Gelatin test: .38 spl Buffalo Bore 158 gr LSWCHP

[chopinbloc]

Video:

http://youtu.be/yPrw3B-8HjE


.38 spl Buffalo Bore 158 gr LSWCHP gas checked fired from a S&W 638 into calibrated gelatin with four layers of denim. I kept the revolver and ammo in a Ziploc baggie submerged in ice water on the trip out to make sure the powder was at a pretty low temperature because of my results with Speer 135 gr +P Gold Dot.

BB calibration: 586.8 fps, 3.4"

Impact velocity: 960.4 fps
Penetration: 12.1"
Retained weight: 159.6 gr
Max expansion: 0.695"
Min expansion: 0.599"

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

We shot that same load from a 640. As I recall we got 1006 fps. It's a gc bullet.

Thank's for sharing.

 

[chopinbloc]

It should. Please note that my test involved ammo and revolver that was very cold. Testing in normal (~70 degrees or so) conditions should result in higher velocity.

 

[mbt2001]

The Buffalo Bore is a recreation of the old "FBI" load. That load worked very very well out of the issued .38's and .357's of the day.

 

[monet61]

OP;
Thanks for posting that. I have done some haphazard testing with this round, but yours showed me everything I needed to know. I am actually using that round in my Colt Lawman MKIII exclusively. Now with what you posted, my confidence in the round is verified.

 

[roaddog28]

Its my self defense round in my Ruger Police Service Six 357 magnum 4 inch barrel.
I prefer this round over the 357 hollowpoints.
Howard

 

[Dave T]

The Buffalo Bore is a recreation of the old "FBI" load. That load worked very very well out of the issued .38's and .357's of the day.

Sorry mbt but that's not quite true. The BB +P is more closely associated with (a duplicate of) the old 1930s 38/44 round, the grand father of the 357 Mag. From a 4" barrel the BB load will give ~1140 fps.

The so called "FBI" load never reached 1000 fps in any chronograph test I've seen or read. I'll grant you that load was heavier than today's 158g +P LSWC-HP loaded by WW, Rem or Fed, which all deliver under 900 fps from a 4" revolver.

I have personally choreographed or witnessed these current "FBI loads" fired from 4" revolvers and they were all in the low 800 fps range.

Dave

 

[chopinbloc]

Wow. Low 800s from 4" revolvers? I'm glad I went with the BB instead of the oft recommended Remington 158 gr LSWCHP.

 

[sidheshooter]

It's also an upgrading of the old RCMP spec load: the Canadians wanted an "FBI" load that would do an honest 1000 fps from 4" model 10s. I *think* that CorBon was the first to offer that specific loading to the public, but I don't know. I used to shoot pins for fun with the CorBon version; if I got the hits, it took the pins right off the table. Buffalo bore just takes off from there; that's some good stuff for .38s, right there. I've got it in my SPNY these days.

Thanks for posting the test. unsurprising performance, but comforting nonetheless.

 

[Boge]

Here's a thread where a fella chronos some old (late 70's early 80's) Win. X38SPD (.38 Spcl. +p 158 gr. LSWCHP). He got 843 fps in a 2" barrel:


http://smith-wessonforum.com/ammo/144598-some-38-special-chronograph-tests.html

 

[Water-Man]

I've gotten 1140fps out of my 3" Model 10-7 with that load.

 

[jeepnik]

Very interesting. I'll try to remember this the next time a bowl of jello attacks me.