Smith 442 .38 Special carry ammo

[C.W. Clark]

I've done some research but can't find anything conclusive or recent on the matter, what is the best performing carry ammo for a Smith 442 nowadays?

[rd62]

I've done some research but can't find anything conclusive or recent on the matter, what is the best performing carry ammo for a Smith 442 nowadays?

There's a thread in the ammunition sub-forum on .38spl and .380 loads. Its a sticky at the top.

I carry the Gold Dot Short Barrel load in mine. Many others like wadcutters of various flavors.

[blues]

I've done some research but can't find anything conclusive or recent on the matter, what is the best performing carry ammo for a Smith 442 nowadays?

There are several good rounds. Gold Dot 135 gr +P Short Barrel, RA38B from Winchester (130 gr +P), and some folks like wad cutters but I haven't used them for my carry load so can't offer advice there. Hornady Critical Defense and Critical Duty also reviewed well.

[Baldanders]

There are several good rounds. Gold Dot 135 gr +P Short Barrel, RA38B from Winchester (130 gr +P), and some folks like wad cutters but I haven't used them for my carry load so can't offer advice there. Hornady Critical Defense and Critical Duty also reviewed well.

I believe Crit Duty only comes in .357.

https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?39507-38-Special-Snubby-Ammo-Findings-Thoughts-and-Impressions

You could read the whole thing but blues has the TL; DR version. If you don't like the Speer or Winchester JHP offerings, I would go wadcutters.

(I use the Speer load in a 640 pro)

[peterb]

I use the Federal wadcutters. Mild recoil, shoot to point of aim in my 442. I use remans from Precision Delta for practice.

https://www.targetsportsusa.com/federal-gold-medal-38-special-ammo-148-grain-match-wadcutter-gm38a-p-1187.aspx

[RJ]

Federal Gold Medal Match .38 WC here.

https://www.targetsportsusa.com/federal-gold-medal-38-special-ammo-148-grain-match-wadcutter-gm38a-p-1187.aspx

Shoots to POA in my Ruger LCR. These five in the 9/10 ring was at five yards this week:

53564

[spinmove_]

I also carry Federal Gold Medal Match Wadcutters. Mild recoil, they shoot to the sights, and offer adequate penetration.

[JRV]

Federal GMM Wadcutters, if they hit POA.

Federal makes a really soft-shooting 158gr SWC if the wadcutters hit low.

Many J-frames hit way low with anything lighter than ~150 grains. At those bulletweights and velocities (600-680 FPS), expansion won’t occur, but you can ensure adequate penetration (18-22 inches in gelatin).

[Rock185]

The Federal HST 130 grain +P 38 Special would appear to be one of the best performers from the short barrel in Lucky Gunner tests. It averaged 822 FPS in my 2" 642, and hit close enough at 15 yards for me. The Federal 129 grain +P Hydra-Shok I was issued for years was underwhelming in the same tests...

[Hambo]

Depending on what's available when I'm buying ammo, I use one of these:

Gold Dot 135 gr +P Short Barrel
Federal HST 130gr +P
Win RA38B

[revchuck38]

My 642 hits to POA with 125-grain ammo. I ended up with R-P Golden Sabre mainly due to availability. It runs fairly hot, I chronographed it at 941 fps from my gun.

[03RN]

The Federal HST 130 grain +P 38 Special would appear to be one of the best performers from the short barrel in Lucky Gunner tests. It averaged 822 FPS in my 2" 642, and hit close enough at 15 yards for me. The Federal 129 grain +P Hydra-Shok I was issued for years was underwhelming in the same tests...

Clear gel is a bad media to use to choose a carry load.

Penatration numbers are inflated so that 13" is not realistic. Anything from a 2" barrel will be an inconsistent expander which is why WC are often recommended to at least get to the vitals.

[Stephanie B]

I've done some research but can't find anything conclusive or recent on the matter, what is the best performing carry ammo for a Smith 442 nowadays?

