Snub Nose 38 Special
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Buckeye63
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https://www.underwoodammo.com/colle...0-grain-lead-wadcutter?variant=18785707556921
This is a link to Underwood 38spl
150gr Hardcast Wadcutter 1000FPS
This is a link to Underwood 38spl
150gr Hardcast Wadcutter 1000FPS
John Joseph
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158 gr LSWC here.
It's what my department issued back then.
It's what my Centennial is sighted in for.
Given the limitations of a 1-7/8" barrel, I'm good with that.
It's what my department issued back then.
It's what my Centennial is sighted in for.
Given the limitations of a 1-7/8" barrel, I'm good with that.
the Black Spot
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Yeah, dont think my 45 Colt wadcutters will bounce off bunnies.
The Evangelist Cowboy
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.45 Colt offers much more leeway than .38 SPL. Bullet profile will always be important for whatever application your using it for but where .38 needs all the help it can get, .45 Colt can afford to lose a bit (example roundnose over flatnose)
for me the main thing is to consistently and quickly put rounds on target. i can reliably hit with wadcutters (and magtech cbc shorts) out of a 38 airweight snubbie as i’m recoil-averse. no pistol ammo incapacitates with shrapnel or concussive shock waves so only hits count. rounds with superior penetration or expansion don’t count if i’m missing my target. well, this is just my humble story, but i’m sticking with it.
TTv2
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The .38 loads that I see that work consistently from 2 inch revolvers are the Hornady Critical Defense ammo, be it the 90 grain or 110 grain in standard or +P. There are some other .38 short barrel ammo out there that work, but the Hornady CD ammo is available everywhere, it's a good price, and works so that's what I stick with.
But, I understand the concern with .38 in a snub because hollow point expansion isn't a guarantee. 148 gr wadcutters are better than nothing, but for me they're way too slow and if I'm going to rely on a non expanding bullet for defense, I stick with Inceptor ammo that's designed to work without expanding.
Inceptor is my main .380 ammo, which is about 57 grains of projectile going 1000 fps in an LCP. .38 Inceptor going about 1100 fps with a 77 grian bullet is even better.
But, I understand the concern with .38 in a snub because hollow point expansion isn't a guarantee. 148 gr wadcutters are better than nothing, but for me they're way too slow and if I'm going to rely on a non expanding bullet for defense, I stick with Inceptor ammo that's designed to work without expanding.
Inceptor is my main .380 ammo, which is about 57 grains of projectile going 1000 fps in an LCP. .38 Inceptor going about 1100 fps with a 77 grian bullet is even better.
NMPOPS
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My normal self defense load for my 642 is a a 158 LSWC at standard velocity. But I also carry 148 gr Wadcutters loaded just a tad bit warmer than standard. They will be just fine at self defense ranges.
WheelGunMan
Member
ARX is also my ammo of choice... because it is designed with short barrels in mind. In .38 Special it comes in a 77 grain polymer-copper matrix bullet with a velocity out of an 1-7/8" LCR averaging around 1050 fps. By utilizing hydraulics the wound channel is comparable to a faster expanding hollow point. Review ballistics test HERE The .357 comes in 86 grain moving at around 1600 fps out of the short barrel.
Zaydok Allen
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I was carrying Speer's 135 gr Short Barrel Gold dot loads a few years ago. I figured if they didn't expand, they'd act like a full metal jacket and probably penetrate just fine.
SwampWolf
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I'm giving thought to loading my Ruger LCR snub-nose revolver, chambered in .38 Special, with this ammunition. How would you rate the recoil? Anybody know the ballistics? Any opinion/evidence on if the ammunition being tailored for short barrels has any merit-or just the usual hype?
Zaydok Allen
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I'd go Youtubing. The expansion typically was acceptable and they seemed to penetrate ok. I don't remember specific numbers though. Recoil wasn't bad, but I shot them out of a Ruger SP101. I had a 642 and realized I hated the thing. So an SP is as small as I really go anymore. So the heavy weight of the SP101 would undoubtedly mitigate the recoil.
Big hands with a small revolver like a J frame just doesn't work for me, and I have no desire to make it bigger with a larger grip.
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