May 2005

Self-Defense .38 Spl. +P Loads: Our Pick Is Winchester’s SXT

Our tests of commercially available .38+P revolver cartridges from Federal, Winchester, and Remington show good to acceptable accuracy results and very manageable recoil.

Our test of .38 Special +Ps included four samples ranging in weight from 125 to 130 grains: the white-box Winchester USA 125-grain jacketed hollowpoint No. USA38JHP; Winchester’s 130-grain SXT hollowpoints No. S38SP; Federal Premium 129-grain Hydra-Shoks No. P38HS1, and Remington’s 125-grain brass-jacketed hollowpoint No. GS38SB.

The .38 Special is one of the oldest (1902) and most popular revolver cartridges still in production. The .357 Magnum cartridge (1935) is also very popular, but its higher cost and significant recoil makes it less popular than the .38 Special. .38 Special can be shot out of .357 Magnum revolvers, but not vice versa.

A good halfway measure for the .38 Special shooter who wants more oomph in his defensive ammo is the choice of shooting higher-pressure +P ammo, as long as you realize it may not be safe to shoot .38 Special +P loads out of all .38 Special revolvers. Consult with your gun’s manufacturer to make sure. So…

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