.38 FMJ for SD?

ruger22 · Post by **ruger22** » Thu Jan 10, 2013 12:02 pm

I've got fifty rounds of Hornady Custom 125 grain XTP, a semi-jacketed HP. That is my intended carry ammo.

Just thinking about all the anti-gun politics raging right now, I considered how much worse 130 grain FMJ would be for SD. I've got 800 rounds of that.

I'm not planning a major shootout by any means. I just realize that the worse case scenario right now could be that I have the last .38 ammo I'll ever be able to buy.

bgreenea3 · Post by **bgreenea3** » Thu Jan 10, 2013 5:13 pm

While not Ideal for SD FMJ's still put holes in targets, so if that what you got it'll work. you have to be more aware of pass throughs, though.

Post by **Bullseye** » Thu Jan 10, 2013 6:25 pm

I'm also in the "use what you got" category. Shot placement is key over all else, hit a critical area and you're going to disable an assailant.

R,
Bullseye

ruger22 · Post by **ruger22** » Thu Jan 10, 2013 8:08 pm

Relieved the problem a bit. My usual Hornady source, Sportsman's Warehouse, had two boxes of XTP left. I bent the checkbook for both, so now I have 100 rounds of the good stuff. At least, at 80 cents a shot, it better be!

Even the pricey SD ammo, in a separate section, was mostly gone, so I'm glad I checked.

greener · Post by **greener** » Thu Jan 10, 2013 8:15 pm

Sounds like you have enough to last everything but the next zombie apocalypse.

I'm in the Bullseye camp of shoot what you got. I load 125 gr JHP +p Remington in my 442. I also have 125gr JHP .38 hand loads and usual 158gr lswc target loads. In a pinch, I suppose any of them will do.

The best way idea is to never find out what works and what doesn't. However, one day you might not have that choice.

bigfatdave · Post by **bigfatdave** » Thu Jan 10, 2013 8:44 pm

"Armed" beats "unarmed" by such a wide margin that everything past the point of "armed" is frills.

That being said, I take all the help I can get.

For your cheap ammo purchases, I think that wadcutters and semiwadcutters are available in .38special, a big flat front makes a better substitute for real defensive ammo than round-nose FMJ.

ruger22 · Post by **ruger22** » Thu Jan 10, 2013 8:58 pm

greener wrote:Sounds like you have enough to last everything but the next zombie apocalypse.

I'm in the Bullseye camp of shoot what you got. I load 125 gr JHP +p Remington in my 442. I also have 125gr JHP .38 hand loads and usual 158gr lswc target loads. In a pinch, I suppose any of them will do.

The best way idea is to never find out what works and what doesn't. However, one day you might not have that choice.

I've only got about 900 rounds total now in .38. My 20k .22LR stash is for the zombies.....

........ I could be happy with a lot less, if not for the anti-gun furor in 2008 and now.

I prefer to never be sure what works, but it's nice to have a better possibility. It seems that in my area, you get .38 in round nose, FMJ, or the pricey SD stuff. I don't know if I've ever seen SWC or regular JHP rounds these days.

greener · Post by **greener** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 6:49 am

I reload and lswc and jhp are all I have. I may have 100-150 rounds of "store bought" .357 and .38. If they are available, I may increase my bullet inventory this weekend.

Hakaman · Post by **Hakaman** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 11:27 am

I just loaded up 50 rds of Hornady XTP's for my LCR. I also purchased some supplies, bullets, powder, primers, before I retired, so I am in decent shape as far as supplies. It looks similar to 4 years ago when the dems first took office, we'll be shooting 22lr alot with a little CF mixed in. The hoarders are really digging in.