Your ammo of choice & why?

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Harry-0

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Late model Ruger SP101 2.25" barrel S/S .38/.357 Cal. Purpose, CCW/home defense. I will seldom use .357 ammo, prefer .38Spl +P. Of the following listed ammo, which would be your preference and why? Your replies will be a "learnable moment" for me. Thanks in advance for the instructive help.

Considering the following in .38Spl:
Federal 129GR+P Hydra-Shok JHP (P38HS1)
Cor Bon 110Gr +P JHP (COR38110)
Hornady Critical Defense 38SP+P 110 (90311)
Remington 125GR +P Golden Saber JHP (GS38SB)
 
All are good rounds, in my opinion. I have 125 Golden Sabre rounds in my concealed carry S&W M642 and S&W M60 because they are easy to get in my area and (to me) are more enjoyable to shoot/practice with. My advice is to shoot a representative sample of each of them, and then stock up on that which you find best in terms of "comfort to shoot" and price.

Hope that helps!
 
All my ammo for defence is made by Georgia Arms . 9MM is the 124gr speer deep curl, formally called Gold dot and 40sw is 165gr +P speer DC also. The rest are hunting ammo from GA, DT and Hornady and home brewed.

Why?? GA price and performance is spot on. Hunting ammo ,,because it works well.
 
135gr Speer Gold Dot short-barrel +P or Remington 158gr LSWCHP+P
Click to expand...

I will add the buffalo bore 158 +p LSWCHP to this list. No reason to use anything else.
 
Federal 158gr LSWCHP +P in my S&W 442.

I had a few boxes of these lying around when I bought my 442, and I understand that the "FBI" load is a proven round in snub revolvers. Doesn't hurt that I tend to like heavy for caliber bullets.
 
In both my S&W 66 snub and my 340 snub...

Buffalo Bore 158gr .38+P LSWCHP (Gas check bullet)

or

Speer Gold Dot .357 magnum short barrel 135gr
 
I use the CD's in my SP. I live in a neighborhood and really want to limit my chances of overpenetration. Also, they make a good product for a reasonable price.
 
In .38? I like good ol' 158 +P HPs, though I'll use SWC or JHP. No matter to me, they have a good rep and are accurate in MY gun. Accuracy is king with me. I carried .357 magnum in my SP101, though. For home defense, though, .38 is a lot better on flash and blast, makes more sense.
 
I keep loaded speedloaders and moonclips for all of .38/.357M revolvers loaded with Remington R38S12 +P 158gr LHPSWC's. Their softer lead opens better at the lower muzzle velocity of my shorter barrel revolvers. The Federal and GA Arms similar loads are a bit harder. I use the GA Arms loads for practice, as they were less expensive. I'll agree - GA Arms makes excellent ammo - and they are nice folks, even if they don't make our AGCA gun shows any more... we're a whole 100 miles apart!

Stainz
 
Remington Golden Sabres are very good, low flash, fairly mild recoil, they shoot excellent from my SP101.
 
My main squeeze is currently a Ruger SPNY; same size as yours, in .38 spec only.

Mine shoots to point of aim with 158 grainers, which is fine by me: buffalo bore all the way, their version of the 158 LSWCHP +P. Failing that, I have no problem with Remington's version either.

The loads in your OP are all fine, but I don't see any of them as being ideal, unless they shoot to point of aim better (I have one brinks-issue 4" K that shoots the 129 hydra to POA, so I guess I have to keep some of that around, until I find a similar 4" K that is more like all my others, every one of which is regulated for 158 grain loads).

If you search around the net for a bit, you'll find that the 129 isn't at it's best in short barrels, but I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Shoot what you've got until you're out, then follow the consensus here-which I will predict as ultimately favoring the various maker's 158 +P "FBI" loads... like the buffalo bore and Remington.
 
Corbon DPX for every firearm and every caliber. Firearm enthusiasts need to start saying 'no' to lead, especially when high performance copper bullets are available. DPX bullets perform quite admirably, are better for you and better for the environment, and are a great choice for self defense and hunting applications. The only advantage lead has at this time is that it's cheaper.

Buffalo bore also loads all copper barnes X bullets in some calibers, but Corbon's DPX line has been consistently excellent in my testing, from delivery to product to customer service. I am not a corbon rep, just a fan ;)
 
"I will add the buffalo bore 158 +p LSWCHP to this list. No reason to use anything else."
Plus one.
 
Well, this is a "Chevy vs Ford" type question, but of the 4 excellent choices you listed, Hornaday is in all my weapons (rifles & shotguns included). As to your choice of .38 over .357, I'll leave you with a quote from our armorer from the academy. "It's a fact that you'll have energy loss from a snubby barrel, would you rather lose power from 900 fps or 1500 fps?" ;)

LD
 
I do get 1131 fps with Fioochi .357 mag ammo, 148 grain, sjhp, out of a 1.8" 360PD barrel.
That's my fav. Second is bb 158 Plus P @ 1040 fps.
 
What I carry, in no particular order:

Remington Golden Saber
Speer 135gr Short Barrel Gold Dot
Winchester PDX

They're all good stuff.
 
Corbon DPX for every firearm and every caliber.
Click to expand...
Bold statement! +1. :)

(Actually, the same Barnes all-copper bullet is also loaded as "Tac-XP and "Penetrator" by other well regarded companies. Lots of choices for the same bullet--tells me something.)
 
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