38 Spec expansion?
- Thread starter Byron
- Start date
- Status
GP100man
Member
Byron
too many varibles, but it depends how hard a media & how fast the kenetic energy dump is .
flesh , my exp is no not fast enuff.
GP100man
too many varibles, but it depends how hard a media & how fast the kenetic energy dump is .
flesh , my exp is no not fast enuff.
GP100man
351 WINCHESTER
Member
Probably not.
jfh
Member.
The only bullets I know that will reliably expand at 850 fps or so are the Gold Dot Short Barrel versions--typically the 135-gr.
However, the 158LSWC-HP bullets (Hornady or Speer) do have a decent track record for SD shootings--with some expansion and penetration.
Personally, I carry the GDSB 38+P 135-gr. factory round in the summer, and the Rem 38S12 "FBI load" in the winter. Both are shootable in lightweights.
Jim H.
However, the 158LSWC-HP bullets (Hornady or Speer) do have a decent track record for SD shootings--with some expansion and penetration.
Personally, I carry the GDSB 38+P 135-gr. factory round in the summer, and the Rem 38S12 "FBI load" in the winter. Both are shootable in lightweights.
Jim H.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
If you look closely at most reloading data you won't find much at all for heavy JHP bullets in standard pressure .38 Spl. loads.
This is not because they won't expand, so much as they may get stuck in the barrel.
The long bearing surface of a 158 jacketed bullet has a great deal of friction in the rifling, and that in combination with a gun with a lot of cylinder gap may stick a bullet.
rcmodel
This is not because they won't expand, so much as they may get stuck in the barrel.
The long bearing surface of a 158 jacketed bullet has a great deal of friction in the rifling, and that in combination with a gun with a lot of cylinder gap may stick a bullet.
rcmodel
The 158 grain LSWC-HP "FBI" load at around 880 fps has never been too shabby IMO:
This one expanded to 1.5 cm or about .59 inches, which is about 65 percent greater than the initial caliber.
This is from this page:
http://www.firearmstactical.com/wound.htm
I'm not really the biggest fan of the .38 Special, but I do like this particular round for SD.
This one expanded to 1.5 cm or about .59 inches, which is about 65 percent greater than the initial caliber.
This is from this page:
http://www.firearmstactical.com/wound.htm
I'm not really the biggest fan of the .38 Special, but I do like this particular round for SD.
Speer quit publishing 158gr jacketed load data for their bullet in the .38 spl as they not in their No13 manual that the 158gr jacketed bullet can't be driven fast enough for proper expansion. Their 158gr swagged all lead hollow point will expand at such low velocities.
- Status