.38 Special?

[BLC]

What are you guys using for self defense and at the range in your snubbies?

[CSACANNONEER]

Hydrashocks and home rolled.

[BLC]

What grain? Lead nose? FMJ?

Noob to revolvers, sorry for the dumb questions.

[CSACANNONEER]

The "grain" you are refering to is just the bullet weight. I tend to shoot my own hardcast +/- 150ish grain wadcutters from a H&G mold. The powder charge, bullet weight, choice of primer, seating depth and the exact gun being fired from all TOGETHER create the terminal ballistics, muzzle velocity and recoil. So, don't get caught up in just one little part of the overall equation. Just find the ammo that shoots best out of your gun and go with it. Also, make sure your gun is OK for shooting hot rounds, +Ps, +P+s, etc before investing any money into them. I have an old Colt Agent that I'd never shoot +Ps from but, I have a Ruger SP101 that I wouldn't hesitate to shoot hotter than recommended loads from.

[sequoia_nomad]

What grain? Lead nose? FMJ?

Noob to revolvers, sorry for the dumb questions.

Are you familiar with semi autos then? Everything is about the same as far as projectiles and affects upon terminal impact.

[bruceflinch]

I like a Bear Creek 158 RN molycoated, Unique powder-middle of the road-load. I like to package them in a pretty nickel +P case!

[XDRoX]

I like WC's. They make neat little holes in paper.

[BLC]

Are you familiar with semi autos then? Everything is about the same as far as projectiles and affects upon terminal impact.

Yes I am, been shooting a long time. This is my first revolver and was just wondering if there was something among the revolver guys.

[p7m8jg]

You will hear a multitude of opinions and recommendations. It all comes down to hitting a vital area (heart, etc) with something you can handle.

If you can do that with even with lowly .38 wadcutter target loads (low recoil) then you're golden. Don't worry about Glaser safety slugs, Cor-bon ++P .38 special loads, etc. Shoot what you're comfortable with, will routinely practice with , and can hit accurately with.

If you do that, you win. No matter what the caliber.

In my opinion, you can buy factory made Winchester 158 grain semi-wadcutters in 38 special +P. Nothing else is needed in a snub-nosed .38 revolver.

[intl1911]

If your gun can handle it I like +p 124 grain gold dot, short barrel.

The round shoots well and can be counted on to expand pretty well (when hollow points expand but that is another story)

I also agree on the wadcutter

[Dark Mod]

Stopped shooting .38 spl a while ago, i exclusively load .357 magnum now. Hydrashocks for HD, and 158 grn plated bullets for the range. Once i got the load dialed in i have no problem hitting the 100 yard plate at Angeles

[BLC]

Picking up a basic S&W 442, +P should not be an issue.

[BLC]

Any issues with plain old WWB 125 gr JHP? Or the 125 gr +P Golden Sabers? I like the Golden Sabers in my autos well enough.

[kurac]

For HD, I like the LSWCHP, they are hard to find though.

[ojisan]

158 LSWCHP +P @

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