38 Special Self-Defense Ammo

Self-Defense
1

We recently put together a list of the best 38 Special for self-defense. (I personally carry the Hornady +P 110gr JHP myself.) I’m just checking in to ask the experts if any of our recommendations could be better. We’ve tested out a lot of stuff, but even a warehouse full of ammo has its limitations. Thanks!

Best Overall 38 Special Ammo - Hornady Critical Defense 38 Special +P 110gr JHP
Best Self-Defense - Speer 38 Special +P 125gr JHP
Best For Training - Blazer 38 Special 125 Grain FMJ
Best Hollow Point - Underwood 38 Special +P 125-Grain XTP
Honorable Mention - Black Hills Ammunition 38 Special 158gr CNL
Most Powerful 38 Special Ammo - Federal LE 38 Special +P 158 Grain LSWCHP

5 Likes
2

Hornady Critical Defense for me as well in my S&W J frame.

3 Likes
3

After a ton of internet research and shooting many boxes of about a dozen different SD .38 loads, I settled on the Underwood 125 JHP +P for my 2" J frames.

The big question for me was what would give adequate penetration and expansion with a 2" barrel, and the Underwood seemed to be very consistent in every test I read. It’s also exactly POA=POI at 7 yards in my guns. Palm of the hand test says it’s more stout than almost any other +P I shoot, except the Underwood 158 grain Keith hard cast hunting rounds, which are just brutal in a light weight aluminum revolver.

3 Likes
4

Ok…i have an older mdl 38… In .38 spl, 2", 5 shot…can i use +p loads in it?

3 Likes
5

I used to carry Gold Dot, and still have 5 in one of my speedloaders as an option indoors where over penetration is a factor: .38 sp.+P SpeerGoldDot 135 gr. 222 ft. lbs. I recently switched to a more potent load, .38 sp. +P Buffalo Bore 158 gr. 555 ft. lbs., which is much closer to a .357 mag. For EDC, I prefer to have the most stopping power i can. Yes, placement is a key factor, but so is penetration and wound channel.

6 Likes
6

If in doubt… Don’t. :thinking:

5 Likes
7

Does it say +P on the caliber marking? I’m guessing not, or you probably wouldn’t be asking. The guns rated for +P are supposed to say it right on the caliber mark.

My personal advice, assuming it doesn’t say +P, is no, don’t shoot it, especially extra hot ammo like Underwood or Buffalo Bore.

Exactly what model, and about how old is it? The older Smith and Wesson J frames (like the classic Chief’s Special, M36) were not rated for +P. Having said all that, if it’s a good quality gun, from a good maker like SW, in good shape, it won’t blow up in your face from a +P cartridge, and will probably be fine, but it’s also probably not a good idea to do it often. I think it was about 20 years ago that all the J frame .38’s were up-rated for +P.

5 Likes
8

I use the Hornaday CD 38 Spl +P 110gr FTX or the Sig Sauer 38 Spl +P 125g JHP in my S&W J frame for EDC.

Range use is normally Blazer ammo, or what ever is on sale at the Fleet & Farm store.

2 Likes
9

Only if it says this.

20240805_105003
20240805_1050031920×3413 345 KB

8 Likes
10

Interesting post Ammo. Welcome.

What do you know about?:

Magtech, “short”, 125 gr, lead, round nose (LRN), Boxer primed, brass cased?

Buffalo Bore, +P OUTDOORSMAN, 158 gr, Hard Cast Keith, 1,250 fps?

2 Likes
11

Lately with my stainless Centennial I’ve been smitten by Privi Partisan 158 gr LSWC. It seems to have more “thump” than standard velocity Magtech even though it’s not +P. I understand Privi Partisan loads a LSWCHP but I haven’t seen it for sale in CA.

.38 Spl really depends on things like barrel length, grips, materials and frame size to get the most you can from the point of overall performance.

3 Likes
12

Thanks for the welcome! Intuition tells me those aren’t ideal self-defense cartridges. The short load’s muzzle energy out of Magtech’s 4-V" test barrel is 131 ft lbs. I’m aware that shot placement counts for pretty much everything, but I’d still rather keep striking energy within the 220-300 ft lbs minimum typically advised for self-defense. As for the Buffalo Bore, that seems like it’s going too far in the other direction. I’m not concerened about “overkill” when it comes to self-defense, but wouldn’t a heavyweight hard cast inflict less tissue damage than a JHP and pose a higher risk of over-penetration?

2 Likes
13

I’ve always thought those short loads were for positive ejection in Roscoes with sub 2" barrels.

2 Likes
14

I went with Underwood for all my defensive ammo. .45acp, 9mm, .38spc, .32acp and 7.62x39. I use 4 different bullet designs from Underwood.

