Ammo for a snubby

[spm]

This has probably been covered and recovered someplace in this forum. I don't pretend to believe I am the only person to ever think about this.

I carry a Colt Detective Special loaded with Hornaday Critical Defense. I have read a lot about lack of expansion in Jacketed hollow points with the snub-nosed .38spl and am wondering if a semi-jacketed soft point or some other configuration might not be as good or even better than the hollow-point for self defense in the snubby. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks.

 

[kcshooter]

Look at the Speer Gold Dots for short barrels.

 

[skt239]

Is your DS +P rated? I know little to nothing about Colt revolvers..

 

[sidheshooter]

Summary of what you'd glean from a search:

Best options: Remington's "FBI" load (158 gr LSWCHP+P); Gold Dot 135 gr +P "short barrel" load. Could make do with Buffalo bore standard pressure version of the FBI round-it comes close to other maker's "+P".

Alternatives (particularly pertinent to your OP regarding expansion): Buffalo Bore 150 gr full wadcutter; other maker's 148 gr target wadcutters, if you need minimal recoil. (See the serious BB offering here) :
http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=111

Outliers: Corbon 110 DPX, Hornady 110 critical defense.

Plus P is no big deal for your gun: Saxon pig, guillermo; ESP. Saxon's article at "shooting with hobie" website.

In a DS, I'd just use some of my Remington "FBI" stash, personally. It will eat it up. Like pinstripes on a navy suit, or jeans with a leather jacket, some legendary combos stand the test of time.

Other opinions may vary, but not by a whole lot, based on years of threads...

 

[rcmodel]

If a hollow point won't expand, a soft point for sure would not expand.

I suggest the Speer short-barrel Gold-Dot load.
It will expand.

I am of the opinion a limited amount of +P will not harm a Detective Special.

rc

 

[nulook45]

D Framed Colts

I have had several police positive revolvers and one old style detective special . They were not made for +P and i wouldnt recomend shooting any.
Gold dot 135 grn short barrel loads are good to go as are critical defense loads . If you reload or know someone that does you can take 148 grn hollow base wadcutters and turn them upside down over 3.5 grns of bullseye with a standard primer and you will get expansion in the .70 cal range or about as big as a quarter in diameter reliably. These were first used in great britton during the war and called the manstoper. Federal did these in the 60's and 70's and thats how hydrashock .38 special got started .

 

[moxie]

I like the Gold Dot 135 +P, but also take a look at the Golden Saber 125 +P.

 

[Stainz]

A 148gr lead full wadcutter .38 Special, aka a paper target puncher, starts out at .357" and has enough mass to carry it through soft tissue leaving a definite wound channel. It's recoil in an older DS will be negligible, as it is from my 642, when compared to my favorite load - the Remington R38S12 158gr LHPSWC +P. If you can shoot that +P LHPSWC safely from a DS, like the 642, it would make 840-860 fps at the muzzle - more than enough for it's softer lead to open over .357" OD.

Stainz

 

[pikid89]

perhaps the Federal 125 grn Nyclad if you can find some?

 

[skt239]

I use the following :

158gr LSWCHP +P
125gr Gold Saber +P
125gr Underwood +P

The Underwoods are fast becoming my favorite and preferred carry round (see below)

 

[Mac Attack]

I carry 158 gr LSWC in my DS.

I tried some 110 gr HP but they shoot low. Then I read that the old revolvers were sighted in with 158 gr rounds. When I switched to 158 gr rounds my DS shot to POA.

 

[Random Discharge]

Same with my newer SP101-the fixed sights are set up for 158gr rounds. That is all I feed it.

 

[Gary A]

Ditto pikid89's suggestion.

 

[rswartsell]

Shot my "third series" '70's vintage DS today. The bulk of the rounds were 158 gr. Kinetics Research remanufactured SWC. Why? Because they are cheap and I'm working the DS in to be my CCW piece. For practice they were OK, dirty yes but not as bad as some I've had.

I did however work in about 60 rounds of defense grade ammo and I must first disagree with the idea that +P is not for the DS. Functioned flawlessly with the Buffalo Bore FBI load advertised at 1000 fps and with what is my uninformed favorite, the Speer Gold Dot 135 gr SB load.

IF you tried hard enough and had the $ for it I suppose you could eventually stretch a DS frame with the Buffalo Bore grade +P (you aren't saying you would burst a cylider with it are you?). But with my limited experience (and the advice of the seasoned shooters on this board that I respect) this is NOT a practical concern. If you practice a lot, shoot standard pressure as practice rounds, I agree with that. BUT if the Colt DS is your snubby, don't hesitate to use +P as your defense round of choice and of course PRACTICE with them in reason.

I call the Speer Gold Dot the uninformed round of choice because I don't chrony them or dig up the spent bullets. I let the gunwriters and blog posters do my dirty work.

 

[Dr_B]

Speer Gold Dot .38's for short barrels. Or if the +p rating in the Detective Special worries you, do like I did a while back and make some of your own non +p .38 ammo with Gold Dot bullets. I also have a Detective Special and its a nice shooting .38. Best I've ever shot.

 

[rswartsell]

I agree Dr B (if you meant snubby, I also spent some quality time with my S&W mod 14 and in the "unlimited" class for .38 spl., it won).

BTW for the K-38 Masterpiece it was Bitteroot Valley Ammunition Co 148 gr WC. I was pleased with my first use of this round. Not a terrible choice for the DS for in home defense either.

 

[spm]

Hey, thanks for all the responses. I know I have read several comments here and on other threads that say +P in a DS is fine, but it does concern me in a 40+ year old revolver. I think even Colt says they are okay but not recommended, or at least not as a steady diet. Yes, I am a bit conservative. I will try several different types at the range and see what works best. Thanks again for all the comments.
spm

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

I really like Corbon DPX line.

Check out this report

http://www.stoppingpower.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8074&SearchTerms=DPX,

TEST RESULTS:

Round # 1:
Penetration: 14.50"
Recovered Weight: 101.3 gr.
Expansion*: .550 cal.

* Expansion measured at widest point.

Chronograph Data

Testing Platform:
S&W 642 – 1 7/8” Barrel

HI: 1143
LO: 1091
Average: 1110
Extreme Spread: 52
Standard of Deviation: 19

The above quote references the 110 grain Corbon DPX round. They even shot it through the door of a dodge dakota and it penetrated right through. The Barnes X bullet Corbon is using is at the forefront of modern bullet engineering.

 

[Mac Attack]

Anyone shoot buffalo bore rounds in their snub nose revolvers? After seeing this thread I started doing some research on various forums and found a lot of people recommend buffalo bore standard pressure loads for Colt DSs. I am considering rating out BB 158 gr standard pressure or even their 158 gr +p for my series 3 DS.

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

I've had a FTF with the buffalo bore + P loads in a 640. It may have been a fluke or an issue with the gun or user error. They are noticeably smoky, probably due to lubricant on the lead. I would hesitate to carry them in an airweight or airlight revolver due to recoil, however in a steel framed detective special not rated for + P the standard pressure BB rounds may be the best choice.

 

[skt239]

I've shot BB out of my snub and I find the standard pressure to have the same about of recoil as the hotter +P rounds. Check out TNoutdoors9 on YouTube, he does some buffalo bore (and many other brands) gel test. The penetrate a whole bunch, I believe 19 inches and that's from a 442.