Ballistic gelatin test results : Various .38 Special (2" barrel)

[Jim March]

Welll....it really needs to be right in the ammo descriptions. That said, I'm not seeing it in the shopping cart either, and I'm checking on the 38+P 158gr load. The shopping cart link is dynamic so I can't point you to it directly but I'm starting at:

http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#38spl

The shopping cart page I'm getting from there has a dead link to "nature's wolves" which...I suspect you'd want to take down?

 

[loplop]

Loplop,

Sorry I neglected to respond. If you want to learn a bit more about night vision loss due to muzzle flash, take any 2 or 2.5 inch revolver out at night, locate the sights as best you can and pull the trigger. Try this with several types of ammo. You'll find that most ammo will generate a muzzle flash that will seriously impede your vision and reaquiring the sights and the target in a hurry will be very hard to do.

None of this would matter if all criminal human aggression took place only in the light of day, but the fact remains that more criminals are at work in low light. Once you fire, Mr. bad guy wont wait around for your vision to clear up before he ressumes his attack on you or your wife and children. Thus flash supressed powders can be a life saver.

We did a lot of "night" shooting in choosing the powder for our 38 SPL+P ammo. Even the best flash supressed powders will still generate some flash out of 2 inch revolvers, but it becomes a question of degrees and the right flash retarded powder will allow you to see pretty darn good after firing in the dark.

Thanks for the thoughts, Tim. I really appreciate it. I will copy your thoughts over to my post on the general board.

When I shot in the dark, I used one of a few Glocks the range had available. I am guessing 2x 19's and a 26. None of those weapons caused blindness from their flash, although they all had much longer barrels than a snub.

So in my question on the main board, I asked "does the type of weapon matter" and from your statement above, I take this to be true. I will be more careful of defensive ammo choices in my snubbies.

Really neat stuff on your site, BTW. I'd really like to try some of your 9mm loads. They're really amazing on paper at least!

 

[Sundles]

Loplop,

Yes the type of weapon, especially the barrel length can make a big difference. If you are getting pretty bad flash with a 2 inch revolver, depending on the powder and bullet wieght, you may not get much flash at all with a 3 inch revolver. It all depends on several variables, but if flash supresssed powders are used, many of those variables become less significant.

 

[Sundles]

Jim,

I just went to my web site and pulled up 38 SPL+P and read the text at the bottom of the 38SPL+P shopping cart and there is one sentece devoted to the use of flash supressed powders being used in those 38 SPL+P loads.

I can tell I'm going to have to make certain informatiion on that site more prevelant somehow. I'm into ballistics, not web sites and it shows.

As for the Natureswolves link--there are a lot of things on my site that are not up to date. About once a year (maybe less) I get around to taking an inventory of what needs to be done with the web site. Then, I call my web master in Missouri and talk with him about it, then he gets it done. So, it seems it is a never ending process.

 

[Jim March]

OK, my bad, I just missed it the first time around. It's right at this link in among the text underneath:

http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#38spl

It's NOT in the shopping cart link .

 

[Bezoar]

Heres an odd idea, why not test the mythical double cavity 365 grain hollow point in 357 that my grandfather was handloading for duty carry in his revolver?

 

[Brass Fetcher]

$.

 

[redbone]

Jim March:

"If you face this problem, the answer lies in the Speer Gold Dot 135gr"

Interesting! I just picked up a 637 and stood in front of the .38 ammo for probably 15 minutes trying to think thru the best choice. Ended up with a couple of boxes of Speer Gold Dot 135gr. I really wanted the 158 +Ps, but there weren't any in stock. I have shot some regular pressure lead Remmie 158s, and the leading in severe. The Speers are fine; a bit stouter than the 125 gr. WWB that I practice with, but not bad.

Are there any ballistic gel tests on the Speer Gold Dot 135gr loads?

Thanks.

RBH

 

[Dr.Rob]

Welcome indeed to Mr Sundles... does that low flash signature affect muzzle blast too? IE at contact distance?

I didn't realize the BB load was gas-checked. I might just pick up a box to try out.

 

[Sundles]

Dr.,
Thanks for the welcome. Pretty neat web site here.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I revised my last statement.. that BB gas checked load looks very promising.

 

[Brass Fetcher]

Redbone - http://www.brassfetcher.com/Speer 135 grain GoldDot Short Barrel.html

 

[redbone]

JE223:

Thanks!

This is very interesting testing, and you certainly seem to be doing it scientifically. Good work!

Rick

 

[Brass Fetcher]

and you certainly seem to be doing it scientifically. Good work!

Thank you - I can't do it any other way anymore! Lots of (proper) lab work has ingrained good practices into my head! There may be more .38 Special testing in the future - I am meeting up with someone probably next week for two rifle tests, and they will probably have a revolver of some sort to try out.

 

[Sundles]

DrRob,

That is an interesting question and I dont know the answer.