Defense Load for .38 Special S&W 642

[TC8500]

I'm looking for your input on a mild/tolerable recoil .38 Special Load. Hornady's 2012 product catalog states the impact performance of their 125 and 140 grain XTP ranges from 800 -1600 fps, 158 grain from 800 -1400 fps.

I would appreciate any load suggestions that fall within the 800 -900 fps and do not have the +P recoil. Thanks.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have a bunch of j frames and I use several different loads. Mostly I carry the Speer 135gr Short Barrel .38 Spl. +P ammo in my M642, and M442...

 

[rcmodel]

Speer 135 grain Short-Barrel Gold Dot.

Or the 158 LSWC-HP FBI load.

Neither load recoils enough to hurt you in a gun fight.

Look up +P load data for +P .38 in a reloading manual or on Hodgdons website.

rc

 

[JamieC]

That's what's loaded in the wife's 442, Speer Short Barrel, don't get in her way!

 

[Steve C]

Your major hurdle is the light aluminum frame and short barrel on your 642 but with a chrono you should be able to get the velocity you are looking for with judicious hand loading. Recoil is a result of velocity and mass of the bullet powder and firearm its shot from. The pressure of the load has nothing to do with recoil other than higher pressure loads CAN produce more velocity. Velocityies liested by most of the manufacturers are from 4" barrels so you need to reduce them by 75 to 100 fps for the shorter 2" barrel. Actual velocities for most 125gr +P ammo from snub nose pistols are generally in the 850+ fps but less than 900 fps. So with the velocity you are asking for you will get recoil equal to a +P load. I've found that a more hand filling grip from Pachmeyer of Houge helps the most in reducing felt recoil.

I load 125gr JHP's with 6.0grs of Unique using Winchester primers and cases. This is a max +P .38 spl load according to the current Speer and Alliant data and produces velocities of 1,050+ fps (chrono'd) from a 4" S&W 67 revolver that shoots relatively high velocities and should be in the high 900 to 1,000 fps from a 2" snub.

Current Alliant/Speer data lists 5.7grs of Unique with 125gr JHP's as maximum for standard pressure .38 spl at 980 fps (manual listed 6" S&W 14). This load of 5.7grs listed as a do not reduce should give you the 800 to 900 fps you are looking for but your recoil will likely be similar to commercial +P.

 

[Slamfire]

I developed these loads in a Chief’s Special, the major difference between this and a Centennial is the exposed hammer.

I wanted an accurate, OK recoil, load for range use.

My Chief’s Special shoots to point of aim with 125’s. The 158 grain load is a calibration load, and the velocity is just what I expected for a 2” barrel.

I settled on a 125 grain bullet with 4.0 grains Bullseye. I could push it faster, but this is not a self defense load.

If you want a self defense load, buy premium factory ammunition. There are lots of good choices.

Green Dot worked very well in the snubbie, so I have included that in my data.

[SIZE="3"]S&W M637-2  2" barrel

158 LRN 3.5 grs Bullseye WSP Mixed cases		
6-Apr-07 T = 48 °F		 	 		
Ave Vel =679				
Std Dev =16.48				
ES 56.11				
High 698.2				
Low 642				
N = 18				 
					
125 Lead BBRNFP 4.0 grs Bullseye Lot BE 532 Mixed cases CCI 500 	
6-Apr-07 T = 48 °F					
Ave Vel =	763.9	 			
Std Dev =	22			 	 
ES	78			 	 
High	806.5			 	 
Low	728.5			 	 
N =	15				 
Point aim OK					

125 Lead BBRNFP 4.0 grs Bullseye Mixed cases WSP 	
9-Apr-06 T = 59 °F					
Ave Vel =	760.4	 			
Std Dev =	27.33				 
ES =	82.1				 
High  =	798.9				 
Low  =	716.8			 	 
N =	19				 
					
