Favorite .38Spl Snub Loads?
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Crayfish
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Only my personal opinion of course but, I think anything lighter than 158 grain defeats the designed purpose of the 38 special load which is penetration. I just don't buy into the light (supposedly expanding) defensive ammo gimmick. Handgun bullets are all only iffy at expansion due to so many factors that I would stick with reliable penetration and using the lead hollow core will give you decent odds at expansion (or at least tumbling) as well. The 45acp is the same. The best quote I ever heard on that was "its hard to ruin the power of a 45 acp but, one way to do it is to lighten the bullet and increase the velocity". Simple physics but, "if it bucks harder it hits harder".
NYCLADS AND 125 Gr +P
In my alloy frame .38 Specials, I use FEDERAL 125 grain NYCLAD ammo. It is so soft, you can deform the bullet with you finger.
Since they are almost as rare as the DODO bird, I use REMINGTON 125 grain SJHP +P ammo in my steel guns. I buy the 100 round boxes at WALMART.
Jim
In my alloy frame .38 Specials, I use FEDERAL 125 grain NYCLAD ammo. It is so soft, you can deform the bullet with you finger.
Since they are almost as rare as the DODO bird, I use REMINGTON 125 grain SJHP +P ammo in my steel guns. I buy the 100 round boxes at WALMART.
Jim
Panzerschwein
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Speer Gold Dot .38 Special +P 135 grain Short Barrel.
The greatest snub load ever made.
The greatest snub load ever made.
zb338
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Hollow base full wadcutters loaded backwards with a max.
load of bullseye.
Zeke
load of bullseye.
Zeke
WestKentucky
Member
I consistently see comments regarding failed expansion of handgun bullets. I just don't see that, and it's a thread all its own...but I have a collection of recovered bullets from over the years. Mostly from deer because it's the only thing big enough to stop a bullet and it is edible. The attached photo is very representative of the handgun portion of the collection, including the defense rounds, only this retains a bit more weight than most. This one was a 200 gr 44 mag sierra jhp handload. 167 grains now counting a bit of flesh mixed in so call it 150 grains give or take. 75% weight retention, nearly doubled diameter meaning nearly quadrupled frontal area...and this is normal. By the way, this one came out of a 6" taurus m44 that found a doe at 40 yards.
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VA27
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I'm with the other 'old school' guys here. 148gr wadcutter or 158gr +P LSWHP from FedRemChester, whatever the LGS has in stock. For 357 any 125-158gr from the same companies will do.
TimSr
Member
I'm a big believer in high velocity expanding bullets for personal defense, but most snubbies have fixed sights with a height in mind for heavier, lower velocity bullets. I'm also not confident in .38 snubbies achieving enough velocity to reliably, and consistantly expand HP's without going to a very light bullet. For this reason, I carry the bullet that performs best without expansion, that is heavy enough to hit where it is aimed, with 148gr cast DEWC +P handloads. With my powder choise I get better velocity with them seated out, over a larger charge.
RustyShackelford
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New loads....
I see in 2015, Speer Gold Dot rolled out a new G2 series 9x19mm 147gr LE-personal defense bullet,
.
I'm curious to know if the new G2 line will expand to the .38spl +P, 9mm 124gr, .357magnum, .40S&W, .45acp.
Hornady made a new .357magnum Critical Duty bullet too. I think a .38spl round might be released in 2015/2016 but since Hornady already markets a .38spl +P Critical Defense round so that may not be a priority.
I see in 2015, Speer Gold Dot rolled out a new G2 series 9x19mm 147gr LE-personal defense bullet,
.I'm curious to know if the new G2 line will expand to the .38spl +P, 9mm 124gr, .357magnum, .40S&W, .45acp.
Hornady made a new .357magnum Critical Duty bullet too. I think a .38spl round might be released in 2015/2016 but since Hornady already markets a .38spl +P Critical Defense round so that may not be a priority.
243winxb
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J Frames with 38 spec 158 cast & Unique @ 799 fps.
gun_with_a_view
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The Critical Defense ammo may a work of genius, yet at the same time it is difficult to discredit the efficacy of wadcutters fired from a snub nose 38 Special at close range.
TimSr
Member
Very valid point as most factory wadcutters are very soft lead over a very light charge for paper punching. Not an issue for us who handload, but am also wondering if there is factory wadcutter ammo that is loaded to full power .38 spl level, or +P.
gun_with_a_view
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One may have to turn to a source like Buffalo Bore or reloading for the best in wadcutters:
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=111
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=111
BSA1
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148 gr. Full Wadcutters are a very bad choice for self-defense. As mentioned they are for low velocity paper punching. I would imagine they are only pushing 675 - 700 fps from a 2" barrel.
A city department I worked for would get regular calls to dispatch opossums and skunks. I kept a box of 148 wadcutters in the car for that reason. I quit using them after I bounced a round off of the forehead of a opossum from about 5' away.
Reversing a full wadcutter so the hollow base exits first is a even worse idea. The bullet is unstable and it is easy to strip the skirt off the bullet when it exits the barrel. As a matter of fact I found 1/2 of a box of Hydra-Shok 148 full Wadcutters. The bullet has a post inside the hollow base to aid expansion. They were supposed to be good for use in 2" snubbies. They weren't.
A city department I worked for would get regular calls to dispatch opossums and skunks. I kept a box of 148 wadcutters in the car for that reason. I quit using them after I bounced a round off of the forehead of a opossum from about 5' away.