I think it's a recoil-dependent question and grip-dependent question. And then there is the question as to whether or not you'll get adequate penetration and/or expansion out of a 2" .38 with standard-pressure loads.

So, for me, it's wadcutters.

[deputyG23]

Ranger 130 grain bonded +P in my 442. Speer Gold Dot 135 grain +P is another excellent choice.

[Pit]

135 grain +P Speer Gold Dot for social purposes. I practice with wadcutters and shoot enough of the GD's to know POA/POI and stay familiar. The J frame is a great weapon for it's uses.

JW

[JodyH]

130gr. +P HST

[Nephrology]

I mostly carry the 135gr +P Short barrel gold dots.

[C.W. Clark]

So it seems like WC are they way to go? It's hard to find good tests out there for the .38. Lack of mass/velocity I suppose

[blues]

So it seems like WC are the way to go? It's hard to find good tests out there for the .38. Lack of mass/velocity I suppose

"A" way to go. Not "the" way to go. You have several good options posted here.

[fatdog]

BB loading of the 110gr Barnes monolithic hollowpoints for me.

[23JAZ]

Federal 148 GMM WC for me.

[spinmove_]

"A" way to go. Not "the" way to go. You have several good options posted here.

This.

You need to find which load shoots to the sights on your gun. Commonly that’s heavier projectiles (148-158gr.), but as you can see that’s not the case for everyone.

[WDR]

130gr Ranger Bonded or 135gr +P Gold Dot here... wouldn't feel terrible about carrying wadcutters either.

[C.W. Clark]

I just ordered some 148 gr Federal WC's. Going to see how these shoot in the 442. From what I've read they're good to go for carry purposes. However the muzzle velocity is extremely low.

[TC215]

I just ordered some 148 gr Federal WC's. Going to see how these shoot in the 442. From what I've read they're good to go for carry purposes. However the muzzle velocity is extremely low.

Where did you order them from? Last time I looked, I couldn’t find them in-stock anywhere.

[C.W. Clark]

Where did you order them from? Last time I looked, I couldn’t find them in-stock anywhere.

Directly from Federal

https://www.federalpremium.com/handgun/gold-medal/gold-medal-handgun/11-GM38A.html

[Duelist]

Directly from Federal

https://www.federalpremium.com/handgun/gold-medal/gold-medal-handgun/11-GM38A.html

Wow. That’s about 2x as much as what I paid the last time I ordered any.

[Guerrero]

Federal 148 GMM WC for me.

Waaaaaaiiiiiit...

I see what you did there (x2)

[C.W. Clark]

Wow. That’s about 2x as much as what I paid the last time I ordered any.

Yes. Way more than I want to spend but need to have something to carry.

[RJ]

Where did you order them from? Last time I looked, I couldn’t find them in-stock anywhere.

Here's where I order mine:

https://www.targetsportsusa.com/federal-gold-medal-38-special-ammo-148-grain-match-wadcutter-gm38a-p-1187.aspx

(for next time; showing out of stock at the moment.

[Bucky]

Federal 148 GMM WC for me.

I had to do a double take on that mag. That wadcutter made this look like a “HK mag” loading at first glance.

[Dave T]

As a brand new deputy sheriff in 1973 my duty weapon was a M28-2 and my off duty weapon was a M-60. I was already a "gun person" and a hand loader so when I read Jeff Cooper's recommended load for the M-60 was 5g of Red Dot behind a 160g SWC I had to try some. That was a jumpy little thing with five of those on board.

I got into a conversation about how the M-60 shot with a former Border Patrolman, and when I got to know him a criminal investigator for the Coronado National Forrest (SE Arizona). He said I should carry target wad cutters. I was loading them to shoot in NRA PPC matches and knew they weren't much of a power house at target velocities. He said if it made me feel better load them backwards, but he warned, don't load them up hot as it would blow the center core out of them and they "wouldn't shoot worth a damn!"

Not exactly 'out of the mouths of babes' but a lot of reading, testing, and listening to others would seem to indicate that old lawman (now deceased) might have known what he was talking about.

