38 S&W Ammo Suggestions?

[Guest 85rx-7gsl-se]

I have a Smith and Wesson revolver chambered in 38 S&W. What would you suggest for a defensive carry round? I want to start carrying this as a pocket pistol for situation where my G27 wont work. I currently have it loaded with 148 grain lead bullets but would rather something more oriented towards a defensive carry. Thanks in advance.

[DaveTN]

I use Federal Hydra-Shoks. Great round no matter what caliber.

[Guest 85rx-7gsl-se]

Are they available in 38 S&W?

[Garufa]

Federal does not make any .38 S&W.

[Guest tnfireman]

Federal's website does not show 38SW in any of their handgun ammo lines.

Garufa beat me to it

[DaveTN]

Are they available in 38 S&W?

I don’t know. I wasn’t paying attention and assumed .38 special.

Sometimes reading truly is fundamental.

[Jonnin]

I have hornady in mine, but its not a piece I carry its a "stashed in the house" gun.

[Guest 85rx-7gsl-se]

Yeah thats what I just found out by looking at their site. I guess my other question is would carrying lead round nose ammo be a really bad idea?

[Jonnin]

Yeah thats what I just found out by looking at their site. I guess my other question is would carrying lead round nose ammo be a really bad idea?

Lead bullets are fine in a revolver, they can cause issues in semi-autos as the slide can slam the rounds hard enough to deform them. The type of bullet is one of "those" discussions... that are best avoided. In my opinion, and that is all it is, either get a flat nosed bullet or a hollow point for a 38sp. 38 has plenty of energy to drive a hollowpoint home, and I would say to use them for your SD rounds. There is nothing "wrong" with a round lead bullet, it will surely work over an attacker if you used it for defense, but the rounds I mentioned will do a little bit more damage. Again, there is a reason SD ammo is usually hollowpoint, and a reason hunting ammo is usually a type that expands, etc.

[Guest 85rx-7gsl-se]

I guess my main question would be then...Will I have much of a risk of overpenetration with a round nose lead bullet? Thats all I could find locally for it. Took it to the range for the first time yesterday and ran 25 through it and it fired flawlessly. I was actually a little surprised for a gun of its age. This isnt a long term pocket carry but it is something I already own so until I decide to drop the cash on another gun I want to make this as useful as possible.

[mikegideon]

Slim pickin's out there. Fiocchi has an FMJ listed, but you may have to fire up the drill press if you want hollow points

[Guest 85rx-7gsl-se]

Would I be better carrying with an FMJ or a Lead bullet?

[Jonnin]

If all you can find are solids, use solids. If you plan to carry it a lot, get something better though. I am shocked that your LGS does not have at least one hollowpoint round to buy : there are still many, many 38 snubbies in use for defense/carry. Also, a lot of reports say that ultra short barrel 38s do not expand defensive ammo anyway, and in that case flat nosed solid points is better.

****You said your gun is older, make SURE it can handle +P ammo before you buy +P ammo, or it may damage the gun or worse.

*If the barrel is < 3 inch, consider a solid point ammo.

If it has the barrel and the ability to handle defensive ammo, buy some online, such as buffalo bore or hornady.

If you just want something decent, try winchester's flat nosed rounds, not +p, or remington's flat nose, or fiocchi's semi-jacketd hollow points. One of these will do nicely in an old gun that cannot handle the high pressure.

----------------

edit to answer:

do NOT get a FMJ. It has the highest chance to over penetrate, and is typically round nose, it would be the worst (though still functional) defense round, IMO.

[Guest 85rx-7gsl-se]

I dont think there is even a +P variant of 38 S&W. This is not a 38 special but rather the 38S&W short round.

[Jonnin]

Oh, its not 38 sp?? I missed that entirely, duh. He is correct, you wont find +p nor much at all in ammo for *that*.

[mikegideon]

Would I be better carrying with an FMJ or a Lead bullet?

Don't know. Last time I shot lead round nose, I was younger than you . I would think the lead bullets may flatten a little when they hit, especially if they hit something solid.

[Guest 85rx-7gsl-se]

Oh, its not 38 sp?? I missed that entirely, duh. He is correct, you wont find +p nor much at all in ammo for *that*.

Yeah its an oddball round. Even guns and ammo had nothing for it. Bought a a box of 50 Remington Express 146 grain RNL from bass pro for $30.

[Jonnin]

I did a 10 min google search and all I could find was lead round nose, in about 5 brands, mostly remington & winchester & mag-tec. You may as well go with what you have. If you can reload, consider poking the bullets in backwards to make a flat nose instead, thats probably the best you can do with this caliber unless you are a very hard core reloader (in which case you may be able to adapt something, or not).

[Guest buttonhook]

I am shocked that your LGS does not have at least one hollowpoint round to buy.

Do you even know what a .38 S&W is?? Because I dont think you do.........you are lucky to even find bullets for that gun. You talking like he is shopping for 9mm rounds......there is no selection. you get lead or fmj or you custon reload and thats about it!!

****nevermind I just saw your last post**** yeah .38 s&W and .38 special are very different

[Jonnin]

Do you even know what a .38 S&W is?? Because I dont think you do.........you are lucky to even find bullets for that gun. You talking like he is shopping for 9mm rounds......there is no selection. you get lead or fmj or you custon reload and thats about it!!

****nevermind I just saw your last post**** yeah .38 s&W and .38 special are very different

Yes, I know, I just saw 38 S and brain said 38 Sp. The 38 special commentary can be ignored, my bad!

[dlm37015]

the british did very well with a 200 grain lead round nose for over 75 years

[Garufa]

They simultaneously used the 265 grain .455 Webley. The Brits were all about slow and heavy.

[Guest canebreaker]

I was offed a 38 s&w about 5 years back. I got to checking around for ammo. I was reloading 38 spls, so all I needed was brass. All I could find was 4 boxes of new ammo at a pawn shop in Batesville, ms at 42. per box. Too costly for my blood, I can reload a case of 38 spl for the price of 1 box.

[Guest 85rx-7gsl-se]

Yeah I wouldnt go buy one. However this was passed down to me.

[jcj]

Yeah I wouldnt go buy one. However this was passed down to me.

I have one that will be passed down to me too. I'll be the third generation to own it. An old Smith snub in 38S&W.

My grandfather recently told me he wanted me to go shoot it "to see if it still works." He handed me the original box of ammo that was purchased when the gun was bought many many years ago. My great grandfather shot about 1/2 of that box, loaded it up, and carried it every day until he died. My grandfather never carried or fired it.

I cleaned it, loaded up some rounds from the same box, and ran 10 rounds through it. Flawless!

Sorry for the thread derailment.