S&W 642 and Buffalo Bore ammo?

[fxstchewy]

Anyone use this combo for SD? S&W 642 with BB Standard Pressure Short Barrel Low Flash Heavy .38 Special Ammo - 150 gr. Hard Cast Wad Cutter (850fps/M.E. 241 ft. lbs.) http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=111
Do you have an opinion on this round for SD?

 

[WvHiker]

I wouldn't worry at all about that load. Looks to me like it would get the job done, but I don't know what the recoil would be like in an Air Weight.

 

[fxstchewy]

I would like to use the load for SD and a trails gun carry......

 

[jfh]

I've had--and carried--a 642; my typical carry gun is an M&P340. Over the years I've carried anything from 'FBI-800' loads--(38+P, 158-gr. by various mfrs) on up to the Buffalo Bore 20A--their 'Heavy 38+P' 158-gr. round. The 20A is more than I care to tolerate even when my hand is in good shape--but this 20D should be a fine round for a 442 for SD use, IMO. It about replicates the original FBI load, with a different bullet--arguably, a more effective one.

The issue really becomes practice and conditioning--you can shoot anything if you are tough enough, but to get tough enough, you have to practice--a lot.

Learn to reload, if you don't already do it, and then sort out building a 'replica reload' of your carry ammo. In this case, 158-gr. LSWC powered by AA#5 or Ramshot True Blue will do about 860 fps from a 2" barrel, when loaded to 38-CIP standards. Those rounds will cost you perhaps 13 cents each to build and allows you the practice you want to do.

Will rounds like this wear out a 642? yes. But all shooting wears a gun out. If you're the original owner of a 642, S&W will stand behind it.

Jim H.

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

FYI this load was featured in brassfetchers .38 special bone simulant report and arguably performed (or under performed, depending which way you look at it) as well as any of the other rounds, with the distinction of being larger to start out with. It penetrated quite well.

http://www.brassfetcher.com/PDF/38 Special JHP performance through Bone Simulant plates.pdf

But there is also this:

The Cor-Bon DPX featured the deepest cavity (before any taper is encountered) of
the tested ammunition and was thus the most likely to expand after impact with the bone plate.

 

[Remllez]

Those rounds are thumpers to be sure and should do quite nicely for SD. They may wear your gun a little sooner than regular wadcutters just don't shoot lots of them and you are good to go.

The reloading info jfh gave you is sound advice, it sounds like he's been around the block when it comes to reloading. You bought a nice little revolver and they point very natural, don't be afraid to shoot em up.....

 

[riomedinamike]

I have used the Buffalo Bore 158 gr lead hollow point + p, and it does recoil a lot.

The newer load you reference should be a great low recoiling load that is historically been used as a target velocity full bore wadcutter. Most wadcutters are a lighter bit loaded, or around 600-650 fps for practice reasons.

Buffalo Bore's idea to increase the velocity is not new to handloaders, but Buffalo Bore is a company devoted to give multiple self defense options, against man or beast.

I exclusively use their ammo in my carry guns, which range from Seecamp 32's (seldom), s&w642 (most often) to 45's and even Glocks in 10mm. The ammo, though expensive to a handloader, are of excellent quality and meet all my needs for pistol and revolver factory ammo. They ship fast and their ammo is most of the time in stock for now.

I suppose the closer November rolls around, the scarcer the supplies may be, so buy early, and buy often!

One can never have too much ammo.