.38 ammo

rwilson452 · April 30, 2018, 12:42 AM

My sister has decided she wants a .38 revolver. I haven't carried one in decades. Looking for a good SD round.

Suggestions?

**Spats McGee** · April 30, 2018, 05:02 AM

When I carry my snub, Remington Golden Sabers. My guess is that you're also going to get recommendations for Speer Gold Dots, Federal HSTs, and a number of others.

TJB101 · April 30, 2018, 05:06 AM

I have a Taurus model 85 (38) and a GP100 (357). Using 38 special +p rounds in that model 85 isn’t much fun and has quite a kick. Out of the GP100 it is much more manageable. Consider a beefier gun if possible. Have her try the guns at a range to check for herself.

Lavan · April 30, 2018, 07:18 AM

A lot of people underestimate the ole wadcutter.
Seems to be changing a bit from some reading I've done lately.

Don Fischer · April 30, 2018, 08:52 AM

I'd go with the wad cutter too. Not to hot either. She get's a light gun and shoot's heavy loads in it, she may not shoot it well at all. Especially +P ammo. I don't know one person that would like getting shot with a wadcutter even at a more modest vel. Self Defense should she be attacked, last first thing going through her mind should not be the recoil of the gun.

Hal · April 30, 2018, 08:53 AM

I really have to wonder why Federal quit making the Nyclad?

It seemed like a great idea.

USSR · April 30, 2018, 08:57 AM

Wadcutter 3.

Don

Jim Watson · April 30, 2018, 08:57 AM

Yup, they sold the Nyclad Chief's Special load with Bullseye for short barrels. I used it as long as it was available, had been using it under the S&W brand before Federal picked it up.

My .38s now get the Speer Short Barrel 135 gr Gold Dot.

Naro · April 30, 2018, 09:42 AM

Polycase ARX

Cyanide971 · April 30, 2018, 10:45 AM

This may help a little bit with your decision, especially since they use both a 2” barrel revolver and a 4.2” barrel revolver in testing for .38 Special (and .357 Magnum as well).

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/rev...llistics-test/

One of the few tests of the relatively newer .38 Special 130gr Federal HST:

https://youtu.be/UZsber37rKU

T. O'Heir · April 30, 2018, 11:46 AM

"...why Federal quit making the Nyclad..." Cost too much to make. Discussed on these pages in 2015.
https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=560241
Sis going to reload and practice? If she's not reloading, she'll have to try a box of as many brands and bullet weights as she can to find the ammo her revolver shoots best. Operatives words being 'she' and 'her'. You cannot do it for her.
Mind you, exactly which .38 revolver she buys matters somewhat. A .357 using .38's vs a pure .38 makes a bit of difference. Mostly in the weight. That will be a factor in how she carries too. You can't decide that either. Has to fit her hand, not yours.

bn12gg · April 30, 2018, 12:49 PM

X4 for the .38 wadcutter for the sister. Mild recoil plus damaging for self defense. I use them in my aluminum framed S/W M37.

.02. David.

labnoti · April 30, 2018, 01:25 PM

Where is the evidence the wadcutter is more effective than lead round nose?

HighValleyRanch · April 30, 2018, 01:38 PM

I really like the Federal HST micro .38 specials which are the modern commercial vesion of the inverted wadcutter loads. They test for super expansion and good penetration in the gel and chrono tests.

Hal · April 30, 2018, 02:44 PM

Quote:

"...why Federal quit making the Nyclad..." Cost too much to make. Discussed on these pages in 2015.

Yeah - I read that. I don't know how true that is though about the cost.

rwilson452 · April 30, 2018, 02:52 PM

As an added factor, she has her eye on my S&W mod 67. 4" bbl. It has been a safe queen for years I my just give it to her and pay the transfer fee myself.

Bill DeShivs · April 30, 2018, 04:03 PM

Wadcutters cut a nice, round hole in whatever they hit. Round nose pushes tissue aside.

USSR · April 30, 2018, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Wadcutters cut a nice, round hole in whatever they hit. Round nose pushes tissue aside.

Yep! Much more tissue destruction, and that's the name of the game.

Don

Buckeye! · April 30, 2018, 05:17 PM

For my SD carry I use the 130gr HST ...

Model12Win · April 30, 2018, 05:28 PM

Speer Gold Dot 135 grain +P.

