best 38 special load for defense.

ths78 · 03-25-2003, 10:32 AM

hey guys,

what' s the best commercial load for home defense. I' ll be using a 38. special with a 2" barrel.

Swampdog · 03-25-2003, 03:03 PM

I would say either cor-bons or SPEER Gold Dots.If you reload Load wadcutters in backwards.

TScottW99 · 03-25-2003, 03:24 PM

I like the cor-bons also. Also the federal classic 158gr semi-wadcutter +P' s.

paulyseggs · 03-25-2003, 04:43 PM

i;m a gold dot fan, they seem to always shoot really good for me, although the winchester usa line in my 45 and 357 mag and sig are really accurate with the jhp, i just got some 38 +p and i;m gonna try them out, but you can;t go wrong with any of the big name ammo maker premium line, and some of the " classic" stuff too

Ruger-Redhawk · 03-25-2003, 04:59 PM

Something in 125 grain JHP.Make sure your gun is rated for +P. The older Smith " J" frames were not intended to use +P. Might try Glasser Safety Slugs.
Ruger Redhawk

Mark whiz · 03-25-2003, 08:02 PM

Good advice so far. The Corbons or Gold Dots are a good choice - especially for outside protection. Federal Hydra-Shoks and Winchester Silvertips are also good choices for this too.

For House Defense, the Glaser rounds are the way to go - won' t penetrate walls but will turn the perpetrator' s lungs into swiss cheese.

eldeguello · 03-26-2003, 12:13 PM

Use the Keith 173-grain SWC or thed hollowpoint version of this bullet, and 10 grains of 2400! Work up to this load. You might be able to go higher. I used to use 12 gr., but I hear present-day 2400 is faster than it used to be.

James B · 03-31-2003, 02:34 PM

According to the Marshall report which compiles reports of one shot stops, the 158 grain lead hollow point has the highest percentage of one shot stops with the 38 special. I think several companies load these. I know Winchester and federal do. This load is known as the FBI load. I use them in the +P version. Many gun writers also recomend the full wad cutters in snub nose revolers. These are effective but can hold some disadvantages if a legal case arises as they are known to lawers as Dum-Dums. Handloads of any kind can also cause legal problems as they like to bring up the fact that factory loads were not good enough for this Rambo charactor. These things don' t matter in a life or death case but its something to keep in mind. As of late prosicuters have been going after people who defend their home with a gun big time.