Back in 1982, our testing showed that m.. $34.99 One might say it is the terminal killing potential. Unlike handgun owners that use a semi-automatic, .38 Special shooters find it easy to buy a mix of rounds to suit every need. High velocity was 922 fps, and Hornady's quality control was evident as it produced the smallest average group at 0.82 inch and had a standard deviation of just 2.9. carry ammo and tested it to demonstrate how these modern loads perform. 38 Special +P 110gr Self-Defense JHP. This ammo is readily available at most retailers and can be had for about $20 for a box of 25 rounds. It shoots a 130 Grain FMJ bullet at a velocity of 890 fps. The 357 Magnum generally eclipses the 38+P loads by nearly double in terms of muzzle energy. PolyCase ammo and copper solids deliver amazing penetration.38 Special Revolvers can be highly accurate; There are however several choices to make when determining what .38 to go with. Keep an eye out for new ammunition offerings on the market to make your .38 Special the best it can be. I tested this ammo in my aforementioned Smith & Wesson 642. Shorter barrels offer less performance and have more kick, for example, snubbiess deliver 100FPS off of standard value, and more if it is a lighter-weight bullet. These are the current best of the best… JHP Overview COR®BON JHP is the original “HOT STUFF”! It is great for training or target practice. This is where the rubber meets the road, or the lead meets the adversary. With very few exceptions, current production .38 Special revolvers are easily able to withstand the pressure of +P ammo. For comparison, standard pressure .38 Special loads have a SAAMI specification of 17,000 psi while higher pressure .38 Special +P loads top out at a SAAMI pressure … as well. The Federal American Eagle .38 Special 130 Grain FMJ is a good starting point. Keep in mind that you cannot shoot .357 Magnum ammo from a .38 Special due to increased pressure. Federal 38 Special 110 gr Hydra-Shok JHP Personal Defense Low Recoil 20/Box The .38 Smith & Wesson Special (commonly .38 Special, .38 Spl, or .38 Spc, pronounced "thirty-eight special") is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & Wesson. Because of its excellent standard pressure performance that approached its +P siblings, Hornady's Critical Defense FTX load deserves special mention. To that end, I laid hands on a selection of .38 Spl. All the R&D ammo makers poured into improving the 9mm has benefitted the .38 Spl. Their .38 Special rounds come in standard and +P, and both have 110-grain FTX ballistic-tip bullets, making them an even comparison. Loads that are designated as “.38 Special +P” have slightly higher pressure and velocity than a standard .38 Special load, but still far less than a .357 Magnum. 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