My friends and I have been trying to find some 38 spl +P 158 gr JHP for our S&W 640's. We all carried our 640's as our BUG's while on patrol and our Dept gave us Speer or Winchester 158 gr +P JHP's. I have been checking Ammoseek, Gunbot and other places and I haven't seen this stuff listed anywhere. Buffalo Bore makes some 158 gr +P stuff, but I won't use their ammo. I know the 158 gr +P JHP is a Law Enforcement round, but why is it so hard to find? ---Sturgis
I have no idea why the OP won't use Buffalo Bore, but I prefer not to buy their products either. IMO it's one of the most gimmicky over-priced ammo out there. I do enjoy reading the CEO's (or whoever writes the little synopsis of each round's incredible, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious ability) as comic relief every once in a while though. I just find it funny that they tote their products as the best you can buy when in reality it's just another companies bullet and another companies brass with a little extra powder assembled in the same giant styrofoam case for every caliber. At least that has been my experience at $1.30 a bullet. Sorry, rant over, continue with the thread.
Have tried several hundred bb rounds very consistent. At first I did not really believe the claims of 1225 fps out of a short barrel but they are real they hover between 1230 an 1245 out of my SP 101 2.4 very low flash an smoke really like the round. 125 jhp. Also like the 158 gr standard pressure low smoke an flash for my 642 very controllable very accurate. The 147 gr 9 mm penetrators however did not feed reliably in my CZ which has eaten everything else I have ever fed it. The owner or manager I spoke to has absolutely no ability to talk to anyone on the phone very snotty attitude but I want something to carry that really performs an these do.
I have some Win. 158+P JHP bullets that I shot into water a few years ago. They did not expand at all from 2" or 3" barrels. Win. and Rem. LSWCHPs did, although it wasn't impressive.
I like the 158 weight bullets in 38spl. But just get some 158 weight lswc rounds in standard pressure and call it good. +p in a 38 short barrel is only going to get you 35-55 fps more, and with those low velocities, you probably won't get any real expansion from a JHP anyway.
You want straight line penetration, and that's where the lswc rules.
Try Double Tap ammo. They will have what you want, and it's good stuff.
Glockman 10mm, I'm with you to an extent. I like the 158 LSWCHP +P .38 Special for carry. I figure if it expands, great, if it doesn't, so be it. Most of of my shooting is done with home cast 158 gr LSW's. Practice, plinking, field, and hunting. The LSW profile has always done right by me.
It's what I carry in my M642. I've researched numerous loads for .38 special snub nose revolvers and this one comes out on top almost every time. It even narrowly beats the coveted Speer Gold Dot 135 gr. Short Barrel .38 special +P by penetrating slightly deeper (about 14") and expanding to over .60 caliber. It is also very consistent, with moderate recoil in my airweight.
Also unlike many loads, like the Speer load just mentioned, I've had good luck finding these rounds for sale online.
It's what I carry in my M642. I've researched numerous loads for .38 special snub nose revolvers and this one comes out on top almost every time. It even narrowly beats the coveted Speer Gold Dot 135 gr. Short Barrel .38 special +P by penetrating slightly deeper (about 14") and expanding to over .60 caliber. It is also very consistent, with moderate recoil in my airweight.
Also unlike many loads, like the Speer load just mentioned, I've had good luck finding these rounds for sale online.
I agree with you on this. When I carry a factory 38 load it's the GS round. It's got some pop to it, and I like the brass jacket, always have since I started using it in 1995. To my knowledge, nothing beats it off the shelf.
Speer Gold Dot .38 Special +P 135 gr Ammo Test
tnoutdoors9
Uploaded on Jun 24, 2011
Simple penetration and expansion test of the Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel cartridge, .38 Special +P, 135 grain hollowpoint, using a diluted form of SIM-TEST Ballistic Testing Media. This format is comparable to ballistic gel, and includes four layers of denim. Video includes brief overview of the cartridge, recoil shots, and one shot test. Post-shot evaluation shows bullet path through the block, average diameter, and retained weight. Test gun was a Smith & Wesson model 438, 1 7/8" barrel. Advertised muzzle velocity is 860 fps, my 5-shot average was 835 fps
END
Penetration was 12 3/8 in.
FOUR layers of denim.
Ave size of bullet was almost .55 when expanded.
FOUR layers of denim.
This is what I use. It will spank a BG real good.
If you will refer to my previous post with Tnoutdoors9 testing the Remington Golden Saber 125 gr. load you will see that it penetrated about 13 3/4" and expanded to .61 caliber, clearly besting the Speer load. Other ballistics gel test I've seen show the same thing.
Until I can find a load that performs better than Remington Gold Dots in a .38 special +P snub nose, I will keep them in my gun.
I was talking to a friend last night about finding 158 gr +P JHP's. He's a NY/NJ Port Authority Emergency Service Cop and he said that a lot of departments have gone to the 135 gr, instead of the 158 gr bullets. He was politely telling me that I'm an old, retired dinosaur and that nobody is really looking for my ammo any more. I'll try to pick up some 135's, but I'll still keep my eyes open for the 158's. Right now I only have one 50 round box of Winchester 158 +P JHP's, plus what I have Speers in my two 38 revolvers and their speed loaders. Thanks for the info and suggestions.---Sturgis
Hornady 158 JHP is a good round and Non+P. There is a you tube video on this round from a 2 inch and it look very good. Even better than the lead SWC+P 158 Remington.
I really like the old school Remington 158 gr LSWCHP +P ...seems to expand in wet print....While carrying this load in one of my revolvers..I feel very comfortable ..if I'm attacked by wet newspaper... ....just a joke ...this is a old and proven round..from what have heard works well in snubbies also...
But I also have some standard pressure handloads ..put together a few years back using older now discontinued Winchester 158gr HP...that work extremely well (in wet print) at standard pressure velocities...I carry this ammo in my dads older S&W 36 with a 3 inch barrel...
Well yea, the 158 gr LSWCHP +P is known as the "FBI Load, or the "Miami Load", right? This is what I have in my Model 28 'bedside buddy'. I believe this is a very adequate and street proven round.
Natchez Shooters Supplies 1(800)251-7839 has quite a few brands of .38 +P 158gr available including Winchester Super X HP SWC which has been a good performer over the years. I do agree with Glockman and others that particularly in the 158gr +P you really don't gain alot. Good luck!
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