Winchester .38 Spl +P 125 gr JHP

[Tequila jake]

Gun Tests magazine just published an article comparing various .38 Spl +P JHP loads. One of the ones they liked is a generic, "white box" Winchester 125 gr: velocity from a 4" barrel = 930 fps, 12" penetration in water, and .62"
recovered diameter. I don't know if this is a Silvertip--but Winchester doesn't advertise it as one. And to top it all off, it's pretty cheap!

Does anyone have any experience with this load or know of any tests done on it in 10% ballistic gelatin?

By the way, this is my first post on this forum. I've perused other posts and it really looks good to me.

Tequila Jake

 

[Syndrome]

I don't have any experience with this particular round but I have used plenty of Winchest White Box ammo. The JHPs are always just regular old copper and lead, no fancy silver tips. I like white box ammo in general. It is cheap and usually decent quality.

 

[SeanSw]

It's been awhile, but I shot a couple boxes of the WWB 125gr+P hollow points and found them to have very good accuracy in my S&W model 67. 930 FPS from a 4" barrel sounds about right with what my hands were feeling. Quite easy to shoot from a mid size revolver.

 

[Cousin Mike]

Fired two boxes of it at the range this past weekend. I found it to be slightly less accurate for me than regular old Remington UMC, but also a little less flashy. It tends to give more of a spark than a flash. It's also cheap - which is okay by me.

I've also had the chance to see exactly what that round does (from a 4" barrel) to glass, plywood, 2x4's, drywall and Celotex - but that wasn't a very positive experience. Crazy expansion though! Let's just say I have faith in it as a SD round.

I keep a speedloader full of those my .38 Colt.

I can also tell you from experience that it won't make you deaf firing it indoors, should you have to. Very mild recoil in my Colt .38, and in my Taurus .357 Magnum (which is ported and weighs 44 oz. empty), it has less kick than a 9mm IMO.


Edited to add: Excuse my manners... Welcome to The High Road, Tequila Jake!

 

[MCgunner]

No jello results. I've fired a box in my Taurus. They shoot really low. The gun is regulated for 158 grain stuff which I prefer, good ol' FBI load.

If the load shoots to POA for you, I'd use it no problem. I really ain't all that into jello results, just want a good hollow point bullet with good energy (240 ft lbs ain't bad for a +P .38 load and 12 inches penetration is pretty good in water), and I want it to hit where I'm aiming it. That's the problem with most fixed sight .38 snubs. Most are regulated for the heavier bullets in my experience, but every one is different.