Good ammo for .38 snub defense?

Hi guys, New here. I recently picked up a nice little .38 snubby. Don't have a lot of time with it yet, but it's use will be mainly one of defense (or hopefully not!).

Anyway, Ayoob recommends one, but I don't recall what kind of ammo.

I was thinking, with the rather small bore and low speed, heavy and blunt is the way to go. Maybe something around 150gr JWC?

Any advice on the matter? Thanks,

# Hi guys, # New here. # I recently picked up a nice little .38 snubby. Don't have a lot of time with # it yet, but it's use will be mainly one of defense (or hopefully not!). # # Anyway, Ayoob recommends one, but I don't recall what kind of ammo. # # I was thinking, with the rather small bore and low speed, heavy and blunt is # the way to go. Maybe something around 150gr JWC? # # Any advice on the matter? # Thanks, # John #

I usually carry the MagSafe load made for snubbies or Federal 125 gr Nyclad.

#I recently picked up a nice little .38 >snubby. Don't have a lot of time with #it yet, but it's use will be mainly one of >defense (or hopefully not!).

148 gr. wadcutter. Back about 1980, the (in)Justice Dept. extensively studied the question of ammo for such revolvers - as so many of their guys carried them - and found from (many) actual field incidents that this load did far better from snubbies than hollowpoints, due to insufficient muzzle velocity from short barrels to reliably expand a hollowpoint.

# #I recently picked up a nice little .38 >snubby. Don't have a lot of time with # #it yet, but it's use will be mainly one of >defense (or hopefully not!). # # 148 gr. wadcutter. Back about 1980, the (in)Justice Dept. extensively # studied the question of ammo for such revolvers - as so many of their guys # carried them - and found from (many) actual field incidents that this load did # far better from snubbies than hollowpoints, due to insufficient muzzle velocity # from short barrels to reliably expand a hollowpoint.

Right, simple lead wadcutter. And who can complain about accuracy from a target load (not that it is an issue from a defensive snubby)?

Federal has decided to make the Nyclads LEO only.

That should kill the sales.

Dennis Jenkins

> ...

Early hollowpoints were not much more than standard rounds with the point hollowed out. As you say, it took substantial velocity to get them to expand.

Nowadays, I'd be very surprised if wadcutters outperform the dedicated personal defense rounds.

Rick

# 148 gr. wadcutter. Back about 1980, the (in)Justice Dept. extensively # studied the question of ammo for such revolvers - as so many of their guys # carried them - and found from (many) actual field incidents that this load did # far better from snubbies than hollowpoints, due to insufficient muzzle velocity # from short barrels to reliably expand a hollowpoint.

I just read an article in a major gun mag about this very specific question. (Can not remember which mag,...sorry.) They fired many types of loads of .38 into ballistic gelatin bare, and with a denim cover. For years the conventional wisdom has been that the low velocities of .38 snubbies dictated that only soft lead hollowpoints would reliably expand, and that at such low velocities 125 grn. projectiles would penetrate too shallow. Thus, everyone I know who ever carried one at any time only had theirs loaded (as did I) with either 158 grn LSWCHP or 158 grn Nyclad HP. Both of these did well in the test, but the suprise was CCI/Speer Gold Dot, both in 125 grn. AND 158 grn. Each expanded equal to (or in the case of the denim covering) greater than the LSWCHP or the Nyclad. With encouraging results like that, I'm interested in seeing comparisons of other low velocity chamberings in the Gold Dot lineup. I have a Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 spl. that might benefit from these new rounds from CCI/Speer.

Federal only sells the NYCLAD to LEO now.

Too slow a seller to remain in the consumer catalog according to Federal reps.

I'll try the Speer golddot.

Dennis Jenkins

#I just read an article in a major gun mag about this very specific #question. (Can not remember which mag,...sorry.) They fired many types #of loads of .38 into ballistic gelatin bare, and with a denim cover. # For years the conventional wisdom has been that the low #velocities of .38 snubbies dictated that only soft lead hollowpoints #would reliably expand, and that at such low velocities 125 grn. #projectiles would penetrate too shallow. Thus, everyone I know who #ever carried one at any time only had theirs loaded (as did I) with #either 158 grn LSWCHP or 158 grn Nyclad HP. Both of these did well in #the test, but the suprise was CCI/Speer Gold Dot, both in 125 grn. AND #158 grn. Each expanded equal to (or in the case of the denim covering) #greater than the LSWCHP or the Nyclad. # With encouraging results like that, I'm interested in seeing #comparisons of other low velocity chamberings in the Gold Dot lineup. #I have a Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 spl. that might benefit from #these new rounds from CCI/Speer.