Dick Unger wrote:
The Speer reloading manual says 'don't use heavier than 146 jacketed in a 38 Special pistol because of low velocity' and no longer lists loads for the 158 bullets I have. I don't have a chrono yet. I assume expansion could be a problem, especially with a sub revolver.
Even with +P loads, a 1 7/8 barrel would probably be a lot less than the 1000 fps listed for the 158 grain bullet. I don't know if I'd use 158s for self defense out of a short barrel. Probably pretty accurate out of a target gun though. I'd be interested in seeing expansion results....
Me, too. Buffalo Bore claims (I don't doubt them, but I haven't yet seen an independent test) 1015 fps out of a 340PD (it has the 1-7/8 inch barrel) for their low-flash 158-grain .357 hollowpoints, and a flat 1000 fps out of their 158-grain semiwadcutter .38 +P loads from a 2" Model 60.
Some of the newer hollowpoints are designed to expand at slower velocities; they've got those, too, in standard pressure .38 loadings for short barrels. I don't know what powders they're using -- they don't say on their website -- but their short-barrelled stuff, like a lot of manufacturers', is designed for and tested on short barrels, which makes eminent sense to me.