mcb
Member
So I have mid 1990's model 10 heavy barrel that I frequently carry when out at the hunting property. It mostly gets used on Armadillos, rats, and the recently too frequent noisy nope-ropes. Initially I was using lead round noise simple cause I had them, I use a lot of 160gr lead coated round nose in my USPSA revolver so I just threw them in a 38 Special. Later I remember I had a partial box of Hornady 158gr XTP-HP from my aborted dalliance with 357 Mag for hunting. So for the past few years my woods load is 158gr XTP-HP pushed to about 860 fps from my 4-inch heavy barreled Model 10.
This XTP pass through the head of a medium size snake at about 6 ft, then a small piece of firewood and was found partial embedded in the 2x4 frame of the firewood stack. As you can see there is basically no expansion.
This XTP pass through the head of a much larger snake and at least one body diameter given the coiled nature of the snake at the time of shooting. This was at a distance of 10-12 ft. The bullet was recovered with a metal detector after going through about 6-8 inches of dry dirt. Not much expansion again.
After last weekend shooting of the snake (he got three shots for good measure) and a big wood rat that jumped out from underneath of the brush hog I realize I am getting low on this ammunition. So this gives me an opportunity to work up a new load. I would like to find a new bullet that might expand more easily.
Ideally it would be a jacketed, 158 gr bullet. I like jacketed bullets for cleanliness and no leading issues to worry about. Since the revolver is fixed sight and those sights seem well regulated to 158 gr bullets at these velocities I would like to stay close to 158 gr, though I am sure if the suggested bullet is a little heavier or lighter I can tweak a load to regulated it to the sights.
I am not opposed to a coated bullet either though, I do shoot a lot of those in competition. I would rather not mess with a traditionally lubricated lead. All copper bullets are OK too.
Any suggestions for a good expanding 38 Special bullet would be apricated. -Thanks!
This XTP pass through the head of a medium size snake at about 6 ft, then a small piece of firewood and was found partial embedded in the 2x4 frame of the firewood stack. As you can see there is basically no expansion.
This XTP pass through the head of a much larger snake and at least one body diameter given the coiled nature of the snake at the time of shooting. This was at a distance of 10-12 ft. The bullet was recovered with a metal detector after going through about 6-8 inches of dry dirt. Not much expansion again.
After last weekend shooting of the snake (he got three shots for good measure) and a big wood rat that jumped out from underneath of the brush hog I realize I am getting low on this ammunition. So this gives me an opportunity to work up a new load. I would like to find a new bullet that might expand more easily.
Ideally it would be a jacketed, 158 gr bullet. I like jacketed bullets for cleanliness and no leading issues to worry about. Since the revolver is fixed sight and those sights seem well regulated to 158 gr bullets at these velocities I would like to stay close to 158 gr, though I am sure if the suggested bullet is a little heavier or lighter I can tweak a load to regulated it to the sights.
I am not opposed to a coated bullet either though, I do shoot a lot of those in competition. I would rather not mess with a traditionally lubricated lead. All copper bullets are OK too.
Any suggestions for a good expanding 38 Special bullet would be apricated. -Thanks!