.38 concealed carry - preferred ammo?

[SAWBONES]

Since the OP's question relates to .38 Special loads for CCW, we're speaking of compact revolvers, which usually means fixed sights and short barrels.

Given this, then first of all, Point Of Aim must = Point Of Impact.
If not, then cartridge brand, bullet weight and powder charge mean nothing.

Find what loads shoot exactly to POA.
If lots of different loads do so in your gun, in your hands, then you're lucky.
If you're further fortunate enough to have any of the top .38 Special loads hit POA, like the Remington 158gr+P LSWCHP or the Gold Dot "short barrel" 135gr+P JHP, then you're in even better shape.

 

[lthrbound]

It sucks I have all this fancy HP ammo for my 442 and end up loading it with 158 grn lead round nose. No HP shoots anywhere near poa whereas the lead stuff is right on. Horrible...

 

[billwill]

I'm a newbie...

... what is "POA"?

 

[Elmer]

Point of aim... in other words, the bullet hits where you point the sights.

 

[kmrcstintn]

for the guy shooting 158gr rnl...I got a suggestion for ya...what I am going to suggest was seen on a crime drama on tv, so it's gotta work in real life

take a razor blade or knife and carve an X shaped groove on the top...this will make the bullet expand, fragment, and eliminate any trace of the perpetrator that you were shooting at

only joshing...seriously, try to get a rnl with a softer lead content so it can deform upon impact and get oblong shaped or tumble & reduce the chance of overpenetration

 

[Weedmonk]

Anything lighter than 158 grain shoots low in my J-frames.

 

[george29]

http://www.thehighroad.org./showthread.php?t=269258

 

[2ndamd]

Load the Remington 158 grn lswchp +p in the guns and carry Speer 135 grn +ps in speed loaders and strips. The lead bullets in the speed loaders/strips will deform over time. Thus, the jhp in the speed loaders/strips and the lead inside the chambers.

 

[Photoman]

2ndamd: Be sure to check your Remington 158gr LHP's as the new production loads are not like the old ones. Much longer OAL.

 

[billwill]

I'm a newbie here...

What is "OAL?" TIA.

 

[indiandave]

OAL is over all length.

 

[jjohnson]

Another Vote for Speer 135 gr Short Barrel Gold Dot

Yep, count me in, boys.

Speer's 135 gr. +P Gold Dot "Short Barrel" load

It's what I carry. I'm too cheap to buy anything really exotic, but the Speer ammo makes me very comfy.

 

[Elmer]

That Speer load will outperform the "really exotic" stuff, (no matter what the gun rags may say...), so you're doing fine.....

 

[Bull Shoals]

Look long and hard at Remington 125 gr Golden Sabre. Was developed in answer to Winchester Black Talon by same gentleman that developed the Black Talon. And it workks very well !

 

[wjh2657]

I have Hornady 125 gr XTPs standard pressure .38s in all of my carry J-frames and Taurus 85ULBH. No it is not the super whiz kid of the ballistics test set and it won't throw a 10 foot fireball to inpress your girlfriend, bu the round is accurate and manageable in the snubbie. Another advantage is that WWB 130 gr FMJ (Reasonably priced at Walmart) shoot to same point of impact for practice ammo. I fire my EDC every two weeks and recoil management is an issue for me. If I were really all that worried about one shot knockdown, I would carry my nephew the Marine with a .50 Cal Barrett!

 

[2ndamd]

Thanks for the heads-up photoman.
I checked them in the 642 and the SP101s I have and they are sitting pretty.

I will check this on any new ammo I buy.

Good looking out.

 

[wep45]

Any of these should get the job done.

Speer Gold Dot hollow point 125
Federal Premium Hydra-Shok jhp 129
Corbon jhp 125
Corbon jhp 110

 

[johnchamp]

just my opinion but the heavier the bullet the more recoil right? this is a airweight so if you want to follow up on a second shot i would go with the federal hydra shok 110 grain non+p just my 2 cents.

 

[mjrodney]

Another vote for Speer's 135 gr. +P Gold Dot "Short Barrel" load.

 

[Photoman]

lthrbound: Look for some standard pressure/velocity 158 SWC's. They would be more effective than the 158 round nose and should hit to the same point.

 

[Photoman]

The Speer 135gr Gold Dot is a great load for the J's if your using a +P load. They can be bought on Gunbroker for about $19 per box of 50.

If you're wanting to use a standard pressure load, the Winchester 110gr Silvertip would be a good one. I've found them to be very accurate.

 

[the foot]

Federal Hydrashok, non-plus P for the lightweights, Plus P for steel.

 

[XDShooter07]

Photoman, I just decided to switch to the 158 gr +P LHP because I can only find the 125 gr. non-short barrel gold dots around here and I wanted to be closer to POI. The ones I picked look like the one on the left in your picture. Is that the new or old one?

Why would the length matter? Maybe they are just using a different powder that burns different? Do you have more information on the switch?

 

[gwillis6]

Snub on Steroids

I practice with 158 grain standard pressure loads but carry these in my 642.
1,000 fps and 351 ft/lbs. Nothing even comes close!

 

[DawgFvr]

Same ol' question continues to pop up....

Same ol' answer given by me: