Airweight ammo question

[Gardien]

I ran across this comment/review about using Federal SWCHP LE ammo in an airweight .38 spl.

"DO NOT use this (Federal LE SWCHP +P 158 gr) in a snub nose airweight gun. the bullets in the rest of the cylinder may "jump" out of their cases when the first one is shot. the Rem uses softer lead and that is why it is preferred more than the Federal."

Does anyone have any personal experience with this?

 

[rcmodel]

Well, none of that makes a lot of sense to me???

A harder bullet would be less prone to jump crimp then a softer bullet.

If anything the softer bullet would be preferred because it is far more likely to expand properly when you shoot something with it.
Not because it is less likely to jump crimp.

But either one should work in an Airweight just fine.

Very light jacketed bullets are the ones S&W warns about in the light alloy guns. They are so short, they have very little case-neck tension to keep them in the case and the recoil impulse is much sharper.

rc

 

[Gardien]

Thanks, RCM.

After reading the S&W manual, there is a warning for Ti, Sc & PD series revolvers. It is recommended that all rounds to be used be tested first by firing 4 of the 5 rounds, then checking the remaining 5th round to see if it has been unseated.

 

[rcmodel]

Yep!

rc

 

[Gardien]

What do you use?

 

[rcmodel]

Don't have an Airweight or Ti, Sc & PD. All of mine are good old fashioned steel!

But if I did I would try either one at the range and if they didn't jump crimp, I would use the softer of the two.

rc

 

[jaydubya]

My 637 Airweight snubby is loaded with the Remington 158gr LSWCHP, their version of the FBI Load. According to Stephen Camp and www.brassfetcher.com, this round will expand when fired from my handgun. Mr. Camp indicates that the Federal and Winchester versions probably will NOT expand when fired from a snubby because they use hardcast bullets. The Remington version that he (and I) use have dead soft lead bullets. The Federal and Winchester versions probably will expand well from standard length barrels.

Cordially, Jack

 

[Apple a Day]

I had that problem with some Sellier and Belloit 158 grain LRN ammo in a steel snubby. It was loaded pretty hot. Rounds would jump crimp and slide forwards, protrude out of the front of the cylinder, and block it from rotating. They worked fine in a 4" K frame.

 

[shooter429]

Airweights can use any +p ammo

I have never had any problems with crimp jump in the 637, 442. I have had both ILIF and crimp-jump problems with the PD (Sc/Ti) guns.

In short, if you have a standard Airweight J-frame or, of course an all steel J-frame, any quality +p ammo with a good roll crimp will be fine. I would not use hot ammo in the Sc guns, however, due to the problems I described above.

Shooter429

 

[ArmedBear]

A harder bullet would be less prone to jump crimp then a softer bullet.

That doesn't make any sense. You can't get as deep a crimp on a harder bullet unless it has a deep groove for crimping, and I don't think any jacketed bullets do.

 

[DBR]

Remington, Winchester and Federal 158gr SWCHP +P ammo all use soft swaged lead bullets. The Remington has a larger hollow point cavity, is loaded slightly hotter and uses softer lead this makes it a marginally better expander from a snubby. In my tests they all tend to pull the fourth and fifth rounds in my S&W342 Ti (approx 12oz loaded). They do not pull in my 642 (approx 16oz loaded).

The Speer 135gr +P and the Corbon 110gr DPX +P are designed not to pull bullets in the 12oz guns and in my limited testing they do not. They are both top performing rounds from snubbys.

 

[Gardien]

Great info. I just ordered 1k of 148 gr LWC for practice and a few boxes of the Speer 135 gr +p for carry. The Corbon are just too expensive (~2x the Speers).

DBR-Hows VT? I left back in 1991. Boy, have things changed.

 

[pps]

I use the Buffalo Bore FBI load in 38+p, and have had no elongation of the bullet. I marked the brass of the last round and shot 8 shots (4 rounds, leave the last one, reload 4 chambers and shoot 4 a second time...no elongation of this round in my 340pd.

I've had Winchester White Box .357 and 158gr Hydrashok jump crimp and actually tie up the cylinder.

 

[rcmodel]

unless it has a deep groove for crimping, and I don't think any jacketed bullets do.

He wasn't asking about jacketed bullets.

But if he were, almost all jacketed bullets designed for use in revolvers have a deep cannelure rolled into the jacket for heavy crimping.

The other thing is, a jacketed bullet does not have grease grooves like a lead bullet, and consequently have more surface area to grip the case. (Case Neck Tension)

And there is no bullet lube grease lubing the joint like a lead bullet!

rc

 

[DBR]

Gardien - re Vermont:

Not like it used to be (what is?) but better than a lot of places.

 

[dersequim]

Too Hot!

I fired some +p's in my 38 Airweight BodyGuard. They caused the cylinder to slam back and gouge the Backplate. The Range Master told me to have it
checked by a Smitty before I fired it again. They discolored the Cylinder and Barrel.

 

[Gardien]

Too Hot

Dersequim - Is your 38 rated for +p? Just surprised that the +ps would give you that much trouble if it was. Also, what +p ammo did you use?

 

[S&Wfan]

You can fire 'em in an Airweight of perfect mechanical condition but I wouldn't fire too many of 'em.

Heavy bullets will jump the crimp much easier than light ones, since the sharp recoil of the gun moves the gun but the heavier bullets resist the inertia more, and each subsequent blast it can move more. The same heavy bullets though, won't jump the crimp in a longer barreled, steel revolver that weights more, due to the gun not recoiling as viciously! The two things that dampen recoil in any gun are a longer barrel and more weight. An Airweight snubbie has neither! Worse are the titanium AirLites. Brutal to fire, and very prone to heavy bullets jumping the crimp!

Once you experience bullets jumping the crimp you'll see how this could cost you your life in a frantic gunfight. Once those bullets protrude out the front of the cylinder . . . the cylinder ain't gonna turn and index for the next round . . . and you'll be holding a very tiny, "Airweight" paperweight. Not good.

THE OTHER REASON NOT TO USE HEAVY, +P LOADS IN AIRWEIGHTS . . .

Why wear out your gun really fast . . . or even cause it to go Ka-Boom? Aluminum-framed revolvers can have their frames stretched with stout loads.

At first, the gun starts spitting lead due to too much gap between the cylinder and forcing cone. Lead shavings in the hands, face . . . and EYE ain't fun.

And . . . the gun loses its accuracy TOO . . . and may eventually blow the top strap off and/or blow the cylinder apart. Not good. People sometimes get severely injured or killed when this happens.

If you need more gun, buy one . . . but a standard velocity .38 Special cartridge is what you need in an Airweight . . . and it WILL do the job with correct bullet placement and adequate penetration.

I carry a 1971 S&W Model 37 Airweight in my pocket as my "always" on me handgun. I feel fine with standard ammo in it . . . even flat nose 148 grain wadcutters (they cut a sharp wound channel rather than plug like round nose and hollowpoints that don't open up, and penetrate well too)!

Hope this helps!

T.

 

[hoptob]

a standard velocity .38 Special cartridge is what you need in an Airweight . . . and it WILL do the job with correct bullet placement and adequate penetration.

Not trying to be a smart a$$ but if that was true what would be a purpose of bigger guns and powerful cartridges? Fact remains that airweights are convenient to carry but stopping power is low. I carry airweight too but load it with warmest load I can handle -- can't always count on a shot thru the heart...

Mike