Best Self Defense Carry Load for 642

[RM1]

What do you recommend as the best daily self defense carry load for a SW 642? What is the consensus on Magsafe #38 MAX +P? Speer Gold Dot 135 gr +P HP?

Thanks!

[PUNK]

from another thread

Originally Posted by Glock32

Speer 135gr short barrel

MidwayUSA - Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel Ammunition 38 Special +P 135 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point Box of 20

[Bombard]

Although the pre-fragmented rounds (MagSafe, Glaser) were sold with huge promises of effectiveness, the few cases we have from the real world indicate they don't have the penetration needed to get to vital organs.

The I have the Gold Dot in my 640.

[K-dog.v3]

Remington 158gr +P LSWCHP

[RM1]

Thank you. I am so appreciative of how helpful everyone is on this forum!

[PUNK]

Originally Posted by RM1

Thank you. I am so appreciative of how helpful everyone is on this forum!

It's what we are her for

[sholling]

I'm getting ready to replace the Speer Short Barrel rounds in my 642 with Buffalo Bore 125gr non +P Speer Low Velocity JHC (Part # 20E). In penetration testing the Speer petered out after an inadequate 10-1/2". The Buffalo Bore was good for at least 12" which I think of as the minimum acceptable. I'll take the extra 2" of penetration over the tiny difference in expansion.

Buffalo Bore 125gr Speer Low Velocity JHC

Speer 135 grain Gold Dot Short Barrel

[MCassle]

What would one use in a home setting? I have children and am concerned with penetrating walls and such.

Just picked up a 442 last Monday. Man that is one light gun

[PUNK]

Originally Posted by MCassle

What would one use in a home setting? I have children and am concerned with penetrating walls and such.

Just picked up a 442 last Monday. Man that is one light gun

I see you are a NRA member. Check out the basic gun safety rules

NRA Gun Safety Rules

"Know your target and what is beyond."

[Dutchman]

My favorite 38+p loading is Buffalo Bore 158grain LSWCHP-Gas Check. I chronographed them at 998 fps from my 340pd. No leading.

MidwayUSA - Buffalo Bore Ammunition 38 Special +P 158 Grain Lead Semi-Wadcutter Hollow Point Gas Check Box of 20

[Bombard]

Originally Posted by MCassle

What would one use in a home setting? I have children and am concerned with penetrating walls and such.

Just picked up a 442 last Monday. Man that is one light gun

That's different questions.

Yes, the 442 is a very light gun. I wouldn't use it in a home setting. They are very impressive as a carry gun, but in the home I want something with very controllable recoil. It doesn't matter how much it weighs in the bedroom safe. I like a S&W 66.

For ammunition it's difficult. Anything that will be stopped by 2 layers of drywall will NOT have enough penetration to disable a human. Look at it the other way - no matter what you're shooting, 2 layers of drywall won't slow it down enough make a difference.

The Box O' Truth - The Box O' Truth

[sholling]

Originally Posted by MCassle

What would one use in a home setting? I have children and am concerned with penetrating walls and such.

Just picked up a 442 last Monday. Man that is one light gun

As Bombard said there isn't anything effective that will stop in two layers of drywall. The key is to get everyone together. But even more important is hardening the home so that it does not become an issue. In a good neighborhood motion sensor lights on all sides and a monitored alarm system left on at night will discourage most intruders for a minimal investment. In a questionable neighborhood or an apartment upgraded door hardware, an inexpensive alarm system, and in extreme cases security film on the windows will do wonders.

That said I keep a pistol by my bed that's backed up by a shotgun loaded in a very special way. The first two out the pipe will be #4 buck because I really like all of my neighbors and want to minimize wall over-penetration (I'm in a house), in your case I'd use #9. The next five out the pipe are 00 buck. and there are five slugs on the stock. Escalating degrees of penetration. Two layers of drywall won't stop #9 but it will reduce (but not eliminate) the risk to those two rooms over.

The problem with the "box" is that some of their tests are pure grandstanding. I find some of it useful put I take most with a pound of salt.

[CA PI]

I guess I am a little in the minority here. I don't want over penetration, or even deep penetration. I carry a 340SC as a back up gun, my home defense gun is a model 66f, so I am not looking for anything more then a true "Belly Gun." You know, when I am belly to belly with someone trying to kill me! I don't plan on firing on anyone through a barricade so deep penetration, to me, isn't warranted. I am not trying to start a conflict here. This is just what works for me.

As for what I carry? I carry 124gr .38 Nyclad. For any who don't know Nyclad stands for "Nylon Clad" over soft lead hollow point. For everything I need it for this seems to work well for me.

[Dutchman]

The Nyclad is a fantastic round. There are a lot of designs out there that will do the job of SD if placement is good.

[G36 Steve]

I keep Winchester Ranger in my 3" SP101.

Symbol - Description - MV FPS
RA38110HP+ - 38 110gr JHP+P+ - 1068
2" Barrel Mod 67 S&W
Bare Gelatin, 4 Layers Denim, Heavy Cloth, Wallboard, Plywood, Steel, Autoglass

Penetration - 7.5, 16.3, 7.7, 10.6, 13.4, 10.25, 8
Expansion - 0.68, 0.36, 0.65, 0.54, 0.45, 0.48, 0.55
Ret Wt. Gr. - 110, 110, 110, 107, 108, 105, 89