In a 38 snub are you limited to picking one or the other? Either penetration or expansion?
Sometimes one must compromise and go with “middle of the road” choices on both. I figure 14” of penetration with a doubling of diameter from the Federal HST ammo is pretty good. Hornady Critical Defense is okay at nearly 14” and .44” is okay, I guess, but this ammo seems to be easier to get than the Federal offerings or Rem. Golden Saber or any of the other better performing cartridges.
One might say “Well that’s because no one wants it because it doesn’t do as well as others.”
I say “So what!?” Out of my S&W 442 and my S&W 36 I shoot this load and the Federal HST accurately and to me that’s way more important than more penetration or more expansion.
I was perfectly happy with Hornady American Gunner in my Snubbies until I saw their lack of expansion. That was the most accurate production cartridge out of my guns.
If I have diminished confidence in a cartridge the last thing I need when a bad situation arises is doubt, I’m sure.
I tried quite a few of the cartridges on lucky Gunner’s list. Some were terrible for accuracy out of my guns.
I forgot to mention that in my testing I also used my S&W 327 Night Guard and my former model 60 Pro, 2.5” and 3” barrel’s respectively.
The very worst accuracy I have ever gotten from my Snubbies? That Underwood ammo that is all the rage. What a waste of money that was. That ammo is not cheap, especially during “the silliness”.