Standard Pressure .38 Spl Defensive Ammo

I have this in my wife's 2" model 12.

Mr. Mosin said:

Gah... thats expensive.

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Hornady Critical Defense 110 grain standard pressure. The Winchester Defend can be found for cheaper than that as well.

You could also go with a wad cutter.

I think I’m gonna do BB 158gr std pressure wadcutters in my charter arms.. lil pricey but those first 5 shots are gonna Get it done

I use plain-Jane Winchester 130-grain JHP, sold under the "Defend" name. Well, I don't use it, but it's in my Charter Arms Undercover revolvers.

I'll use it if I have to.

Lots of options. Lucky Gunner has a nice set of tests here I would check out if you haven't.
https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/revolver-ballistics-test/

Not sure which way I would go these days but I tend to buy more of the "classics" than the latest and greatest. In a revolver exotic/$$ stuff is easier for me to consider as I don't need to shoot a ton of it for function testing like I would with a semi. Lots of personal preference in the end of course.

shoebox1.1 said:

I think I’m gonna do BB 158gr std pressure wadcutters in my charter arms.. lil pricey but those first 5 shots are gonna Get it done

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I have tried a few standard pressure options from them. The recoil in a model 60 pro was... brisk... It might prove to be painful from your Charter. Please report back!

bc38 said:

Federal Law Enforcement 38 Special Ammo 158 Grain Lead Semi-Wadcutter

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38G? Its + P.

Will do- they claim like 825-850fps out of a 2 inch barrel. Their ballistics seems by everyone’s testing to be sport on.

THIS is what I use.

I load 135 gr Gold Dots these days.
+P?
Yes, the gun will just have to stand it if I have to repel boarders.

Any factory 148 hbwc. Easy on you, easy on gun, and bullet already in an effective shape with adequate penetration in gel.

Carry 158 Remington std velocity swcs for a reload.

I have tried pretty much every self defense load in my J frames to see what was most accurate, gave me quick follow ups and wasn’t punishing to fire. The two rounds that work really well for me are:

Hornady American Gunner
https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/handgun/38-special-125-gr-xtp-american-gunner#!/

Federal 110 Grain Hydra-Shok JHP - Low Recoil
https://www.luckygunner.com/38-special-110-gr-jhp-hydra-shok-federal-20-rounds

I do not know what their track record is for self defense use, but I know that either one of these rounds in my S&W 442, 36 or 60 Pro will hit where I aim and I can do so consistently. Of course, this is in a non-stress situation. I hope I never have to find out how things go in a high stress situation with this ammo.

Griz what do you think about the hard cast buffalo solid wadcutters? Both ends are flat..

I tried a box of Hornady Critical Defense 110 grain standard pressure today. I thought it was "snappier" then the Federal 130 grain HST micro plus P that I have been carrying for a couple of years. The HST did well in the Lucky Gunner ammo tests, as did the Critical Defense. Hornady makes a "pink" version of the Critical Defense that is standard pressure 90 grain, but I haven't tried it. I would probably carry my 442 with target wad cutters, but I can't shoot lead at the indoor range, and the heavier ammo shots quite high from that revolver. The 130 grain Federal shoots close to the same point of impact as my 125 grain plated reload practice ammo, also. I will stay with it.
Another thing I like about the HST is that it is a jacketed hollow core wad cutter. If it failed to open, It would still leave a good full wad cutter wound channel.

Best,
Rick

I like the standard pressure and +P Critical Defense load for .38 Spl myself. Standard are loaded in my S&W 49 Bodyguard and Model 642, +P in the Colt Cobra and SP 101.

I went to a Hornady demo a few years back and the Critical Defense .38?ammo in both flavors performed very well.

Stay Safe.

148 grain wadcutter ammo, Winchester and Remington have the highest velocities. Easy on the gun and easy on the shooter.

90 grain Critical Defense feels like a .22 Short and I think you get 25 rounds a box instead of 20.

I think Federal probably makes a standard pressure hollow point .38, but it's likely not cheap.

Mr. Mosin said:

I'd go for Hornady's Critical Defense in a heartbeat, excepting that I was unaware it came in standard pressure loadings, and I've always thought that too low a grain wieght damages the gun unnecessarily (increased flame cutting of top strap) ?

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In my model 442 and model 36 the Critical Defense is not as accurate as other rounds I have tried. It does shoot better in my model 60 Pro which has a 3” barrel versus 2” for the 442 and 36. It also works well from my model 19 with a 6” barrel. I think, just from my limited number of guns to try it in, that it is more accurate from longer barrels.

{I've always thought that too low a grain weight damages the gun unnecessarily (increased flame cutting of top strap)}

Thats only for full power 357 Magnum loads. The only guns that I know of that specify no light ammo in 38 Special are the ones with Titanium cylinders. 110 gr ammo damages the face of the cylinder quite badly.

Best,
Rick