JCN’s take on modern fighting revolvers

[JCN]

What ammo are you using for defense in one of these 2.5-3 revolvers?

In case it’s real and not snarky, short barrel revolvers ballistically are like 9mm to 9mm+P.

Here is a chrono and gel test I did before:

https://www.glocktalk.com/threads/jc...sting.1698591/



Gun model number, barrel length and gel penetration distance are listed.

Velocities of the 135gr Gold Dot from a J frame



And from a 3” 686



I’d imagine the 2.5” to come right in the middle of that.

[GJM]

Sincere question. Darryl mentioned Speer short barrel 38+P, and I wondered if that was the load of choice, or whether some flavor of .357 was it.

[JCN]

Sincere question. Darryl mentioned Speer short barrel 38+P, and I wondered if that was the load of choice, or whether some flavor of .357 was it.

IMO the short barrel preparations are really important in 38sp and 357 magnum because even the 4” barrels have variable expansion of standard revolver gold dots.

For 9mm, the short barrel Gold Dot isn’t necessary since that bullet expands even with 3” semi-auto barrels.

But the short barrel Gold Dot in 38sp or 357 magnum are good choices depending on your pain tolerance.

With an N frame the 357 magnum loads are okay, but not pleasant or easy to get follow up shots with a J frame.

For j frame size guns, 9mm is easier to shoot with better ballistics.

For 38 special, Federal makes a pseudo wadcutter that is great. But impossible to reload under pressure. So for a j frame I’ll start with those in the cylinder and reload with critical defense because of the pointy tip.



38 special from a short barrel winds up being kind of the power of 380 ACP. Which is why I kind of prefer a bigger frame in a “fighting revolver” to soak up more oomph.

[jetfire]

Sincere question. Darryl mentioned Speer short barrel 38+P, and I wondered if that was the load of choice, or whether some flavor of .357 was it.

That's what I carry in my 2.5 and up guns

[Lester Polfus]

Sincere question. Darryl mentioned Speer short barrel 38+P, and I wondered if that was the load of choice, or whether some flavor of .357 was it.

In my opinion, Darryl is of course correct. I'd also offer the 125 grain Remington Golden Saber and Winchester PDX loads as viable alternatives if the Gold Dot is not available. All those loads are kind of in that "hot 9mm" power band and are reasonable to shoot out of something like a 640 Pro or SP101, are fairly pleasant out of a K-frame weight revolver, and the easy button out of a L-frame or GP100.

The only thing I can tolerate out of the AirLite J frames is wadcutters.

[Norville]

On @JTMcC recommendation I went looking for Dave Parker and found this ENOS thread with pictures on guns. Lots of good endorsement even from competition shooters. I’m going to put one on my “fighting revolver.”

https://forums.brianenos.com/topic/2...elease/page/2/

Looks like “10mm Dave” is Dave Parker in the thread.

Attachment 69980Attachment 69981

I used to shoot pins with Dave years ago, and he shot a 610 while the rest of us used 625s or 25-2s.

[03RN]

I think there are a lot of normal (not short barrel) loads that punch way above 9mm+.

I get 1375fps with remington 125 sjhp

1135fps with AE 158gr jsp

1150 with 140gr xtps

1200 with 170gr Keith

1230 with 158gr swc-wn

All in a 2.75" gun

[Lester Polfus]

I think there are a lot of normal (not short barrel) loads that punch way above 9mm+.

I get 1375fps with remington 125 sjhp

1135fps with AE 158gr jsp

1150 with 140gr xtps

1200 with 170gr Keith

1230 with 158gr swc-wn

All in a 2.75" gun

Oh for sure. For me, it's about finding a performance/recoil compromise, particularly when we start talking about something like an all-steel Jframe like the 640 Pro.

I like the fact that I can shove any .38/.357 into these guns and it will go "bang." I also like that I can tailor the performance and recoil characteristics depending the weight of the gun, grips, and my arthritis.

I'm digging owning a Smith 638, 4" GP100, and Marlin 1894c. If I had to walk out the door with those three guns and an ammo can of assorted loads, I could live with that for the rest of my life for everything except elk hunting. Honestly, if we were hungry enough for elk, I'd load up the 1894c with 180 grain hard cast and give 'er hell.

As circumstances allow, I'm looking to add a 640 Pro, and likely either a 2.75" 66-8 or maybe a 3" GP100.

[03RN]

Woops, double tap

[JCN]

That's what I carry in my 2.5 and up guns

It’s tough because the 135 gr 38 special only makes 220-250 ish ft lbs like a 380.

The 357 mag version makes 360 ft lbs like a 9mm.

9mm revolvers even in short barrels pretty much match their semi-auto counterparts.

LCR here:



So instead of 38, I go with 9mm. But I like 357 mag in barrels longer than 2.5 if the gun is heavy enough.