38spl. self defense loads

Dick Robinson · 01-02-2003, 07:28 PM

Does anyone have a pet load for a 158gr. jhp in 38spl. I'll be using it in an S&W 637 Air Weight. 2"bbl. 5 shot. This is a carry gun used for self-defense.

NRAJOE · 01-03-2003, 12:01 AM

I use Speer Lawman flatnose bullets.

fred · 01-03-2003, 06:25 AM

Are you loading straight .38 spl or .38 spl +P? I have loaded 125 gr Speer JHP's with 6.0 gr Unique (Caution! MAX load) but I wouldn't try them in my old Colt detective special.

NRAJOE · 01-03-2003, 07:56 AM

I don't reload Fred, use factory.

jerry · 01-03-2003, 08:06 AM

Dick,
I personally wouldn't use handloads for a defense gun, unless the situation was so ugly no one would care. This is a whole other subject we have gone over here before so I won't dwell on it.

Get some wet phone books and run some Winchester 158gn LWCHP through your gun. This is the old FBI load. The velocity is standard. The mushrooming is great, & the leading is not bad (at least in my Blackhawk.) It's worth a try. All your out is a box of bullets and some shooting time.

Calvin · 01-03-2003, 08:06 AM

For .38 Special, I use Federal +P 158-grain Nyclad. Velocity out of a 2" barrel is @760fps (chronographed), and it penetrates 20" into ballistic gelatin with 3 layers of clothing over it from 21 feet. Recoil is a little stiff, but it gets the job done.

Dick Robinson · 01-04-2003, 06:42 PM

Thanks for the input, guys.
You've given me some different directions to go in.
I 've been using a Lyman 358156 gas checked bullet over Bullseye powder with pretty good performance, but I like trying different loads.
I don't ,usually, load to +P, for this gun, because it's so light the recoil is hard to control. It actually feels like the ammo is heavier than the gun.
Thanks for your help, Dick

01-02-2003, 07:28 PM	#1
Dick Robinson Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ft. Myers, Fl. Posts: 33 Trader Rating: (0)	38spl. self defense loads Does anyone have a pet load for a 158gr. jhp in 38spl. I'll be using it in an S&W 637 Air Weight. 2"bbl. 5 shot. This is a carry gun used for self-defense.

01-03-2003, 12:01 AM	#2
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 18,992 Trader Rating: (0)	I use Speer Lawman flatnose bullets. __________________ U.S. Army 1976-1979 237th Combat Engineers Heilbronn, Germany

01-03-2003, 07:56 AM	#4
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 18,992 Trader Rating: (0)	I don't reload Fred, use factory. __________________ U.S. Army 1976-1979 237th Combat Engineers Heilbronn, Germany

01-03-2003, 08:06 AM	#5
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 10,757 Trader Rating: (0)	Dick, I personally wouldn't use handloads for a defense gun, unless the situation was so ugly no one would care. This is a whole other subject we have gone over here before so I won't dwell on it. Get some wet phone books and run some Winchester 158gn LWCHP through your gun. This is the old FBI load. The velocity is standard. The mushrooming is great, & the leading is not bad (at least in my Blackhawk.) It's worth a try. All your out is a box of bullets and some shooting time. __________________

01-03-2003, 08:06 AM	#6
Calvin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 1,991 Trader Rating: (0)	For .38 Special, I use Federal +P 158-grain Nyclad. Velocity out of a 2" barrel is @760fps (chronographed), and it penetrates 20" into ballistic gelatin with 3 layers of clothing over it from 21 feet. Recoil is a little stiff, but it gets the job done. __________________ I've gone to look for myself. If I should return before I get back, please ask me to wait.

01-03-2003, 06:25 AM	#3
fred Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: NC, USA Posts: 175 Trader Rating: (0)	Are you loading straight .38 spl or .38 spl +P? I have loaded 125 gr Speer JHP's with 6.0 gr Unique (Caution! MAX load) but I wouldn't try them in my old Colt detective special.

01-04-2003, 06:42 PM	#7
Dick Robinson Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ft. Myers, Fl. Posts: 33 Trader Rating: (0)	Thanks for the input, guys. You've given me some different directions to go in. I 've been using a Lyman 358156 gas checked bullet over Bullseye powder with pretty good performance, but I like trying different loads. I don't ,usually, load to +P, for this gun, because it's so light the recoil is hard to control. It actually feels like the ammo is heavier than the gun. Thanks for your help, Dick

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