Ammo Recommendations for a "Snubby"

[Savage .250]

I recently got a S&W 649 as my new carry gun. It is a sweet thing. Given the pistol's short barrel, I am trying to figure out what the factory ammunition options are. Most ammo is designed for 5+ inch barrels where there is time/space to burn all the powder and get max performance from the cartridge. Does anyone make a .38+P or .357 Mag cartridge optimized for a snub?

Any recommendations or real world experience out there?

 

[Hondo 60]

Does anyone make a .38+P or .357 Mag cartridge optimized for a snub?

Not that I'm aware of.
of course I'm no expert (nor do I play one on tv)

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

Most .38spl +P defense ammo is designed with snub revolvers in mind. The new Winchester PDX1 load showed perfect expansion and great penetration in the testing I did in my 2" .38. That Nyclad HP worked well also, so thats another option. Speer also makes a Gold Dot short barrel load.

 

[jfh]

RevolvingGarbage has it right--the 'newer' defensive ammo in 38+P has been built for use in carry guns--i.e., 2" barrels. A site to see these results at is http://www.brassfetcher.com/. If you use the index for their old site, here, and then hit the link to 38 Special, you can see their tests of such ammo as the Gold Dot Short Barrel 38+P 135-gr. ammo (arguably, the first 'modern'-design ammo for carry guns) and the major brands' 'FBI load' ammo.

If you are a reloader, check the reloading forum here and google on such terms as "GDSB 38+P", "Replica Reloads", and on my username in the "M&P340" thread in the this forum.

added on edit: arguably, the most-recommended carry ammo is that made by Buffalo Bore. Its ammunition performs as advertised. It makes at least three different 158-gr. loads you can consider. Googling on that here, in the revolvers forum, will bring up many threads for discussion.

Jim H.

 

[oneounceload]

Speer has a GD load with a 135 bullet made for snub-nosed revolvers; has been getting good reviews

 

[moxie]

Try the Remington Golden Saber 125 gr. BJHP. It comes in .38 Spl. +P and .357 Mag. I've found the +P version more accurate and controllable than the Speer SB load out of a Ruger LCR snub. Haven't tried the mag round out of a snub, but it is wonderful out of a 4".

 

[Fumbler]

I carry Double Tap.

Double Tap's performance is very close to Buffalo Bore, but it's quite a bit cheaper.

Those two manufacturers will give you performance data for snub nosed revolvers

 

[ohwell]

Hornady Critical Defense ammo shoots very well out of my SP101 both in 38+p and 357 Mag. Its designed for short barrel handguns.

 

[doc540]

I like the performance of Barnes Bullets, so I carry CorBon DPX with Barnes'.

 

[Sport45]

I've stuck with the Remington 158gr LSWCHP +P for mine. It's been getting the job done for a long time. When I get to the end of the box (If I don't get too old and frail first), I may try the 135gr Gold Dot Short Barrel loads, but probably not.

 

[oneounceload]

Double Tap's performance is very close to Buffalo Bore, but it's quite a bit cheaper.

Are you sure? You have tested and chrono'd both? Or are you going by published results? DT has a dubious rep for results NOT living up to what they publish - verify, verify, verify

 

[pete950]

Buffalo boar 150 grain full wadcutter is what I carry

 

[Seven High]

If you want your j frame snubby to shoot at point of aim, you will have to stay with 158 grain ammunition.

 

[LawofThirds]

The golden saber 125's do not shoot to point of aim, which is why I ended up switching to buffalo bore. I'm glad I did, 158g SWCHP going 1000fps out of a 2" J-Frame is about the best ballistics I've seen out of any ammunition manufacturer.

 

[camsdaddy]

Just curious when you say they dont shoot point of aim how low are they at 7-15 yards.

 

[duns]

I've been using the Gold Dot Short Barrel 357 Magnums in my snubby. No issues with them. Recoil is noticeably more robust than 38 Spl +P but manageable.