Semi-jacketed hollowpoint out of a snub nose?

[Jim March]

As far as bullet weight goes: I recently tried some 125gr very high performance 357 fodder from Doubletap. From my 4.68" New Vaquero they're likely hitting 1,600fps, maybe more. Almost 800ft/lbs energy on tap.

Blew up a bowling ball with one. Literally, at 20ft or so range split it in half and sent pieces of the "concrete" innards 25ft+. Fist-size chunk came back past me.

I'm not ready to say for sure, but I suspect that as long as the slug will hold together at that pace, and the high-speed variant Gold Dot 125 is likely to, something really magical happens. This is a round I would *not* want to stand in front of.

 

[Jim March]

Yosemite: Winchester still makes this type of slug. Energy level and pressure is very similar to the Remmie, but the Winchester is a harder cast lead not good for snubby use. From a 4" or more barrel it's fine though and likely a better choice from a really long tube of 8" or more.

Buffalo Bore ships this sort of slug in two flavors: a "king of the hill" +P *monster* and a standard-pressure that duplicates the bullet performance of the Remington yet does so without +P. Really, really sweet load.

You may find old-stock Cor-Bons that were as hot as the Buffbore +Ps - 1,000fps from a snubby, putting the snub into healthy 9mm territory.

Old-stock Federals on the other hand were way wimpy. AVOID.

 

[Bilt4Comfort]

OK guys....I'm fairly new to guns and very new to revolvers.
I've recently purchased a 642 and after a few boxes (60 rds) of the Speer Gold Dot +p 125 gr I am quite pleased with the accuracy at SD ranges.

My question is, are penetration and expansion sufficient with this round for SD from a snubbie at fairly close range or should I just be concerned with placement?

My normal ccw is not this revolver, but sometimes in really hot weather, I do carry it.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I've been carrying the "lowly" h/c wadcutter for years. It puts down dillas and other critters faster than most of the high performance jhp's. Plus they are more accurate (generally) and a heck of a lot cheaper for practice.

 

[Jim March]

Bilt4Comfort: that round is pretty good. The Gold Dot 125gr works from snubbies if it's A) +P and B) it's the "low velocity" variant. You can tell by looking at the nose: if the hollowpoint is reasonably big and deep, it's the low-speed type. The high-speed is little more than a dimple - works great at 1,600fps from a 357, sucks wind in a 38. You almost certainly have the good one for your gun.

The 135+P is better but the 125+P low-speed ain't bad.

 

[nitesite]

Before I exit this thread and start my own new topic about whether I might have a slow gun with regard to the 110-gr +P DPX load...

I just want to thank the esteemed Mr. Jim Marsh for his tactful advice and for some suggestions for me to try, and to SM as well for his words of encouragement regarding carrying old-technology bullets that are still in the mainstream.

My intent is to assemble four well-known .38-Special +P loads that have been repeatedly chrono'd from 2" J-Frames. I brought my boxed ammo outside this afternoon to photograph, so you can see what I'll be chronographing tomorrow. I want to see if these factory loads



are "right on the money" or seem slower than they should be from my 2" Model 442.

Tomorrow I shall post my results, and please contribute your opinions!

 

[gezzer]

In a 2" 38 special I have always liked a Hornady hollow based wadcutter at the recommended loads for target; I however load them upside down. A good shoot is a good shoot IMHO

 

[Hutch]

Yosemite, Fed and Win also offer the FBI load. I have some vintage Federal 158gr +P Nyclad as well. Don't get Mr. March started on the Federal, tho'. I like the WW, myself, and carry it exclusively.

 

[Bezoar]

i think testing it in cheapo meat is the best way to get the best aproximation of expansion in soft tissue. The camois is way to thick and hard compared to human skin, so im betting a rump roast or chuck steak that 3 months old with a layer of cotton tshirt is going to give more accurate results then gelatin.

Seriously, the companies seem to make testing methods that make them look the best, and everyone else uses those methods for duplication. Seriously, lets all input 1+1 into our calculators and hit the = button, what did you get?

 

[nitesite]

Did you notice that I said it was very thin chamois and that it had been soaked in water? I think it's as close to skin as one can get with materials on hand. You're right, a roast with a layer of fat over the muscle would be nice to try. So would baby-back ribs!

I've got chrono results in for the 110 DPX +P and five other loads, and the photos are uploaded. I'll start another thread in this (Revolvers) forum, hopefully within the hour.

I'll call it "DPX 110s and five other loads chrono'd from my 442".