Reversing a full wadcutter so the hollow base exits first is a even worse idea. The bullet is unstable and it is easy to strip the skirt off the bullet when it exits the barrel. As a matter of fact I found 1/2 of a box of Hydra-Shok 148 full Wadcutters. The bullet has a post inside the hollow base to aid expansion. They were supposed to be good for use in 2" snubbies. They weren't.
Oldschool shooter
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I used to think the latest whiz bang wonder bullet had to be the best. As I got older and actually did some research before spending my hard earned cash, the more I came to see the benefits of good old-fashioned 158 gr. semi or full wad cutters. Still a good .38 round for carry gun.
351 WINCHESTER
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Buffalo Bore 158 +P lhp. An honest 1,000 fps from a 1 7/8 j frame.
RustyShackelford
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.38spl +P loads Id consider....
Here are a few ammunition choices Id make for a snub .357magnum-.38spl DA or DAO revolver:
CorBon DPX, Critical Defense, Winchester PDX1 .38spl, Speer Gold Dot 135gr +P, Magsafe SWAT .38spl +P, Glaser Safety Slug/silver, Buffalo Bore 158gr lead SWC-HP +P.
I used to carry-shoot Remington Golden Saber in the 1990s/2000s but the QC seems to have nose-dived in the last 3/4 years, .
Corbon DPX can be rare and expensive but it's potent in snub revolvers. Winchester PDX1 seems to be common in larger outdoor retail places like Cabelas, Gander Mountain, Bass Pro Shop. If I didn't use Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P in my M&P Shield 9x19mm pistol, Id use a PDX1 124gr +P load.
Here are a few ammunition choices Id make for a snub .357magnum-.38spl DA or DAO revolver:
CorBon DPX, Critical Defense, Winchester PDX1 .38spl, Speer Gold Dot 135gr +P, Magsafe SWAT .38spl +P, Glaser Safety Slug/silver, Buffalo Bore 158gr lead SWC-HP +P.
I used to carry-shoot Remington Golden Saber in the 1990s/2000s but the QC seems to have nose-dived in the last 3/4 years,
.Corbon DPX can be rare and expensive but it's potent in snub revolvers. Winchester PDX1 seems to be common in larger outdoor retail places like Cabelas, Gander Mountain, Bass Pro Shop. If I didn't use Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P in my M&P Shield 9x19mm pistol, Id use a PDX1 124gr +P load.
Barry the Bear
Member
I like the buffalo bore version of the old FBI load. Although the speer offering is pretty close up there in the running .
fastbolt
Member
When it comes to my 5-shot snubs rated for use with +P loads, I typically use the following loads for carry, in no particular order:
Winchester RA38B (PDX1) 130gr +P
Remington 125gr +P HPJ/BJHP (Golden Sabre)
Speer 135gr GDHP +P
These middle weight JHP +P loads have mostly replaced the long-running Remington or Winchester 158gr LSWCHP/LHP +P loads I carried for many years. I have some boxes of both remaining, but I don't commonly carry them due to dwindling supply & availability.
I still have most of a box of the older Federal Nyclad 158gr LSWCHP +P, too, but I haven't commonly carried Nyclad since it was marketed by S&W, and then Federal, and was commonly found on store shelves.
While I still have a decent amount of the original Speer 125gr GDHP +P, I usually prefer to save it for the range (and save the harder-to-find 135gr +P version for carry).
I like to try and run the same loads for quals & training/drills as I do for carry, when possible, and with availability often being sporadic that means being more open to some variability, especially for qual/training ammo. I'll still occasionally use some major maker 130gr ball loads that surface in the training/qual inventory, or some old-style budget 125gr +P JHP that may appear now and again. (Hey, the price is right. )
I'm less fussier about .38 Spl ammo than I used to be, especially with some of the newer designed defensive hollowpoints being offered nowadays, preferring to focus my attention on being able to run them controllably, accurately and effectively in my assorted +P capable J's.
My pristine 37-2 DAO only gets standard pressure loads, though.
Winchester RA38B (PDX1) 130gr +P
Remington 125gr +P HPJ/BJHP (Golden Sabre)
Speer 135gr GDHP +P
These middle weight JHP +P loads have mostly replaced the long-running Remington or Winchester 158gr LSWCHP/LHP +P loads I carried for many years. I have some boxes of both remaining, but I don't commonly carry them due to dwindling supply & availability.
I still have most of a box of the older Federal Nyclad 158gr LSWCHP +P, too, but I haven't commonly carried Nyclad since it was marketed by S&W, and then Federal, and was commonly found on store shelves.
While I still have a decent amount of the original Speer 125gr GDHP +P, I usually prefer to save it for the range (and save the harder-to-find 135gr +P version for carry).
I like to try and run the same loads for quals & training/drills as I do for carry, when possible, and with availability often being sporadic that means being more open to some variability, especially for qual/training ammo. I'll still occasionally use some major maker 130gr ball loads that surface in the training/qual inventory, or some old-style budget 125gr +P JHP that may appear now and again. (Hey, the price is right.
)I'm less fussier about .38 Spl ammo than I used to be, especially with some of the newer designed defensive hollowpoints being offered nowadays, preferring to focus my attention on being able to run them controllably, accurately and effectively in my assorted +P capable J's.
My pristine 37-2 DAO only gets standard pressure loads, though.
Nathanael_Greene
Member
I keep 148-grain wadcutters in my Airweight. Controllable and reliable.
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