Also known as the "short barrel" load from Speer, this is one rare cookie in that it does very nicely from not only the snubs but also the 4" service revolvers. Most others either won't expand well at snub velocities or will over expand and under penetrate at service gun speeds.

105kw · April 30, 2018, 05:56 PM

Every day, Federal 110gr Hydro Shock. Not +P
In a Colt Cobra, 1975 vintage, or Smith 442.

2damnold4this · April 30, 2018, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Mind you, exactly which .38 revolver she buys matters somewhat.

That's a good point. If she goes with the 4" model 67 the OP mentioned later in his thread, she has adjustable sights and a heavy gun. That is a lot different than a fixed sighted Airweight with a 2" barrel.

briandg · April 30, 2018, 08:45 PM

Jab, it's been known for decades now that the flat point swc/Keith bullets cause far more damage along the path through the target. They had been the default hunting rounds until reliable expanding rounds were easily available. The sharp edges cause damage that a ball shaped bullet won't. The target wadcutter is lighter and slower, but especially at the first points of penetration where the edge is still sharp. It will also expand because of the flat point, even if it is minimal. Round ball profiles tend to slide through and do minimal damage, just opening a hole to bleed from.

The match wadcutter will probably do more damage than a standard round nose bullet but it probably won't penetrate as deeply as the heavier, faster round nose. It's a good trade off to get the easiest shooting .38 round.

briandg · April 30, 2018, 09:28 PM

Spats is right, you are going to get dozens of recommendations. The fact is that whatever round is used, if it is a modern combat round, the modern combat rounds will perform pretty much the same. No two shootings are alike. One may perform better than the other in different individual hits. My choice in my 4" barrel is the 125 +p, I have gold saber, hornady, and Sig v crown. They just get rotated around once in a while.

WheelGunMan · April 30, 2018, 09:28 PM

Here's another vote for the ARX Inceptor ammo (formerly Polycase). Pairs well with short barrel firearms.

April 30, 2018, 12:42 AM	#1
rwilson452 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Tioga co. PA Posts: 2,647	.38 ammo My sister has decided she wants a .38 revolver. I haven't carried one in decades. Looking for a good SD round. Suggestions? __________________ USNRET '61-'81

April 30, 2018, 05:02 AM	#2
Spats McGee Staff Join Date: July 28, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 8,821	When I carry my snub, Remington Golden Sabers. My guess is that you're also going to get recommendations for Speer Gold Dots, Federal HSTs, and a number of others. __________________ I'm a lawyer, but I'm not your lawyer. If you need some honest-to-goodness legal advice, go buy some.

April 30, 2018, 08:57 AM	#7
USSR Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2017 Location: Finger Lakes Region of NY Posts: 1,442	Wadcutter 3. Don __________________ NRA Life Member NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor

April 30, 2018, 10:45 AM	#10
Cyanide971 Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2014 Posts: 725	.38 ammo This may help a little bit with your decision, especially since they use both a 2” barrel revolver and a 4.2” barrel revolver in testing for .38 Special (and .357 Magnum as well). https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/rev...llistics-test/ One of the few tests of the relatively newer .38 Special 130gr Federal HST: https://youtu.be/UZsber37rKU Last edited by Cyanide971; April 30, 2018 at 11:53 AM.

April 30, 2018, 11:46 AM	#11
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...why Federal quit making the Nyclad..." Cost too much to make. Discussed on these pages in 2015. https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=560241 Sis going to reload and practice? If she's not reloading, she'll have to try a box of as many brands and bullet weights as she can to find the ammo her revolver shoots best. Operatives words being 'she' and 'her'. You cannot do it for her. Mind you, exactly which .38 revolver she buys matters somewhat. A .357 using .38's vs a pure .38 makes a bit of difference. Mostly in the weight. That will be a factor in how she carries too. You can't decide that either. Has to fit her hand, not yours. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

April 30, 2018, 05:06 AM	#3
TJB101 Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2017 Posts: 498	I have a Taurus model 85 (38) and a GP100 (357). Using 38 special +p rounds in that model 85 isn’t much fun and has quite a kick. Out of the GP100 it is much more manageable. Consider a beefier gun if possible. Have her try the guns at a range to check for herself.

April 30, 2018, 07:18 AM	#4
Lavan Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 1999 Location: California Posts: 2,716	A lot of people underestimate the ole wadcutter. Seems to be changing a bit from some reading I've done lately.

