Buffalo Bore and the S&W 642...Are They A Good Match?

Joe_Pike · May 28, 2013, 06:53 PM

I was thinking about selling a gun in order to buy a S&W 640 in .357 for a carry gun. I carry a 642 now and have been happy with it but was wanting to have something that hit a little harder. After thinking about it though, I don't know if the muzzle blast from .357 in a 640 would be a good thing if I ever had to use the gun in a low light situation. Plus, I don't know about the extra weight of the 640 in the pocket.

Now, I'm thinking about just changing ammo and trying some Buffalo Bore. I hear it's a pretty hard hitter for .38 Special and that muzzle blast isn't as much of a problem.

So, any words of wisdom for me?

spacecoast · May 28, 2013, 07:35 PM

Standard pressure .38 special is plenty for a J-frame snubby. If you want to shoot a heavier load, I recommend the Remington R38S12, which is a soft lead hollowpoint round loaded to +p pressure. There are other snubby-specific loads made by various manufacturers.

Buffalo Bore makes great stuff, I'm just not sure it's going to be worth it from a snubby.

Joe_Pike · May 28, 2013, 07:41 PM

Well, one problem with that at the moment is that the Remington doesn't appear to be available anywhere and the Buffalo Bore is. I would be willing to try the Remington if I could find it.

HALL,AUSTIN · May 28, 2013, 07:45 PM

Well you definitely won't be plinking with it. I tried heavy stuff in a snubby. Lasted 2 cylinders. But you may very well be someone who can handle it.

spacecoast · May 28, 2013, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Remington doesn't appear to be available anywhere

I hear ya, I believe there are similar loads made by Federal and others, aka the "FBI Load". It's pretty pricey. If you happen to reload I have a good practice load that I can't tell apart from the real thing, it uses a 158 gr. LSWC.

shouldazagged · May 28, 2013, 07:52 PM

Buffalo Bore says their standard-pressure 158-grain LSWCHP is safe for any S&W revolver and tests at 880 fps from a two inch barrel, with a soft-lead projectile that expands well. They say the muzzle flash is reduced by the use of special powders. They don't say it's light-recoiling load, and I doubt that it is; but I carry a 640 so that's not a problem. I'm thinking of trying it, and some of the Speer Gold Dot 135-grain short-barrel load.

MLeake · May 28, 2013, 07:56 PM

I have shot a fair amount of BB 158 standard out of my 442, and it was not hard to shoot.

I used either Altamont or Crimson Trace grips, covered backstraps, so that may have helped but I think it would have been ok using the factory rubber boot grips, too.

Super Sneaky Steve · May 28, 2013, 08:04 PM

Buffalo Bore ammo in a 642 will leave you not wanting for more power. It's a handfull.

skoro · May 29, 2013, 11:42 AM

Their 38 std load is stout, especially from a S&W 642, which is what I carry. Their 38+P load is VERY stout, almost like a mild 357 magnum. I won't carry it in my snub. But it's what I keep in my 4" Model 13 for HD and it's perfect for that chore.

But I will say the BB is excellent ammo and I trust it completely. If you can find their offerings in 38 std loadings, that's what I'd recommend for snubby use.

JC57 · May 29, 2013, 11:54 AM

I've shot a couple of cylinders of the BB 158gr +P ammo in my 642 and it's a handful. I don't think I'd want any more power than that in a lightweight pistol. It's what I've got loaded up now.

Joe_Pike · May 29, 2013, 07:23 PM

Their standard pressure loads seem to have about the same muzzle energy as a lot of other factory .38 +P loads. I just wonder if the +P Buffalo Bore loads are too much for the 642. I'd hate to tear a gun up with it.

mooner · May 30, 2013, 09:29 AM

Buffalo bore in an airweight is stout. Feeling is similar to holding on to a Black Cat firecracker for just a little too long. Try shooting some and you may decide that it is enough to make you not want a lightweight 357.

Obambulate · May 30, 2013, 03:10 PM

Buffalo Bore standard pressure in a steel J-frame sounds about right. They make a 150gr hard cast wadcutter that has very good penetration.

