.38 smith and wesson ammo - The Firearms Forum

BETH · 02-23-2011, 10:11 PM

i have to get some ammo for 38 and i noticed some has plus P? any suggestions for target shooting

BETH · 02-23-2011, 10:16 PM

as far as i can see i should not use plus P in a revolver anything special about the ammo or just any 38 ammo

BETH · 02-23-2011, 10:19 PM

wow just looking at prices a lot more than .22 now i know why people are shooting .22's

BETH · 02-23-2011, 10:25 PM

how about winchester 130 gr FMJ?

Juker · 02-23-2011, 10:51 PM

The .38+P is a higher internal pressure round, thus with higher velocity and stopping power. Pistols, including revolvers, rated .38+P can fire either standard rounds or +P, but not vice versa. In other words, don't use it if your .38 isn't thus rated.

Juker · 02-23-2011, 10:52 PM

And the Winchester 130 is standard .38, so you'll be fine there..

JUNKKING · 02-23-2011, 10:53 PM

Any 38 ammo Beth will work fine. The +P is loaded hotter and will recoil much more than normal 38. If you are just plinking or shooting just to shoot the Winchester will do just fine.

BETH · 02-23-2011, 10:55 PM

so it does not matter if u use lead nose? this is going to be a big difference from a .22

Alpo · 02-24-2011, 08:04 AM

Beth, everyone is assuming you have a 38 Special, and you probably do. But you said "38 Smith and Wesson", and that's a totally different caliber.

Cartridge fourth from the left is a38 Smith and Wesson. The one just to its right is a 38 Special. 38 S&W is not only shorter and weaker, but it's bigger around (.362 vs. .357), and won't go in a Special gun.

As to your question, if your gun is 38 Special, and you said "Smith and Wesson" because it is S&W brand, if it was made in the last twenty years then it is safe with +P. +P shoots faster, kicks harder and costs more. For target shooting I see no reason to use it. The Winchester 130 FMJ was developed for indoor ranges that want to cut down on lead dust in the air. That's why the jacket. The main problem with it, as I see it, is that if your gun has fixed sights, it won't shoot to point of aim. Fixed-sight 38s are regulated to the standard 158 grain load, and faster/slower/heavier/lighter bullets won't shoot to the sights.

If I just want to plink, I find the cheapest 158 grain lead bullets I can. They will usually be Round Nose, which are pretty worthless for shooting people, but do a bang-up job on paper targets and tin cans.

If you are serious about targets, you need to find some 148 grain Wadcutters. These are target ammo. The bullet is seated flush with the mouth of the case, and it looks like a soup can. Their only purpose in life is to cut pretty round holes in paper. If you shoot a paper target with a Round Nose bullet, the paper will tear around the hole, making scoring difficult. A Wadcutter will make perfect hole. You can tell exactly where the bullet hit. Wadcutters are loaded VERY light, since they only need enough power to get to the target and make a hole in it. For this reason I recommend them to people that are just learning to shoot a 38. Extremely light recoil and much less noise.

carver · 02-24-2011, 08:40 AM

Beth, assuming that your gun does have fixed sights, they can be adjusted to some degree. This is done by filing the sights, possibily both the front and rear. This should be done by a gun smith, not by just anyone. And the cost isn't high. Just take a box of ammo to the smith, and tell him you want the gun zeroed in for a specific distance. Sometimes these fixed sight guns don't shoot to point of aim with anything you stick in them. But that can be corrected to some degree. See your local smith.

JLA · 02-24-2011, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alpo

Beth, everyone is assuming you have a 38 Special, and you probably do. But you said "38 Smith and Wesson", and that's a totally different caliber.

Cartridge fourth from the left is a38 Smith and Wesson. The one just to its right is a 38 Special. 38 S&W is not only shorter and weaker, but it's bigger around (.362 vs. .357), and won't go in a Special gun.

As to your question, if your gun is 38 Special, and you said "Smith and Wesson" because it is S&W brand, if it was made in the last twenty years then it is safe with +P. +P shoots faster, kicks harder and costs more. For target shooting I see no reason to use it. The Winchester 130 FMJ was developed for indoor ranges that want to cut down on lead dust in the air. That's why the jacket. The main problem with it, as I see it, is that if your gun has fixed sights, it won't shoot to point of aim. Fixed-sight 38s are regulated to the standard 158 grain load, and faster/slower/heavier/lighter bullets won't shoot to the sights.

If I just want to plink, I find the cheapest 158 grain lead bullets I can. They will usually be Round Nose, which are pretty worthless for shooting people, but do a bang-up job on paper targets and tin cans.

