Winchester 38 Special +P

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I'd almost certainly go with the 158g LSWCHP +P. To say that this load is proven would be to damn it with faint praise.

The 125g +P hps have been a bit more hit and miss (no pun intended) in actual usage. I'm not sure that I'd be as comfortable with that jhp round; this goes double if we are talking 3-inch or longer tubes, btw. I have a lot of faith that the old 158 "FBI" pill will do the do the job out of longer barrels, assuming that I do my job first.

I've got a decent amount of that Winchester 158 +P laying around, as well as some Federal and, especially, the Remington version of the same thing. Good stuff.

I personally think that the 125 jhp needs about 300 more fps to reach happy camper status, but others may have different opinions.

YMMV.
 
What is your weapon? If it is a snubby, Winchester LSWCHP probably will NOT expand (see www.hipowersandhandguns.net. ??.com??). Its bullet is a hardcast alloy. The Remington version, however, uses dead soft lead bullets that probably will expand beautifully when fired from a snubby (www.brassfetcher.com), which is why they are in my S&W 637 Airweight. If, however, your weapon has a 3" or longer barrel, the Winchester version probably will expand.

One disadvantage to the Remington LSWCHP: if you drop one, it almost certainly will land on the bullet nose, which almost certainly will deform it, which certainly will convert it into range ammo. Another brand I like is Speer 135gr Gold Dot SB (for "short barrel"). When I use up my Remington FBI loads, I may switch to that.

Cordially, Jack
 
+2 for the remington 158gr LSWC-HP.

It was an old FBI Load and Chicago PD load.
 
Personally, I'd prefer the 158gr LSWCHP. But the 125gr JHP would do the trick too, if called on. You have two good choices.
 
From a 4" you will probably get good results with just about all .38+P expanding loads. I cannot think of any current American h/p in .38+P configuration that won't give you relaible expansion from a 4" tube. Generally speaking the heavier the bullet the more penetration.
 
I'd go for the 125 gr JHP for obvious reasons.
Click to expand...

What reasons are those?

In a 4-inch K-frame, I'd be even more biased towards the 158g +P load. It rules the roost for those revolvers.
 
I carry a 158gr LSWC/HP daily but I carry the load Remington makes (R38S12) instead of the Winchester load. I feel the lead is slightly softer which aids in proper expansion in a short barrel revolver. Nothing wrong with the Winchester or Federal "FBI Load", especially in a 4" revolver. I just like Remington's load better since I carry a snub nose.
 
Id get the 158 grn round for more penetration. I just dont trust light weight hollowpoints to penetrate thick bones and still have the oomph to do more damage.
 
Don't forget your revolver was most likely regulated from the factory for 158 Gr bullets. One more reason to like the 158 SWCHP, it's as good as it gets in .38 Special. Bill
 
158 grain SWCHP in Plus-P is in my 10-7. I carry 135 Speer +p JHPs for reloads, as they go in the cylinder easier, and if I drop a speedloader they won't get too boogered up.
 
Both are very mild. I would not be comfortable with either for self-defense. If restricted to factory ammo in my carry gun I would need a more powerful gun.
 
I have carried the 158 +P SWCHP for years, really like it. My wife likes it better. She is a Detective in an SVU, has used her S&W M36 3 times in recent years. 3 shots, 3 one shot stops. Two were collars that went south, one was a much wanted rapist who decided to join her in her covert RMP with evil intentions and an 11 inch bowie knife. One shot and an unplesant encounter with the largish black lab who was asleep in the back seat and one DOA BG.
 
I keep the Winchester 125 gr HP's in my 642 and my 357 sp101 and I trust them and have seen what they are capable of. I had to put down a deer a couple years ago after it was hit by a truck with 2 broke legs and one shot to the back of the head with my 642 dropped it dead as a door nail. Another was a very large pit bull mix that was dead set on eating my butt while I was shore fishing and he was shot center chest with no follow up shot needed and and no suffering on the dogs part.

BTW these are the WWB that WalMart keeps and they are labeled Personal Defense, also both of these guns have better accuracy with the 125's than any brand 158's that I have tried.
 
Since this is a low velocity load to start with I would be inclined to go with the heavier bullet.

In the JHP's favor, the round nose is easier to chamber with a speedloader (SWCs have a shoulder that can hang up) and the tips will not deform when carried in a pocket. This matters little for the "in-gun" load, but helps with the reload.
 
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158 LSWCHP If I could, they performed best in my guns, way back when I could still buy them.
Unfortunately hollowpoint bullets are outlawed over here nowadays.
 
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