April 30, 2018, 08:52 AM	#5
Don Fischer Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2017 Posts: 1,868	I'd go with the wad cutter too. Not to hot either. She get's a light gun and shoot's heavy loads in it, she may not shoot it well at all. Especially +P ammo. I don't know one person that would like getting shot with a wadcutter even at a more modest vel. Self Defense should she be attacked, last first thing going through her mind should not be the recoil of the gun.

April 30, 2018, 08:53 AM	#6
Hal Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Ohio USA Posts: 8,563	I really have to wonder why Federal quit making the Nyclad? It seemed like a great idea.

April 30, 2018, 08:57 AM	#8
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	Yup, they sold the Nyclad Chief's Special load with Bullseye for short barrels. I used it as long as it was available, had been using it under the S&W brand before Federal picked it up. My .38s now get the Speer Short Barrel 135 gr Gold Dot.

April 30, 2018, 09:42 AM	#9
Naro Junior Member Join Date: October 31, 2009 Posts: 12	Polycase ARX

April 30, 2018, 12:49 PM	#12
bn12gg Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2011 Location: Winter Park, Florida Posts: 470	X4 for the .38 wadcutter for the sister. Mild recoil plus damaging for self defense. I use them in my aluminum framed S/W M37. .02. David.

April 30, 2018, 01:25 PM	#13
labnoti Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2018 Posts: 252	Where is the evidence the wadcutter is more effective than lead round nose?

April 30, 2018, 01:38 PM	#14
HighValleyRanch Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2005 Posts: 4,066	I really like the Federal HST micro .38 specials which are the modern commercial vesion of the inverted wadcutter loads. They test for super expansion and good penetration in the gel and chrono tests. __________________ From the sweet grass to the slaughter house; From birth until death; We travel between these two eternities........from 'Broken Trail"

April 30, 2018, 02:52 PM	#16
rwilson452 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Tioga co. PA Posts: 2,647	As an added factor, she has her eye on my S&W mod 67. 4" bbl. It has been a safe queen for years I my just give it to her and pay the transfer fee myself. __________________ USNRET '61-'81

April 30, 2018, 04:03 PM	#17
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,984	Wadcutters cut a nice, round hole in whatever they hit. Round nose pushes tissue aside. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

April 30, 2018, 05:17 PM	#19
Buckeye! Senior Member Join Date: September 1, 2008 Posts: 849	For my SD carry I use the 130gr HST ...

April 30, 2018, 05:28 PM	#20
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	Speer Gold Dot 135 grain +P. Also known as the "short barrel" load from Speer, this is one rare cookie in that it does very nicely from not only the snubs but also the 4" service revolvers. Most others either won't expand well at snub velocities or will over expand and under penetrate at service gun speeds.

April 30, 2018, 05:56 PM	#21
105kw Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2017 Location: Columbia Basin Washington Posts: 414	Every day, Federal 110gr Hydro Shock. Not +P In a Colt Cobra, 1975 vintage, or Smith 442.

April 30, 2018, 08:45 PM	#23
briandg Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2010 Posts: 5,468	Jab, it's been known for decades now that the flat point swc/Keith bullets cause far more damage along the path through the target. They had been the default hunting rounds until reliable expanding rounds were easily available. The sharp edges cause damage that a ball shaped bullet won't. The target wadcutter is lighter and slower, but especially at the first points of penetration where the edge is still sharp. It will also expand because of the flat point, even if it is minimal. Round ball profiles tend to slide through and do minimal damage, just opening a hole to bleed from. The match wadcutter will probably do more damage than a standard round nose bullet but it probably won't penetrate as deeply as the heavier, faster round nose. It's a good trade off to get the easiest shooting .38 round. __________________ None. Last edited by briandg; April 30, 2018 at 08:52 PM.

April 30, 2018, 09:28 PM	#24
briandg Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2010 Posts: 5,468	Spats is right, you are going to get dozens of recommendations. The fact is that whatever round is used, if it is a modern combat round, the modern combat rounds will perform pretty much the same. No two shootings are alike. One may perform better than the other in different individual hits. My choice in my 4" barrel is the 125 +p, I have gold saber, hornady, and Sig v crown. They just get rotated around once in a while. __________________ None.

April 30, 2018, 09:28 PM	#25
WheelGunMan Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2017 Posts: 112	Here's another vote for the ARX Inceptor ammo (formerly Polycase). Pairs well with short barrel firearms.