What SD ammo do you use in your .38 Special?

I have always used and continue to use standard hard cast SWC. I load them hot and after seeing the damage they can do. They are pushing just over 1000 fps and I get no leading, I also use this as my target shooting round and they print exactly where I aim. I have never cared for the lighter HPs as I prefer more mass hitting the target, whatever that may be. Years ago I tried varies types of bullets but always came back to the very effective 158g SWC.
In addition, I still believe that shot placement is an equal factor.

In my 642 snub I use 148 grain HBWC.

In my 4" 686 I use the old FBI load, 158 grain LSWC HP.

I'm using these 158gr home cast lead fnhp's doing 950fps in this 2" bbl'd ca undercover.


Same bullet for a 586 l-comp 357 with a load that does 1200fps.

I did test a 110gr cast lead rnwc in the 38spl. It's the bullet on the right, a cramer 110gr "gallery" bullet.


I did some testing with that 110gr cramer bullet in that 2" bbl'd 38spl pictured above. With p+ loads I was getting 1100+fps with that 110gr bullet/ca undercover combo. The 1100fps+ surprised me enough to do more tests/penetration testing in wet newspack, drywall, wood, glass.

Remington 125 Golden Sabre +P.

I ordered some plated WCs. I'm hoping to develop an accurate load at >800fps.

exbrit49 said:

I have always used and continue to use standard hard cast SWC. I load them hot and after seeing the damage they can do. They are pushing just over 1000 fps and I get no leading, I also use this as my target shooting round and they print exactly where I aim. I have never cared for the lighter HPs as I prefer more mass hitting the target, whatever that may be. Years ago I tried varies types of bullets but always came back to the very effective 158g SWC.
In addition, I still believe that shot placement is an equal factor.

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I could have not have stated it better as to the selection of bullet. I am probably not getting the velocity you are but am still getting the performance I want.

SteadyD said:

I’ve been using the new Federal HST 130 grain +p as of late, with either the Golden Saber or Short Barrel Gold Dot as a reload. I’ve been impressed with the lower recoil/blast/flash of the HST, and accuracy has been excellent in the guns I’ve tried them in.

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Why is your reload not the same as your carry ammo?

stevekozak said:

Why is your reload not the same as your carry ammo?

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I’m assuming it’s because that HST load is loaded like a wadcutter with the bullet inside the case, making a fast reload difficult.

stevekozak said:

Why is your reload not the same as your carry ammo?

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As mentioned, the HST is not fast to reload because the bullet is seated flush with the case mouth like a wadcutter.

NMPOPS said:

I have been using the Federal Nyclad 158 LSWCHP +P but I only have 20 rounds left and Federal quit making them. I have 2 boxes of the Remington version that I will be switching to. I have also been known to carry Federal 148 gr Wadcutters also.

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This was me. Always carried the Nyclads, but can't get them. Now carry Remington Golden Saber 125gr +p . Works great and is accurate out of my 4 inch Smith.

SteadyD said:

I’ve been using the new Federal HST 130 grain +p as of late, with either the Golden Saber or Short Barrel Gold Dot as a reload. I’ve been impressed with the lower recoil/blast/flash of the HST, and accuracy has been excellent in the guns I’ve tried them in.

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I use the HST also with either the Short barrel God Dot or Underwood 158 gr. semi-wadcutter Hollow Point GC in the speed loaders.

In my older 3" 36 and 2" 649 Bodyguard (.38SPL model) it was usually either 158gr LSWCHP +P or Federal Nyclad 125gr +P load or their version of the 158gr LSWCHP +P in Nyclad. I dabbled with some of the older Winchester 147gr JHP +P, too. When I cpouldn't find the all-lead HP's back then, I used to just settle on the easily available (in the 80's) plain old 158gr JSP & JHP's and hope for the best out of the short barreled snubs.

