A Range report: Buffalo Bore 158g .357 & .38 +p

[LawofThirds]

This one's partially for Guillermo, who was wondering exactly how truthful Buffalo Bore's claims of massive velocity is. I admit, I was skeptical of their heavy .357 claims too so I picked up a box and waited for a time to go to the range.

I finally got time to go to the range, and carted along my Colt Lawman 2", my Ruger GP 100 and my S&W 642 2" (1 7/8" with power port in front) along with my brand new CZ P-01.

Going along for the ride was some handloaded 148g Wadcutters, some handloaded 125's in .38, half a box of hornady 158g JHP factory loads and the afore mentioned Buffalo Bore 158g SWCHP +P .38 and Buffalo Bore 158 JHP .357

I decided to run 5 rounds of each buffalo bore product through each gun, excluding the 642 from the .357 offering.

For the .38 SWCHP +P:


S&W 642 1 7/8"
1013
1007
1001
1021
999

Colt Lawman MK III 2"
1000 (I think there's a loose throat on this chamber)
1057
1048
1047
1053

Ruger GP 100 4"
1105
1101
1098
1082
1089

For the 158g .357 JHC:

Colt Lawman MK III 2"
1262 (here's that chamber again, it was clocking ~30-50 fps low on all my handloads too.)
1312
1320
1383
1349

Ruger GP 100 4"
1479
1473
1492
1501
1475

Hornady 158g JHP

Colt Lawman MK III 2"
1052
1032
1043
997 (yeah, chamber)
1035

Ruger GP 100 4"
1105
1060
1089
1072
I only got 4 shots here, ran out.

The Colt definitely soaked the recoil up with the rounded butt and smoothly checkered grips, but the .357 BB offering was obviously much higher power and was uncomfortable very quickly. I would recommend this load for anyone who might run into an agressive black bear, hog or puma though, it's a hell of a load by any standard. As for carry in the Colt, I think honestly the .38 loading or their short barrel "tactical" loads are all I can control in a meaningful way. The heavy stuff takes a lot longer to recover from than the other loads I tried. This is the first load I've found that I will not put into a .357 J-Frame. Ever. Because I like being able to move my hands.

All shooting was done over a Chrony F1, and my handloads clocked exactly what they've clocked over my friend's Chrony Master out of the Ruger. What was surprising was how little a 4" vs a 2" made with the .38 load and that it beat out the .357 load from Hornady.

All the loads I've tested have been nearly spot on with their listed velocity from Buffalo Bore, which is more than I can say for Hornady (who must be putting 8 3/8 numbers on a JHP box.... not sure why since it's marketed as a self defense load).


Oh and the CZ P-01 was flawless and was a real powderpuff to shoot after shooting that heavy .357 stuff.

 

[Bula]

Looks like the .357 JHP is running the Speer Gold Dot, is that right? Very imprssive figures. I'll be buying some of the .38sp soon.

 

[JFrame]

Since I have a passel of J-frame snubs, I really love the numbers on the Buffalo Bore 158-grain SWCHP's...


.

 

[harrygunner]

Thank you for that data.

I have some BB 158gr JHC in .357 Mag and a J-Frame with a 2.125" barrel.

I had estimated a speed around 1350 ft/s and that fit with your data averaging 1341 ft/s (ignoring the loose chamber shot).

 

[Denada]

Thanks for this report. Seems like there's good quality control at BB, seeing the rather narrow velocity ranges (barring that off-chamber). The Ruger's 4 inch barrel only added about 40-50 fps over the Colt's 2 inches, so I wonder if BB tweaked their 158 gr. 38 Spl loading to that barrel length?

 

[harrygunner]

FYI, I have some BB 170gr .357 Mag ammo they sold several years ago. I was rated at 1411 ft/s from a four inch gun.

I shot that and the newer 158gr from my S&W 640-1. Recoil did not seem that bad, at least to me. I carried that before buying a Glock 29 for business trips/woods. Good ammo.

 

[336A]

Thanks for this report. Seems like there's good quality control at BB, seeing the rather narrow velocity ranges (barring that off-chamber). The Ruger's 4 inch barrel only added about 40-50 fps over the Colt's 2 inches, so I wonder if BB tweaked their 158 gr. 38 Spl loading to that barrel length?

I'm willing to bet it is the fact that it is something specific to that particular revolver. Click the link below and you will see how well it performed for some one else from various revolvers.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/ammo/144598-some-38-special-chronograph-tests.html

 

[proven]

thanks for the report. i'll have to pick up some of that +p, and maybe even some of the .357 for woods carry.

 

[Deaf Smith]

S&W 642 1 7/8"

Bet that gun kicked a mite at 1000 fps for a 158gr slug!

But it's right on as for my chrono with a 2 inch 64 S&W.

Now from my Speed Six it got 1100 (2 3/4 inch barrel.)

Deaf

 

[ssyoumans]

Using the BB 158gr +P:
I got 979fps from a 2" Taurus 85
I got 1070 fps from a 3" SP101
I got 1180 fps from a 6" GP100

Looks like the sweet spot is at 3"

 

[LawofThirds]

Yeah, their +p loads are pretty clearly tailored towards a shorter barrel which is fantastic, since most of us who carry a .38 are carrying a short one.

 

[Deaf Smith]

If I packed my 2 1/2 M66-3 (I pack Glocks guys), I'd use that Buffalo Bore load for .38s. Won't kick to much, low flash, and hits hard.

Deaf

 

[harmon rabb]

Unlike some other companies, BB does not lie about their velocities. If anything, they usually overdeliver. Same goes for Corbon.

 

[LawofThirds]

Yeah, the hornady .357 and the one federal .38 +p I had stuck in the case were... disappointing, even out of a 4" barrel. I seriously should call them up and ask where the other 200fps went.

The one place I don't use buffalo bore as SD ammo is for a .45. Their numbers aren't much different than the Winchester PDX1 I use and I like the bonded bullet (and more importantly, my M&P feeds it better).

 

[MagnumDweeb]

So I have another reason to like Buffalo Bore. I just wish the price wasn't so rough but that's why I handload so I can practice with stout loads.

If you carry J-Frames the +P must be good ammo for SD(hits like an old timey .38 out of a K Frame 4"). Even though I'm a magnum fiend(dweeb) I couldn't see using the .357 load for SD for anywhere other than the woods. It's going too fast in a 158 grain pill to not overpenetrate something severe.

 

[wheelyfun66]

I carry the BB 158gr .38+P LSWCHP in my Smith 66 snub, and will certainly be carrying it in my new 340 M&P (when I finally get time to test-fire the darn thing...)

From my Ruger SP101 snub, the BB .38+P load was most excellent, great accuracy and it feels like a slightly weakened .357 (in terms of perceived recoil and muzzle flash, etc)

(i like the Speer Gold Dot short barrel loadings too...but that is for another thread)

 

[gvf]

I use just the Standard B.B. 38 Hardened Wadcutters mixed with the Hollow Soft-Lead (different than HP) in my Colt snubs from early 60s: Detective and Cobra 38. They have something like 18" penetration, and are stout enough without +p - not recommended anyway in older revolvers though 6 for SD I'm sure would be OK. But I feel well-protected with the Standard 38.

In winter I live where heavy leather and parkas are the norm - so I just use the Hardened Wadcutters, ideal I think for getting thru such clothing.