.38 special carry ammo for self defense

[LowBb]

Hey, I'm sure this has been covered in the past but my searches aren't hitting the jackpot.

I have a very small compact .38 bodyguard J frame that I want to carry. Can anyone recommend some good hollow points? It doesn't have to be +p but if that works best than so be it. I've read tests that show +p isn't that much faster than standard loads.

How about grain weight too?

Thanks.

Btw, this little turkey is a blast to shoot.

[Raoul]

Factory or reloads?

[Slasher]

Speer Gold Dot 135gr +p

[LowBb]

Factory. I don't come across any reloads and don't do it my self. Yet

[Patton]

Any hollow point you can find. Stay away from the bulk Remington and Winchester. They suck and the even say they don't expand. Gold Dots are among the top and then I would take the Federal hydro shok. Remington gold saber is fine and so is the Winchester Xtp. I recently bought some standard pressure HPR (Hornady STX) but I was disappointed to see how low the velocity was. Stick with +p. Edited April 27, 2013 by Patton

[smithra89]

when i carry my ruger lcr i have it filled with critical defense....

[xRUSTYx]

Green Box Remmy's from Wally World :)

[dlm37015]

nyclads

[Trekbike]

I carry Speer Gold Dot 135g + P Short Barrel in my 642 J Frame.

[TNcitizen22]

I carry Speer Gold Dot 135g + P Short Barrel in my 642 J Frame.

This.

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[Patton]

Green Box Remmy's from Wally World :)

The old 125 gr Remington UMC? Other than the shotty reputation of Remington ammo lately, those aren't bad. They expand to ~.5", group decent, go about 900fps in a 2" barrel. The downfall is they seperate from their jacket and they are Remington UMC.

[xRUSTYx]

The old 125 gr Remington UMC? Other than the shotty reputation of Remington ammo lately, those aren't bad. They expand to ~.5", group decent, go about 900fps in a 2" barrel. The downfall is they seperate from their jacket and they are Remington UMC.

 

I fully understand the pro's and con's -- and to be honest -- I've never had a single problem from UMC in .38, 9mm, or 45.  I use quality equipment and carry what I can find affordably and shoot alot.  Prior to the panic -- it was my range ammo as well ... A couple bucks more over FMJ but being able to practice and carry the same ammo is IMO, your best option.  We are talking THOUSANDS of UMC ammo being put through glocks, xd's, walthers, and even my darn LCP ... Never a single hickup ...

 

just my $.02 cents.  Alot of my friends think I'm nuts ... and spend upwards of $1.00-$1.50 a round on defensive ammo.  I'd rather that additional $$$ in more ammo :)

[Patton]

Deleted Edited April 27, 2013 by Patton

[lshel]

125g Hp Federal Nyclad.

[Oh Shoot]

Remington Golden Saber used to be among the top rated, still perfectly adequate, and you can actually find them online, albeit for .75 each or more.

125 gr. +P in .38 Special.

 

CDNN has them in most calibers fairly frequently, for example.

 

PSA has some right now but it's a bit over a buck a round:

 

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ammunition/handgun-ammunition/38-special/remington-golden-saber-38-special-125gr-bjhp-25rds-gs38sb.html

 

 

- OS

Edited April 27, 2013 by Oh Shoot

[Chadastrophic]

Google Hornady Critical Defense Lite. :ph34r:

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[frankmako]

federal hydro shok is what i carry in my model 60.  it is issue ammo and it reads on the box and brass as +p+.  

[DaveTN]

Federal Hydra-Shok, been a proven performer for decades.
 

 

[LowBb]

Nice!! Thanks for all the great imput. I'll move around and see what I can find based off of your suggestions.

Frank, I've been seeing a lot of +p+ ammo lately. Is that like super duper hot? The guys at my LGS didn't know for sure.

[Moped]

For a non +P revolver, you can't beat Federal Nyclads. They shoot excellent groups out of my little Colt Agent and mushroom nicely!  But they are hard to find.

[DaveTN]

Nice!! Thanks for all the great imput. I'll move around and see what I can find based off of your suggestions.

Frank, I've been seeing a lot of +p+ ammo lately. Is that like super duper hot? The guys at my LGS didn't know for sure.

Don’t shoot it in an alloy framed J-frame unless the alloy is Stainless Steel.

 

J-frames aren’t typically range guns so you probably wouldn’t damage a steel or stainless gun with limited shooting. Smith & Wesson made some all stainless J-frames at the request of the Treasury Department that were rated +P+.

 

It you want power; get a .357 J-frame. Keep in mind Police Departments used .38 and .38 +P for many years with good results. Of course there are better calibers, but for the application of a small framed revolver the .38 is fine.

[Patton]

Yes, you really have to watch out for a few that have those aluminum cylinders. I will let you in on a little secret. Today's plus p ammo has about the same pressure as standard .38 special from 45+ years ago.
You should be able to shoot all the +p you want out of a newer Bodyguard. Edited April 27, 2013 by Patton

[Garufa]

Frank, I've been seeing a lot of +p+ ammo lately. Is that like super duper hot? The guys at my LGS didn't know for sure.

 

Really?

[Patton]

Time to find a new gun shop!

[Oh Shoot]

Frank, I've been seeing a lot of +p+ ammo lately. Is that like super duper hot?

 

Prob with +p+ is that there's no actual SAAMI or CIP standard for it, so it's whatever the manufacturer wants to call that. Some may not even average +p maximum, some might be more toward maximum proof pressure for a given gun.

 

- OS