I attempted to summarize the responses this morning. Those of you who listed just one cartridge made it easy. Those of you who listed more than one cartridge provided interesting reading, but I took the first one you mentioned as your primary choice...one vote per person, right?
Even then, the multiple bullet weight possibilities made for too many columns, so I finally just looked at brand names.
To this point, here's what the thread is saying, from most frequent on down:
Speer Gold Dot
Hornady Critical Defense
handloaded cast WC or SWC
Winchester JHP
Remington Golden Saber
...then all the other brands.
If we get a bunch of additional responses that shifts the frequency then I will attempt another summary.
This is not an attempt to end the discussion. I find it very interesting and I appreciate the response the question has prompted. So feel free to continue.
Interesting. You really trying to do something like make a spreadsheet of opinions and experiences?
I remember wasting a fair number of years trying to find the "best" .38 Spl loads for my first J-frame as a young cop. Time that would've been far better spent on more range time set aside for training & practice. It wasn't until I'd become a LE firearms instructor that I realized the importance of focusing more on
me, than the gun ... or the ammo.
In my previous post I didn't list the specific brands of loads I presently use (and it's certainly changed over time, but more as an ebb & flow instead of leaving one load never to return to using it).
In recent months my various J-frames have been loaded with 135gr Speer GDHP +P, Winchester 130gr RA38B (also called PDX1) +P & Remington 125gr HPJ/BJHP (Golden Sabre) +P ... mostly.
Why the different loads? Just depended what box of whichever load was closest at hand when loading guns and speedstrips or speedloaders at any particular moment.
Do I have a favorite? Sure, whichever one I have the most access to at any given time.
Yes, I've carried different ammo in the different guns, as well as different ammo in any particular gun compared to what was being carried in some speedstrips or speedloaders I'd grabbed to put in my pocket.
I shoot all of the different ammo at the range for quals, training and practice drills, and quite often mix them to varying degrees (depending on availability of new and recycled carry loads) in my guns, pockets and speedstrips while at the range.
Now, my less frequently carried loads seem to be Speer 125gr GDHP +P and either Rem or Win 158gr LSWCHP/LHP +P ... and then there's the couple of brands of the standard pressure 110gr JHP's I set aside for my 37-2 snub, as I won't subject it to +P loads for range use.
I forget, do you even
own a J-frame snub? Are you an experienced & skilled DA/DAO revolver shooter?
If the answer is no to both questions, instead of putting the cart before the horse and miring yourself down in "research" about perceived or actual ammo differences, consider getting some good training & quality trigger time in with whatever model of J you favor.
After all, the model and weight of the J you own & use may have a very real influence on your selection of ammo, as will your abilities and skillset (especially regarding recoil management, controllability & consistently demonstrated practical accuracy).
In a way, it's often easier for folks who are limited to ammo choices and selection ... depending on market availability, agency policies, etc... since it frees them from the distraction of trying to determine and evaluate any subtle distinctions in ballistic "performance", enabling them to focus more on shooter skills.
Even with all the very good quality modern hollowpoint loads I have access to using in my J's, if I were required to only use standard pressure 158gr LSWC loads starting tomorrow, I'd not lose all that much in the way of sleep. (Okay, being limited to only 158gr LRN would bother me a little bit.
)