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Thread: Defense load recommendations for 38 Special 4" Service Revolver

  1. #1

    Defense load recommendations for 38 Special 4" Service Revolver

    My wife is a revolver girl. No semi autos for her. Hard to rack the slide, brass down the front of her blouse, etc -etc. I have not been able to change her mind.

    For various reasons she has settled on carrying a S&W M638 and keeps a S&W M64 with a 4" BBL in her bedside dresser drawer. She shoots both pretty darn well.

    While there are a lot of recommendations for 38 snubby ammo, you don't see many tests or recommendations for defensive loads for 38's with a 4" barrel.

    She is currently using the Remington Golden Saber 125gr +P (GS38SB) which has been discontinued I believe.

    Any recommendations for a new load for her M64 4"?

  2. #2
    banana republican blues's Avatar
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    RA38B Winchester Ranger Bonded 130gr +P
    There's nothing civil about this war.

    Read: Harrison Bergeron

  3. #3
    Quote Originally Posted by blues View Post
    RA38B Winchester Ranger Bonded 130gr +P
    Ditto

  4. #4
    Site Supporter Totem Polar's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by blues View Post
    RA38B Winchester Ranger Bonded 130gr +P
    That’s a solid option. The Speer Gold Dot 135 +P load is another option. Around the house, I’m not opposed to going old school with the “FBI” load (158gr LSWCHP+P) in a 4" gun, myself. I prefer Remington’s version. I’ve also had 4" revolvers on the nightstand loaded with buffalo bore’s hot version of the same thing but, as I’ve mellowed with age, I’ve come to regard the buffalo bore as overkill from a 4" gun. The FBI load still looks good for situations not involving a lot of glass or metal. JMO.
    ”But in the end all of these ideas just manufacture new criminals when the problem isn't a lack of criminals.” -JRB

  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by blues View Post
    RA38B Winchester Ranger Bonded 130gr +P
    Is this essentially the same loading as the PDX1 130gr +P civilian load?

  6. #6
    banana republican blues's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 4given View Post
    Is this essentially the same loading as the PDX1 130gr +P civilian load?
    That is my understanding as I recall.
    There's nothing civil about this war.

    Read: Harrison Bergeron

  7. #7
    The Nostomaniac 03RN's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 4given View Post
    Is this essentially the same loading as the PDX1 130gr +P civilian load?
    I believe the pdx1 is like 50fps slower.

  8. #8
    The Nostomaniac 03RN's Avatar
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    Winchester ranger bonded is my go to round for .38s.

    My second choice would be the speer 135gr +p, then the remington golden sabers.

  9. #9
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    IME, 4” revolvers usually shoot to point of aim with 158-grain loads. My choice is Remington‘s version of the FBI load.

  10. #10
    Underwood loads a Gold Dot JHP 125gr to an advertised 1200 fps. It's very accurate in my Model 10 and the Gold Dot bullet in 9mm works very well at that speed. For my 642 I use the GD 135gr as the Underwood buck's too much.
    -All views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect those of the author's employer-

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