[Flfiremedic]

Ok guys...whats the best 38 +P for a Ruger LCR?

[The Lone Haranguer]

125-gr. JHP or perhaps that new 135-gr. Speer Gold Dot that is optimized for short revolvers, to reduce recoil.

[gglass]

135gr Speer Gold Dot for short barrels is the optimum .38 Special +P cartridge. It was designed by Speer at the request of the NYC Police Department for their officers who almost universally carried a snub-nose 38 as a backup weapon.

The request was for a .38 Special cartridge that would offer ballistics performance similar to the 9mm semi-auto's that most of the officers carried as a primary weapon. The resulting 135gr cartridge has a "secret sauce" combination of a larger hollow point cavity than the standard Gold Dot and a powder that is completely consumed in a 2" barrel. This allows for the most velocity, the most consistent expansion, and very little muzzle flash from a snubby.

[rcmodel]

Hornady's new Critical Defense FTX +P load looks awful promising too.

http://www.hornady.com/story.php?s=786

rc

[ChristopherG]

Yep, the 135 SGD will probably be the right answer. That's what I carry in my 340PD.

The long version is that the best projectiles for short-barreled .38s of all types are the Speer mentioned above and the FBI load, a 158 gr. LSWCHP +P. I would opt for the latter, but the 340 is so light that soft lead bullets at +p velocities pull out from the cases under recoil--a problem not experienced with jacketed +p's (or standard pressure lead bullets). All that to say, I don't know whether the Ruger has identical issues, but it would be worth investigating at 13.5 oz.

As far as the Hornady, looks interesting, but my gun is not supposed to use under 125 gr. bullets, so I don't. Again, don't know if the light Ruger has similar issues.

[MrTuffPaws]

Another vote for the Speer GDJHPSB. I carry them in my Taurus M85 Ultra-lite. They have less felt recoil than the CCI Blazer 158gr LRN that I shoot for practice and little if any muzzle flash. Spendy though, but well worth it.

[earlthegoat2]

Probably these

Federal Nyclad 158 grain LSWCHP +P.

Unfortunately they are out of production. They new Nyclads are pretty good too though.

My vote would go for the Remington LSWCHP 158 grain +P though.

[GRIZ22]

If you are trying to get velocity, expansion, and penetration I'd go with the Nyclads or LSWCHP. You can get more velocity out of a lead bullet than a jacketed one for the same pressure, more reliable expansion from an all lead bullet, and more penetration with the heavier weight.

[Elvishead]

GDHP 135g

[carguy2244]

Doubletap 38+p is the best by far.

[Glamdring]

I would go with the 135GDHP+P (NYPD load) unless recoil was to much. If you need something with less recoil then Standard Pressure 125 Nyclad HP (Chief Special load) or Magsafe.

[wnycollector]

+1 for the remington 158gr +P LSWCHP. Its a been stopping bad guys reliably for 50+ years. I load it in my M36, but I do not load it in my speed loader since I pocket carry that. The lead is SUPER soft and will rub off inside your pockets, plus the bullets deform very easily. I carry the doubletap GDJHP load in my speed loader.

[armsmaster270]

Another vote for Gold Dot Short Barrel 135's.

[jfh]

I would test a number of them and see what feels "good" for you.

If you are new to SBR shooting, self-defense shooting, or especially shooting a lightweight revolver, the subjective-recoil issues are at least as big a factor as any external-ballistics / performance criteria.

Get a box of each and shoot five rounds--see what feels "the best now"--in this initial trial, maybe "the best" is that which allows you to shoot five rounds in five seconds and keep all the shots on a 8.5 x 11 blank paper at 5-7 yards while not being distracted by the recoil pain.

rcmodel: Thanks for the tip on that new Hornady ammo. I'll have to pick up a box.

Jim H.

[Bob79]

I like the Cor Bon DPX 38+P 110 grain. It performs very well in every test I've been able to read on it. It doesn't have bad recoil either, which to me is important in such a light weight gun. The ammo can be pretty tough to find though. I carry it in my S&W 442, and also have them in my wife's 3" model 36 "night stand" gun.

[Glamdring]

+1 on DPX that is a moderate recoil load also IIRC

[altitude_19]

Pow'r ball!!!

[Elvishead]

Elvishead

GDHP 135g


Glamdring

I would go with the 135GDHP+P (NYPD load) unless recoil was to much.

So,....were does somebody get (NYPD load), call the NYPD?

Unless you go on GB.com, or call Chester's Hunting & Fishing Suplies INC at 631 738-6991

[Flfiremedic]

Ended up with a box of Doubletap for now 125 gr at 1100 fps...should do all I ask.

[Elvishead]

Good choice, I doubt there is much difference between those or GDHP's 135s. But 1100fps is wishful thinking out of your snub. Still, you have plenty of power.

[belus]

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Feedingthe38Snub.htm
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Corbon%2038%20Special%20Ammo.htm
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/38%20Special%20Expansion%20Tests.htm
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/38%20Snub%20Ammo%20Test.htm

I purchased a barely fired 442 and carry Hornady's new 110gr +P in it, but only because the gun came with two boxes. I think its fine, but I'd like something with a heavier bullet.

When I buy replacement ammo (every 6mo or so), it'll be one of these:
Remington 158gr LSWCHP +P (Remington has the softest lead of that style)
---see http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/38%20Special%20158gr%20LSWCHP.htm
Speer's short barrel Gold Dot
something from Federal's recently re-released Nyclad line
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Image87.jpg
from left to right: Corbon 110gr DPX, Speer SBGD, Remington LSWCHP

[wnycollector]

But 1100fps is wishful thinking out of your snub

Yep, I got out the chronograph, a box of DT 125 gold dots and three .38 revolvers of various barrel lengths (2, 4 and 5"). The DT load never cracked 1000 fps from ANY of the revolvers! IIRC the DT load was in the mid 900fps range from my m36 snub.