Buffalo Bore vs Underwood in 38 Special

[Panzerschwein]

Just get some wadcutters and be happy.

The 148 grain DEWCs have devastating stopping power when loaded up to even modest levels. The flat meplat creates a cookie-cutteresque style wound track channel cavity, leading to massive subcutaneous hematomaphy and rapid destabilization of the CNS and octo-cranial cavity centers.

But really, they work fine.

And no $25 a box of 20 needed.

 

[antiquus]

I had a 311ft/lb 973fps 148gr wadcutter handload out of an LCR. My only comment in the notes was "ouch".

 

[redbullitt]

I have used both in various calibers. Both performed well over the chronograph, but the price had me buying underwood if I need to.

Both are very good in my experience. 10 mm, 44 mag, and 357 mag. I have some of the buffalo bore 38, but have not done much with it.

 

[Drail]

Snub revolvers keep getting lighter and lighter and ammo keeps getting more and more powerful - what could possibly go wrong?

 

[pittpa]

I contacted Underwood last week to inquire about their 38 GDHP ammo. They told me "We use a 4 inch barrel to test .38SPL" FWIW.

 

[dawei]

I've used Buffalo Bore® ammunition for the last 10 years in 38 Special, 38 Special+P, and 357 Magnum. I know for a fact that it performs exactly as advertised. I am very pleased with how well it shoots in my revolvers and I will continue to use it.

 

[jad0110]

One should remember that increase in pressure does not equal a proportional increase in velocity. Any hand loader can tell you its more important to use the right powder burn rate to get a particular velocity.

An example from the Alliant reloading manual for .38 spl +P shows that even though the pressures are within the SAAMI standard for each load and probably very close to the same, there is as much as an 18% difference in velocity depending upon the powder used. In general slower powders you can use more of produce higher velocities at a given pressure.

I'm sure Buffalo Bore simply uses a slower powder than the major manufactures as the penny per round the faster powder saves the company (in using less) really adds up when producing several million rounds.

Nailed it.

And sometimes increases in peak pressure may not result in increased velocity at all ... it can actually be less in some cases. Richard Lee discussed this at length in his book, Modern Reloading. To paraphrase, in a given caliber one powder may produce higher peak pressure for lower velocity than another powder, which may have lower peak pressure but produce higher velocity.

BB and Underwood are simply selecting a more optimum, and probably more expensive and possibly less available powder than the major manufacturers.

 

[WYO]

I have no experience with Underwood ammo, but I have carried and shot Buffalo Bore ammo in a variety of calibers and I find that it delivers consistency and lives up to its published specs. I reload for my guns but buy Buffalo Bore for stuff that pushes the envelope in terms of pressure. I carried the Buffalo Bore 158 grain LSWCHP +P .38 Special for 2-3 years in a Ruger 3” SP101 and got a muzzle velocity of 1064 FPS. That is better than some .357 magnum jacketed ammo that I fired through the same gun. (I also tried the .357 magnum 180 grain hard cast and that was way too hot for me to handle in the SP101.) I currently keep on hand some Buffalo Bore +P 45 ACP 255 grain hard cast and some +P 9mm Outdoorsman 147 grain hard cast.

 

[627PCFan]

Interesting thread timing as Im going to shot some Underwood 38SPC 158LSWCs tomorrow in my wifes 638 Airweight. Ill report back, maybe try to get a video.

 

[627PCFan]

I just got back from the range. I took my 638 airweight and my 627PC. I shot the 357 125gn XTP (1700 fps advertised with a 6 inch barrel). Lets just say it was an auditory experience. That being said they were very accurate. The first pic is the text box of a IPSC target at 25 yards. I did cheat and lean on the wall for stability. All 8 rounds did not want to extract. I shot each round individually and had to tap the rounds out with a rubber mallet that I happened to have with me. Had I loaded a full moonclip with 8 I wonder if I could even get them out while still at the range. I have never had a single extraction issue with any load Ive personally worked up.

Then I shot the 638...Ill say I dont consider myself a recoil junkie and am pretty tolerant of it. The recoil was extremely sharp and the third shot left my hand throbbing. 4 and 5 were no fun. I didn't take a pic but they were well within 8 inches at 30 feet. Those rounds are no joke but you do pay the price with time getting back on target for a follow up. No extraction issues and I didn't see any bullets jump the crimp and the sights were regulated good enough for this load.

 

[dickydalton]

I shot a few of their 38+P 125 gr. Speer Gold dots this weekend. They claim 1200 FPS and I got 1173 FPS average from my 2.25" SP101 so they didn't lie.
It was pleasant shooting with no flash and accurate enough at 25 yards.

 

[TruthTellers]

I'm not here to pass judgement on which company I think produces better ammo as I think they're both great companies that have helped make hot ammo relative again. If it wasn't for Underwood, all non-reloaders would be stuck with is 10mm Auto that's no hotter than .40 S&W.

I prefer Buffalo Bore because, while more expensive, they going to tell you what velocities to expect from a variety of barrel lengths. Some companies *cough* Hornady *cough* will put the velocity on the box of short barrel ammo that was tested in an 8 inch barrel of .380 ACP tested from a 4 inch barrel. Those barrels are way too long from which they'll be shot from for defensive situations.

Underwood only releases tests from one barrel length and any barrel length under that will be suspect because you don't know what that velocity will be until you test it.

BB is nice enough to let you know ahead of time.

If price is a motivating factory, why do you need premium ammo in the first place? Why can't you get by with something made by the big 5 producers? You're bound to find something produced by them that fits your needs.

 

[dickydalton]

I'm not here to pass judgement on which company I think produces better ammo as I think they're both great companies that have helped make hot ammo relative again. If it wasn't for Underwood, all non-reloaders would be stuck with is 10mm Auto that's no hotter than .40 S&W.

I prefer Buffalo Bore because, while more expensive, they going to tell you what velocities to expect from a variety of barrel lengths. Some companies *cough* Hornady *cough* will put the velocity on the box of short barrel ammo that was tested in an 8 inch barrel of .380 ACP tested from a 4 inch barrel. Those barrels are way too long from which they'll be shot from for defensive situations.

Underwood only releases tests from one barrel length and any barrel length under that will be suspect because you don't know what that velocity will be until you test it.

BB is nice enough to let you know ahead of time.

If price is a motivating factory, why do you need premium ammo in the first place? Why can't you get by with something made by the big 5 producers? You're bound to find something produced by them that fits your needs.

Well, I have a few thousand reloads laying around and have reloaded 99% of my ammunition since 1965 but, I actually bought a box of the Underwoods on a whim and also bought a box of the 1700 FPS 357 mags just to compare too. The price didn't matter to me as I was curious. I have also tried a box of BB 44 mags, just for kicks too. Does it make me all bad?