.38 +P or normal pressure?

[Greg All Calibers]

I carry .38 +P Golden Saber's in my S&W 642.

Do the regular pressure versions have a lot less of a sound pressure (I lost a lot of hearing and worry about using the +P's now, especially inside a building). There seems to be quite a difference at the range, but it's hard to tell with all the other shooters. Remington does not have GS in regular pressure, so I would have to move to Fed HS's. I do not want to stir up a conversation over GS vs. HS, but if you can comment on the following:

- for personal protection, are the regular pressure hollow points a serious compromise compared to +P's
- sound difference between reg pressure and +P?

 

[Kind of Blued]

I carry a 642 as well, and load it with 158gr.+P LSWCHPs. I've shot a lot of both and really have no idea. I can't even tell the difference in recoil between a light .38 load and a 158gr. +P... I guess if it's for defense, the extra little bit can't hurt. I'd rather be deaf than dead.

 

[SaxonPig]

If practicing you should wear good hearing protection.

If shooting for your life the Hell with the noise. You won't hear it, trust me.

As pressures and velocities go up, so does the report.

 

[Rampant_Colt]

Out of a revolver with the cylinder gap, any revolver is gonna be loud...
I would continue to use +P .38 ammo because my life is worth more than my hearing.
I, too, have some hearing damage from years of shooting, and rock concerts

 

[BADUNAME37]

Compare a cylinder-full!

+1

I'd rather be deaf than dead.

Can't you load your cylinder with non +P, then the GS's, non +P, GS's alternatevely and shoot (even with ear muffs) to see what the difference is in the reports as you go through shooting the loaded cylinder?

I have a 642, however all I have shot through it so far has been non +P loads. I'm waiting for my gun to come back from S&W for warranty work and I will then try the +P's (Speer Gold Dot 135g designed especially for short barrels).

I also got a box of 100 of the Speer 135g Gold Dot (for short barrels) and intend to reload my own, trying to duplicate - as closely as possible - the velocity, using my F1 Chrony. I wonder what powder Speer uses in their Gold Dot Factory-Loaded Short-Barreled ammo. Most likely whatever they get at the best price in extremely large quantities (55 gallon drums?) which also meets the specifications so there is hardly ANY variance between lots of loaded ammo.

I, too, have some hearing damage from years of shooting, and rock concerts

SAME HEAR(sic)!

 

[The Bushmaster]

Greg...As long as you use hearing protection at the range you will have no hearing loss. If you have to (and I pray you don't) shoot in self defense inside a building. It is doubtful that a few [hearing] unprotected shots will have any adverse or perminant effect on your hearing. It could, but...Or you could wear your ear plugs 24 hours a day. Not reasonable, right?

I think I would rather be deaf then dead...That comes soon enough.

 

[loneviking]

I was testing my 3" M65-6 on Friday and I couldn't tell the difference in sound or in recoil. I was using everything from .38 spcl. non-+P up to 125 gr. .357's loaded with 8 gr. of Unique. I can really tell a difference with my 6" Colt, but with the little gun I couldn't tell.

I agree with a lot of these other posters that I'd rather be deaf than dead! I'd certainly carry the +p, and I wouldn't expect there to be any adverse effects from training with it IF you are wearing proper ear protection.

 

[jfh]

Reloads for GDSB 38+P practice

for inspector, and other reloaders:

1. AA#5 is the primary powder for building "replica reloads" of the factory round. With a 135-140 gr. LTC and AA#5, you can build practice rounds for about 13 cents each--and that includes case amortization.

2. An arguably better powder may be Ramshot's True Blue--but all the results are not completely analyzed yet.

Keep in mind that you can replicate the "feel" of the round, or "just about" replicate the velocity, but not necessarily both at the same time.

You can read more about this topic here, and if you search the Reloading Forum here for "GDSB 38+P" or similar phrases, you should find more.

The April 2008 edition of Handloader also had an article on reloading the GDSB135JHP bullet.

Jim H.

 

[Kind of Blued]

Inspector, I'd suggest you test some .38 +P loads yourself. Despite being "designed for short barrels", the 135gr. +P Gold Dot out of a 642 was the worst performing load of the six that I tested.