Which .38 special ammo?

duucfho · March 6, 2009, 08:43 PM

I've got a S&W 686 that stays bedside and a S&W 642 that I carry. Right now, I've got both of them loaded with .38 Special +P 135gr Speer Gold Dot HP (the one for short barrels). I prefer to keep the 686 loaded with .38

I've read a lot of good things about the Remington .38 Special +P 158gr LSWCHP. Assuming I can get my hands on some someday (damn ammo shortage), would it be better to use the FBI Load, or should I stick with the Speer Gold Dots in both my guns?

Camartinez · March 6, 2009, 08:45 PM

I have heard some good things about buffalo bore's .38 LSWCHP +p load. A little pricey, but may be worth checking out.

CarbineCaleb · March 6, 2009, 08:47 PM

In .38+P, personally I'd say either stick with the Speer, or try the Double Tap round, which still uses the gold dot bullet, but is loaded hotter than the Speer offering.

The Remington "FBI load" might be next behind these - it has shown some trouble in tests when fired through cloth barrier though (hollow point may plug and fail to expand)

joegator · March 6, 2009, 08:50 PM

Both rounds are excellent .38 loads.

For my 642 I prefer the Corbon DPX all copper 110 grain ammo. It has a combination of velocity, penetration, expansion, and ME that is hard to beat from a short barrel .38.

Elvishead · March 6, 2009, 08:57 PM

If you have the Gold Dot. I would just stay with those, otherwise your just splitting hairs.

indiandave · March 6, 2009, 09:00 PM

I use Buffalo Bore standard pressure 158gr LSWHP's in my 642 and my 686. I use my homemade 148gr wadcutters for practice and shoot a cylinder or two of my carry load at the end of a range trip.

If you are happy with what you have you should continue using the Speer 135's. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

dabigguns357 · March 6, 2009, 09:02 PM

i use fed 110 gr low recoil .38 hydra-shocks in all my revolvers except when out hunting.

duucfho · March 6, 2009, 09:04 PM

I like the Speers just fine. The main difference between the two is cost. One of the benefits of the Remington is that it's comparatively affordable. And I figured if performance is similar, I would look into the Remingtons.

CarbineCaleb · March 6, 2009, 09:10 PM

Quote:

I like the Speers just fine. The main difference between the two is cost. One of the benefits of the Remington is that it's comparatively affordable. And I figured if performance is similar, I would look into the Remingtons.

Check out the Double Taps then. Same great Gold Dot bullet, hotter load, cheaper price.

Jack O'Conner · March 6, 2009, 09:22 PM

I don't know about you, but I don't ever want to face a youngster hot shot Prosecutor who wants to advance his/her career at my expense. Therefore, I keep my 38 loaded with plain flat nose semi-wadcutter ammo. This ammo is commonly sold to target shooters but it hits much harder than plain round nosed bullets that have put down many bad guys in years past.

That hot shot Prosecutor will have a difficult time swaying a jury to believe that I had pre-planned to kill with most lethal ammo available.

Think about it.

Jack

RamSlammer · March 6, 2009, 09:29 PM

You're using a good round already in the 642, for your magnum though check out the same bullet in Speer's .357 version. It's significantly hotter than any .38 SPL +P, but very, very tame by .357 standards at only 990 fps from a snub length barrel which wold be more like 1,100 out of a 4" tube on your 686.

Keltyke · March 6, 2009, 11:07 PM

I like the Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel. However, check the specs on the new Hornady Critical Defense. Awesome!

Chesster · March 8, 2009, 11:26 AM

The Speer Short bbl ammo should be adequate. I use a variety of .38s in Mag guns, including the 158 LSWCHP +p and the LE Fed/Win 110 +p+. For the J frame M-37 in my pocket, I still use Fed Nyclad Chief's Special load from a hoard I stashed when it was disconinued.

Genepix · March 8, 2009, 02:33 PM

I also keep my k-frame loaded with .38- I use Gold Dot 135gr in mine, but find my 642 is far easier to shoot follow-shots quickly and accurately when using Hyrdra-Shock 110 gr ammo.

Brian48 · March 8, 2009, 02:42 PM

I still have a few boxes of Corbon 158gr +P+ LHPs. This is what I keep in my j-frame. It uses the same buttersoft LSWCHP hollowpoint as the traditional load.

