What is the best ammo for 38 special?

Best 38 Special Ammo for Self Defense

• Federal +P HST Micro 130 Grain Ammo.
• Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 135 Grain +P Ammo.
• Winchester PDX1 Defender 130 Grain Ammo.
• Federal Hydra-Shok 110 Grain Low Recoil.

How many times can you reload 38 special?

Somewhere between 10 and 15 cycles will stress out most . 38 SPL cartridges, with standard loading. It may look strong, but the brass will become thin, and nearly all cartridges won’t take any more heat treating or annealing.

Is a 38 special powerful?

38 Special is a mild recoiling, low-pressure round that enjoys a very healthy following. The cartridge itself has come in a number of iterations over the years and is the parent case for the more powerful . 38 Special can be safely fired in guns chambered in .

What kind of bullets go in a 38 special?

The . 38 Special comes in a wide variety of bullet types from (FMJ) full metal jacket to (SWC) semi-wadcutter. As with most other common calibers, the FMJ and MC bullets are used for range training and qualifications. In other words, not strong on stopping prowess.

Is 9mm or 38 special more powerful?

The 9mm is ballistically superior to the . 38 Special only produces 264 foot-pounds of force (147-grain bullet at 900 feet per second out of a 4-inch barrel), while standard pressure 9mm can produce 365 foot-pounds of force (124-grain bullet at 1,150 feet per second).

Is there a difference between .38 and .38 Special?

There’s no difference between a . 38 and a 38 special. The former refers to a caliber with a . 357 inch bullet diameter, while the latter is a cartridge variant under the .

Why is 38 Special so hard to find?

38 Special takes small pistol primers, the exact same kind that, you guessed it, 9mm takes. 38 Special is hard to find because of supply and demand. It’s just we’ve need seen this kind of demand before.

How much does it cost to reload 38 Special?

A pound of powder will load about 2,000 rounds, which works out to just under a penny’s worth of powder per round. Primers cost about five cents each, and cast bullets are about six cents each. So, irrespective of brass, . 38 Special rounds cost about 12 cents.

Why is 9mm more powerful than 38 Special?

38 Special because it wouldn’t over-penetrate like the 9mm due to its lower velocity. 38 Special only produces 264 foot-pounds of force (147-grain bullet at 900 feet per second out of a 4-inch barrel), while standard pressure 9mm can produce 365 foot-pounds of force (124-grain bullet at 1,150 feet per second).

Why is there a shortage of 38 Special ammo?

Why is 38 Special so hard to find? The first problem is a demand problem. According to NSSF’s final tally, approximately 8.4 million first time gun owners entered the market in 2020. When they came in, they brought an unprecedented demand for guns and ammo, as well as some interesting purchasing habits.

Is the 38 Special good for self defense?

38 Special are that it’s effective in a self-defense capacity in service-size pistols. It doesn’t produce excessive recoil, so most shooters can accurately shoot it. Simply load, point, shoot and repeat.

Why is it called 38 Special?

Despite its name, the caliber of the .38 Special cartridge is actually .357 inches (36 caliber/9.07 mm), with the “.38” referring to the approximate diameter of the loaded brass case. Thus the .38 Special round and revolvers chambered for it have a unique versatility.

What is the best load for a 38 Special?

The best defensive loads in .38 Special are loaded to “+P” or higher than standard pressure. Some favorite loads include Remington Golden Saber 125-grain JHP , Speer Gold Dot 135-grain JHP, and Winchester SXT 130-grain JHP.

What is the best ammo for a 38 Special?

Not surprisingly, Winchester Ranger Bonded ammunition is one of the preferred types of ammunition for law enforcement agencies and are an excellent choice for .38 Special self-defense ammo.

What is the most accurate 38 Special load?

The 158 is the bullet weight the .38 Special was designed for. The 148 grain HBWC or DEWC match load at low velocity is the most accurate load available out to 50 yards. Beyond 100 yards, the Keith design #358429 170 LSWC probably will bring home the trophy as the most accurate long range bullet ever.

What is 38 Special ammunition?

38 Special Ammo. Most commonly used in revolvers, the .38 S&W Special, or just .38 Special is a centerfire, rimmed cartridge designed by Smith & Wesson.