.38 HP bullet info needed

[taylor]

I'm looking for a .38 Special bullet HP that will expand at non +P velocities out of a 4"barrel. Can anyone recommend one?

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[Cerberus Group]

Hornaday XTP

 

[dangerranger60]

I'll second the XTP. It did not work well from a snubby but works well from a 4" gun. DR

 

[Spitpatch]

125gr XTP.
Expansion, and accuracy.

 

[arakboss]

 

[oremike]

I like 125gr Speer Gold Dots but they are hard to come by lately. Hornadys would be my second choice and are readily available.

 

[JuglansRegia]

+1 on gold dots and going with lighter weight bullets if you want them to expand out of a .38 special.

 

[titsonritz]

Speer Gold Dots are my go to, but I'm seriously consider switching to some Underwood Xtreme Defenders

 

[oa98pistol512]

HSM plated hollow points

 

[ageingstudent]

I'm looking for a .38 Special bullet HP that will expand at non +P velocities out of a 4"barrel. Can anyone recommend one?

Definitely a 125 gr. Hard to get a 158 to expand below +p velocities. Soft lead semi wadcutter work well If you can find some. I've got decent expansion with XTPs in a 3" barrel m36. Surprisingly. Usually I use some soft 105gr powder coated semi wadcutters though. Expansion is more consistent with the lighter projectile.

 

[DLS]

I'm another in the Gold Dot / XTP camp. Probably in that order but not a big deal to me.

The 125 grain weight is a must in my opinion. In a .38 Special it's hard to get the velocity needed to reliability expand a heavier bullet, unless you move into +P pressures.