David the Gnome · March 8, 2009, 07:39 PM

Gold Dot is my #1 choice in carry ammunition for all my guns.

armsmaster270 · March 8, 2009, 07:47 PM

I use the SB Gold Dots in all my snubbies and my Sig 226 .357Sig

shoop66 · March 8, 2009, 08:16 PM

I have to say some Hornady or Golden Saber hollow points. I also heard good things about CCI Shotshells and Magtech Guardian and First Defence.

fister · March 8, 2009, 10:10 PM

I like the winchester ranger t. A little hard to find, but thats my choice.

duucfho · March 9, 2009, 08:51 AM

Thanks for all the input. I'll likely just stay with the Speer Gold Dots. I might even get them in .357 for the 686, too.

#18indycolts · March 9, 2009, 09:01 AM

+1 on the gold dot 135g. +p

Huey Long · March 9, 2009, 09:20 AM

If Chuck Hawks is to be believed, the Cor-Bon +P 110 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point is the best .38 Special load.

Tom2 · March 9, 2009, 09:20 AM

I say stick with what you got unless you intend to shoot it all up soon. Then you could load the lead 158 HP ammo in some of your guns. That has a good track record but it is obviously not specifically tailored to the snub and I think alot of research and thought went into the load you are now using. Do not mess with anything called +P+ especially in a snub! And in the mag, if you are gonna do something more than regular +P might as well go with a full magnum load. Some of the mag loads are not loaded to the max nowadays, anyway. Why pay magnum prices for a non mag premium priced load to use in a mag!

Tamara · March 9, 2009, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack O'Conner

That hot shot Prosecutor will have a difficult time swaying a jury to believe that I had pre-planned to kill with most lethal ammo available.

Think about it.

I will send you a dollar for every incident you can prove of a South Dakota prosecutor making an issue of JHP's being used in a righteous self-defense shooting.

LeopardCurDog · March 9, 2009, 09:33 AM

All handgun ammo is equally poor in performance. I tend to like the heavier weight bullet in a 38.

March 6, 2009, 08:47 PM	#3
CarbineCaleb Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2004 Posts: 2,745	In .38+P, personally I'd say either stick with the Speer, or try the Double Tap round, which still uses the gold dot bullet, but is loaded hotter than the Speer offering. The Remington "FBI load" might be next behind these - it has shown some trouble in tests when fired through cloth barrier though (hollow point may plug and fail to expand) Last edited by CarbineCaleb; March 6, 2009 at 08:56 PM.

March 6, 2009, 09:22 PM	#10
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Manatee County, Florida Posts: 1,982	I don't know about you, but I don't ever want to face a youngster hot shot Prosecutor who wants to advance his/her career at my expense. Therefore, I keep my 38 loaded with plain flat nose semi-wadcutter ammo. This ammo is commonly sold to target shooters but it hits much harder than plain round nosed bullets that have put down many bad guys in years past. That hot shot Prosecutor will have a difficult time swaying a jury to believe that I had pre-planned to kill with most lethal ammo available. Think about it. Jack __________________ Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release.

March 8, 2009, 07:39 PM	#16
David the Gnome Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2007 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 3,092	Gold Dot is my #1 choice in carry ammunition for all my guns. Last edited by David the Gnome; March 8, 2009 at 07:52 PM.

March 9, 2009, 09:20 AM	#22
Huey Long Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2008 Posts: 239	If Chuck Hawks is to be believed, the Cor-Bon +P 110 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point is the best .38 Special load. Last edited by Huey Long; March 9, 2009 at 09:37 AM.

March 6, 2009, 08:43 PM	#1
duucfho Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 103	Which .38 special ammo? I've got a S&W 686 that stays bedside and a S&W 642 that I carry. Right now, I've got both of them loaded with .38 Special +P 135gr Speer Gold Dot HP (the one for short barrels). I prefer to keep the 686 loaded with .38 I've read a lot of good things about the Remington .38 Special +P 158gr LSWCHP. Assuming I can get my hands on some someday (damn ammo shortage), would it be better to use the FBI Load, or should I stick with the Speer Gold Dots in both my guns?

March 6, 2009, 08:45 PM	#2
Camartinez Junior Member Join Date: April 16, 2006 Posts: 11	I have heard some good things about buffalo bore's .38 LSWCHP +p load. A little pricey, but may be worth checking out.

March 6, 2009, 08:50 PM	#4
joegator Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 537	Both rounds are excellent .38 loads. For my 642 I prefer the Corbon DPX all copper 110 grain ammo. It has a combination of velocity, penetration, expansion, and ME that is hard to beat from a short barrel .38.

