Anyone use and rely on standard pressure .38 Special loads for self-defense? If so, which one or ones do you prefer? I normally carry +Ps, so just curious.
I rely on whichever ammo I can get my hands on nowadays. Beggars can't be choosers, and I don't lose a wink of sleep over Plus P or some sort of fancy bullet.
If those weren't available I'd carry Win. STHP, Federal wadcutters, or GD short barrel; in that order. All of those are standard velocity except GD sb, which are +P.
The still make standard pressure Nyclads, but you can't find them. The standard pressure Hornady Critical Defense aren't bad. Those are the only two I'd trust in a short-barreled revolver.
For S/D the Nyclad isn't bad, esp in a 3" or longer gun. Any of Buffalo Bore's std pressure would be solid as well, especially their 158gr lswchp....basically performs exactly like the Rem +p FBI load. For std pressure in a short bbl I really prefer heavier bullets, lead and WC or SWC bullet profiles.
No particular favorites for me. I frequently carry a 2 inch barrel revolver with 125 grain +P Black Hills in one and CorBon in the other. But I feel alright with standard pressure loads too.
70 years ago quite a few police departments relied on 38 special for self defense. A lot of them used 158 grain semi-wadcutters (SWC) or 158 grain round-nose flat-points.
70 years ago quite a few police departments relied on 38 special for self defense. A lot of them used 158 grain semi-wadcutters (SWC) or 158 grain round-nose flat-points.
The BB 158gr LSWCHP would be my choice for non +P. My choice is the older Rem or Fed 158gr LSWCHP +P load. Nothing sexy about them, they just work in 2"-3" guns, even better in a 4" gun.
I carry standard pressure Nyclads in my S&W snubs with confidence. I have shot them into test mediums and shot a deer with broken legs. it killed it humanely and expanded well.
Anything will be better than the ole widow maker, 158gr LRN. The 110gr loads will shoot a lot lower, but really, any 125-158gr jhp is miles ahead of the 158gr LRN.
I've got a nice 37-2 DAO that I want to keep tight and in good condition, so I only run standard pressure loads in it.
I picked up a couple of 110gr JHP's to use (I'm not nearly as brand fussy as I was a young man & firearms instructor, although I still prefer the newer designed hollowpoints, given my choice ).
If I couldn't get more of those (especially due to the ammo production versus buying/hoarding conditions of the market for the last couple of years :upeyes: ), I'd be fine carrying one of the major brand 158gr LSWC standard pressure loads.
I'd even carry one of the major American brand 148gr target WC loads, if need be.
That 37-2 only sees occasional range training/quals, though, and the rest of the J's I use for much of my training/quals see a mix of different +P loads for much of their training/qual/carry use. Being a long time revolver shooter, I acclimated myself to +P's in the little 5-shot snubs rated for their use. It's easier in the steel guns than in the increasingly lighter models, granted.
I carry standard .38 HPs....You can use a +P round in a standard .38 as long as you don't shoot them for practice on a regular basis, and just use the +P for SD.
so what is the deal with the 110 grain +p,it seems to be the only thing on the shelf in my area. for what I have been hearing, 125 - 158 are better weights for the 38 spl. I agree that modern ammo, and hollow point designs being used are better options than the old lead round nose, so why am I finding these 110 grain light weights on the shelf, are they lighter recoil?
Anything will be better than the ole widow maker, 158gr LRN. The 110gr loads will shoot a lot lower, but really, any 125-158gr jhp is miles ahead of the 158gr LRN.
I carry standard .38 HPs....You can use a +P round in a standard .38 as long as you don't shoot them for practice on a regular basis, and just use the +P for SD.
I use 158 grain hornady custom, xtp loads in my sp101 and lcr. I prefer them because they hit point of aim, the xtp is a tried and true bullet, and they are usually available.
I was partial to Remington 125gr lswchp for a long time but I happened on a good deal for some 125gr +P Gold Dots and bought a mess of 'em which I carry now.
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