Best SD ammo for .38 Snubby

[Oldschool shooter]

I've been using the Underwood Wadcutters, 150 gr. I just don't trust the hollowpoints to expand out of my S&W 638. It is +P rated, but in the light weight of that revolver,it is a bit less than pleasant to shoot those for practice.

 

[aaaaa]

However, the need for a particular bullet is always way over-weighted relative to shot placement.
Once you make up your mind to kill a man, shot placement will determine the outcome. Not the choice of ammunition.

That is where in a guy who shoots accurately can take out the perp with a .32 ACP while a guy who can't shoot straight may not get him with a .45.

 

[Monster Zero]

Then why... never mind, I could ask the question, but I won't...

It's not the "echo chamber," it's the collective wisdom of the membership... or so we should believe. I think I know what you were saying, but really, on occasion, folks chime in with some actual knowledge, so I'm not gonna complain too much (although, in the words of Joe Walsh, sometimes I still do) about the diversity nor even the bandwagon effect we see in answers to questions posed by OPs.

PS - I think there actually are some hard rules in the shooting world. I tend to stick with 148 grain or 158 grain wadcutters or JHPs, standard pressure in snubbies.

In a steel J'frame, I suggest the BB 150gr wadcutters. They're a handful but not too much. In an airweight... Kinda painful by the time one gets around to 4 and 5.

 

[W.E.G.]

You boys need to reload.

Yes.

Yes they do...

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

I do reload but I will not carry reloads for a long list of reasons that are out of my control. Meaning I would honestly be much more comfortable with my reloads, but in this world we live in today NO WAY.

 

[Mark 40]

148 Wadcutters for me, its what I can shoot most accurately with confidence and competence.

 

[trackskippy]

I do reload but I will not carry reloads for a long list of reasons that are out of my control. Meaning I would honestly be much more comfortable with my reloads, but in this world we live in today NO WAY.

You dont have to use them for carry, 99% of what I shoot are my reloads, and they are what allow me to shoot all the time, cost and availability being the main reasons. All through the past couple of panics, I was still shooting a couple of times a week, every week.

But either way, reloads or factory, if you arent stocking up and putting things back when things are good, so you have what you need when things are bad, youre always going to be in line with the rest of those who dont think ahead and encounter empty shelves in a panic.








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[pharmer]

I can afford factory ammo. When I am limited to a Jframe I use this. A case of 1,000 cost me about $325 (dropped on my porch) in 2019. Joe

 

[GRIZ22]

I've been using the Underwood Wadcutters, 150 gr. I just don't trust the hollowpoints to expand out of my S&W 638. It is +P rated, but in the light weight of that revolver,it is a bit less than pleasant to shoot those for practice.

In a steel J'frame, I suggest the BB 150gr wadcutters. They're a handful but not too much. In an airweight... Kinda painful by the time one gets around to 4 and 5.

Good ammo but why beat up yourself and your gun. A factory target wadcutter has adequate penetration. Once you've made an entry and exit wound the rest just goes down range.

 

[daverich4]

A number of posts have mentioned the Speer 135 GDHP. Does anyone have a source for them? I’m down to about 40 rounds and am hoarding but I’d like to stock up a little. Either that or switch to something that might be comparable if anything is available.

 

[aaaaa]

A number of posts have mentioned the Speer 135 GDHP. Does anyone have a source for them? I’m down to about 40 rounds and am hoarding but I’d like to stock up a little. Either that or switch to something that might be comparable if anything is available.

Can try your favorite online gun shops or go to this site

Speer .38 Special Ammo handgun

In-stock best prices for Speer .38 Special Ammo handgun | Cheap Speer .38 Special Ammunition handgun - AmmoSeek.com

ammoseek.com

 

[Monster Zero]

If it's indispensable that I have to shoot some evildoer, I don't wish to just poke a .38 caliber hole in him.

I'd rather discharge as much energy and momentum into his person as is reasonably possible for maximum effect, right now.

 

[Rodfac]

I routinely carry a Smith M-60, 3" bbl., with 135 gr .38 Spl. +P Gold Dots loaded. The reason being that the lighter weight bullet has a reputation for good expansion from short barrels, and the shorter .38 Spl. case length offers easier ejection than a .357 from a J frame Smith.

The recoil is there, but is moderate enough for quick recovery repeat shots. And while Gold Dots are mucho expensive here locally, I get adequate practice with my own 158 gr LSWC's, reloaded to the same level of felt recoil. Up to ten yards or a bit more, point of impact is not significantly different either.