					
125 Lead BBRNFP 4.5 grs Bullseye Mixed cases WSP 	
9-Apr-06 T = 64 °F					
Ave Vel =	827.9				
Std Dev =	23.21				 
ES =	92.27				 
High  =	879.4			 	 
Low  =	787.1			 	 
N =	20				 
					
125 Lead BBRNFP 4.5 grs Green Dot Lot 178 Mixed cases CCI 500 	
6-Apr-07 T = 48 °F					
					
Ave Vel =	813.2	 		 	
Std Dev =	44.55			 	 
ES	176.5			 	 
High	903.3			 	 
Low	726.8			 	 
N =	24				 
 v. accurate at 7 yards, POI at 25 yards, little leading					
	
125 Lead BBRNFP 5.0 grs Green Dot Lot 178 Mixed cases CCI 500 	
6-Apr-07 T = 48 °F					
					
Ave Vel =	867.3	 		 	
Std Dev =	57.54			 	 
ES	178.1			 	 
High	966			 	 
Low	787.8			 	 
N =	21				 
v.accurate at 7 yds, 1-2" above POI at 25 yards, more leading
					
125 JHP (W/W) 4.5 grs Green Dot Lot 178 Mixed cases CCI 500 	
6-Apr-07 T = 48 °F		
					
Ave Vel =	760.4	 		 	
Std Dev =	68			 	 
ES	56			 	 
High	205.1			 	 
Low	885.4			 	 
N =	13				 
					
	
125 JHP (W/W) 5.0 grs Green Dot Lot 178 Mixed cases CCI 500 	
6-Apr-07 T = 48 °F		
					
Ave Vel =	808.9	 		 	
Std Dev =	56.82			 	 
ES	95.46	 		 	 
High	914.2	 		 	 
Low	712.8			 	 
N =	20				 
25 yds accuracy OK, accurate POI @ 7 yds


[ATTACH=full]611423[/ATTACH][/SIZE]

 

[beatledog7]

My favorite carry load is 125gr Federal Nyclads. They can be had (somebody on Gunbroker has a bunch), but these days they sell for about $1.10-1.15 per round.

I build handloads (125gr Winchester JHPs over 4.9gr of Bullseye) that shoot much like the Nyclads, but I have not carried them as yet.

 

[joneb]

I like the 140gr weight bullet, Rainier once made a plated RNFP 140gr which was a good practice load for my S&W 36 with 6.2gr of AA#5. The 140gr bullet shoots well in my snub as do the 158gr, the 125gr bullets shoot much lower.
The Hornady XTPs do not expand well at lower velocities which maybe a good thing, as adequate penetration is more important.
My 38 snub carry loads are with a 158gr LSWC or a 148gr LWC

 

[gamestalker]

I load the SB GoldDots as well for 38 spcl. S.D.. Pushing them with Longshot or HS6 delivers enough velocity to allow them to expand fully. I've tested both of those powders with a mid range powder charge as published, and velocity averages right around 1200 fps. Maybe it's because I shoot a lot of full house .357 mag., but recoil is very mild, even with maximum charges.

I'm running with the 125 grainers myself, but I have loaded and tested a all of the various Gold Dot weights, and SB and standard styles too. Another thought is the 110 gr. Gold Dots. For a high velocity and lower recoil round, the 110 gr. GD has tested quite well for me also. One thing I've seen is the Gold Dot needs velocity to perform as intended, so don't down load them too far if what your desiring is a fully functional hollow point expansion.

 

[zxcvbob]

I carry 158 grain soft lead HP's (Magnus Bullets #515) with 4.5 grains of either American Select or Universal powder. That's in a 4" Security Six or Model 15.

4.7 grains of Unique works pretty good too.

For practice, I use Lee 158 grain RF bullets with the same powder charge.

 

[pete950]

good old 148 DEWC over 3.5 of Bullsey

 

[joneb]

good old 148 DEWC over 3.5 of Bullsey

I find that load works great with most solid base WCs