6" .38 Special Chronograph Results

[.455_Hunter]

Greetings,

I finally got to take my .38 Special Colt Official Police (6” Heavy Barrel- 1942 Production) out to the range and chronograph some various factory loads. Here are the results:

Winchester Super-X (+P) 158 gr LSWC-HP 886 fps 275 fpe

Winchester WB (+P) 125 gr JHP 1010 fps 283 fpe

Winchester Subsonic (+P) 147 gr JHP 999 fps 326 fpe

Winchester WB 150 gr LRN 827 fps 228 fpe

Winchester WB 130 gr FMJ-FN 796 fps 183 fpe

Winchester Cowboy 158 gr LFN 790 fps 219 fpe

Remington Express (+P) 158 gr LSWC-HP 978 fps 336 fpe

Remington UMC 158 gr LRN 837 fps 246 fpe

Speer Lawman (+P) 158 gr FMJ 853 fps 255 fpe

Sellier & Bellot 158 gr FMJ-FN 787 fps 218 fpe

Speer Gold Dot (+P) 125 gr JHP 1010 fps 283 fpe

Fiocchi 148 gr JHP 982 fps 317 fpe

The real winners seem to be the Remington FBI load and discontinued Winchester Subsonic Load. I will try some expansion water jug/denim expansion tests next time, and possibly add the Speer 135 grain Gold Dot SB load and the hot Buffalo Bore 158 gr. LSWC-HP. The Remington load will be my carry load for near future based on these results.

Please comment.

Thanks,

Hunter

 

[tantrix]

Good work. I can't think of any others to add besides the ones you mentioned. Do you have a 2" snubby you might be able to use next time? I'd be interested to see how those do out of my 642-1.

 

[earplug]

Thanks for the info

I'm interested in the water tests.

 

[Gordon]

Been carrying the Remington load for almost 10 years as it has been noticebly hotter than the other LSWCHP loads even in snubbies.In the middle 80's I chronographed some Supervel 110 grain ammo from the 70's at 1200fps out of my 6" Officers match .The winchester LEO only +P+ 110 grain Treasury load did about the same. These are the only loads to break 1000 fps in a 2" snubbie. They are today known to be too hot for most .38spls. While a questionable defense load, they are hell on animals up to 70 pounds or so!

 

[Mad Chemist]

I don't know anyone who carries a 6" barrelled revolver. How about a 4" or less barrel?

 

[kmrcstintn]

thank you for your efforts; I also have a snubby and a longer tubed wheelie and was wondering how certain loads do in 6" barrels

 

[Iggy]

I for one was/am very interested in your 6" testing.

Thanks for taking the time and posting the results.

 

[SeanSw]

I could have sworn that on a few occasions the WWB 130gr load could be followed with my naked eye on the way to the target. If the sunlight and the angle were just right my eyes could almost track it the entire way. Has anyone else experienced this? The same thing would happen with my 158gr LRN cowboy loads.

It's a shame about the discontinued Winchester subsonic load, it looks like they had something there. A 6" barrel is generous for measuring the velocity on these rounds and the hollow points are barely nearing the 1000fps limit of reliable expansion.

Thank you for taking the time and expense to post your results.

 

[tipoc]

A good many hps are set up today to expand at less than 1000 fps.

tipoc

 

[Iggy]

If the sun was right, we often times could see the old 148 gr wadcutters on the way to the 50 yard target.

 

[treebeard]

Thanks for the data .455_Hunter. I have several revolvers (Python 4", 686 4", 686 6", 19-5, Model 36 Chiefs Special) and I just bought a chronograph. I plan on doing some extensive tests using some .38 Spl. +P loads and some low end .357 loads. When I get some data I will post my results as well. I am very interested to see what kind of FPS I will get with .38 Spl. +P loads out of my 19-5.