38 special colt Diamondback

Availability matters more right now than optimizing the choice.
About any hollow point you can find for defense and whatever is cheapest for practice may be the best you can do.

Congratulations on inheriting a fine gun! Perhaps a bit too fine for home defense duties.....keep in mind any gun used as such will be confiscated by the cops and may not be in great shape when and if it is returned.

I like the Remington 125gr SJHP +P load for defense duties and any of the 130-140gr FMJs are fine for range practice.

If you really want to use a $1500 gun for HD, by all means go for it. Something to think about.

Welcome to the forum! BTW, we love pictures!

For target shooting, any cheap bulk ammo will work. You usually want to stick to one bullet weight because heavier and lighter bullets have different impact points vertically; you can aim dead on and hit with a 130gr bullet, but that same aim will cause you to miss high if you use a 158gr bullet. Put another 130gr bullet in the cylinder and you will be dead on again.

For defense, I'd actually want a +P. There have been a lot of people shot with 38s during the 80 years they were in regular police and military service, and the standard-pressure 158 gr lead bullets and 130 gr FMJ bullets were often found lacking. That being said, you are absolutely right that you don't want to beat on a gun as old and fine as a Diamondback with +P.

So what I'd do is figure out one bullet weight you want to standardize on and get a bunch of range fodder for that. Then, find a defensive bullet you like in the same weight and get a couple boxes of that. I would keep any practicing with +P loads to a minimum.

You have been given a great reason to be a reloader if you are not already. By all means shoot that gem but I would only use mild target handloads. For the volume of ammo you are probably going to use, a little table top Lee Loader (the whack-a-mole type) would suffice. Trying to find suitable ammo to buy these days is going to be a chore. Preserve the Diamondback and use something less exquisite for defense. Congratulations on a great gift and having a wonderful grandfather!

NIGHTLORD40K said:

Congratulations on inheriting a fine gun! Perhaps a bit too fine for home defense duties.....keep in mind any gun used as such will be confiscated by the cops and may not be in great shape when and if it is returned.

Click to expand...

My thought is that I will use whatever weapon protects my family and I best. If it is a $10,000 gun and the cops seize it and ruin it, who cares? My life and that of my family is much more important than some possession.

Welcome to the forum! I tend to pamper my 4" Diamondback. It's been fired a good bit over the years, but I don't think I've ever loaded it with anything but .38 spl wadcutters. For s-d I have a stronger and less expensive shooter.

For cheap 38 special I really like the geco FMJ flat nose. It’s cheap and burns clean and is accurate

Nice revolver, in a great caliber! Your grandfather had good taste in firearms,

There are two basic loads for what you want to do: a mild target load for familiarity and practice and a stouter load that you will drake your life on (hopefully not, but you get the idea).

If you are not (yet) a reloader, then any bulk-pack non +P .38 Spl ammo will suffice. As was stated the loads shoot to different points of aim sometimes, so try to find one that best approximates the point of aim of your chosen defense load and then you won’t have to fiddle with sights or change your sight picture much. This may require a bit of load experimentation that requires buying different brands and bullet weights, which isn’t easy when people are buying any gun they see and boxes of ammo to go with it.

As for the Hornady Critical Defense load you mention, I’d shoot the +P version for Home Defense (HD) . (I use it in my lightweight .38’s while the Diamondback is a mid-size revolver.) The Diamondback is stout enough for +P use in such a role and that ammo has a bit more oomph should you require its services.
Federal HST is also great stuff, as is Speer Gold dot, Winchester Ranger Bonded and Remington Golden Sabre. They’ll all work well in a HD role if you put bullets where they need to be to stop a threat.

If you’re considering stating to reload, the .38 Spl is a fantastic first cartridge to try out. Many of us here cut our reloading teeth on it, as bullets, primers, powder, brass, dies
and load data is abundant. I’ve loaded countless thousands of .38 Spl rounds (500 alone the weekend before last) and I find it to be very forgiving and fun to shoot my own stuff. (I haven’t bought a box of factory ammo in .38 in probably 15 years now)

A Lee challenger kit with dies in .38/.357, a pound of Unique, 500 158 gr LSWC and 500 small pistol primers, a bunch of once fired brass bought off of here or Gun Broker and you’re set for lots of loads and reloads without spending a fortune.

Welcome to THR, and stay safe!