Latest Lucky Gunner Labs tests

[fireman 9731]

I'm still surprised by Speer's poor performance. After reviewing the results again, it seems like velocity is still the vital component to ensure expansion. I wonder how much lot-to-lot variation there is between projectiles? A slight lead alloy difference could make a big difference, maybe one month things are just right, the next month, they get a batch of just slightly harder alloy, a batch of powder that is just a few FPS slower, and before we know it, that premium expanding bullet has just turned into an FMJ. The same could be true for an alloy too soft and a powder a little too hot. That reliable loading just turned into a fragmenter with not enough penetration. Anyone here from the ammo industry that can speak to the level of their QC?

Also, why isn't there a solid copper option for 38 Special like the 357? All of those seemed to perform very well. Is there not enough velocity with the 38 to get them to open up?

 

[theboyscout]

I was more suprise to see that winchester defender ammo had a wider expansion than the hornady defense ammo, but not suprise that the we're top two ammos. Good Datta chart.

 

[Propforce]

Sheesh, what a let-down in the .38 Special department. (Results are here if you haven't seen the page yet.) I thought the good ol' LSWCHP from Federal, Remington, or Winchester would do better than that, and was bummed by the Hydra-Shocks especially because I used to carry those in snubnoses, and the XTPs I also used to carry didn't do any better. Ah woe, alack, and alas. I wish they'd done some BB LSWCHP, since I have a box of those on the shelf...

Good work from those folks, as always. I refer back to their semi-auto tests pretty regularly, so I'm glad to have the additional info.

It seems like only the light weight bullets in 38 spcl expands well in a 2 inch barrel. Remington Golden Saber 125 gr +P, Winchester PDX1 Defender 130 gr +P, and Winchester Ranger Bonded 130 gr +P, are among the top 3.

The heavier bullets did not do so well. The 158 gr LSWCHP +P was a disappointment, though good penetration (18-19 inches from a 2-inch barrel) but barely any expansion if any (.35 - .36 inch). One might as well use the SWC bullets in 158 gr.

 

[Propforce]

Anyone else surprised by the Gold Dot failures?

Gold Dot 158 gr in 357 magnum has 29.9 inch penetration out of a 2-in barrel

But it has no expansion practically speaking (.36 inch), not even in a 4-in barrel (.36 inch) but at 32 inch penetration.

This maybe a good hunting round but no so much for self defense.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

It seems like only the light weight bullets in 38 spcl expands well in a 2 inch barrel. Remington Golden Saber 125 gr +P, Winchester PDX1 Defender 130 gr +P, and Winchester Ranger Bonded 130 gr +P, are among the top 3.

The heavier bullets did not do so well. The 158 gr LSWCHP +P was a disappointment, though good penetration (18-19 inches from a 2-inch barrel) but barely any expansion if any (.35 - .36 inch). One might as well use the SWC bullets in 158 gr.

The all-copper ones did really well, too. Of course, they'd better, since they're basically made out of melted-down gold coins...

 

[earplug]

Good information here. One advantage of a heavy 38spl bullet compared to a equal power level light bullet is less recoil and blast effect for the shooter. Better to train with and easier to make follow on shots. that one shot stop stuff is for people who can't shoot fast.