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Dave T · May 10, 2017, 05:19 PM

Saxonpig is exactly right. The 38 Special has been wimped out buy the ammo makers. When I started in this stuff (handgun shooting and reloading) the standard 38 special round/load was a 158g RNL bullet at ~870 fps from a 6" barrel. In a 4" barrel that was down to ~850 fps. Most of today's 158g SWC "FBI" loads don't make 850 in a 4" barrel. I know as I and a friend chronographed several of them.

If you want a real serious 38 Special go back to 1930 and the 38/44. Loaded in 38 Special cases for the S&W Heavy Duty and Outdoorsman, it was a 158g bullet at ~1125 fps in a 4" and 1140 fps in a 5" barrel. The one modern factory load that duplicates this performance is the Buffalo Bore +P 158g SWCHP-GC. This is the only 38 Special factory load I'd consider carrying. (smile)

Dave

May 10, 2017, 05:19 PM	#13
Dave T Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2000 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 1,456	Saxonpig is exactly right. The 38 Special has been wimped out buy the ammo makers. When I started in this stuff (handgun shooting and reloading) the standard 38 special round/load was a 158g RNL bullet at ~870 fps from a 6" barrel. In a 4" barrel that was down to ~850 fps. Most of today's 158g SWC "FBI" loads don't make 850 in a 4" barrel. I know as I and a friend chronographed several of them. If you want a real serious 38 Special go back to 1930 and the 38/44. Loaded in 38 Special cases for the S&W Heavy Duty and Outdoorsman, it was a 158g bullet at ~1125 fps in a 4" and 1140 fps in a 5" barrel. The one modern factory load that duplicates this performance is the Buffalo Bore +P 158g SWCHP-GC. This is the only 38 Special factory load I'd consider carrying. (smile) Dave __________________ RSVN '69-'71 PCSD Ret