Dave

[Dagga Boy]

I use the Short Barrel Gold dot in steel guns and Federal GMM in the Airweight and Airlite’s

[Navin Johnson]

GMM loaded....SB Gold Dot or Critical Defense for reloads.

[revolvergeek]

As a brand new deputy sheriff in 1973 my duty weapon was a M28-2 and my off duty weapon was a M-60. I was already a "gun person" and a hand loader so when I read Jeff Cooper's recommended load for the M-60 was 5g of Red Dot behind a 160g SWC I had to try some. That was a jumpy little thing with five of those on board.

Dave

I bet those stung a bit! I have loaded many thousands of that load in .357 mag brass for practice ammo. I would think that is basically a .38/44 load when special brass.

These days I have been shooting Remington 148 WC in my Airlites and old snubs(just because they are the most readily available WC load at the moment), HST 130 +P in the cylinder of modern Airweight and / or steel snubs, and the Winchester 130 Bonded +p for reloads for everything. I am still a little torn about the .38 HST load, but it shoots really well in all of my revolvers. I need to shot some different loads with the Airlight and decide on a standard pressure reload for it. Some of the various cowboy action shooting loads look interesting with nice flat meplats and smoothly rounded ogives.

[Duelist]

I bet those stung a bit! I have loaded many thousands of that load in .357 mag brass for practice ammo. I would think that is basically a .38/44 load when special brass.

These days I have been shooting Remington 148 WC in my Airlites and old snubs(just because they are the most readily available WC load at the moment), HST 130 +P in the cylinder of modern Airweight and / or steel snubs, and the Winchester 130 Bonded +p for reloads for everything. I am still a little torn about the .38 HST load, but it shoots really well in all of my revolvers. I need to shot some different loads with the Airlight and decide on a standard pressure reload for it. Some of the various cowboy action shooting loads look interesting with nice flat meplats and smoothly rounded ogives.

I tried a cowboy load in .38 last year at an indoor range from my 60-9. The first round made such a smoke cloud, I thought they’d loaded it with FFFg black powder. I had to wait a bit for the smoke to clear. Hit right where I meant to, so I tried again. Same result. Couldn’t really breathe, couldn’t see, had to wait for the smoke to clear to see if I hit the target.

Dumped the rest of the cylinder out and shot something else through the 60 that day. Used up the rest of that box at an outdoor range later on. Very mild recoil, and accurate, but it was the smokiest powder and lube combo I’ve seen outside of shooting Holy Black from a muzzleloader or Navy Colt repro.

[revolvergeek]

Ok, good to know. Not surprising (for most lead bullets in general depending on the lube) given the target audience. I reload all my practice ammo and use coated bullets more and more these days to help keep down lube smoke and reduce cleaning. Probably just use some plain old LSW then. I picked up a couple boxes of Geco FPFMJ a few weeks back that I plan to use to break in my 242. and will have to see how they do.

[camsdaddy]

Ok, good to know. Not surprising (for most lead bullets in general depending on the lube) given the target audience. I reload all my practice ammo and use coated bullets more and more these days to help keep down lube smoke and reduce cleaning. Probably just use some plain old LSW then. I picked up a couple boxes of Geco FPFMJ a few weeks back that I plan to use to break in my 242. and will have to see how they do.
I carry Federal wad cutters in my 642. I had been practicing with ACME coated wad cutters. I recently purchase 1000 148 lead wad cutters to load for practice in my 642. This past weekend I shot a couple hundred through my 642 and my 60. I don't know that I will do that again. The leading was awful. I think I will return to coated. The loads were mainly 2.8 and 3.0 of bullseye and probably two cylinders worth of 3.5 of bullseye. I didnt think they would lead as much as they did.

[revchuck38]

I've had pretty good luck with uncoated, lubed lead bullets in .38 Special, but I'm done with them. Coated lead is just so much easier and cleaner to load and shoot. I've got ~6-700 rounds of coated lead ammo through my 642 since I last cleaned it and there's some powder fouling but that's about it.