common HD .38 +p ammo for snubs, 4", 6" guns...what say you?

[don95sml]

My choice has been Winchester SXT Personal Protection 38 Special +P 130 gr (catalog no. S38SP). Since I don't have facilities for comparison testing, this choice is based mostly on faith in the manufacturer and my belief that this is not rocket science. I feel that with adequate training and practice with the revolver used the bad guy will go down, even if it takes more than one round to do the job.

 

[Elvishead]

Just about any HP +P should be fine.

I personally, having revolvers all over my house too, I have GD-HP 125g +Ps.

 

[Waldo Pepper]

My 642-2 is always loaded with WW 38 +P LSWCHP 158 grain store bought, but I have 158 grain LSWCHP's from Hornady and two other mfg. Some are sweged and some are cast, the cast is target ammo for my S&W 610-3 when plinking. I do have some of the low velocity Speer JHP's to load for the 642-2, but I am not sure I will use them over the sweged LSWCHP in that gun.

The reality is one has to remember that guns like the 642 and others are what used to be called "belly guns", they were never designed to be shot further out then 1 to 10 yards at most and were generally best when stuck in BG's belly and fired.

If I am able to wear my G-29 I always go with it, twice the rounds carried in J frames. I can hit bowling pins with ease at 25 yards with 135 Nosler JHP hitting about 1600 fps, and they just explode.

 

[SaxonPig]

I truly doubt that there is much real difference in any commercially available 38 Special load. One will work about as well as another unless you go with the pricey and often hard to find "specialty" makers and even then there likely isn't a whole lot of difference in performance.

Practice your shot placement. That's more important than straining to get an additional 50-100 FPS.

 

[nitesite]

My 2" 442 has either cast 148-gr BBDEWC over Titegroup, or 158-gr cast LSWC over Unique.

Expansion is the least of my concerns. I want clean cutting and deep penetrating bullets. The barrel length handicaps me enough, I don't want anything else to compromise penetration.

 

[rdoggsilva]

For my snubbie 158gr SWCHP 38spl +P. For my 4" 38spl +P Federal HST.

 

[doublehorse]

I tried about 8 diff ammo in my SP101 .357 2.25". It likes DT 25gr .357 best! Shoots the most accurate, least flash and lower recoil than most, including the Federal Low Recoil (why do they call it that...must be a typo). I'm going to use it in my 16" EMF 92 lever once that arrives. It will scream out of that barrel!

I just ordered some DT 125gr .38 +P for my new 642 that is being tuned by Gemini Customs (just like my SP101).

DT has great prices, high velocity, Speer Gold Dots, and rapid delivery.

 

[kmbrman]

Speer 135 JHP

This question is for Steven Camp. Do you think the loads in the 135 JHP 38+P advertised by Speer as the Personal Defense Load is the same load as the one they are calling the Short Barrel load ?

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I went over the CCI/Speer's site and found that the Gold Dot Short Bbl Personal Protection load (Part # 23921) is the only one that I can find with that weight bullet. When I went to their "Short Barrel" information and then to "Product Listings", the same Gold Dot Personal Protection loads came up followed by the Gold Dot Short Bbl Personal Protection loads:

http://www.speer-ammo.com/ballistics/ammo.aspx

So, yes, I do believe that the Speer 135-gr. +P Short Bbl Load is the same as the 38 Special 135-gr. +P Short bbl Personal Protection one. I think that perhaps the nomenclature is all that differs. It is my understanding that this same 135-gr. Gold Dot bullet that is used in the +P (higher end) 38 Special load is the same that is used in their low-end/low-recoil 357 load, which starts out about 100 ft/sec faster.

If interested, the results of informal testing can be found here on the Speer, Corbon DPX and Remington LHP +P loads:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/38 Snub Ammo Test.htm

Best.

 

[kmbrman]

Thanks for info Mr. Camp

I have to thank you a lot for this info about the 135 Speer Gold Dot Personal Protection load. The problem I have found in most retail stores is I can only locate the boxes that don't say Short Barrel on them. You and other enthusiast like Josh Smith [on another thread] have really helped us with really helpfull info,and we all enjoy your work ; just tell us you'll keep it up !

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello and thanks.

Best.

 

[Orange_Magnum]

I bought SPEER 135 gr short barrel .357 mag, and that was extra whimpy. And extra inaccurate. And extra expensive. I hated that one extra much at the gun range.

 

[226]

Gold Dot Short Bbl Personal Protection load (Part # 23921)

FYI, Speer part # 53921 is for the box of 50, which is usually (re: all the time!) much cheaper than the box of 20 # 23921.

GunBroker was mentioned a few times. Here is one of the seller's links. Very good price. I just ordered 5 boxes / 250 rounds for $90.00 ($75.00 + $15.00 shipping).

Items for sale by: sellforless A+(2071)