Cityboy
Member
The answer is: "the load that you can shoot the most accurately with..."
The .38 special is not a slouch cartridge by any means and pretty much any 158-grain bullet will do the job. As with every CCW, shot placement is key and the person that puts the most lead in critical places typically is the one that survives the fight. I don't know anyone that would stand in front of the business end of a snub nose revolver, even with cowboy loads.
IMO, +P in .38 special is not my "go-to" cartridge out for my carry M85 or 605.
For me, they are harder to control and stay accurate at distances beyond 10-feet. If I feel more power would be needed, I would carry a .357 magnum over a +P .38 special.
I practice with my .38 special M85 at 20', with standard loads and I demand accuracy within a 4" group at that distance. Anything more is not acceptable, and in my experience, I get a lot of fliers with hot ammo out of the shorter 2" barrel.
Ozzman,
I agree with you, 158 gr +P is just to hard to control out of a lightweight snubby. I shot one cylinder-full out of a S&W 340 (Scandium frame) once and that was all I wanted of that stuff.
Thanks for your recommendations.
Cityboy