I bought this for my wife’s Taurus snubby 2in. Recoil is no worse than any other. I’m sure the velocities were taken from a 4in. barrel.

image

38 Special +P 100gr. Xtreme Defender Solid Monolithic Hunting & Self Defense Ammo

34 reviews

$40.99

The Xtreme Defender is based on the popular Xtreme Penetrator product line. The XD ammunition has an optimized nose flute, total weight, and velocity to achieve a penetration depth up to 18 inches* with a permanent wound cavity (PWC) that is just simply enormous; no other expanding hollowpoint comes close to achieving anywhere near this diameter and volume. Not only is the PWC over 100% larger than any other expanding bullet, expansion is achieved despite being shot through barriers. The solid copper body ensures that wallboard, sheet metal, and automotive glass will have no effect on the Permanent Wound Channel.

*Falling within FBI guidelines

This round offers:

  • A permanent wound cavity (PWC)that is 2 times greater than any expanding bullet
  • Reduced recoil
  • CNC machined from solid copper to overcome barriers to penetration
  • Radial flutes that force the hydraulic energy inward to build pressure
  • Minimal surface area to increase the force at the point of contact and sharp cutting edges that defeat barriers

Nickel-plated brass casings, our nickel plating process provides several key benefits, not limited to but including; improved feeding in all actions of firearms enhanced corrosion resistance over traditional brass, improved cosmetics, and ease of cleanup during reloading. Nickel-plated casings will not tarnish like brass during storage or when in contact with foreign materials such as leather, moisture, and other metals.

As with all of Underwood Ammo™ rounds, we utilize flash suppressed powder so that your vision will not be compromised if it becomes necessary to use your firearm in low light.

While taking advantage of our state of the art testing equipment, this high-performance ammunition is field tested using popular, real firearms that our customers are most likely to own out in the real world with all the elements you would experience.

This ammunition is new production, non-corrosive, in boxer primed, reloadable brass cases.

  • This ammo is for cartridge size .38 Special +P.
  • The bullet is made from Copper.
  • The diameter (caliber) of this bullet is 0.357.
  • This bullet weighs 100 grains.
  • This bullet leaves the barrel at 1300 feet per second.
  • The ammo case is made from Nickel Plated Brass.
  • This ammo is a proven round for hunting.
  • The bullet in this product does NOT contain lead.
  • This round is designed to be supersonic and travels faster than the speed of sound.
  • The muzzle energy of this ammo is 375 ft lbs.
  • This product has been designed to be an effective choice for the ultimate in self-defense applications.
  • The bullet in this product has a Sectional Density, (SD) of 0.112089653788686. SD is the ratio of an object’s mass to its cross sectional area with respect to a given axis. It conveys how well an object’s mass is distributed (by its shape) to overcome resistance along that axis.
  • This ammo IS SAFE to use in a suppressor.
  • The bullet in this ammo has a ballistic coefficient (G1) of - Generally, the higher the coefficient, the more stable the projectile will be in flight.
  • Each box of ammo contains 20 loaded pieces of ammunition.
  • This ammo is manufactured by Underwood Ammo
2 Likes
15

@Ammo Welcome to the community!

1 Like
16

Hi John292.

What is “positive ejection”?

Thanks.

1 Like
17

The ejector rod on a 1-7/8" barrel is a mite too short to fully eject .38 spl brass without a bit of extra “enthusiasm” so the brass falls free during a reload. Shorter brass takes care of the problem
if you find it to be a problem
If you practice reloading enough, getting full size brass to drop away should be second nature.

I don’t know if this would be an issue with 2" barrel K frames.

4 Likes
18

In gratitude to you John292.

19

I am old and old school. I carry a Ruger LCR snub. 16 oz loaded. All of your fancy +P ammo has too much recoil for proper control in the light revolvers. Requires you to slow down or miss. Also inconsistent expansion and or penetration from short barrel velocities. Would work better in my much heavier SP101 357’s. A lot better in my 3". My carry load in the LCR is 148 grain hollow base wadcutters. This was the round carried by a lot of LEO’s in their BUGs. Low recoil and the flat face cuts rather than pushes. Very consistent penetration from 16" to 18" in the FBI test media. Nasty little round with a lot of performance history behind it.

2 Likes
20

As an experiment, Woody our Range Master loaded HBWC backwards, making them very aggressive hollow points. After the experiment he determined them unreliable—lots of instances of separations in the barrel and if the bullet didn’t hit square, it wouldn’t 'shroom and penetration suffered terribly from the inevitable deformation.
These were custom handloads and not match SWCHB which are kittens.

Woody was a great guy, medically retired he had a staff of trustees from the jail to mine lead from the berm, cast, size and lube bullets to reload range ammo for the PD, SO and other agencies (everyone shot .38s back them.) He ran a tight ship but was always generous when it came to helping out new cadets ( like me.)
I miss him!

I settled on 158 gr LSWC because the truncated snout helps during reloading since if one round lines up with the chamber, the whole speedloader will be lined up. The extra .010 grains also registers more with how these guns were optimised with the factory sights. LSWCs are also easier to find.

Another Woody story, I once saw him fire a teacup size group at 50 yards with a Chief’s Special, double action.

2 Likes