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Thread: Are there any acceptable standard pressure .38 Special loads for defensive use?

  1. #11
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  2. #12
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    If I weren't going to use a +P round, especially the 135 grain Gold Dot, in .38, I would honestly default to a full wadcutter - so mild a person can rapidly place (hope to God) surgical shots, and the square edge bites into bone and tissue. I don't trust any of the non-+P stuff to expand anyway, especially the XTP, it's just a very heavily built bullet, great for pushing fast and hard.

  3. #13
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    A .38 JHP that isn't expected to expand, or at least not much, is just as good as a semi-wadcutter.

    And that's fine. Penetration is what matters.

  4. #14
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    I edited the title of your threat, the "30 Special" was driving me bugnuts.

  5. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by SeriousStudent View Post
    I edited the title of your threat, the "30 Special" was driving me bugnuts.
    Hahaha, serious threat here ;-)

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  6. #16
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    Inverted 148-grain wadcutters always seemed like a viable option. Atomic loads one but it's a +P. You could probably handload a standard pressure round.


  7. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by sinister View Post
    Inverted 148-grain wadcutters always seemed like a viable option. Atomic loads one but it's a +P. You could probably handload a standard pressure round.
    Heard these weren't as accurate as "normal" WCs.

    They do look kind of like the new 130gr HSTs though.

  8. #18
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    Get some Glasier!

    (I'm quietly sneaking away)
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  9. #19
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  10. #20
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    As a few others have said, if not the Gold Dot +p, then I'd go with wadcutters - have carried them before with confidence.

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