.38 spc loads

[Eric T.]

Anybody got suggestions for a good defense load (goblin stopper) in .38spc to be used by a woman with a Ruger DA revolver (service six, like a GP100) w/4" bbl?

My wife hates the Colt Gov't .45auto. The Ruger is a .357mag, but those are too much for her, too. Of course, I load 'em HOT n Heavy. :grin:

I've got a coffee can full of .38 brass that I've never used. I think it's time to press out a few hundred.

 

[cdw338]

I load a lot of different calibers, pistol and rifle. I will not
use reloads in a defense situation.

When I took the course for carry. We were told to never use
reloads in defense. Just me, but I will buy my carry loads.

 

[Trapper John]

I don't reload but if you decide to buy some I recommend Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel rounds. In a Ruger revolver they should be very manageable and they expand very well from short barreled weapons.

I do tend to agree with cdw, too. If you load your own a prosecutor will most likely attempt to use it against you in some way. It's just what they do. A big reason I shoot Speer Gold Dot is because it's what some of our local police departments use. That might cross into paranoia land, but it never hurts to consider these things instead of just facing them as they happen.

 

[Kimberman]

Speer 135 gr Gold Dot Short Barrel.

 

[comprifleshooter]

RBCD Performance Plus Platinum Tip. The Reloader's Bench in Mt. Juliet carries them.

 

[Anonymous]

I load a lot of different calibers, pistol and rifle. I will not
use reloads in a defense situation.

When I took the course for carry. We were told to never use
reloads in defense. Just me, but I will buy my carry loads.

Ditto that....nothing will get a scumbag lawyer on your case quicker than a reload.

"But he reloaded his own SPECIFICALLY to kill my client!!!!"

Go to the store & get a box of (25) Speer Gold Dots. You'll never shoot them if you're lucky. That box will last you forever.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't reload but if you decide to buy some I recommend Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel rounds. In a Ruger revolver they should be very manageable and they expand very well from short barreled weapons.

I do tend to agree with cdw, too. If you load your own a prosecutor will most likely attempt to use it against you in some way. It's just what they do. A big reason I shoot Speer Gold Dot is because it's what some of our local police departments use. That might cross into paranoia land, but it never hurts to consider these things instead of just facing them as they happen.

Speer Gold Dot is one of the more technologically advanced bullets. Federal HydraShock are a little outdated, plus they're about twice the price of the Speers.

 

[Eric T.]

I'm just trying to picture the Jackson County, AL District Attorney giving a flying crap whether or not some crackhead was killed by a reload in the middle of a home invasion. The sheriff down there advises the people where my wife lives to keep a gun because the law is 30 minutes away.

But if you guys think it's that important, then I'll go look for some of those solid gold goblin stoppers.

Now then, anybody got a suggestion for a similar reload to practice with?

 

[Anonymous]

It's not the DA you have to worry about, but public pressure ON the DA from community groups. Get one scumbag lawyer firing up the idiot masses, & the next thing you know, the ACLU & the "Brady Bunch" will be down here faster than you can imagine. But secondly, you're buying the factory reliability with Gold Dot's, more so than you would be legal protection. Sorry I can't help you with practice reloads, though.

 

[Eric T.]

Cool DA. I've got Blue Dot. :)

I wasn't sure if the 125's would be enough. I usually load 158's. I was concerned that they may still recoil too much, even in a .38 spc load.