Turns out the Hornady FTX ammo does not do well...
All shots from a 1/7/8" barrel S&W J-frame at 10 ft.
.38 Sp Hornady 110 gr FTX "Critical Defense", ave vel=867fps
BG: pen=12.1"; RD=0.47"; RL=0.41"; RW=109.4gr
4LD: pen=19"+; RD=0.35"; RL=0.55"; RW=109.6gr
On the other hand, the Corbon DPX standard pressure load worked GREAT!!!
.38 Sp Corbon 110 gr JHP DPX (using Barnes XPB all copper bullets), ave vel=1021fps
BG: pen=13.0"; RD=0.52", RL=0.52", RW=109.5gr
4LD pen=12.4"; RD=0.52", RL=0.51", RW=109.7gr
.38 Sp Speer 135 gr +P JHP Gold Dot, ave vel=853fps (gold box)
BG: pen=12.6”, RD=0.54”, RL= 0.46", RW=133.4gr
4LD: pen=13.8”, RD=0.55”, RL=0.51", RW=135.5gr
135 gr +P Gold Dot, DPX, Hornady FTX
At this point in time, the two best loads for 2" J-frames are the Corbon 110 gr JHP DPX standard pressure load and the Speer 135 gr +P JHP Gold Dot.