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Rem. 38 Spl +P
Manoa-Fisherman
Member Posts: 190 ✭✭✭
I found a few boxes of Remington 38 Spl+P 125gr JHP ammo circa mid-1970s. I used it in my old S&W 66 w/ a 4 inch barrel. Is it still good to use as a self-defense round? How does it compare with the current offerings of today's "zombie" killers?
Comments
However, it doesn't have the marketing zing/appeal of Zombies... which is a good thing in my book.
I had some old 38 Special in nickel cases and about 50% of the primers did not ignite. I disassembled the remainder of live cartridges and reused the cases. As the cartridge increases in age, reliability can become an issue. Also current bullet technology, especially JHP bullet technology, has become so more effective and dependable than what it was in the 1970s.
If this is a self-defense weapon, it might behoove you to keep the piece in reliable condition, i.e., newer ammo which hopefully will be more dependable than ~40 year old ammo.
Having said that, shooters have been able to shoot 100+ year old ammo and it still went boom.
With a self-defense weapon, it comes down to how much confidence there is in old ammunition to protect your life and maybe the life of loved ones. It maybe worth the expenditure of a few bucks for piece of mind.
Best,
Heavyiron
I have a couple cases of it in the garage and shoot some of it now and then and it is 100% reliable. If ammo is stored properly it will remain reliable way beyond 40yrs. The cases should be stamped R-P 38Spl+P and have a jacketed bullet with the tip exposed lead.
Neal
I found a few boxes of Remington 38 Spl+P 125gr JHP ammo circa mid-1970s. I used it in my old S&W 66 w/ a 4 inch barrel. Is it still good to use as a self-defense round? How does it compare with the current offerings of today's "zombie" killers?
Pretty sure a whole bunch of Zombies were killed with .38 revolver rounds in George Romero's "Dawn of the Dead" from 1978. So they still worked OK for that purpose, even then. [:p]
A bit more seriously, I don't think SAAMI pressure specs have changed in that time. So the EXTERNAL ballistics (ie velocity and kinetic energy) of good defensive rounds from the disco era probably aren't significantly different than anything you'd buy off a shelf today.
The biggest practical difference, I'd say, is that bullet DESIGN has improved quite a bit since the 1970s. A good "personal protection" round you buy today is probably still going to outperform a 1970s round because the TERMINAL ballistics are better. Today's round will just expand more reliably, and consistently, holding together better. Whether or not it makes "the difference" obviously depends on where the bullet goes, etc, but all else being equal, today's stuff "should" be better.
That said, stipulating that you can't find good recent manufacture defensive ammo, I think you're still WAY better off with a 1970s era .38 +P round than a modern "target" round.
If you've got a model 66, obviously, the "best" defensive round from a ballistic standpoint is going to be a .357 magnum round, IMO optimally a 158 grain one, but those may not be available either, nor desirable from other points of view (cost, recoil, flash, noise, etc).
Beantown, I do have a small box of 357 Federal Hydra-Shoks if and when things really hit the fan. Until then, I will just use my 158 gr RNL for plinking and the cop issued for the unwanted visitor medicine.
I have to mention, one of my oldest friends came to me one day and asked about the "blank" ammo he had for his 38SPL revolver. I asked him "What blanks was he talking about?", since I never saw one at his home. He pull out a round from his pocket and says this one, as he shows me a wadcutter in his hand. I almost fainted and said to give them all to me and never use those "blanks" again.
Laredo, I have stored the ammunition in army ammo cans in a cool, dry location. I suppose they are in fine shape and will do as good a job as they were intended when originally issued to my friends on the force, as you were.
Beantown, I do have a small box of 357 Federal Hydra-Shoks if and when things really hit the fan. Until then, I will just use my 158 gr RNL for plinking and the cop issued for the unwanted visitor medicine.
I have to mention, one of my oldest friends came to me one day and asked about the "blank" ammo he had for his 38SPL revolver. I asked him "What blanks was he talking about?", since I never saw one at his He pull out a round from his pocket and says this one, as he shows me a wadcutter in his hand. I almost fainted and said to give them all to me and never use those "blanks" again.
Wow, Its a very good thing he didn't use his "blanks" to shoot at someone for fun, that would have been a tragedy. I assume your describing the flat wadcutters used on paper targets.
Your method of storage is just fine. Since you have several boxes of the .38+p ammo I would shoot maybe 20-25 rounds to confirm they are reliable and get accustomed to the recoil.