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September 23, 2013, 03:10 AM | #1 |
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38 special Buff Bore For selfdefense?
Who here (if anyone) carries Buffalo bores 158 grain heavy load. The one im looking at is
Heavy .38 Special +P Ammo - 158 gr. L.S.W.C.H.P. --G.C. (1,000fps/M.E. 351 ft.lbs. I was wondering if the 38 could move fast enough to merit going with a HP. Or should you just stick with a simple wad cutter and add some +P to it? Is anyone afarid of a 38 really overpenetrating? I also wanted to know if anyone has any experince with the recoil of shooting this bad boy out of a 642 or some comparable Airweight snub. Please let me know what you think. What your experience is and what you like to load. |
September 23, 2013, 07:16 AM | #2 |
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I have both my HD revolvers stoked with that BB load. Very stout stuff and
I have no doubt about how effective it would be. It's not something I'd carry in my pocket snub, though. That's just me. YMMV |
September 23, 2013, 07:56 AM | #3 |
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I have that exact ammo in my home defense weapon, a Model 10 with 4" heavy barrel.
I wouldn't carry it in my 642, though. Buffalo Bore makes a different round that is better suited to a 642. It is standard pressure, low flash, and optimized for short barrels. Here is a link to the ammo: https://www.buffalobore.com/index.ph...t_detail&p=110 Here's a similar load, but with a hard cast wadcutter bullet. I like the look of this stuff and will probably get some. https://www.buffalobore.com/index.ph...t_detail&p=111 Last edited by lowercase; September 23, 2013 at 08:05 AM. |
September 23, 2013, 08:39 AM | #4 |
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There is NO way I am shooting anything stouter than the "normal" +p ammo in my 642 - that is harsh enough and personally, I doubt anything stouter is necessary
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September 23, 2013, 11:45 AM | #5 |
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+1 on post #3....
I agree with post #3.
The Buffalo Bore 158gr SWC-HP lead +P is great for defense but Id agree that the low flash, copper .38spl +P HP for snubs/J frames. Id also suggest the Corbon DPX, the MagSafe SWAT, the Speer Gold Dot 135gr JHP +P, Winchester PDX1 load. Clyde |
September 23, 2013, 12:55 PM | #6 |
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Re: 38 special Buff Bore For selfdefense?
If it suits some ones needs, sure why not. I carried/shot Underwoods 125gr +P gold dots for quite some time and they are as stout, if not more so, than the BB 158gr. Btw, I was using them in my S&W 637 which is currently at S&W being destroyed due to a broken stud.
When I get my replacement (which in fact is a), I won't be shooting nearly as many super stout loads out of it. I'd like this one to last. Check this video out... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvVN...e_gdata_player It might answer some of your questions. |
September 23, 2013, 02:10 PM | #7 |
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I have found that the Remington LHP 158gr. +p expands reliably from my J frames when fired into water jugs. the Remington lead is apparently softer than the Winchester or federal brands which explains why it expands from a short bbl. I do not have a chronograph to see velocities but they feel plenty stout.
considering the cost im not sure the BB load gives you anything more than the Remington load. |
September 23, 2013, 02:38 PM | #8 |
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I carry the Federal Ny-Clad in my J-frame.
My son carries Hornady Critical Defense in his J-frame. There is lots of good ammo being made today. Finding it in the stores is another problem entirely. |
September 23, 2013, 04:37 PM | #9 |
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True, but....
If you have the $ & space, there are more & more online sources that carry decent .38spl defense rounds to choose from.
Clyde www.sgammo.com www.shopcorbon.com www.grafs.com www.midwayusa.com www.luckygunner.com www.sportsmansguide.com www.cabelas.com www.buffalobore.com www.brownells.com |
September 23, 2013, 05:17 PM | #10 |
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Excellent thanks guys!
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September 23, 2013, 07:52 PM | #11 |
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I shot that BB load out of my 6" gun and got 1157fps 469ft/lbs.
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September 23, 2013, 08:02 PM | #12 | |
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Quote:
It also blows the doors off most 9mm+P loads, and approaches the raw power of some of the lower-end 40S&W rounds. Tim Sundles is a wildman but his loads are NOT reported as blowing up guns. Dude knows what he's doing. Reminds me, I have to get some of his stuff in 9mm+P or +P+ soon.
