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Hi Troops,

This morning at the Fort Lauderdale Gun show, I found and purchased an older Smith & Wesson Model 38 Airweight in .38spl. It t appears not to have ever been fired, and there are none of the tell tales that would indicate that it had. There are a couple of small nicks Where a set of keys or pocket change would have made contact with the alloy frame, but the marks are negligible. Other than that it seems to be pretty pristine. I have no intention of firing it more than the obligatory test rounds, and it will be a pocket/belt "carry much, fire rarely" piece.

I am soliciting your expertise here in selection of a decent .38spl defense load that will not attach a kaBOOM to my late life resume.

It should be noted that my lovely and talented wife thinks it "is kinda of cute".
Oh well. She once said that about me too.
I await your advice.
Ari

_________________
I don't associate with or support anti-Semites, Fascists, Marxists, Terrorists or other anti-American scum. Unhappily my President does so with pride.

Ari,

I seem to remember Federal making a standard 38special 110gr JHP HiShok load. It was not +P.
Some of the companies still make a practice round using LRN or JRN bullets in 38special.

Check each companies website for loading and data. I would like to say stick with loadings under 850fps.

edit:I believe Federal also reintroduced their Nyclad in 38special, 125gr. A good load IMO.

Al

_________________
"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."
Calvin Coolidge

Buffalo Bore ammo is one of my favorites.
158gr. SWC http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l= ... tail&p=110

Here are the three standard pressure .38's Buffalo Bore makes http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l= ... _list&c=23

_________________
"Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue."
- Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, US Navy, 16 March 1945.

I'm not expert, but Dr. Gary Roberts is.

Here, Dr. Roberts compares the 38 snub and 380 auto as backup guns (aka, BUGs).

The emphasis of his testing was on terminal ballistics, and results from several 38 special loads are illustrated and discussed.

Hope this helps.

-AC

To those fine fellows that supplied answers to my question regarding "snacks" for my
ny new/old S&W Bodyguard Airweight, I wish to say, thank you very much.
I have opted to try Buffalo Bore Ammo. Having peeked at their website, I must say that the concept and execution appears to be just what I have been looking for.
Ammo generally seems to be in short supply(at least here in South Florida), and eventually, room or no room, I am going to have to begin reloading at home.
Meanwhile, the heavy weight(158gr)HP, low pressure .38spl "Defense" Round is what I have chosen. Trying out the (90gr).380+P, the (124gr) 9MM+P, and the .230Gr .45acp as well.
As Buffalo Bore claims, this is strictly business stuff, and not for adressing the threat posed by paper/cardboard on weekends.

Secondary question, NOT related to ammo.
Which J-frame stocks have a slimmer/thinner profile? Craig Spegel's or Esmeralda's.
Too many QC problems with Eagle. Hogue's not in the ball park with either the first two
mentioned.
Again, Thanx

Ari Ariel

_________________
I don't associate with or support anti-Semites, Fascists, Marxists, Terrorists or other anti-American scum. Unhappily my President does so with pride.

Federal is bringing back the old Nyclad load which I belive is a 125jhp. It was a great wheelgun/snubby load used by quite a few agencies and should be on the shelves pretty soon if not now also the Gold Dot short barrel ammo is great for a snubby but I belive it's a +P load.

CCI/Speer is marketing some ammo specifically for snubs. They call it SB for Short Barrel. Might be worth looking into.
Sounds like you have a cool wife .
Good Luck.

_________________
Dave
Member NRA

[quote="45Driver"]CCI/Speer is marketing some ammo specifically for snubs. They call it SB for Short Barrel. Might be worth looking into.


I am expecting the UPS guy to deliver a package from Buffalo Bore in about an hour or so, with my .38 special Low Pressure Personal Defense (158gr)Loads; along with some
"Mo' hotter snacks" for my 9mm BHP/Sig, .380 Walther and .45acp 1911's.

Sounds like you have a cool wife

Cool Wife? Yeah. I guess she is We have been doing the "marrige thang for about 43 years so I guess she is not only "cool" but a definite "keeper". Either that or she has the capacity to absorb life with me. Regardless, I aint trading.

_________________
I don't associate with or support anti-Semites, Fascists, Marxists, Terrorists or other anti-American scum. Unhappily my President does so with pride.