meh......it's a Federal hydra-shock, so it's probly as good as anything else. I'd prefer a +P 125 grain in that caliber, but who really knows? Next time I go out and shoot a bunch of people, I'll try them out and let you know how well they work.
Further to my question concerning the home defense Federal 110g lo recoil hydra shok hollows, I look at when my revolver will be loaded with these cartridges, when (god forbid) I actually have to use it, and who will be shooting it. It will be by my bed, loaded for either my wife or myself. If a deviant comes into my home at night and ends up standing by my bedroom door I have no doubt that within the 10 ft or so he will be dead-sorry he picked my house. I and my wife will not question the recoil and see very little reason to have ammo that can knock a polar bear down from 50 ft. I guess we all have our preferences but overkill with big bang bullets is like having to have 400HP in a car when the max speed limit is 65.
Federal 110's are fine; shot placement is the key (trigger control; focus on the front sight, press......). The 158 gr. soft LSWCHP +P is historically one of the better stoppers. You might go shooting and try a few defensive rounds including the Federals and see how you (and your gun for Point of Aim) likes them. Different rounds will shoot to different POA, and have different flash and recoil characteristics. The Buffalo Bore rounds are somewhat flash supressed, which I personally like. (shot some Golden Sabres in my .45 which had a terrible muzzle flash--might've just been the lot, but these are things shooting the ammo a bit you're going to use will iron out for you).
Bottom line, the key is to use what you can shoot the best. I'd personally prefer the 158's and DPX, but that is for my situation. Do please realize that a handgun is probably the lowest power firearm you can use for self defense. In capable hands, it has a reasonably good chance of stopping someone, but in a .38 you're never going to get the proverbial "400 HP" or ammo I'd want to use against any bear.... Nor will you in any handgun. No firearm is ever a guaranteed stopper; handgun energy levels are the lowest on the totem pole (and a .38 is probably the minimum caliber I'd personally use for home defense, even withthe best +P ammo. People have continued to attack even with reasonable .357 hits). A stop w/a .38 will take a good hit, so you do want to practice. Besides, it's fun to go to the range and practice shooting.
Best of luck.
__________________
God gives us free will; the statist tries to take it away
Thank you TXplt for your very good advice. This week I will be going to an outdoor range at the Francis Marion National Forest here in South Carolina, where I live, accompanied by two friends who are familiar with firearms. I will fire my new handgun for the first time and will familiarize myself with my new S&W 642 and hopefully will find the right ammunition that will meet my criteria. I will then take my wife there and have her do the same. Once I have convinced myself that the two of us can deal with a specific home defense ammunition I probably will only use the handgun to just "brush up" on its feel. I pray that I will never ever use the handgun for anything else. Thanks again for your reply.
For home defense this is what I have learned over the years. In some states if you shoot someone over 21 feet away it is no longer considered "self defense". Most home invasion self defense will be considerable closer. In most states if someone is in your home at 2 AM and you didnt invite them and you shoot them you will not be prosecuted. If you ARE however and the persecuting attorney brings out the box of ammo and it says +p on it and they set it in front of the jury it does not look as good as the box of Golddot or Hydrashok thats says right on it "For Home Defense". I prefer my .357 I keep under my pillow, to a .38 for defensive purpose. But have been told the muzzle flash and noise will just about knock the shott out of the shooter. I dont care Im using the .357. I dont know what muzzle flash or noise will hit you from your Federal .38 or any +P rounds but as was stated before blast off a few and see what you think. You and your wife are the ones that matter.
__________________
It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
Luckily, Texas is a Castle Doctrine state. I don't ascribe to any type of "fixed distance" rule -- you do what you need to do to negate the threat at hand. Whether 1 foot or 100 feet. The major difference is that threat generally declines as range increases. But you always do what you need to do. As far as ammo goes, IMHO, you stoke your pistol with the best stuff you can find for what you might encounter (no matter what the label on the box says). Part of my philosophy is to make the right and best decision possible, and worry about justifying it later.
__________________
God gives us free will; the statist tries to take it away
