158 grain LSWCHP

[LightningJoe]

I see many many posts recommending the 158 grain LSWCHP (also called LHP) for .38 Special. These recommendations are persuasive. But I can't find any of this type of ammo anywhere on the Web. Can anyone point me to an online ammo outlet from which I can actually buy this ammo? Midway has been out of stock, no backorder on this item for a long time.

 

[JERRY]

cheaper than dirt has the remington version for about $23.00 per bx of 50. its the cheapest delivered price i could find. also, the remington version uses softer lead than win. or fed. which would be prefered in a snubby.

 

[RyanM]

Remington performs better than Winchester or Federal out of any barrel length, especially through heavy clothing. I wouldn't touch anything but Remington with a 10 foot pole.

 

[Deanimator]

I used to get the Federal version for $8.00 at gunshows here in Ohio. Haven't seen any for a while. Of course I hadn't seen any M118 Match .308 for years, and a whole bunch of it just showed up.

 

[bakert]

I've been using the Winchester brand for a lot of years and have been happy with it. Although she favors the Win 110 JHP I have the S&W 66 my wife claims as her own loaded with the .38 +P LSWCHP in her bedside stand and my old model 10 loaded with the same most of the time. The last I bought came from Midway USA.

 

[BBBS]

I just bought a box of 50 at Gander Mt. Cost was $22 and change. Remington that is.

 

[RON in PA]

Check http://www.natchezss.com/. They usually have the Remington 158 grain "FBI" load at much better prices than anyone else.

 

[fiVe]

Has anyone tried the 158gr Lead Semi-Wad Cutter +P (G38E) from Georgia Arms? Their price is $8.00/50.

 

[RyanM]

That's not a hollowpoint.

 

[Bulldozer]

Roze offers reloaded and factory 158 LSWCHP at great prices.
http://www.rozedist.com

I just bought 800 rounds of assorted LSWC, LRN, and SWCHP from them. All of it is good stuff.
$10.78/50- new

 

[ChristopherG]

I made five hundred of them for about 40 bucks yesterday.

 

[RustyShackelford]

reloaded/handloaded ammo for CC/duty use

I would not use any hand loads or reloaded ammo for CC/security/duty use. Even if you think you are highly skilled and can make great rounds it's not worth the civil/legal hassles you may face if they weapons are used in a defense/police type shooting.

RS

 

[Johnny Guest]

Legal problems with handloads - - Different topic

Rusty, this has been thrashed out at (rather tiresome) length on other threads. A search should turn up a lot of such discussion.

Let's stick with the topic at hand, or start another thread, please.

Johnny

 

[Stainz]

Ask your local pusher to order you a couple of boxes of Remington R38S12, their +P 158gr LHPSWC. Mine has done so for me several times - it was up to $43 for two boxes OTD last time.

I have chrono-ed this load at 834 +/-5 fps from my 2" 10; 912 +/-16 fps from my now departed 3" 65; and 994 +/-18 fps from my 6" 66. It is ideal from that 2" 10, thankfully +P rated, as it resides on my wife's side of the bed. Many recent 10's are +P rated - check the S/N with S&W to be sure. It does a job on a 2L pop bottle full of water. If I am ever attacked by marauding pop bottles, I am ready...

Stainz

PS If you put much faith in 'One Shot Stops' by Marshall/Sanor, it is quite a good stopper. Works for me!

 

[MCgunner]

I'd love to try some 158SWCHPs, but my Taurus would lead up with 'em, I'm sure. It doesn't seem to like lead bullets too well for some reason. I shoot 140JHPs in it and it's accurate with 'em. Been thinking of looking for a semi jacketed 158 grain hollowpoint bullet that I could try in it for handloading. They get way too much money for those factory loads IMHO and the Taurus seems to need the jacket.

The FBI load has a good record in actual use, but main reason I wanna play with the 158 grain weight is because I think my gun might shoot a little higher with it and give me a better sight picture for the load. The 140s shoot a little low.

 

[HiWayMan]

MCgunner -

Check out Speer 146gr semi-jacketed SWCHP. I use them in my Taurus snubs and 4"ers. POI=POA, and I love the design.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=275027

 

[ChristopherG]

I'd love to try some 158SWCHPs, but my Taurus would lead up with 'em, I'm sure. It doesn't seem to like lead bullets too well for some reason. I shoot 140JHPs in it and it's accurate with 'em. Been thinking of looking for a semi jacketed 158 grain hollowpoint bullet that I could try in it for handloading. They get way too much money for those factory loads IMHO and the Taurus seems to need the jacket.

How many rounds do you have through the taurus? It may be that the bore is just a bit rough. Often this can be remedied by using a bore polishing compound (like JB's) or by just shooting a thousand or two jacketed bullets. It may also help to clean the barrel thoroughly between shooting lead & jacketed.

You're obviously right about the cost of factory loads, and about the probable effect of using a heavier bullet (i.e., it would get your POI up to your POA). I'd try getting some inexpensive bulk 158 JHP's like these:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=223097

Load up a pile of them for your practice, and carry the FBI load (which should shoot to the same POI; shoot enough to verify this, and clean the lead out afterward). By the time you've shot a thousand or so of the JHP's, your leading problem will probably have been reduced.

 

[MCgunner]

Thanks for the link, will try those Speers for sure.

Yeah, I probably have no more'n 500-600 round max through the gun, haven't really shot it much, though I plan to shoot it more often. Might just be bore roughness. I do clean my guns including scrubbing the bore between range sessions. I have a light cast 105 grain SWC load the taurus likes, but shoots low. I can compensate for it, though and it's really accurate. I cast a good SWC 158 grain bullet and also a gas checked on. Haven't tried the gas checked bullets in the taurus because they don't seem real accurate at .38 velocities. Loaded to max in my .357s, they're quite good. I bought a hollowpoint 158 mold, but bullets cast in it have been stupid inaccurate in everything I've tried. That mold was a waste of money, LOL.

 

[bakert]

I'd love to try some 158SWCHPs, but my Taurus would lead up with 'em,

I have a Taurus 66 .357 that leaded terribly when new and a long time after. Apparently as others have mentioned the bore was a bit rough although it looked fine. I finally got a lead remover to use after every range session. After many thousands of both jacketed and cast lead loads it finally has got to the point where it doesn't lead as bad but those factory +P soft lead loads do leave some leading in all of my revolvers.

 

[MCgunner]

My Taurus 66 shoots great will cast bullets, I bought it used and have no idea how many rounds it's sent downrange. You're right, those FBI load bullets are really soft which don't help matters. I'm going to try those remington SJHPs, too. They're cheap, especially in bulk! I already shoot the 140 grain version of that bullet I get from Midway. Also, I think a local gun shop may have 'em. I'm going to get a hundred rounds first to test. They'll have those Speer bullets, too. Need to stop there and get some small pistol primers while I'm at it.