Any Of You Guys Use Buffalo Bore Ammo

I use the 158 grn lswhp (gc) 38 +p. It is stout but manageable.
My wife can manage the round but, does not like to shoot it much.
I mainly load it in my guns and load hers with the Remington FBI load.

It does indeed reach the published fps.
Good stuff IMHO.

I've shot the .38 +P 158 Lead swchp Buffalo Bore it in a GP100 with a three inch barrel, shot fine. The recoil was on par with some very mild 125 grain .357 magnums and a little more then the Remington .38+p lead swchp, but not to noticeable. Brassfetcher.com will has some gel tests with this exact ammo.

I dont trust any ammo company that claims magic JUJU that allows them to exceed FPS numbers by hundreds of feet, without a dangerous increase in pressure.

That includes Corbon, Buffalo bore, and others who claim outrageous specs that far exceed anyone else's ammo. There is no magic or free lunch.

I carry it (158 gr lswc hp +p) in my 642 and it kicks like a mule! I don't have a chrono but a sore hand after 5 rounds must account for something.

I carry the standard pressure version of that load and I've been happy with it.

Nod to Buffalo Bore

I carry the "standard pressure" .38spl 158 gr load - and out of my Taurus M85 it doesn't "feel" (admittedly thats subjective) standard. Side by side with Remington's FBI load or GA Arms practice FBI load, you can't tell the difference.

Damn accurate too - I was stunned when last weekend was able to group 5 shots of the stuff at 7 yds in about 1 1/2 - 2" group from my M85. More than adequate for self defense purposes.

Now their "heavy" or + P .38spl is a borderline magnum - out of my SP 101 it kicked easily as much as a Remington GS. I'm going to run a box through my 686 this weekend to see how it shoots. Might be a useful compromise in a full size revolver. In a snub - its certainly an acquired taste for rangework.

I have no experience with this ammo, but am interested in trying it. I'd like to hear more comments from those of you who have used this ammo. And I'd really like to know what the pressure levels are. I have a couple of airweight J frames purchased back in the early 70's and I'd like to find an effective rounds that wouldn't put too much of a strain on these guns.

I dont trust any ammo company that claims magic JUJU that allows them to exceed FPS numbers by hundreds of feet, without a dangerous increase in pressure.

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Who said anything about magic? Different powders react differently.

If you go to Hodgdon.com and pop in .38 Special (standard) and 158gr bullet, look at the LSWC data.
@15,700CUP with H4227, you're at 983fps
@15,700CUP with WST, you're at 770fps

Ammo makers often have access to powders consumers cannot get. They also (should) have a variety of testing equipment. Considering the .38 Special is a century old cartridge, it makes sense that newer powders can reveal some better performance.

I'm not telling anyone what kind of ammo to shoot in their guns. But, especially for the new folks, higher velocity does not always mean higher pressure.

+1 to what Strat said, and may I add: The secret is not going over the max pressure, it's maintaining close to max for a longer period of time. This is thought to be the reason for the much increased performance.

Yep.

Observations here -> http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/695107034/m/7471076872/p/1

I have a couple of airweight J frames purchased back in the early 70's and I'd like to find an effective rounds that wouldn't put too much of a strain on these guns.

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The Standard Pressure is tailor-made for the older j-frames. The +P's are way too stout.

rd

I have shot some of their rifle fodder, and run it thru a chronograph, and for the barrel length they specified it was on the button on a rather warm day, and it definitely felt stout. Was pretty accurate too.

CorBon is a SAMMI manufacturer. Pressures must meet SAMMI specs, unless it is an off the wall Plus P for Rugers and the like.

I've used Buffalo Bore and liked it just fine. Corbon too. I wish I could afford to shoot them regularly.

I have tried the buffalo bore +P .38 in my S&W 638...it kicks just like YZR mentioned! I prefer doubletap's +P .38.

I use the Buffalo bore in 44 mag and I love it , I also enjoy the Corbon. Good solid ammo.

I like buffalo bore 158 +P in my all steel 640 .38. I'm sure it would be more uncomfortable out of an airweight.
cheers
Derek

The Standard Pressure is tailor-made for the older j-frames. The +P's are way too stout.

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+1

B.B. is gooooood stuff.

That's not going to scare a good .357 load. Me, I load my own. The BB loads pretty much I can duplicate at the high end of the load tables. It's as hot as you can safely handload, good stuff, but a might expensive for a guy with a loading press.

I'm getting about 280 ft lbs out of my 2" Taurus Ultra Lite with 158 grain JHPs. They put up about 340 ft lbs from the 4" barrel of my Smith and Wesson M10. The Taurus is my carry and prefers jacketed bullets. The recoil is stout, but not a problem for me. I practice mostly with lighter stuff. Far as handling recoil, I shoot a SP101 with fire breathing 158 grain magnum handloads a lot. Recoil of a .38 in a light gun is NOT a problem compared to that and the SP101 is pretty sweet, really.

It goes "BOOM!", Just like the stuff at WalMart. If I was in da woods? I buy BB!

I'd really like to have those heavy 158 grain BB in my 642...but I'm into fast, accurate follow up shots and have found that the lightening fast 110 grain Corbon DPX +P to be that ticket for me. I guess I should buy a box or two and compare side by side. Guess I too am looking for magic out there. I'm anxiously awaiting Taurus' Titanium 5 round snubby chambered in .327 magnum...at which time my 642 will be retired to paper-weight duty on the ol' desk. Faster/lighter...slow/heavier .38 Special would have some stiff competition of the .327 mangun 115gr Speer GDHP clocking in at 1380 fps with 486 ft/lbs of energy sitting in your front pocket's Mika holster...eh?

I carry an M&P340. I run the Speer 38+P 135-gr PD round as my normal carry load for it. As the winter approached, I wanted to consider some sort of 'the FBI load'--e.g., the 158-gr LSWC-HP bullet--for better performance with winter clothing.

I'd done an "acclimation training program" for shooting my 340, and by October, I could shoot two 4x5s back to back without undue discomfort.

So, I tried out the Buffalo Bore 20A variety--the 1000fps stuff; I shot five rounds over the chronograph.

It met its specs--amazingly, 1020 fps out of the M&P340. The recoil was stout--more than the Speer 38+P round--but by no means unmanageable. It had a distinct "38+P" feel to it, not the more energetic kick of the 357 Speer GDSB round.

If your hand is conditioned well, I see no reason not to carry the 20A product. Until I actually shot it, I suspected the BB specs were a bit of exaggeration; now I think the company is not overselling its product.

Note that I am shooting this in a 38/357 lightweight j-frame, not in an earlier-generation alloy or steel 38-only j-frame. If I were carrying one of those, I would stay with standard pressure rounds for practice, and carry +P loads.

Jim H.

Buffalo Bore 158gr Lead SWC HP +P JHP .38spl

I often use the Buffalo Bore brand 158gr lead SWC +P JHP load for my security duty Ruger GPNY. It is a solid choice for the .38spl.
It's not as fast as the Speer Gold Dot 135gr JHP or the Corbon 110gr +P+ .38spl. I change around a lot but I'd would buy the Buffalo Bore loads again...
RS

The prices are outrageous. I stick with Double Tap.

I just tested it out of a S&W M36 2" J frame Chief (steel) here:

http://maypeacebewithyou.blogspot.com/2008/04/buffalo-bore-test.html