Colt Cobra Ammo ?

[sohcgt2]

I have a Colt Cobra I purchased used and I was wondering if anyone would recommend a good .38 special ammo for it. It is not +p rated but I suspect when it was manufactured there was no such thing as +p ammo. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[hinton03]

I am looking hard at the new Hornady critical defense ammo in 110 grain standard pressure.

I carry 135 grain Speer GD now, but I am worried about excessing wear of +P loads.

 

[Steve C]

You can stretch the aluminum alloy frame on a Colt Cobra using +P ammo. I knew one guy who ruined his that way. Practice with standard pressure and there are a few brands of defense ammo that's not +P. I understand Federal is reissuing their .38 spl Nyclad HP's in standard pressure which would be a good choice.

 

[SwampWolf]

Buffalo Bore makes a "Standard Pressure Short Barrel Low Flash HVY 38 Spl (non+P)" round, loaded with 125 grain Speer "Low Vel." JHC, rated @900 fps muzzle velocity, for non+P rated snub nosed revolvers. However, they don't shoot to the point of aim for me. My Cobra (circa 1968) seems to have been regulated to be used with 158 grain projectiles. Accordingly, I load my Cobra with Hornady "Custom", 158 grain JHP/XTP, non+P ammunition, rated @ 800 fps muzzle velocity. POI/POA with this ammo shoots a little high @ 25 yards but is pretty close @ 15 yards. It's pretty controllable for a revolver weighing in at 16 ounces.

 

[golden]

I was using the FEDERAL 110 grain HYDRO SHOK load the other day. It shot well in my COBRA. It is NOT +P and recoil was not bad.

 

[Starter52]

+1 for the Speer 135 gr. +P load.

 

[Slamfire]

I thought the Colt Cobra was rated for +P ammunition, with the understanding that the higher pressure ammunition would knock the mechanism out of time around 3,000 rounds. The American Rifleman had an article that addressed this in the 80's.

I would only carry +P 158's in the Cobra for self defense. I only shoot standard velocity reloads in mine at the range.

My Colt Cobra will shoot to point of aim with 158 Lead 3.5 grs Bullseye, any case, any primer.

 

[Guillermo]

Slamfire,

The Cobra is NOT rated for +P. Heck, even the steel framed Detective Special isn't.

The "use standard pressure loads for practice, +P for self defense" strategy is used successfully by many.

Having said that, I only shoot standard pressure loads.