AMMO help, 38spl non +P

[rxraptor02]

Hello everyone,

I just picked up a used S&W 37-2 in 38spl. I am looking for a good Non +P round to carry.

I tried a box of Hornady 158gr HP/XTP's. Are there better options?

Thanks,
James

 

[YZR]

I carry Buffalo Bore in +P but they sell it in non +P too.

 

[Pistol Toter]

In that alloy gun, I don't believe that one should fire +P's as obviously you're not. So a hyped up HP projectile is not really necessary. You just need a good lead 158 grn semi-wadcutter.
Here are two:

Winchester Super-X Ammunition 38 Special 158 Grain Lead Semi-Wadcutter
Manufacturer #: X38WCPSV


Size / Style: 38 Special, 158 Grain, Semi-Wadcutter Lead (Per 50
Mfg No: 22290-R38S6
Manufacturer: Remington

 

[rxraptor02]

Yeah I plan to avoid the +P stuff.

I will look for the other stuff. I stopped at one gun shop and all they had was +P. I just want to see what my best options are.

As for now I guess the WWB 130gr FMJ stuff will have to do.

Thanks,
James

 

[guy sajer]

Federal's Personal Defense #PD38HS3H is a 110gr JHP non +P .

 

[wcwhitey]

I would check out the Buffalo Bore website. They offer a non +P version 158 SWC HP that looks very promising. Don't forget that the guns sights are regulated for 158 grain bullets from the factory. Happy New Year, Bill

 

[GRIZ22]

148 gr wadcutters are a good choice and much more efficient than the FMJ for defense.

 

[guy sajer]

Obviously , it's your call on what ammo to use James .

But , why not carry +P and practice with std velocity ? A few rounds of +P won't cause any ill effect . Maybe several hundred might although I've never witnessed any damage myself .

Either way , it's a nice carry piece .

 

[Jim March]

BY FAR the most potent standard-pressure 38s are loaded by Buffalo Bore. They're more effective than most 38+P fodder yet really are running at lower pressure. Expensive but worth it for carry and shooting at least enough to know how they print.

http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#standard38

 

[rxraptor02]

Thanks guys,

Looks like I will be trying the BB stuff. I will see if I can locate the stuff to try it out.

 

[PTK]

I carry Buffalo Bore .38 special LSWCHPs in my 1944 S&W M&P. Works well for me, but it's expensive to shoot much.

MidwayUSA carries it, but it tends to sell out lots.

 

[mnw42]

I use Buffalo Bore's LSWC-HP's in my Cobra. They are gas-checked and are fairly clean shooting.

 

[wnycollector]

+1 for the 148gr wadcutter. no recoil and a full .357" hole from the get go!

 

[Sport45]

Obviously , it's your call on what ammo to use James .

But , why not carry +P and practice with std velocity ? A few rounds of +P won't cause any ill effect . Maybe several hundred might although I've never witnessed any damage myself .

I agree.

 

[S&Wfan]

Wadcutters are NICE . . . and accurate in most .38s.

Plus, they are actually quite effective as a defensive round too, and make a nice hole in the BG.

Here's what they do in my Model 36 at ten yards, standing/unsupported. Ya can't ask for better than this.

BTW, another fine load for a M37 would be the 158 gn. LSWC-HP. It is the "classic" .38 snubbie load.

T.

 

[Smith357]

The 148 grain WC a good round with mild recoil, important with an alloy gun, and works well from a short barrel, if you happen to get pulled into court there is the added bonus of it being designed as a target load not a man killer.

Another round you may want to consider is the old "FBI load" or "Chicago Load" using a 158 grain LSWCHP it has a proven track record but looses much velocity compared to the 148 WC in sub 3" barrels.

Keep in mind many modern JHP rounds do not expand well if at all with the low velocities attained through a snub nosed .38 revolver.

 

[SwampWolf]

In looking for a suitable non-plus P self-defense load for my Colt Cobra, I was astonished to learn how scarce non-plus P ammunition is. I purchased Buffalo Bore brand "Standard Pressure Short Barrel Low Flash HVY 38 SPL (non+P), Item 20E- 125gr. Speer Low Vel. JHC bullets @900 fps" from Midway USA ;Fiocchi brand 38 SPL (non+P) SJHP, 148gr., SJHP bullets from Graf & Sons and Hornady brand 38 SPL (non+P) "Custom", 158 gr. JHP/XTP bullets, "#90362; Muzzle 800fps; 50 yds 775 fps; 100 yds 750 fps" from my local gun shop- all very pricey.

I intend to use the load that prints closest to the poa @ 25 yards.

 

[Kymasabe]

I'm using Magtech .38special Shorts. They're LRN, barely recoil but shoot POA and at self-defense distances are fine for me. I don't need the extra oomph of +p. Gun control and shot placement are my choices over +p power and hoping for decent expansion with a HP.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Along with the 110gr Federal rounds and the Buffalo Bore rounds mentioned above there are other acceptable non+P .38 special ammo available. I'm not crazy about Hornady XTP bullets because they have a reputation of not expanding under anything but the optimum conditions. (which rarely happen in real life)

Winchester has a few non+P rounds available too:
X38S9HP is their 110gr SuperX Silvertip HP
X38WCPSV is their 158gr LSWC (Although this round is a little too slow for SD IMO)

Remington has a 158gr LSWC round that's standard pressure but it too is too slow for SD IMO.

Fiocchi has a standard pressure 125gr JHP .38 Special (Part # 38D) that's reported to have a Muxzzle velocity of 950 fps.

Unfortunately Factory ammo that's acceptable for SD in a standard pressure round is hard to find. The manufacturers don't see a market large enough to warrant development or distribution of such ammo so we are locked into only a few choices. Too bad it's not a good idea to carry handloaded ammo for SD or these problems would disappear.

IMO the new Buffalo Bore Standard pressure .38 Special rounds are probably the best ammo available right now for older .38 Special revolvers. They found a way to get the velocity up without exceeding the pressure limits of a standard .38 Special... This can't be a bad thing....

 

[45crittergitter]

In addition to those already mentioned, the Hornady 125 gr. XTP and Winchester 147 gr. JHP have worked well according to some experts.