FrontSight wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 11:15 am Yeah pickings are very slim, but I have zero doubt that load will get it done if you do your job.

FrontSight wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 11:58 am Sight regulation with a fixed sight revolver is going to be the challenge. The model 49 is factory sighted for a 158 grain bullet at a velocity of just under 700fps out of a 4” barrel. When you go to a lighter bullet, recoil will be lower, so the gun will shoot lower. Bullet weight is always the primary factor in recoil with powder charge second. Since the Hornady load has a higher velocity it will bring the bullet impact up a bit, but probably not to a perfect zero. I would target it at 10 yards. If the bullet is within 2” of zero, I’d say you’re good.

A 110gr load is going to be a challenge to find practice ammo for, but since we’re talking a 1 7/8” barrel, I don’t think you need to sweat it too much. Your practice distances are going to be pretty close, and I think the 130 grain FMJ’s that are most common today will probably hit close enough that it just won’t matter much.

Rust wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 1:20 pm Hornady Critical Defense 38 Special 110 grain FTX +P shot low in my 38s. My notes for the 2" barrel say velocity averaged 865 fps and impact was "way low." 4" barrel averaged 965 fps. Other shooters have reported higher velocities.
Recoil was light.

sikacz wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 3:29 pm

Rust wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 1:20 pm Hornady Critical Defense 38 Special 110 grain FTX +P shot low in my 38s. My notes for the 2" barrel say velocity averaged 865 fps and impact was "way low." 4" barrel averaged 965 fps. Other shooters have reported higher velocities.
Recoil was light.

This box doesn’t say it’s +P. If it is I’ll have to save it till I have a plus P snubby.

Rust wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 3:41 pm They make 2 versions, +P and standard. If yours was +P, it would say so.

FrontSight wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 3:48 pm

sikacz wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 3:29 pm

Rust wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 1:20 pm Hornady Critical Defense 38 Special 110 grain FTX +P shot low in my 38s. My notes for the 2" barrel say velocity averaged 865 fps and impact was "way low." 4" barrel averaged 965 fps. Other shooters have reported higher velocities.
Recoil was light.

This box doesn’t say it’s +P. If it is I’ll have to save it till I have a plus P snubby.

If it doesn't say +P, then its standard pressure. Just off the top of my head, the stated velocity seems right in line with standard pressures. Nothing +P-ish there.

My first gunsmithing job was at a S&W warranty center in Sacramento. So here’s the thing with +P’s in your model 49. A few hundred rounds is just fine and won’t hurt anything but your hand. But I personally would keep it under 500 rounds, because I have dealt with the guns that have had larger numbers of +P’s and its not pretty. The cylinder can handle it all day long, but the frame absolutely will stretch.

That said, I would personally just shoot all standard pressure ammo. Standard pressure .38 Special is quite capable of getting the job done if you do your part; especially considering reliable hollow points. But consider… Standard pressure hollow points are not always easy to find. So just know, in a pinch you can carry +P’s and lose zero sleep about it.

And if I haven’t already said it…Congrats on the 49; that one is just beautiful. I for one just love the design, and of course that beautiful blue steel and walnut makes yours a real looker.

Rust wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 4:37 pm "... the stated velocity seems right in line with standard pressures. Nothing +P-ish there."

I agree about the velocity. The box said +P, and the case heads say +P. So it goes.

wings wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 10:01 pm If you're wondering about terminal ballistics, here's Lucky Gunner's results for that particular round out of a 2" K6s
Mean Velocity 858 fps
Median penetration 14 inches
Median expansion to 0.44 inches
https://www.luckygunner.com/hornady-38- ... 25#geltest

Brassfetcher had similar velocity - 860-870 fps out of a 2" revolver - but lower penetration in 10% porcine gel. 10.4 inches penetration / 0.47 inch expansion in bare gel, 11.6 inches penetration / 0.45 inch expansion into gel through FBI heavy clothing standards.
https://brassfetcher.com/Handguns/38%20 ... ction.html

Typically Hornady performs pretty consistently with good penetration, but expansion isn't extraordinary for any given caliber in defensive gel tests. I've little experience with snubbies and not enough to discuss POA/POI issues, but I concur with the notion that this is a very close-range weapon and under those circumstances, there is not going to be a very large difference. From a defensive standpoint, it should be more than adequate. In close quarters, without ear protection, the noise alone will be debilitating.

CDFingers wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 8:03 am :-)

CDFingers

cooper wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 8:47 am Looking forward to the range report.