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Buffalo Bore 158 gr +P 38 Special?

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darkcloud

darkcloud

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Sep 21, 2017
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Northern Wyoming
So I am about to get a S&W 638 for CCW. No one within 100 miles carries the Speer Gold Dot stuff but I have access to the Buffalo Bore 158 gr SWCHP +P in 38 Special for SD loads. Just how stout is this stuff in an Airweight? How bad is the muzzle flash? I currently shoot a R.I.A. 1911 3.5" and shoot STOUT 200 grain handloads out of it but the thing is just too big, bulky and heavy for warm/hot weather dress. I used to have a Taurus 425 4" and shot heavy 210 grainers out of it for carrying in the woods. It was okay but not that much fun to shoot. 45ACP 1911 is fun and target loads in it are so soft it is boring. What are your experiences with this BB loading in a J frame Airweight?
 
The recoil is certainly manageable, but it is a bit punishing in my 637. It always left me with some stinging fingers. I never paid much attention to any flash or blast though.

I decided to step down to the standard pressure version for a carry round, which is about like most other guys' +P "FBI" load anyhow. I feel it is adequate. Its a bit more controllable and I can replicate reloads much easier for practice.

I'm sure the +P stuff is great in a steel framed gun.
 
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It will work great... Its a bit of older tech, but that doesnt mean in the slightest it wont do the job, the only caveat I see is that the load isnt as common to be found on the shelves of the local sporting goods store and I believe in training with all my defensive loads through my gun and with a snub nose revolver your training needs to be frequent and adequate. Dont know if your gonna get that with a load you may not find everywhere. I like the remington golden saber line, they seem to expand well in gel test media.
 
It’ll work fine but the recoil will be brisk... I came to the conclusion that faster follow ups where better than another inch of penetration.

It is very hard to shoot a snub quickly and accurately with heavy loads.

HB
 
I kind of approach Sd the same as I ddid when bowhunting in grizz country and carrying a side arm. If I am lucky I will get one shot off before I feel the hurt and I will make it a good one. That is how I practiced and will practice. One shot quick and absolute full concentration with follow up shots used to escape if I can or at least create distance. The one thing I had against the 41mag Tracker is it was ported for recoil control and that made it EXTREMELY loud (I tested it with out ear plugs so I would know). It was far worse than any 357 mag as far as how loud and sharp the report was. Thank you all for the responses. I appreciate it.
 
Tried it. It is more than a handful in an airweight. Buy a box and see for yourself what you think. For me... I could never practice with it enough to be competent. It's punishing.
 
The Buffalo Bore 158g +P 38 Special is for all intents and purposes a re-creation of the 38-44 load from the 1930s, the forerunner of the 357 Mag. They are my choice for a 38 Special defensive round, but as stated the recoil is brisk to say the least. I don't shoot them in J-frames.

If you want to practice (something many don't do with small, light weight, hard to control handguns) a hand load of 158g cast or plated bullet over 11.5g 2400 will give you the same performance and recoil. In a 4" barrel this is about 1125 fps. I would suspect it goes 1000 fps or so in a 2".

Dave
 
CZ9shooter said:
The recoil is certainly manageable, but it is a bit punishing in my 637. It always left me with some stinging fingers. I never paid much attention to any flash or blast though.

I decided to step down to the standard pressure version for a carry round, which is about like most other guys' +P "FBI" load anyhow. I feel it is adequate. Its a bit more controllable and I can replicate reloads much easier for practice.

I'm sure the +P stuff is great in a steel framed gun.
Click to expand...
I never shot the Buffalo Bore ammo in my 638, but I prefer a controllable load so I can get off faster follow up shots. Most of the really hot stuff produces a lot of muzzle flip and really slows down the ability to get back on target quickly which I feel is important.
 
Well after reading your answers and finding a video of a guy actually shooting the stuff out of a j frame I will pass on this ammo. I think the non +P would be okay but they do not carry that around here either. I will keep looking for ammo to test. Needs to be controllable, effective and I much prefer locally available. Another thought is the BB stuff may be a bit hard on a little J frame. Thank you everyone for your help.
 
Heavy recoil and large muzzle flash are two things you'll get for sure using +P ammo in a j frame. Long ago I settled on using 148 HBWC in a j frame. Easy to control, accurate, and adequate penetration.
 
I live in the woods and my EDC carry revolver is now a Colt Cobra 2017 Model. I carry it loaded with the Buffalo Bore 158 grain hard cast SWC “Outdoorsman” +P load as my everyday load around the property due to critters. It is a modern version of the old pre-357 Magnum classic 38/44 load from the 1930’s. The hollow point version is an excellent SD load. Buffalo Bore is good stuff. I buy all my carry ammo on line. The only stuff I get from Walmart or the hardware store is practice stuff.

My go-to-town load when I kinda “dress up” is a basic standard pressure 158 grain JHP that I carry in a M&P 340 (until I can snag a new Night Cobra, that is...). It gets the job done.
 
darkcloud said:
So I am about to get an S&W 638 for CCW. No one within 100 miles carries the Speer Gold Dot stuff but I have access to the Buffalo Bore 158 gr SWCHP +P in 38 Special for SD loads. Just how stout is this stuff in an Airweight? How bad is the muzzle flash? I currently shoot an R.I.A. 1911 3.5" and shoot STOUT 200 grain handloads out of it but the thing is just too big, bulky and heavy for warm/hot weather dress. I used to have a Taurus 425 4" and shot heavy 210 grainers out of it for carrying in the woods. It was okay but not that much fun to shoot. 45ACP 1911 is fun and target loads in it are so soft it is boring. What are your experiences with this BB loading in a J frame Airweight?
Click to expand...
I carry the Buffalo Bore® 38 Special+P 158gr LSWCHCGC (#20A/20) in my 30oz Taurus® 2¼" Barrel 7 shot Mdl 617SS2 357 Magnum every day. This load prints EXACTLY to POA out to 15 yards. Recoil is manageable. In my S&W® M&P® Bodyguard 38 (14.4oz), and my Taurus® Ultra-Lite® 38 (15.7oz) THE RECOIL IS ABSOLUTELY BRUTAL! One shot in each gun was all I could stand.

For my two 38"s I carry the Buffalo Bore® 38 Special Standard Pressure 158gr LSWCHCGC (#20C/20). This load matches the Remington 38 Special+P FBI load and has far less recoil...

Forewarned is forearmed... Regards...

 
It always left me with some stinging fingers.
Click to expand...

Called nerve damage and if you keep it up, it can become permanent. I use a 642 with standard 158LSWC or 158JHP at normal velocities - both will do the job if the shooter does his.
 
Going to use the BB standard pressure, low flash swchp-gc in my 638. After watching a video of a guy shooting +P and then cutting loose with +P BB stuff in his 638 follow up shots will be difficult. I have no doubt this soft lead standard pressure stuff going at the rate of velocity it has been crono'd at from snubby revolvers will do the job. The plus side to this is a place here has 4 boxes on sale and I will get the last 3 tomorrow. (only had enough "play dough" on me for one box today)
 
Now have 4 boxes of the Buffalo Bore 158 swchp Standard pressure. Pick them up for $19 a box. That is a little cheaper than most other SD ammo. They look effective with the huge hollow cavity and SOFT lead bullet. Be interesting to see how the compare to Remmy 125 SJHP +P in shootability out of my J frame. Watched a video of a guy shooting the +P BB 158's and I may as well have been shooting my old 41 mag Titanium as far as recoil goes. It was wild!
 
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