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September 23, 2013, 08:51 PM | #13 |
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Robert,
I do use that Buffalo Bore load. I personally chronoed the 158gr LSWHP out of my Ruger Speed Six at 1100 fps. Yes that's Eleven hundred feet per second from a 2 3/4 inch barrel. I higly recommend Buffalo Bore ammo. I currently use their 'low flash short barrel' 125 gr DPX .357 magnum load in my S&W 2 1/2 inch 640-1 .357 Magnum. Chronos out at 1220 from that little barrel and I can shoot it one handed with good control rapid fire. Deaf
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September 23, 2013, 10:25 PM | #14 |
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Have some of the heavy .357 loaded in my Model 28 right now nice stout load makes a hell of a racket out of my Model 19 snubby lol
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September 26, 2013, 12:30 PM | #15 |
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Although I prefer to carry a 45 ACP revolver, when I carry a 38/357 the BB Heavy +P load is what I carry. It duplicates the old 38/44 load from the 1930s, the grandfather of the 357 Magnum.
Dave
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September 27, 2013, 05:25 PM | #16 |
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BB is the hottest 38+P your can buy from any ammo maker. A person would have to reload to do better.
I use the 158 gr in my Ruger Police Service Six 4 inch, Ruger SP101 4 inch and my S&W model 10-7 4 inch. I don't see a need to use any 357 magnum for defense when a person can buy BB. Howard |
September 28, 2013, 06:56 PM | #17 |
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I've tried it, and promptly switched to the other gold standard defense load out of my 642 snub: Speer Gold Dot 135gr +p short barrel loads. Much easier for me to get subsequent shots on target.
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September 29, 2013, 10:07 AM | #18 |
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I still like a 125 JHP in the 38 for SD. Mine are loaded to 1,100 FPS (clocked from a 2" barrel S&W) and have worked well in my J frame guns.
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September 29, 2013, 02:21 PM | #19 |
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It's gonna be snappy in an Airweight but it will work fine as a self defense round.
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September 30, 2013, 07:03 PM | #20 |
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I think the Speer Gold Dot 135 gr +P loads for short barrels is the gold standard for snubbies that can handle +P loads. My second choice is the Remington 158 gr. +P LSWCHP. As another poster noted, it has softer lead than some of the other similar loadings. I would think the Buffalo Bore lead loads would perform well.
However, I personally would not use any of BB's jacketed hollow point or semi-jacketed hollow points without confirmation about the type of bullet they are using. In the past they have switched from Speer Gold Dots (great) to Speer uni-core bonded (not GDs but okay) to Montana Gold bonded hollow points (not so good). I know they are at the mercy of the market in what bullets they can use, but the bullet makes a big difference in terminal ballistics. |
October 4, 2013, 11:06 AM | #21 |
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I carry the load referenced in the OP in my steel frame j-frame S&Ws. Fired from a Model 60 or a Model 36, the load, to me at least, isn't nearly as punishing as a full-house .357 in a 2.5 inch Model 19. The load shoots to point of aim at 10-12 feet from my 2" and 3" j-frames. Both published velocities from BB and from a couple of other independent sources that I trust puts velocity at just over 1000 fps from the 2" guns, and 1100 fps from the 3" guns. To me, that load makes .38 special a very viable self defense load. Game changer, in other words.
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October 4, 2013, 11:49 AM | #22 |
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Here are the results I got firing into shredded rubber mulch...yeah, I know it's not ballistics gel, but I can cheaply compare bullets...and re-melt the lead for my own cast bullets.
I have switched to the Federal 140 grain Barnes out of my .357 snub. Here is the video of me testing two .380 rounds, and since I had enough of a block of gel...I tested the Barnes in a 357 snub...penetrated all 17" of gel, AND 1" of bone, exploding the bone throughout the wound channel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l6vrb4Z-Lk |
October 4, 2013, 09:32 PM | #23 |
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I personally would find that BB round to be a bit "kickish" through an lightweight for my liking.
I am not a fan of 158g bullets in a 38 snub - they need more pressure, or at least more barrel to get moving fast enough. My choice would be (and is) Speer's 135g GDHP SB (short barrel). Potent round, and low flash.
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October 4, 2013, 09:42 PM | #24 |
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has there been any real improvement over the Remington 158gr. LHP +p? all the ballistic test data seems to show that different loads do the same thing.
what is doing this same job for less money? nothing that I see. what is doing the same job with less recoil? nothing that I see. the Remington "FBI" load just plain works even in snubbies. I do not work for Remington. |
October 4, 2013, 10:34 PM | #25 |
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well the worry is not about overpenetration at all. its about sufficient penetration of a projectile when it expands. Some loads perform better then others when fully expanded.
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