If you are serious about targets, you need to find some 148 grain Wadcutters. These are target ammo. The bullet is seated flush with the mouth of the case, and it looks like a soup can. Their only purpose in life is to cut pretty round holes in paper. If you shoot a paper target with a Round Nose bullet, the paper will tear around the hole, making scoring difficult. A Wadcutter will make perfect hole. You can tell exactly where the bullet hit. Wadcutters are loaded VERY light, since they only need enough power to get to the target and make a hole in it. For this reason I recommend them to people that are just learning to shoot a 38. Extremely light recoil and much less noise.

.380, 9X18mak, 9 luger, .38 S&W, .38 spec, .357 mag, .45ACP and .45 colt..

I labeled your cartridges for you ALPO...

BETH · 02-24-2011, 05:25 PM

i am not seeing any pictures-i thought the revolver i bought was a .38 smith and wesson snub or special made in the 60's model 49

BETH · 02-24-2011, 05:28 PM

model 49 smith and wesson 38 special

BETH · 02-24-2011, 05:46 PM

where can i find a picture of different caliber ammo

Juker · 02-24-2011, 06:00 PM

This is one of the best I've found online - if you can click and save it, you might be able to enlarge it on your 'puter using Windows Media or Paint...

BETH · 02-24-2011, 06:00 PM

ok i found a chart not a great one but it will do until i find something better, now i see the difference between .38 and .38 S&W i thought a .38 was a .38?

BETH · 02-24-2011, 06:06 PM

Thanks Juker that's better than the one i found

BETH · 02-24-2011, 06:23 PM

ok if i go for ammo do i get it for .38 special (but it is a .38 s & w special?) boy there is a lot to learn

Juker · 02-24-2011, 06:24 PM

You can go to google, click on IMAGES, and type in bullet chart or .38 comparison or anything you like - amazing what you can find in a flash!

Juker · 02-24-2011, 06:28 PM

Does it look like this?

Juker · 02-24-2011, 06:28 PM

oops - like this?

BETH · 02-24-2011, 06:30 PM

ok thanks-one more question when telling someone about my gun i should say "s & w .38 special" right

BETH · 02-24-2011, 06:30 PM

yup but mine is nickle

Juker · 02-24-2011, 06:32 PM

There's not a whole lot of plain .38 ammo on the market. The bulk of it is .38 special, which is what you want/need.

BETH · 02-24-2011, 06:35 PM

ok i will get ready for the range thanks juker

02-23-2011, 10:11 PM	#1
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,676	.38 smith and wesson ammo i have to get some ammo for 38 and i noticed some has plus P? any suggestions for target shooting -->

02-23-2011, 10:16 PM	#2
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,676	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo as far as i can see i should not use plus P in a revolver anything special about the ammo or just any 38 ammo

02-23-2011, 10:19 PM	#3
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,676	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo wow just looking at prices a lot more than .22 now i know why people are shooting .22's

02-23-2011, 10:25 PM	#4
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,676	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo how about winchester 130 gr FMJ?

02-23-2011, 10:51 PM	#5
Juker Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Land of Lincoln Contributor Posts: 2,872	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo The .38+P is a higher internal pressure round, thus with higher velocity and stopping power. Pistols, including revolvers, rated .38+P can fire either standard rounds or +P, but not vice versa. In other words, don't use it if your .38 isn't thus rated. __________________ SHOOT FIRST. SHOOT SECOND. MOST IMPORTANTLY, BE THE MAN WHO'S SHOOTING LAST.

02-23-2011, 10:52 PM	#6
Juker Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Land of Lincoln Contributor Posts: 2,872	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo And the Winchester 130 is standard .38, so you'll be fine there.. __________________ SHOOT FIRST. SHOOT SECOND. MOST IMPORTANTLY, BE THE MAN WHO'S SHOOTING LAST.

02-23-2011, 10:53 PM	#7
JUNKKING Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Just East of Pittsburgh PA Contributor Posts: 1,784	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo Any 38 ammo Beth will work fine. The +P is loaded hotter and will recoil much more than normal 38. If you are just plinking or shooting just to shoot the Winchester will do just fine. __________________ Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and again!

