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 03-01-2009, 10:40 PM | #1 | Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 15 |  Best .38 Home Defense Ammunition
I bought a Ruger SP101 .38 special today, what is the best ammunition for it with regards to home defense?
Is the best ammunition normally the most powerful for a particular firearm? | 
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| 03-01-2009, 11:55 PM | #2 | I'm always 10-8 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: 150 miles NE of Sloppy Joe's Bar, in the "GunShine" State Posts: 19,200 Liked 7 Times on 6 Posts
Likes Given: 6
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Never shot a 38 but I would look at this:
Federal Premium - Handgun Details
You should carry hollowpoint (HP or JHP) ammunition in a defensive handgun. HP ammo has superior stopping power over full metal jacket (FMJ or Ball) or round-nose lead, and stopping power is what you're looking for! __________________ .
 .. Colt 11101110111..MEMBER: FAAM, NRA, GOA, DAV, USSV, SAE
Colt, everything else is stamp collecting! - cane
"Given ten days for a project, a good engineer spends nine days figuring out how to finish it in one day."
Resistance is not futile.
It's voltage divided by current (R=V/I).
"If you don't know what you're doing, don't do it on a large scale." | |
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| 03-01-2009, 11:58 PM | #3 | Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 15 |
Quote:
Originally Posted by canebrake
Never shot a 38 but I would look at this:
Federal Premium - Handgun Details
You should carry hollowpoint (HP or JHP) ammunition in a defensive handgun. HP ammo has superior stopping power over full metal jacket (FMJ or Ball) or round-nose lead, and stopping power is what you're looking for! |
Does the higher grain size mean a more powerful or better bullet?
What you sent is a 110 grain bullet but I have seen 158 grain bullets, Is the 158 grain more powerful or have more stopping power? | |
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| 03-02-2009, 12:06 AM | #4 | I'm always 10-8 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: 150 miles NE of Sloppy Joe's Bar, in the "GunShine" State Posts: 19,200 Liked 7 Times on 6 Posts
Likes Given: 6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BeatlesSteve
Does the higher grain size mean a more powerful or better bullet?
What you sent is a 110 grain bullet but I have seen 158 grain bullets, Is the 158 grain more powerful or have more stopping power?
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You need to compare different cartridges, there is a lot of physics that make up the best selection.
What you want is maximum energy release.
Go here and read the thread and if you need more info (or a translation) post back here and I'll help. 
http://www.firearmstalk.com/forums/f30/newb-question-11148/#post73701__________________ .
.. Colt 11101110111..MEMBER: FAAM, NRA, GOA, DAV, USSV, SAE
Colt, everything else is stamp collecting! - cane
"Given ten days for a project, a good engineer spends nine days figuring out how to finish it in one day."
Resistance is not futile.
It's voltage divided by current (R=V/I).
"If you don't know what you're doing, don't do it on a large scale." | |
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| 03-02-2009, 12:25 AM | #5 | I'm always 10-8 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: 150 miles NE of Sloppy Joe's Bar, in the "GunShine" State Posts: 19,200 Liked 7 Times on 6 Posts
Likes Given: 6
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__________________ .
.. Colt 11101110111..MEMBER: FAAM, NRA, GOA, DAV, USSV, SAE
Colt, everything else is stamp collecting! - cane
"Given ten days for a project, a good engineer spends nine days figuring out how to finish it in one day."
Resistance is not futile.
It's voltage divided by current (R=V/I).
"If you don't know what you're doing, don't do it on a large scale." | |
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| 03-02-2009, 12:28 AM | #6 | Outdoor Sportsman Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: McCordsville, IN. 46055, INDIANA Posts: 1,215 | More power by bullet weight?
Hay Steve, back at you- A heavier listed (on the box) bullet weight, does not amount to more stopping power. The grain weight only refers to the weight of the projectile that is going down the barrel. Most of the new defense loads use a lighter than max grain bullet driven at a lot faster speed (FPS), for more actual energy. An old guy named Hatcher did a study years ago, and found that a .357-125gr.JHP bullet had just about the same "Killing" power as a .45acp-230gr.FMJ bullet, when shot at "Test" sheep. Cane is ++ on his advise to you-there are a lot of factors involved. Find the load charts listed on the Net, and you'll see what we mean. Very good  question, though __________________
NRA Life MEMBER 1976 | |
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| 03-02-2009, 12:39 AM | #7 | I'm always 10-8 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: 150 miles NE of Sloppy Joe's Bar, in the "GunShine" State Posts: 19,200 Liked 7 Times on 6 Posts
Likes Given: 6
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Here's an explanation of weight vs muzzle velocity with respect to energy release;
http://www.firearmstalk.com/forums/f35/big-thunder-ii-vs-fenrir-1911-460-rowland-build-off-10752/#post75149
And PLEASE, before you go shooting any +P loads, call Ruger and ask them (not the guy you bought the gun from!) if +P (factory hot loads) are safe to use in your specific model! Their answer will tell you a lot about the quality of your gun!
DO NOT USE +P AMMO UNTIL YOU CALL RUGER!
__________________ .
.. Colt 11101110111..MEMBER: FAAM, NRA, GOA, DAV, USSV, SAE
Colt, everything else is stamp collecting! - cane
"Given ten days for a project, a good engineer spends nine days figuring out how to finish it in one day."
Resistance is not futile.
It's voltage divided by current (R=V/I).
"If you don't know what you're doing, don't do it on a large scale." | |
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| 03-02-2009, 12:47 AM | #8 | Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 15 |
Quote:
Originally Posted by canebrake
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If Ruger tells me that I can't use +P ammo but the guy at the gun shop told me that I could then I should be able to get a refund, shouldn't I? | |
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| 03-02-2009, 01:01 AM | #9 | I'm always 10-8 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: 150 miles NE of Sloppy Joe's Bar, in the "GunShine" State Posts: 19,200 Liked 7 Times on 6 Posts
Likes Given: 6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BeatlesSteve
If Ruger tells me that I can't use +P ammo but the guy at the gun shop told me that I could then I should be able to get a refund, shouldn't I?
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Ruger is a very reputable firearms manufacture and my bet is the response will be the same as most of this level of producers provide, "You should have no problem using +P ammo but we recommend you not use a steady diet of +P. Keep in mind with any use of increased performance ammo you will produce accelerated wear to your firearm."
Call them and see what they say. If their answer is NO, ask them why their dealers are saying the opposite and I did not get the firearm I was sold!
Let them figure out how to keep you as a loyal customer! __________________ .
.. Colt 11101110111..MEMBER: FAAM, NRA, GOA, DAV, USSV, SAE
Colt, everything else is stamp collecting! - cane
"Given ten days for a project, a good engineer spends nine days figuring out how to finish it in one day."
Resistance is not futile.
It's voltage divided by current (R=V/I).
"If you don't know what you're doing, don't do it on a large scale." | |
|
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| 03-02-2009, 01:02 AM | #10 | Outdoor Sportsman Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: McCordsville, IN. 46055, INDIANA Posts: 1,215 | Hold on !!
Quote:
Originally Posted by BeatlesSteve
If Ruger tells me that I can't use +P ammo but the guy at the gun shop told me that I could then I should be able to get a refund, shouldn't I?
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Make the phone call, that Cane suggested FIRST before you make NEGATIVE assumptions. I think that you will probably be POSITIVELY surprised!   __________________
NRA Life MEMBER 1976 | |
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