FBI/ Chicago 38 +p load hard to find locally

Status
Not open for further replies.
Dr.Rob

Dr.Rob

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Dec 23, 2002
Messages
17,151
Location
Centennial, CO
Good old lead 158gr SWCHP at +p. Federal, Remington and Winchester all still make it, Federal is the least expansive but no one in my neck of the woods has it in stock I really don't want to pay 13 bucks to ship a box or two to my door.

So if anyone in CO has seen the 158gr LSWCHP +p in a Colorado front range retail store let me know and how much.

Cabela's, Centennial Gun Club, Walmart, Big 5 had none.
 
Sorry I can't help - I don't live anywhere near the Colorado front range. But I am curious. Why is a 158gr LSWCHP +p called a "Chicago load?"
Thanks in advance for any replies.:)
 
Dr.Rob said:
Good old lead 158gr SWCHP at +p. Federal, Remington and Winchester all still make it, Federal is the least expansive but no one in my neck of the woods has it in stock I really don't want to pay 13 bucks to ship a box or two to my door.

So if anyone in CO has seen the 158gr LSWCHP +p in a Colorado front range retail store let me know and how much.

Cabela's, Centennial Gun Club, Walmart, Big 5 had none.
Click to expand...

That's why God created reloading presses. So you could roll your own.

NuX3x0D.jpg
 
Last edited:
I have a press and currently I am pressed for space . In fact I just found a big bag of 38 brass. I don't remember ever picking up 38 brass as we just loaded 357 light for plinking loads.. until now.

Guess I can set up a single stage on a work table, de-prime and clean a bunch.
 
Dr. Rob, I can find lots of it locally in Canon City......but they are my handloads. Speer swaged 158gr HPs work really well for that load.
 
Dr.Rob said:
Good old lead 158gr SWCHP at +p. Federal, Remington and Winchester all still make it.
Click to expand...

Was just on the Federal website.......did not see it listed at all. When I did a search, this is what I got........0 results for "158gr SWCHP". Might be why it's hard to find.
 
So I'm not even halfway through cleaning my 'where did that come from' stash of 38 brass and I've got 150 R-P cases, 50 Winchester, 50 WCC. Not as much nickel as I thought--half box of Winchester and Federal so far. Found a Lake City case, 3D mfg and one marked S&W +P


I need to get back to regular work this is kind of OCD

@Buck Federal calls that load 38G https://www.luckygunner.com/38-special-p-158-gr-lswchp-federal-le-50-rounds
 
A dealer who comes to local shows had the Federal on clearance years ago. I bought a ton of it and carry it in all of my. 38/.357 revolvers.

I reload non-HP equivalents for practice, but would never carry handloads for self-defense.

If I needed more carry ammunition, I'd probably get Buffalo Bore.
 
I'll probably get royally reamed for posting this but here goes. I was a big fan of the LSWCHP for many years. Factory and I've loaded a bunch. I've also done a lot of very unscientific testing using water jugs and water soaked newspaper as well as some actual beef and pork shoulders we got one time because one of the local meat packing plants lost power and we got some shoulders to do some bullet testing. Then I read the test by Lucky Gunner. (luckygunner.com). There are several +P Loads that perform just as well or out perform the old stand by FBI Load depending on whether you want penetration or expansion. Granted most of the bullets designed for SD in short barrel revolvers are in the 125-135gr loads, but we could argue the weight advantage/disadvantage points forever. Am I saying that these bullets are better than the FBI Load? NO, but there are some really good performing bullets that are readily available at stores like Academy Sports, Cabelas etc and even Walmart is carrying the Federal HST Load which I understand is a great SD load and you don't have to pay a arm and a leg for shipping. BYW, for the roll your own guys, if you like loading the LSWCHP loads, give GT Bullets a try. Available in several different weights and in 100 round trial packs. Not cheap but really high quality casting and the hardness seems to be a good balance for penetration and expansion
 
Didn't know Georgia Arms now offers it. I've shot a lot of their ammo through the years and have found it to be really good stuff. Normally loaded on the hot side, but very consistent and accurate. Not the cleanest burning ammo in the world but a good buy for the money. They frequent all of the Gun shows in my area.
 
I have purchased that load at the Stapleton Bass Pro. The have tended to carry a more comprehensive set of the Remington ammo products, like the 246 gr .44 Special LRN, but who knows now with the merger cluster.
 
Last edited:
and all my 38 brass is clean... 230 Remington Peters brass, 150 Winchester brass, 100 WCC brass, 50 federal Nickel, 50 Winchester Nickel and another 50 odds n ends. That's 630 rounds of 38 special waiting to be...

Guess I'd better see how much powder I have.
 
Dr.Rob said:
@Buck Federal calls that load 38G https://www.luckygunner.com/38-special-p-158-gr-lswchp-federal-le-50-rounds
Click to expand...

The link provided also says it's out of stock. Again, could not find that particular ammo anywhere on Federals website, even after doing using the search feature and after doing it again, with the name you provided. Anywhere else besides Lucky Gunner that shows that ammo, also shows it's out of stock. The lack of it on Federal's own website tells me the most likely reason why.

Just sayin'.....
 
Delawarean said:
They have loaded it for at least 7 years.

Last time I bought some (7 years ago) it was only $12.95 per 50.
Click to expand...
I have some that is marked 7.95 that was given to me when i purchased a revolver that still shoots well. I would not trust something that old for S.D. but i still shoot a couple just to check them out. Back then they were called masters ammo.
 
Dr. Rob, 6 grains of Power Pistol under the Speer 158 swaged Hollowpoint Is "by the book" and definitely high performance. Power pistol does tend to be a bit loud and flashy though. 5.3 grains of Unique is a tad slower than the PP but still faster than some lots of the commercial loads (and that one is in plenty of older manuals)
 
Dr.Rob said:
We loaded a lot of soft shooting 357 with green dot and red dot. Talk about smoky.
Click to expand...

Back when I first started loading pistol ammo the ONLY pistol powder I could find was a 8lbs jug of RedDot for $90. I snapped it and then realized SPP were nonexistent.

I had to work up a load using SRP as I thankfully had a large stockpile. I don't remember how low of a charge it was but it was definitely "cautious". Barely made a pop shooting it up later in a 6" 686.

Looking back on it, I'm really glad I decided on starting with 38 special. My end goal was working up full strength magnums, but again caution prevailed. I made the decision to branch into pistol ammo just before Sandy Hook and the only reason I was able to make anything serviceable was due to the absolute versatility of the cartridge. RedDot, small rifle primers and cheap light plated & heavy LSWCs are an odd combination for pistol fodder, but sure enough someone had already treaded before and I had good starting points.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

C
  • Locked
Help choose .38 +P load for snub
Replies
23
Views
2K
tbeb
T
Brass Fetcher
  • Locked
Ballistic gelatin test results (07MAR07) - Various .38 Special (4" revolver)
Replies
21
Views
2K
Rampant_Colt
R
_N4Z_
  • Locked
magnum loadings
Replies
17
Views
929
Working Man
W
A
  • Locked
Source for Federal Nyclad .38 Special Load - Please Help
Replies
4
Views
2K
SouthpawShootr
S
O
  • Locked
38 Spl +P 158 LSWC-HP FBI Load
Replies
3
Views
802
357reloading
3
Back
Top