My wife's carry piece is a M-36 Smith also with a 3" bbl. and we load it with the same 135 gr .38 +P Gold Dot ammunition. Her previous carry gun was a Smith 637, with an alloy frame and this too had the same load out. She's 5'-10", weighs 150 lbs and has had no issues with either gun with the carry loads or my practice rounds.

HTH's Rod

 

[V-fib]

I've always carry the 158gr. LSW in my 642.

 

[P5 Guy]

When I carried this, I loaded wadcutters. It put the shots just where I pointed out to 15-20 feet.

 

[daverich4]

Can try your favorite online gun shops or go to this site

Speer .38 Special Ammo handgun

In-stock best prices for Speer .38 Special Ammo handgun | Cheap Speer .38 Special Ammunition handgun - AmmoSeek.com

ammoseek.com

Thanks for the link but I don’t see any listings for the 135 Gold Dots. I suspect that most of the people in this thread suggesting them stocked up before Speer quit making them.

 

[aaaaa]

Thanks for the link but I don’t see any listings for the 135 Gold Dots. I suspect that most of the people in this thread suggesting them stocked up before Speer quit making them.

Try this shop. They have some ammo nobody else has. I got .41 Magnum there. They also have .32 NAA ammo. They will ship as far as I know.
Sky Arms
42000 Koppernick Rd, Suite A-3
Canton, MI 48187
(734) 855-6916

 

[whatnickname]

148 grain hollow base wadcutter. Seat the bullet with the hollow base up over 3.5 grains of Bullseye.

158 grain swaged lead SWC hollow point over 5.0 grains of Unique…this one used to be known as the FBI load back in the 60s.

 

[unclenunzie]

I find Speer 135 gr. +P Gold Dots and Hornady Critical Defense 110 gr. +P FTX to be pretty much to my liking. I also load my 148 gr. wadcutters a little bit on the hotter side as well.

Though the original link is no longer around, the wayback machine has the Speer Gold Dot +P 135 grain 38 load technical data package:

Wayback Machine

That is my primary choice, with the Winchester bonded 130 grain (RA38B) as a good alternate. I'm also fine with the Hornady load but in standard pressure where needed.

 

[daverich4]

Try this shop. They have some ammo nobody else has. I got .41 Magnum there. They also have .32 NAA ammo. They will ship as far as I know.
Sky Arms
42000 Koppernick Rd, Suite A-3
Canton, MI 48187
(734) 855-6916

Thanks for the suggestion. I took a look and they have Speer Gold Dot ammunition in several calibers but none in 38 Special or 357. Must just be a hole in the Speer catalog.

 

[aaaaa]

Thanks for the suggestion. I took a look and they have Speer Gold Dot ammunition in several calibers but none in 38 Special or 357. Must just be a hole in the Speer catalog.

Well, I would call because they seem to have some ammo in the store that is not on the web page.

 

[shafter]

I've seen Hornady demo their Critical Duty rounds against a variety of other rounds and I was very impressed. They're my go to round for carry.

 

[flightsimmer]

Hornady put a considerable amount of research into self defense ammo for snubby revolvers and this what they came up with.

 

[aaaaa]

I currently am carrying this ammo in my J-frame

38 Special 148gr Full Wadcutter Match

This is the most accurate load that money can buy for your .38 Special! Specifically made to deliver one hole accuracy out to 50yds. Loaded to extremely tight tolerances and priced right for matches and for getting the most from your .38 special or 357 Magnum for accuracy. This load uses a 21BHN...

doubletapammo.com

But I wonder if I would do better with either of these options that seem more tuned to SD:

This one +P

38 Special+P 158gr Hardcast Solid™ SWC

This loading is deep penetrating and hard hitting!There is virtually no muzzle flash.For those of you who carry a 38 Special, this is an excellent defensive load. Especially in the woods.Velocity: 1000fps / 4" Ruger GP-1001.875" bbl S&W - 900fpsBullet: Keith style SWC HardcastMuzzle Energy: 351...

doubletapammo.com

This one two bullets per cartridge

38 Special 140gr HARDCAST EQUALIZER 20rds

The new Hardcast Equalizer from Doubletap features two 21 brinell hardcast bullets in every shot! This creates two distinct cutting wound channels that will go both go 12-13 inches deep with every shot! The two bullets group tightly out to 25 yards! When taking a shot to defend yourself, two is...

doubletapammo.com

Maybe I should get several boxes of each.

 

[unclenunzie]

Of those choices I would stick with the 750fps 2" barrel wadcutter load. For the accuracy, lower recoil and faster follow up shots.