Brass Fetcher Ballistic Testing: 38 Special

Products evaluated:

  • • Blazer Lead Roundnose 158gr (3522)
  • • Buffalo Bore Barnes TAC-XP 110gr (20F)
  • • Cor-Bon DPX 110gr (DPX38110)
  • • Federal Personal Defense Low Recoil Hydra-Shok 110gr (PD38HS3H)
  • • Federal Personal Defense Hydra-Shok 129gr (P38HS1)
  • • Federal Gold Medal Match Wadcutter 148gr (GM38A)
  • • Hornady Critical Defense FTX Lite 90gr (90300)
  • • Hornady Critical Defense FTX 110gr (90310)
  • • Remington Multi-Ball 140gr (R38SMB)
  • • Remington Golden Saber 125gr (GS38SB)
  • • Remington Lead Hollowpoint 158gr (R38S12)
  • • Speer Gold Dot 125gr (23720)
  • • Speer Short Barrel Gold Dot 135gr (23921)
  • • Winchester Ranger JHP 110gr (RA38110HP+)
  • • Winchester USA JHP 125gr (USA38JHP)

2" Barrel Revolver

4" Barrel Revolver

20" Barrel Rifle

Suitability for self-defense

Impact velocities used in this report were obtained from an Oehler System 85 using no velocity corrections. All ballistic gelatin blocks used in this evaluation were nominal 10% ballistic gelatin blocks calibrated in accordance with FBI RFP-OSCU-DSU1704 as follows (FBI RFP-OSCU-DSU1704, page 104, 2017):

"Prior to the utilization of any block of gelatin, validation of the block will be tested to assure consistency of the gelatin mixture. This test consists of firing a .177 caliber steel sphere (BB) into the gelatin block at 590 feet per second (fps) +/- 15 fps. This sphere must penetrate a minimum of 2.95 inches but no more than 3.74 inches ".

Selection criteria is based upon the point system for penetration in FBI RFP-OSCU-DSU1704. Scoring is based upon both bare gelatin and heavy clothing performance — color code reflects the lower-scoring performance of the two test events.