Best .38 snubbie load?

landmonster · Jan 28, 2008

I'm curious, what is the current best of the best for .38 snub loads?

Steelheart · Jan 28, 2008

Best is a difficult question to answer. Some of the best performing loads are 158gr LHP (from various manufacturers), Corbon DPX and Speers 135gr Gold Dot. All are +P loads.

If you look around in the Factory Loads section this has been discussed before I think.

Steelheart

lizzyp93 · Jan 29, 2008

Check out the Speer Gold Dot short.....specially designed for snubbies

FrankG · Feb 6, 2008

I have had very good results in the game field with a .38 Sp 2" loaded with target wadcutters. That is on small game. Frank

Qwiks draw · Feb 6, 2008

Now ya gone and done it. ;D :evil: Asking an ammo question. Members, staff, and students of the shooting arts... what happens when a ammo question is asked? HOMEWORK gets assigned.

Professor Qwiks is in the house.

Get some snacks and and a tall beverage because this may take a while.

Wait until you ask about holsters! Just kidding of course but this is one of the top 3 asked questions here.
Herr Professor is now going on to other things. ;D

Robby · Feb 8, 2008

Gee, I am glad I am out estimating storm damage, and have no reading time right now. OH Qwiks, can you send all that information to my attention for later reading!!! ;D

Steelheart · Feb 9, 2008

Robby said:
Gee, I am glad I am out estimating storm damage, and have no reading time right now. OH Qwiks, can you send all that information to my attention for later reading!!! ;D

Thats easy, just save a direct link to this thread.

Steelheart

Robby · Feb 9, 2008

Steelheart said:
Thats easy, just save a direct link to this thread.

Steelheart

Oh yeah! I think I was kidding, because I already have saved my fav links, on 45 colt ammo, PT111 stuff, and anything to do with my Rossi!

Just having some Friday fun, with the man with all the facts and links.

Jahfakin · Feb 10, 2008

landmonster said:
I'm curious, what is the current best of the best for .38 snub loads?

i don't think anyone knows what the best of the best is......But I use DPX and Golden Sabre rounds in my .38 Snubbie.

Qwiks draw · Feb 10, 2008

Robby is a smart guy. Intelligent , too. He pulls people's legs and not their fingers. ;D

;D

Robby · Feb 11, 2008

Qwiks draw said:
Robby is a smart guy. Intelligent , too. He pulls people's legs and not their fingers. ;D ;D

Well, I get in enough Horse Manure, with stirring the pot!!! :yipee: HERE!!!

:thumb: :devil:

Dave · Feb 19, 2008

Are the best rounds that are stated here street proven or are they the best because somebody hit the target with them?

Robby · Feb 19, 2008

No one here, has talked about actual usage against another person.

But there are evaluations of the damage done, in various testing media, that simulate the damage to a person.

The various media, print and TV types have run tests and posted the results. If you search enough you can find any answer you want.

As a rookie myself, I take to heart many of the posts concerning ammo used, then decide what I want to carry in my guns.

Qwiks draw · Feb 19, 2008

What the staff and I post are from what actually has worked out in the real world for defense shootings for the most part. Well documented data at that. Members have done that to a goodly extent,too.

I save all the old tactical and police journals that I can find with documentation to back up the records for the last 4 decades. Not definitive by any means, but a good cross section of data.

Others here follow the same process or have actual experience first hand. NYPDin AZ has some of that as do others here.
I can say that I have actually had to hold a gun over 30 times on criminals. The weird part was this was helping a sheriff's deputy over a three year period in the old neighborhood. Never had to fire in anger, but came close a number of times.

So it behooved me to start researching deeply long ago what worked and what didn't in the various calibers. I pass on the workings of others who have been there and done that and what transpired.

Have seen first hand what some of the FMJ or JHPs can do to a body. Not many, but a few. Granted it's been a while.

There are others here who have a lot of first hand experience and say so. They pass on their knowledge to others selflessly.

There is a thread on Glaser Safety Slugs for example in the Factory Ammo forum just recently. Many have no idea the history,make up, or the how to of these rounds. So a little history and other data was let loose for others. Nothing substantial, but things a lot of people may need to know.

This may be obvious to some, but not to others, so am putting this in here.

Steelheart · Feb 19, 2008

Steelheart said:
Best is a difficult question to answer. Some of the best performing loads are 158gr LHP (from various manufacturers), Corbon DPX and Speers 135gr Gold Dot. All are +P loads.

If you look around in the Factory Loads section this has been discussed before I think.

Steelheart

The various 158gr +P LHP's have a track record that goes for decades. The GD 135gr +P is an evolved load from their 125gr that has been optimized for short barrels, I believe this load was engineered for the NYPD for their 38 snubs. The DPX hasn't had any actual use that I've heard of but all the testing done has turned out great.

FWIW I use the 158gr LHP's when I carry my 38.

Steelheart

texastaurusguy · Feb 19, 2008

This month's issue of Handguns that has articles solely written by Mas Ayoob shows a new "New York" 38 special load that is supposed to be as good as it gets for that caliber. Essentially, it's manufactured by Speer and it's a 135 (yes, 1-3-5) grain +P with some kind of super expanding hollowpoint. It's apparently designed mostly for snubs but it's going over very well in the law enforcement community.

Steelheart · Feb 20, 2008

That would be the Speer Gold Dot 135gr +P load that was developed for short barrels.

Steelheart

Funshooter · Feb 20, 2008

I have some actual info on the Glaser Safety Slugs. One of the women (nurses) that I work with was telling me that her husband accidently shot himself in the hand with a .38 GSS. The round evidently hit him in the palm under the 3rd and small finger. From her discription, it just about took the bottom of the hand off. Very nasty, but the Docs managed to save it after a few operations. Sounds like it would be a nasty wound, but I don't know about penitration at much distance.

rightherenc · Oct 13, 2008

Anything that is fragmented is going to have poor penetration. Period. Stay away from these rounds and stick with some of the ones mentioned above used by LE.

texastaurusguy · Oct 13, 2008

rightherenc said:
Anything that is fragmented is going to have poor penetration. Period. Stay away from these rounds and stick with some of the ones mentioned above used by LE.

I think that might be too much of a blanket statement. There are situations where frangible rounds are worth considering. For example, if you live in an apartment, I'd seriously consider a Glazer or Magtech round, due to overpenetration. Also, if you have children in the house, it's worth considering. You own the bullet once you pull the trigger, until it comes to a complete stop. Firing at a bad guy is one thing, but what if your first shot misses? What if you get into some kind of shootout? I'm just saying that in certain scenarios, this type of ammo could solve the problem of overpenetration. They shouldn't be discounted completely.

Best .38 snubbie load?

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