May 28, 2013, 06:53 PM	#1
Joe_Pike Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2010 Posts: 1,581	Buffalo Bore and the S&W 642...Are They A Good Match? I was thinking about selling a gun in order to buy a S&W 640 in .357 for a carry gun. I carry a 642 now and have been happy with it but was wanting to have something that hit a little harder. After thinking about it though, I don't know if the muzzle blast from .357 in a 640 would be a good thing if I ever had to use the gun in a low light situation. Plus, I don't know about the extra weight of the 640 in the pocket. Now, I'm thinking about just changing ammo and trying some Buffalo Bore. I hear it's a pretty hard hitter for .38 Special and that muzzle blast isn't as much of a problem. So, any words of wisdom for me? __________________ Stay Groovy

May 28, 2013, 07:41 PM	#3
Joe_Pike Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2010 Posts: 1,581	Well, one problem with that at the moment is that the Remington doesn't appear to be available anywhere and the Buffalo Bore is. I would be willing to try the Remington if I could find it. __________________ Stay Groovy

May 28, 2013, 07:52 PM	#6
shouldazagged Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2013 Location: Louisville, KY, USA Posts: 273	Buffalo Bore says their standard-pressure 158-grain LSWCHP is safe for any S&W revolver and tests at 880 fps from a two inch barrel, with a soft-lead projectile that expands well. They say the muzzle flash is reduced by the use of special powders. They don't say it's light-recoiling load, and I doubt that it is; but I carry a 640 so that's not a problem. I'm thinking of trying it, and some of the Speer Gold Dot 135-grain short-barrel load. __________________ "Don't let macho be your epitaph." ---Ed Lovette

May 29, 2013, 11:42 AM	#9
skoro Senior Member Join Date: April 30, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 1,952	My experience with Buffalo Bore... Their 38 std load is stout, especially from a S&W 642, which is what I carry. Their 38+P load is VERY stout, almost like a mild 357 magnum. I won't carry it in my snub. But it's what I keep in my 4" Model 13 for HD and it's perfect for that chore. But I will say the BB is excellent ammo and I trust it completely. If you can find their offerings in 38 std loadings, that's what I'd recommend for snubby use.

May 29, 2013, 07:23 PM	#11
Joe_Pike Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2010 Posts: 1,581	Their standard pressure loads seem to have about the same muzzle energy as a lot of other factory .38 +P loads. I just wonder if the +P Buffalo Bore loads are too much for the 642. I'd hate to tear a gun up with it. __________________ Stay Groovy

May 28, 2013, 07:35 PM	#2
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	Standard pressure .38 special is plenty for a J-frame snubby. If you want to shoot a heavier load, I recommend the Remington R38S12, which is a soft lead hollowpoint round loaded to +p pressure. There are other snubby-specific loads made by various manufacturers. Buffalo Bore makes great stuff, I'm just not sure it's going to be worth it from a snubby.

May 28, 2013, 07:45 PM	#4
HALL,AUSTIN Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2011 Location: asheville north carolina Posts: 556	Well you definitely won't be plinking with it. I tried heavy stuff in a snubby. Lasted 2 cylinders. But you may very well be someone who can handle it.

May 28, 2013, 07:56 PM	#7
MLeake Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2007 Location: Outside KC, MO Posts: 10,128	I have shot a fair amount of BB 158 standard out of my 442, and it was not hard to shoot. I used either Altamont or Crimson Trace grips, covered backstraps, so that may have helped but I think it would have been ok using the factory rubber boot grips, too.

May 28, 2013, 08:04 PM	#8
Super Sneaky Steve Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2011 Posts: 1,250	Buffalo Bore ammo in a 642 will leave you not wanting for more power. It's a handfull.

May 29, 2013, 11:54 AM	#10
JC57 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2010 Posts: 375	I've shot a couple of cylinders of the BB 158gr +P ammo in my 642 and it's a handful. I don't think I'd want any more power than that in a lightweight pistol. It's what I've got loaded up now.

May 30, 2013, 09:29 AM	#12
mooner Member Join Date: November 10, 2011 Posts: 43	Buffalo bore in an airweight is stout. Feeling is similar to holding on to a Black Cat firecracker for just a little too long. Try shooting some and you may decide that it is enough to make you not want a lightweight 357.

May 30, 2013, 03:10 PM	#13
Obambulate Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2011 Posts: 582	Buffalo Bore standard pressure in a steel J-frame sounds about right. They make a 150gr hard cast wadcutter that has very good penetration.