.38 special home defense load

[iyn]

I have a 4", 38 special revolver for home defense. What type of load is good for home defense with minimum penetration, I live in a wooden town home.

 

[GP100man]

I load my SD/HD ammo & I use a 358477 (150gr. swc) loaded to normal 38spc. pressures , or a soft cast 358156 HP (147gr. swc hp).

But in reality Drywall is`nt much of a barrier for anything !!!

 

[chrisf8657]

I'd recommend a 125g Buffalo Bore 38 Spl +P Gold Dot HP (www.buffalobore.com - everyone loves Buffalo Bore, including me), or the old standby, 158g LSWCHP +P made by Remington (Item #R38S12), or Federal's version of the same (38G). Winchester makes one, but it is a bit too hard of a lead for most that know....Buffalo Bore make's one too, but it's 158g is too soft (5-6bhn which is pure lead) and can fragment (some say good, some say bad) - the Remington and Federal are the best, though most like Remington.

This is what most people use in a 4in. Revolver these days. The LSWCHP Remington/Federal/Winchester is what cops carried years ago, and they worked pretty good until the switch to Automatics, and tons of members still swear by them.

Unlike the previous poster, and I'm sure I'll ignite controversy, a hard-cast wadcutter will go right thru a person and into something else more than likely - a BAD thing in self defense. If people need evidence, see brassfetcher.com and see the penetration in ballistic gelatin.

 

[earlthegoat2]

If it wont go through walls then I question its utility as a defensive round.

It is just the price you pay.

 

[dnovo]

Go with the Buffalo Bore loads as the post above recommends and that will give you what you need. Dave

 

[451 Detonics]

CorBon DPX, it works and there isn't any need to change for home or ccw. If a bullet won't penetrate a wall it won't do much to a BG either. There are no magical flesh only damaging bullets made.

 

[eddism]

Do a search of HyperCav on this site. Here's a fellow designing 38's for optimum expansion imgration. Loads of commentary and photos of demonstrations.

 

[sixgunner455]

Any load you put in any gun that will do what you need it to do when it comes to actually shooting a person will go through layers of drywall, and probably through a 2x4 to boot, at least in the thinner cross-section.

It has to, because otherwise, it won't penetrate the depth needed on the person you're hoping to never have to shoot.

Therefore, load an effective round in your .38, shoot at the person, not the wall, and don't miss.

An effective round is one that shoots to point of aim and penetrates 12-18" of flesh. Any decent loading should do that, from 110gr hollowpoints up to 158gr semiwadcutters. Personally, right now, all of my .38 Specials are loaded with 125gr Speer Gold Dots. But I could be just as happy with a SWC, or SWCHP, as long as it hits point of aim with the gun it's in.

The lighter hollowpoints may not penetrate as much, so if you're really worried about it, find a 110gr HP that hits your point of aim and forget about it.

 

[iyn]

thanks guys, i'll look for the lightest hollow point I can find.