SIGforum
Request .38 Special Ammo Advice for Vintage Colt Snub

This topic can be found at:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/430601935/m/8660065464

December 21, 2019, 12:56 PM
hjs157
Request .38 Special Ammo Advice for Vintage Colt Snub
Can anyone advise/recommend a light, standard pressure .38 Special load for casual range use in my 1972 Colt Detective Special? I'm not interested in a carry/defensive round, but rather something which will be easy on the revolver. I have a box of Winchester 110 gr. Silvertip JHP's which chart at around 945 fps at the muzzle. Am I correct in thinking the old tried & true 158 gr. lead semi-wad cutter at 755 fps would be easier on the action than the faster Silvertip load? Thanks in advance for your reply.
December 21, 2019, 01:02 PM
GaryBF
For casual range use, I suggest the tried and true 38 Special round nose. 38 wadcutters would be very gentle, but harder to find and probably more expensive.
December 21, 2019, 01:02 PM
BBMW
This sounds like a job for basic 148 grain full wadcutter standard velocity target rounds (made by anyone and everyone.)

Edit: Garry and I hit the button at the same time. But wadcutter loads shouldn't be hard to find. Here's link to one, which has links to more.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1000192977
December 21, 2019, 01:26 PM
jimmy123x
quote:
Originally posted by hjs157:
Can anyone advise/recommend a light, standard pressure .38 Special load for casual range use in my 1972 Colt Detective Special? I'm not interested in a carry/defensive round, but rather something which will be easy on the revolver. I have a box of Winchester 110 gr. Silvertip JHP's which chart at around 945 fps at the muzzle. Am I correct in thinking the old tried & true 158 gr. lead semi-wad cutter at 755 fps would be easier on the action than the faster Silvertip load? Thanks in advance for your reply.



Yeah 158 grain normal .38 specials should be fine in it.
December 21, 2019, 06:05 PM
YooperSigs
If you can find it: Federal Nyclad.
Excellent load for snubs.


End of Earth: 2 Miles
Upper Peninsula: 4 Miles
December 21, 2019, 07:08 PM
sigfreund
Light and gentle? 148 grain (full) wadcutters.



► 6.4/93.6
December 21, 2019, 09:26 PM
pbramlett
Good timing. I recently acquired a colt army special made in 1921. Was looking for the same info.

Thanks!



Regards,

P.
December 21, 2019, 10:05 PM
Rolan_Kraps
For Cowboy Action Shooting I load 125gr bullets with 2.7 grains of clays. My Detective Special likes them very much.



Rolan Kraps
SASS Regulator
Gainesville, Georgia.
NRA Range Safety Officer
NRA Certified Instructor - Pistol / Personal Protection Inside the Home
December 22, 2019, 11:11 AM
egregore
As long as carry/defense isn't a concern, the full wadcutter target load is fine. (Not because of an ineffective bullet shape, but because they are loaded very light. Also, wadcutters are great for the "in-the-gun" load, but terrible for reloading.) Realistically, even the standard 158 lead round nose is "gentle" enough. I have heard that the 130 FMJ is pretty mild, but jacketed bullets may not be as "gentle" to the bore as lead.
December 22, 2019, 11:59 AM
BBMW
I think Nyclad as a product is long gone. But there are now a good number of powder/polymer coated bullet rounds out there. Some reloaders DIY the coating.

quote:
Originally posted by YooperSigs:
If you can find it: Federal Nyclad.
Excellent load for snubs.