Self-defense rounds for .38 spl that's not +p

Today I learned (with joy) that my landlady owns a revolver for SD. (She has some ... um, issues, is a hard core democrat, and I was worried that if she or her husband ever became aware that I'm carrying a 9mm, I'd be kicked out.)

However, she seems to know little about it, and keeps it loaded with FMJ ball ammo. So, I'm coaching her on better ammo, and we'll go to a range soon to shoot it (and mine).

I owned .38 spl for years: SW 642 air weight. But it was rated +p, so I carried Speer Gold Dot 135 gr. But that round comes only in +p, and her revolver is an older service revolver, not rated for +p.

I'm curious if any here use an older non+p revolver in .38 spl, and if so, what you recommend for SD rounds.

This Hornady seems a good contender.

http://www.hornady.com/store/38-Special-125-gr-XTP-American-Gunner/

 

Show her Hornady Critical Defense. I run this in most of my handguns, my 38 included. They have several loads for it, including a Lite load for women.

http://www.hornady.com/store/critical_defense/

 

That indeed looks like a better round than what I posted above. Thanks.

Fortunately for her, she's a big woman, so no need to consider a lighter round.

 

What length barrel ? If it's a snub nose the +P is the way to go.

 

Agreed, but it's not a snub. I haven't seen it yet, but she assures me it's not a snub. She called it "an older service revolver". I suspect it's a 3" or 4" barrel.

 

This is what my wife's 642 Airweight is loaded with. It is a great round for more comfortable shooting but not ball ammo.

 

I'm curious, JAD: why 90 gr instead of 110?

 

lower recoil for the wife?

 

My wife uses standard pressure 158 grain with hornandy XTP bullets.

 

I have no idea. My ballistics knowledge is crap. I read a review on these rounds a few years ago and it sounded like it might be worth a try for my wife, especially in light firearms (or my wife's hands). I tried it first and thought it was a good round. Very accurate and definitely lighter recoil. She found it "acceptable". Translated that means it is not too bad for her to hold the gun and pull the trigger.

Give a box a try and you might like them in that 642. I also have the 442. I like both pistols. I keep one dedicated to just her lockbox and it is the one she practices with.

 

Identify the gun first, then start looking at ammo. "Old Service Revolver" could be a 20 yr old Ruger or a 70 yr old Colt or an RG from somewhere in between.

Big differences in what will work best between the many possibilities.

 

JAD, did you ever hang out on THR with this user name? Just a guess.

For the record, this is not for my revolver .. long ago sold (9 mm pistol @ 4 o'clock),
but for the land lady ( a misnomer ... more like a viking bitch)

 

It's basically a .380 load in a .38 package. Nothing wrong with that. .380 does just fine.

 

@Stone - No I never hung out at THR. The only other forum that I am registered on is a Toyota 4Runner forum that I haven't visited in months. When it comes to the internet I guess my bubble is very tiny.

 

Since you mentioned shes a Democrat, I would steer her toward rat shot.

 

140 grain Speer JHP over 8 grains Blue Dot. In my 4 and 6 inch .38 specials, the load is accurate, adequate.

 

Get a couple boxes of 148 gr wadcutter and have her shoot at least part of a box so she knows what to expect and you can see what she's capable of. Low recoil, low cost and remarkably effective...

 

^ That's a great idea. I'll suggest it to her. I'm actually on the way out of here this week, moving to a different town. But she can do it on her own.