.38 Special Ammo - The Firearms Forum

Rhuga · 10-25-2011, 02:28 PM

Which is the better ammo for a .38 Special with a 4" barrel:
Starfire or any hollow point ammo?

I think I know what fps means for hitting power and penetration (the higher the fps the better the penetration, hitting power, and effective range). But, what does the grain amount of the slug have to do with anything? Does a heavier slug tend to make the bullet go slower and maybe have a tumbling effect? -or-
What grain of hollow point bullet is the best for personnel defense?

user · 10-25-2011, 02:51 PM

I don't think there's much of a difference between PMC's "Starfire" or Federal's "Hydrashock"; I think Remington's "Gold Sabre" is a little underpowered and Hornady's "XTP" is a little overpowered. But they all function pretty much the same way. The big advantage PMC has is that (even though it's made in Korea and shipped over here) it's cheaper - maybe it's because everyone else has to pay them for the use of the patent on the ribbed or pleated design of the semi-jacketed hollow point bullets.

I prefer a bullet weight of 125 grains, myself. It's a toss-up between heavier-bullet recoil and lighter-bullet flatter trajectory. A heavier bullet loses kinetic energy more slowly upon impact, but a lighter bullet's got more K due to higher initial velocity. Either will crush human bone at fifty yards, and will thus work just fine at normal defensive range.

The Duke · 10-25-2011, 03:38 PM

The FBI has done studies on the effectiveness of different bullets, weights and velocities...the last stuff I saw was the Speer Gold-Dot was #1 and the Golden Saber at #2...But that may have been for the .45ACP, I dont remember....Surprisingly, Cor-Bon was well down the list..

Go with the 125g, in my opinion...you may noodle around the FBI website amongst the files on Elvis and Aliens from Mars, you prob should find the latest research..

Josh Smith · 10-26-2011, 05:03 PM

Hello,

The best stuff I've tested for the .38spl is the Speer Gold Dot 135grn Short Barrel load and the dead soft 158grn LSWC+P load.

Snub or 4" doesn't seem to matter.

Regards,

Josh

10-25-2011, 03:38 PM	#3
The Duke Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NW Louisiana Posts: 813	Re: .38 Special Ammo The FBI has done studies on the effectiveness of different bullets, weights and velocities...the last stuff I saw was the Speer Gold-Dot was #1 and the Golden Saber at #2...But that may have been for the .45ACP, I dont remember....Surprisingly, Cor-Bon was well down the list.. Go with the 125g, in my opinion...you may noodle around the FBI website amongst the files on Elvis and Aliens from Mars, you prob should find the latest research.. __________________ Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc'-ra-cy) - a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

10-26-2011, 05:03 PM	#4
Josh Smith V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Wabash IN Contributor Posts: 66	Re: .38 Special Ammo Hello, The best stuff I've tested for the .38spl is the Speer Gold Dot 135grn Short Barrel load and the dead soft 158grn LSWC+P load. Snub or 4" doesn't seem to matter. Regards, Josh

10-25-2011, 02:28 PM	#1
Rhuga Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Henderson, Nevada Posts: 645	.38 Special Ammo Which is the better ammo for a .38 Special with a 4" barrel: Starfire or any hollow point ammo? I think I know what fps means for hitting power and penetration (the higher the fps the better the penetration, hitting power, and effective range). But, what does the grain amount of the slug have to do with anything? Does a heavier slug tend to make the bullet go slower and maybe have a tumbling effect? -or- What grain of hollow point bullet is the best for personnel defense? -->

10-25-2011, 02:51 PM	#2
user Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northern piedmont of Va. and Middle of Nowhere, West Virginia Posts: 1,013	Re: .38 Special Ammo I don't think there's much of a difference between PMC's "Starfire" or Federal's "Hydrashock"; I think Remington's "Gold Sabre" is a little underpowered and Hornady's "XTP" is a little overpowered. But they all function pretty much the same way. The big advantage PMC has is that (even though it's made in Korea and shipped over here) it's cheaper - maybe it's because everyone else has to pay them for the use of the patent on the ribbed or pleated design of the semi-jacketed hollow point bullets. I prefer a bullet weight of 125 grains, myself. It's a toss-up between heavier-bullet recoil and lighter-bullet flatter trajectory. A heavier bullet loses kinetic energy more slowly upon impact, but a lighter bullet's got more K due to higher initial velocity. Either will crush human bone at fifty yards, and will thus work just fine at normal defensive range. __________________ ===== Daniel L. Hawes - 540 347 2430 - HTTP://www.VirginiaLegalDefense.com By the way, nothing I say on this website as "user" should be taken as either advertising for attorney services or legal advice. Everyone having a question regarding the application of law to the facts of their situation should seek the advice of an attorney competent in the subject matter of the issues presented and licensed to practice in the relevant state.