02-23-2011, 10:55 PM	#8
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,676	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo so it does not matter if u use lead nose? this is going to be a big difference from a .22

02-24-2011, 08:04 AM	#9
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,667	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo Beth, everyone is assuming you have a 38 Special, and you probably do. But you said "38 Smith and Wesson", and that's a totally different caliber. Cartridge fourth from the left is a38 Smith and Wesson. The one just to its right is a 38 Special. 38 S&W is not only shorter and weaker, but it's bigger around (.362 vs. .357), and won't go in a Special gun. As to your question, if your gun is 38 Special, and you said "Smith and Wesson" because it is S&W brand, if it was made in the last twenty years then it is safe with +P. +P shoots faster, kicks harder and costs more. For target shooting I see no reason to use it. The Winchester 130 FMJ was developed for indoor ranges that want to cut down on lead dust in the air. That's why the jacket. The main problem with it, as I see it, is that if your gun has fixed sights, it won't shoot to point of aim. Fixed-sight 38s are regulated to the standard 158 grain load, and faster/slower/heavier/lighter bullets won't shoot to the sights. If I just want to plink, I find the cheapest 158 grain lead bullets I can. They will usually be Round Nose, which are pretty worthless for shooting people, but do a bang-up job on paper targets and tin cans. If you are serious about targets, you need to find some 148 grain Wadcutters. These are target ammo. The bullet is seated flush with the mouth of the case, and it looks like a soup can. Their only purpose in life is to cut pretty round holes in paper. If you shoot a paper target with a Round Nose bullet, the paper will tear around the hole, making scoring difficult. A Wadcutter will make perfect hole. You can tell exactly where the bullet hit. Wadcutters are loaded VERY light, since they only need enough power to get to the target and make a hole in it. For this reason I recommend them to people that are just learning to shoot a 38. Extremely light recoil and much less noise. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

02-24-2011, 08:40 AM	#10
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,301	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo Beth, assuming that your gun does have fixed sights, they can be adjusted to some degree. This is done by filing the sights, possibily both the front and rear. This should be done by a gun smith, not by just anyone. And the cost isn't high. Just take a box of ammo to the smith, and tell him you want the gun zeroed in for a specific distance. Sometimes these fixed sight guns don't shoot to point of aim with anything you stick in them. But that can be corrected to some degree. See your local smith. __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

02-24-2011, 05:25 PM	#12
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,676	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo i am not seeing any pictures-i thought the revolver i bought was a .38 smith and wesson snub or special made in the 60's model 49

02-24-2011, 05:28 PM	#13
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,676	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo model 49 smith and wesson 38 special

02-24-2011, 05:46 PM	#14
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,676	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo where can i find a picture of different caliber ammo

02-24-2011, 06:00 PM	#15
Juker Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Land of Lincoln Contributor Posts: 2,872	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo This is one of the best I've found online - if you can click and save it, you might be able to enlarge it on your 'puter using Windows Media or Paint... Attached Images __________________ SHOOT FIRST. SHOOT SECOND. MOST IMPORTANTLY, BE THE MAN WHO'S SHOOTING LAST.

02-24-2011, 06:00 PM	#16
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,676	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo ok i found a chart not a great one but it will do until i find something better, now i see the difference between .38 and .38 S&W i thought a .38 was a .38?

02-24-2011, 06:06 PM	#17
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,676	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo Thanks Juker that's better than the one i found

02-24-2011, 06:23 PM	#18
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,676	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo ok if i go for ammo do i get it for .38 special (but it is a .38 s & w special?) boy there is a lot to learn

02-24-2011, 06:24 PM	#19
Juker Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Land of Lincoln Contributor Posts: 2,872	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo You can go to google, click on IMAGES, and type in bullet chart or .38 comparison or anything you like - amazing what you can find in a flash! __________________ SHOOT FIRST. SHOOT SECOND. MOST IMPORTANTLY, BE THE MAN WHO'S SHOOTING LAST.

02-24-2011, 06:28 PM	#20
Juker Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Land of Lincoln Contributor Posts: 2,872	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo Does it look like this? __________________ SHOOT FIRST. SHOOT SECOND. MOST IMPORTANTLY, BE THE MAN WHO'S SHOOTING LAST.

02-24-2011, 06:28 PM	#21
Juker Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Land of Lincoln Contributor Posts: 2,872	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo oops - like this? Attached Images __________________ SHOOT FIRST. SHOOT SECOND. MOST IMPORTANTLY, BE THE MAN WHO'S SHOOTING LAST.

02-24-2011, 06:30 PM	#22
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,676	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo ok thanks-one more question when telling someone about my gun i should say "s & w .38 special" right

02-24-2011, 06:30 PM	#23
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,676	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo yup but mine is nickle

02-24-2011, 06:32 PM	#24
Juker Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Land of Lincoln Contributor Posts: 2,872	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo There's not a whole lot of plain .38 ammo on the market. The bulk of it is .38 special, which is what you want/need. __________________ SHOOT FIRST. SHOOT SECOND. MOST IMPORTANTLY, BE THE MAN WHO'S SHOOTING LAST.

02-24-2011, 06:35 PM	#25
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,676	Re: .38 smith and wesson ammo ok i will get ready for the range thanks juker