Looking for a good, preferably jacketed, bullet for 38 Special.

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Bcwitt said:
Lighter bullet, perhaps? Mabey a 115gr 9mm or a 95gr. .380.
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The problem with a lighter bullet will be POI since I will be using these in a fixed sight Model 10 that seems to like 158/160 gr bullets.

That said I decided to give Matt's bullets a try. I have ordered 100 of the 148gr Round Flat Hollow Points and 100 of the 158 Gr Hollow Point Semi-wad Cutters. I like the looks of the 148 gr and those are my first choice, the 158gr are going to be my backup.
 
n2omike said:
If you want expansion... VELOCITY is your friend. Turn 'em up! :)
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True, but ~850-900 fps from a revolver is much easier on the ears than something up in the trans or supersonic velocities, and I am not doing battle with anything that big.

Once I get loads worked up for both we'll do some water and maybe wet magazine testing to see if the bullets actually open. Hopefully some armadillos too and hopefully not any more rattlers but if push comes to shove they will get used for testing too.
 
Bcwitt said:
Why dont you require it to wash you dishes while you are at it? There is a reason for different weights.
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Because the last time I asked a varmint to wait while a reloading my revolver with ammo appropriate to said varmint he made raspberries at me a scampered off. This ammo is for my woods (middle TN woods) revolver and I want ammo that is capable for as wide a variety of possible encounters as possible. A good HP that opens relatively quickly at 38 Special velocities would be ideal and capable of doing everything I need if not fully optimal for all those situations. Given my fixed sights a weight near 158gr will make regulation easier. Got to do the best we can and live with the rest.
 
Understood. Utility is a great thing. But it is kinda difficult to change a head gasket w a cresent wrench. At some point we hit a practicality wall. I think your asking a lot.
 
gila_dog1 said:
I've been thru your same process for quite a while. The luckygunner tests convinced me that it's hard to find bullets that will expand reliably at 38 special velocities. The Hornady XTP bullets don't open up until you get to .357 magnum velocities. There are some factory loads that work well, but I don't know how to buy just the bullets for reloading. And nowadays it's hard to find any .38 special ammo of any kind, especially the good stuff.

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/revolver-ballistics-test/

What looks good to me are Hornady 140 gr FTX bullets. The problem with all hollow points is that the little cavity can get filled up with fabric or fur or something, then it works like a round nose bullet and won't open up unless it's going really fast. The FTX bullets have a plastic nose that gets pushed back into the hollow point cavity so they should open up no matter what they are hitting.These are easy to find out there on the internet and according to the luckygunner tests they seem to expand reliably. I bought some and will be trying them out.

I keep a CCI snake shot round handy in my .38/.357 speed strip just for the rattlesnake by the back porch scenario. Those things really work well. But for me the best anti snake weapon is a .22 rifle with a CCI snake shot round. Stand way back, hold the rifle like a pistol, put the muzzle right in his face, and pop him.

View attachment 1094995
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That's an unusual looking rattler. Mojave?
 
Shivahasagun said:
A soft lead hollow point as already mentioned.

140-158 to keep the POI where you want it.
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As I mentioned up thread that is what I have settled on. I could not find a coated version so I have traditional lubricated lead coming. I decided to give Matt's bullets a try, I use his bullets in my Webleys. I have ordered 100 of the 148gr Round Flat Hollow Points and 100 of the 158 Gr Hollow Point Semi-wad Cutters. I like the looks of the 148 gr and those are my first choice, the 158gr are going to be my backup.
 
earplug said:
I think your only hope for expansion at 850 FPS it to find a old swaged lead bullet. Swaged lead is very soft.
I'd bet the old FBI 150 grain LSWC HP was swaged.
ZERO bullets sold as Roze might have what you need. Cast.
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I use a lot of Zero bullets and I can tell you that their .45ACP 230gr will give you maximum expansion at minimum power factor.
I use their 38/357 158gr JSP's but only at 357 Magnum velocities.
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What
mcb said:
As I mentioned up thread that is what I have settled on. I could not find a coated version so I have traditional lubricated lead coming. I decided to give Matt's bullets a try, I use his bullets in my Webleys. I have ordered 100 of the 148gr Round Flat Hollow Points and 100 of the 158 Gr Hollow Point Semi-wad Cutters. I like the looks of the 148 gr and those are my first choice, the 158gr are going to be my backup.
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Powder are you going to use?
 
