MCgunner
Member
MAXIMIZE???? Well, if you want maximum, go with a 20" lever carbine or bolt gun. Longer the barrel, the more you'll get out of it. My Rossi carbine shoots a 165 grain SWC to nearly 1900 fps loaded over L'il Gun.
I find that a heavier than 125 grain bullet is necessary to get ANYthing out of a 2" barrel. I have .357s in 2", 3", and 4" I get about 1330 fps out of a hot 140 Speer JHP load in the 2", is usually my carry. I get a little more out of the 3", about 600 ft lbs vs 550 out of the 2". Now, with a 125 grainer, I can barely break 330 ft lbs with the 2" gun where a 4" pushes it to around 600 ft lbs. So, I stick to the heavier bullet for carry especially in the short gun.
I like the 3" gun and will likely start carrying it more when we get open carry in a bit over a month. It's just that the barrel sticks out a little longer and my T shirts sometimes expose part of that barrel. The 2" gun's barrel is totally enclosed by the leather of my JIT Belt Slide holster, so even if the shirt tail rises over the holster, you still can't see the gun. The 2" gun sure is nice on the belt, too, at 19 ounces unloaded. My medium frame 3" gun is about 34 ounces.
To me, there's more to consider than ballistics in what you're going to carry. Choose the right load, heavier bullet load, and the 2" gun will perform at least twice as good or a few ft lbs more than a +P .38 and still give you better concealment. Me, I have choices.
I find that a heavier than 125 grain bullet is necessary to get ANYthing out of a 2" barrel. I have .357s in 2", 3", and 4" I get about 1330 fps out of a hot 140 Speer JHP load in the 2", is usually my carry. I get a little more out of the 3", about 600 ft lbs vs 550 out of the 2". Now, with a 125 grainer, I can barely break 330 ft lbs with the 2" gun where a 4" pushes it to around 600 ft lbs. So, I stick to the heavier bullet for carry especially in the short gun.
I like the 3" gun and will likely start carrying it more when we get open carry in a bit over a month. It's just that the barrel sticks out a little longer and my T shirts sometimes expose part of that barrel. The 2" gun's barrel is totally enclosed by the leather of my JIT Belt Slide holster, so even if the shirt tail rises over the holster, you still can't see the gun. The 2" gun sure is nice on the belt, too, at 19 ounces unloaded. My medium frame 3" gun is about 34 ounces.
To me, there's more to consider than ballistics in what you're going to carry. Choose the right load, heavier bullet load, and the 2" gun will perform at least twice as good or a few ft lbs more than a +P .38 and still give you better concealment. Me, I have choices.