March 6, 2009, 08:57 PM	#5
Elvishead Junior member Join Date: August 8, 2007 Location: Las vegas, NV Posts: 3,397	If you have the Gold Dot. I would just stay with those, otherwise your just splitting hairs.

March 6, 2009, 09:00 PM	#6
indiandave Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 214	I use Buffalo Bore standard pressure 158gr LSWHP's in my 642 and my 686. I use my homemade 148gr wadcutters for practice and shoot a cylinder or two of my carry load at the end of a range trip. If you are happy with what you have you should continue using the Speer 135's. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

March 6, 2009, 09:02 PM	#7
dabigguns357 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2008 Location: Ona,West Virginia Posts: 1,215	i use fed 110 gr low recoil .38 hydra-shocks in all my revolvers except when out hunting.

March 6, 2009, 09:04 PM	#8
duucfho Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 103	I like the Speers just fine. The main difference between the two is cost. One of the benefits of the Remington is that it's comparatively affordable. And I figured if performance is similar, I would look into the Remingtons.

March 6, 2009, 09:29 PM	#11
RamSlammer Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2008 Location: Arkansas Posts: 722	You're using a good round already in the 642, for your magnum though check out the same bullet in Speer's .357 version. It's significantly hotter than any .38 SPL +P, but very, very tame by .357 standards at only 990 fps from a snub length barrel which wold be more like 1,100 out of a 4" tube on your 686.

March 6, 2009, 11:07 PM	#12
Keltyke Junior member Join Date: April 6, 2008 Location: Spartanburg, SC Posts: 2,933	I like the Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel. However, check the specs on the new Hornady Critical Defense. Awesome!

March 8, 2009, 11:26 AM	#13
Chesster Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2007 Location: Dixie Posts: 2,538	The Speer Short bbl ammo should be adequate. I use a variety of .38s in Mag guns, including the 158 LSWCHP +p and the LE Fed/Win 110 +p+. For the J frame M-37 in my pocket, I still use Fed Nyclad Chief's Special load from a hoard I stashed when it was disconinued.

March 8, 2009, 02:33 PM	#14
Genepix Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2008 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 313	I also keep my k-frame loaded with .38- I use Gold Dot 135gr in mine, but find my 642 is far easier to shoot follow-shots quickly and accurately when using Hyrdra-Shock 110 gr ammo.

March 8, 2009, 02:42 PM	#15
Brian48 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2001 Location: Boston, People's Republic of MA Posts: 1,616	I still have a few boxes of Corbon 158gr +P+ LHPs. This is what I keep in my j-frame. It uses the same buttersoft LSWCHP hollowpoint as the traditional load.

March 8, 2009, 07:47 PM	#17
armsmaster270 Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,951	I use the SB Gold Dots in all my snubbies and my Sig 226 .357Sig

March 8, 2009, 08:16 PM	#18
shoop66 Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 128	I have to say some Hornady or Golden Saber hollow points. I also heard good things about CCI Shotshells and Magtech Guardian and First Defence.

March 8, 2009, 10:10 PM	#19
fister Junior Member Join Date: January 6, 2009 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 8	I like the winchester ranger t. A little hard to find, but thats my choice.

March 9, 2009, 08:51 AM	#20
duucfho Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 103	Thanks for all the input. I'll likely just stay with the Speer Gold Dots. I might even get them in .357 for the 686, too.

March 9, 2009, 09:01 AM	#21
#18indycolts Junior member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Indpls Posts: 1,159	+1 on the gold dot 135g. +p

March 9, 2009, 09:20 AM	#23
Tom2 Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,676	I say stick with what you got unless you intend to shoot it all up soon. Then you could load the lead 158 HP ammo in some of your guns. That has a good track record but it is obviously not specifically tailored to the snub and I think alot of research and thought went into the load you are now using. Do not mess with anything called +P+ especially in a snub! And in the mag, if you are gonna do something more than regular +P might as well go with a full magnum load. Some of the mag loads are not loaded to the max nowadays, anyway. Why pay magnum prices for a non mag premium priced load to use in a mag!

March 9, 2009, 09:33 AM	#25
LeopardCurDog Member Join Date: February 1, 2009 Posts: 81	All handgun ammo is equally poor in performance. I tend to like the heavier weight bullet in a 38.