollow point ammo has reached the point where that is the best option for most handgun/CCW applications.

That will be $.02 please.

[CWL]

I think that if you are planning on contact range encounters (within 7 yards), you might as well as stick with one round and rely on accuracy over volume of fire. -Headshot ends fight.

Cocktail loads, IMO, is an attempt to compensate for poor shooting skills without understanding bullet performance/human stress factors.

While not a fan of silvertips, I think that .38spcl. in JHP or SWHP is a good load for SD applications.

FMJ is great for smaller calibers (.32ACP) to guarantee penetration of vitals, or if your jurisdication mandates them.

[Logistar]

I toyed with the idea of staggering JHP with FMJ but finally decided against it. (Overpenetration reasons)

Then I decided that maybe I should carry a spare magazine (or in your case, speedloader, etc) with FMJ in it.

My reasoning was ... use the JHP for normal self defense. If I felt I needed penetration more (maybe I take off to walk a trail where there are BEARS!!!!!;)) I can switch magazines.

I figure I won't likely need the 2nd magazine unless I have emptied the first one anyway and if I did I wouldn't worry that they were FMJ.

I finally decided it was too much trouble and just keep JHP in everything.

Logistar

[Dr.Rob]

If you lived in a place that banned hollowpoints I could see using Federal EFMJ, but in a snubby revolver I think you'll find the heavy 158 gr semiwadcutter Hp to be your best bet.

[Marko Kloos]

One of my two spare magazines for the P7M8 is loaded with ball ammo. I figured that I may need a bit more penetration if I am already three mags into a gunfight.

[Standing Wolf]

Jacketed hollow points for me: if I ever need to fire my carry gun, I want the bullets to do the most effective job in the smallest quantity of time.

[22luvr]

I use hollow points exclusively. There's no worry about feeding problems and there are a LOT of ammo manufacturers making quality hot self-defense rounds in .38 spcl HP.

About the only thing I use FMJ's for are target practice.

[Landric]

Howdy,

I would stick with JHP ammo. Non-expanding ammo in the .38 Special has a pretty bad reputation, and because of the low velocity and bullet weight of a .38 Special FMJ, penetration is not going to be anything to write home about, assuming you want extra penetration for cover. I am sure a 130 grain .38 FMJ will zip right through a person.

Back when I carried a S&W 3913 I carried 3 magazines, one in the gun, two spares. The gun was loaded with 9 rounds of Federal 9BPLE 115 grain JHP(+P+) and one of the spares had 8 more rounds of the 9BPLE. The other mag I loaded with 124 grain NATO ball in case I needed to shoot through something. If I ever went back to carrying a single stack 9mm again, I think I would do the same thing.

I carry a .45 ACP now, and with its double stack magazine, I only carry one spare, so I don't carry any FMJ, but I did decide on 230 grain JHP rather than a lighter bullet.

[WonderNine]

I always carry 9mm NATO FMJ. Penetration? Yes and I think that's good. I suppose it could go through the attacker and through another wall and hit somebody, but shooting always has its risks. Bottom line, if there's somebody in the direct line of fire you shouldn't be shooting anyways until you get a better shot.

In a revolver and my COP .357 I tend to carry Remington Golden Saber hollowpoints though. If you're gonna use hollowpoints I'd say stick with the lighter faster +P stuff 110-125gr. especially in a .38 snub. I don't think the 158gr. .38spec has a good track record of always expanding. I'd tend to think a 158gr. hollowpoint would penetrate as much if not more than a 125gr. FMJ .38spec.

[Tropical Z]

If a semi will tolerate staggering its the only way to go.On a revolver,its a no brainer.;)

[Zip06]

I think alternating silver tips with hardball is just fine. Haven't heard much of .38 over-penetrating anything. In the winter I would go to all hardball.

[GD]

My first 3 rounds are hollow points and then I start alternating HP and FMJ. I figure that if my defensive shooting isn't over in 3 rounds then I may be facing penetration problems.

[Sven]

Chuck Taylor had 5 one-shot stops with 230 grain .45 hardball.

[Serpico]

"I train to shoot 3 at a time. So it would be ...expanding, FMJ, expanding .."

You might want to train shooting double taps.... especially with a 5 shot...2 rounds to the body in rapid succession can work pretty well and not empty your gun so fast...

[PCRCCW]

Forgive my bluntness....but WT Hell would you want to carry FMJ's?
Look at it this way....If you stock up on +P 38 JHP's...the worst thing thats gonna happen if the HP gets clogged up with jacket, shirt/whatever, is its gonna turn its self into a FMJ.......
Research a good bullet design....Gold Dots, Corbon what have you and carry the best round you can. Most bullets these days will still expand through 4 layers of denim.....

At the very least if youre dead set on fixing this problem.....look into Fed. Expanding Full Metal Jackets......the come in +P and offer you the best of both world.

I WOULD NEVER CARRY FMJ's in a defensive handgun. Even if they are NATO spec rounds....what the hell good does the NATO spec do you if none of the energy is transferred to the target? One little hole going through a person will not stop them like a bigger hole that doesnt go through them.........its theoretically impossible. Let alone the risk of over penetration. You say 'hey its risky being in a shooting anyway"....
Why not minimize the risk that ARE in your control to lessen the overall risk of already risky situation?
If your being chased by a very agressive tiger and he has you cornered....are you gonna put your hands up by your face and go "na nana nana nana :neener:.........same thing. Why not lessen the risk that is in your control?

Shoot well

[Zip06]

PCRCCW - I think this is a never ending debate. Just to present the other side. If hardball is so inefficient how do you explain the tens of thousands Germans, Japanese, North Koreans, Vietnamese, Chinese and God knows how many others have succumbed to the .45?

[Greybeard]

In .38 revolver, I'd stay away from FMJ as carry load. If talking .32 semi where sufficient penetration is questionable, then yea, maybe FMJs. Ya might want to take a hard look at Winchester 130g JHPs in .38 +P.

[Shaughn Leayme]

Ball does work, but it come down to ............................


Bullet placement and hitting them were they live.

Shoot someone twice in the arm and it won't matter if it was ball or HP.

Shoot them twice just above the sternum and it won't really matter if it was ball or HP.

Unless you are facing reliability issues or legal ones, go hollow point. If the HP gets plugged by foreign matter, it just became a ball round. If it doesn't then you get expansion and better terminal performance.

But it still comes down to placement.

[PCRCCW]

All points taken....

The only reason So many people died because of FMJ's in the wars was JHP's were so inhuman they became "politically incorrect" with warsaw and nato etc. Sure plenty of people have died with FMJs, especially with a 45 ACP...the round back in its heyday was a low pressure round and didnt have the ballistics to over pentrate like the NATO spec 9mm FMJ's would.

If I were to do the shooting Id rather shoot JHP's
If I were to get shot...Id pray for FMJ's

I agree and disagree.....oh well.

Shoot well, Eric