Bfh_auto said:
What

Powder are you going to use?
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The reason I wanted a Jacket bullet was so I could use Titegroup. I have a heap of it and it works well with a jacketed bullets but with uncoated lead its really smokie in my experience. I have some 4227, 231 and trailboss I will probably try first before resorting to Titegroup and have a duel purpose load (killing things and creating a smoke screen).

More than happy to hear other suggestions for lead 148 and 158 gr bullets.

ETA: almost forgot I have several pounds of bullseye too, that might work too.
 
mcb said:
The reason I wanted a Jacket bullet was so I could use Titegroup. I have a heap of it and it works well with a jacketed bullets but with uncoated lead its really smokie in my experience. I have some 4227, 231 and trailboss I will probably try first before resorting to Titegroup and have a duel purpose load (killing things and creating a smoke screen).

More than happy to hear other suggestions for lead 148 and 158 gr bullets.

ETA: almost forgot I have several pounds of bullseye too, that might work too.
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Bullseye will definitely work.
I got smoke with Tight group until I got into the plus p range. I'm far from its biggest fan.
 
Xtreme makes a plated HP called the X-Def that should do what you want. Its a .355 diameter probably best for a 9mm, but I can see it working in a .38 for snakes and similar pests, too.

https://www.xtremebullets.com/9MM-124gr-HP-X-Def-p/xd9mm-124hp-b0100.htm
They make a 135gr bullet, too.

The jackets on .357 caliber bullets just never seem to work consistently with .38 velocities in small critters.

Stay safe.
 
allisd17 said:
That's an unusual looking rattler. Mojave?
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It's a blacktail rattlesnake. My cat saw him coiled up by the backdoor steps and I noticed the cat acting funny, staring at something. Turn on the light and look over the edged of the step and there's a rattlesnake right by the door mat. Thanks kitty!
 
Hornady 158 SWC-HP lead. Swagged super soft bullet that will expand all day at 800-850 fps. Keep it around there and you will not have leading as long as you have a barrel that likes lead. Cheap and easy! RimRock makes a soft 158 SWC-HP with gas check (no leading) that Buffalo Bore uses for their standard pressure .38 load. A bit pricey but I have used it for my FBI load copy. That being said most Jacketed rounds need decent velocity for expansion and are harder to load to those velocities with acceptable pressure in 158 grain, lighter is a good option. Quite a few companies make coated Penta Hollow points but check the brinnel hardness on those. For regular .38 velocities swagged or around 8 brinnel is needed for reliable expansion.
 
You have had a ton of good responses. I’m going in a different direction.

Try a lighter bullet, at higher velocity.

I get that you have fixed sights.

A Model 10 was my duty weapon for way too many years.

But at 7 yards, you should be able to compensate for the different POI.
 
wcwhitey said:
Hornady 158 SWC-HP lead. Swagged super soft bullet that will expand all day at 800-850 fps. Keep it around there and you will not have leading as long as you have a barrel that likes lead. Cheap and easy! RimRock makes a soft 158 SWC-HP with gas check (no leading) that Buffalo Bore uses for their standard pressure .38 load. A bit pricey but I have used it for my FBI load copy. That being said most Jacketed rounds need decent velocity for expansion and are harder to load to those velocities with acceptable pressure in 158 grain, lighter is a good option. Quite a few companies make coated Penta Hollow points but check the brinnel hardness on those. For regular .38 velocities swagged or around 8 brinnel is needed for reliable expansion.
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That was my suggestion also. They are an excellent soft bullet. They became my carry load in a snub 38 . Until I found the new Remington hollow points. They're something else.
 
Bfh_auto said:
That was my suggestion also. They are an excellent soft bullet. They became my carry load in a snub 38 . Until I found the new Remington hollow points. They're something else.
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Can you share a link to that specific product? Is it loaded ammo or bullets for reloading. -thanks
 
mcb said:
I was referring to your reference to a new Remington HP. Do they work well in 38 Special?
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I'll have to look when I get home. It's a 125 gr hollow point. It has the petals cut instead of notched.
 
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