Once I discovered Airweights ('99?) and bought my first 642-1 that was rated for a diet of +P, I used mostly Rem or W-W 158gr LSWCHP +P (whichever was available). As time passed and I started attending some hosted gel shoot events, I slowly changed over to using Rem 125gr +P Golden Sabre, Speer 135gr +P GDHP and then W-W RA38B 130gr +P (PDX1, but in the plain Ranger 50rd box).

When I was lucky enough to have the local LE distributor find me one of the canceled limited production run of that offshore model 37-2DAO (on the older short Airweight frame), I decided to stick you using either W-W 110gr STHP or Fed 110gr Hydra-Shok, both being standard pressure loads so I don't unduly stress the older Airweight frame.

More recently I've added several boxes of the Hornady standard pressure 110gr Critical Defense using the FTX JHP, because it offers less muzzle whip and less felt recoil than either of the other 2 standard pressure loads, and it was surprisingly tack-driving accurate in both my 37DAO and one of my M&P 340's. Now it's become the standard load for my 37DAO and an optional load in my pair of M&P 340's and pair of 642-1's.

I don't usually load my M&P 340's with Magnum loads (although I did my first 2 or 3 quals using Mag loads after I bought my first one back in '05). When I do, though, it's usually Rem 125gr SJHP, W-W 145gr STHP or Fed 130gr Hydra-Shok, because they didn't exhibit any signs of bullet pull in my M&P 340, in my hands, when I tested some boxes. The felt recoil of the Mag loads in the light M&P's is just too much for long and enjoyable range sessions, though. I'd rather use standard pressure or +P loads in the M&P's and be able to run more rapid shot strings.

I have been using the FEDERAL HST +P 130 jhp load in my 2 inch barreled revolvers. It is a terrific expanding. These rounds have a profile similar to wadcutters and a pain to load quickly. I use either WINCHESTER "Defend" 130 grain jhp ammo which is a standard pressure load. In a 4 inch or longer revolver, I use the FEDERAL HST or REMINGTON 125 grain sjhp +P load which is inexpensive and can be used as training ammo when you buy 100 round boxes.
If the gun is a .357 magnum, I only have 4 inch or longer barrels, so I go with .357 ammo, usually REMINGTON 110 grain sjhp.

Federal 148gr wadcutters in my first series Colt Cobra.

entropy said:

Remington 125 Golden Sabre +P.

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Bingo, same here. While I'm not a massive fan of those in all calibers, they are great in 38 spcl +P.

Federal 130gr HST 38spl +P

Another vote for the Gold Dot 135gr. That’s what I carry in my Model 60 and in my 4” Model 15. It gives good expansion and penetration. It’s been a handful in my J frame Model 60, but it’s manageable. It’s quite comfortable in the Model 15.

exbrit49 said:

I have always used and continue to use standard hard cast SWC. I load them hot and after seeing the damage they can do. They are pushing just over 1000 fps and I get no leading, I also use this as my target shooting round and they print exactly where I aim. I have never cared for the lighter HPs as I prefer more mass hitting the target, whatever that may be. Years ago I tried varies types of bullets but always came back to the very effective 158g SWC.
In addition, I still believe that shot placement is an equal factor.

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I love the idea of using my DEWC loads, but at 800+ fps I don't feel like there's enough velocity. Right now I've got Buffalo Bore 158 gr LSWC Gas Check +P rounds in my 2.5" M19 and 2" M10.

J frames I too like the Remigton SOFT lead SWCHP+P 158 grain. solid 800 fps and soft lead wide hollow point. I have seen too many lighter weight bullets out of .38 snubs wound with not much destruction of vitals .

Hornady 110 gr. Critical Defence 38 special- Taurus 605 Poly 357.

As with nearly all threads asking for opinions or "what is your favorite" there is about as many opinions as there are posters. Nearly every time I get into a discussion about SD ammo I get differing results. An instructor I took a class from swore by Federal Guard Dog.
Some years ago I started with Critical Defense, I now put it in every CC I own, not for any particular reason, its what I do. After all "shot placement is everything"