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FMJ .38 Special

breechman
Hello, Just got to my hands a couple boxes with Winchester Full Metal Jacket .38 sp bullets. What are they made for? As I have always fire lead or jacketed soft nose. Thank you.

Breech
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Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • mark christian
    If they are 130gr these are generally military loadings. The United States issued large numbers of .38 Special revolvers drung WWII and well into the Viet Nam era and in order to comply with the Hague Agreements (prohibits the use of soft nose or expanding bullets by military personel) a FMJ bullet is needed.

    Mark T. Christian
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  • Hangfire
    Winchester also offered commercially the 130 in their "White Box " ammo.[at least into the late 1980's,and early 90's, when I bought mine]

    Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob
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  • heavyiron
    Hi Breechman,

    The answer by mark Christian is absolutely correct.

    FMJ was also used for military match shooting.

    At least CCI, Federal, Remington, and Winchester currently load a FMJ bullet for general purpose plinking and use, some of which are 130 grain bullets. Historically, the .38 special FMJ loading was very common, but with the advent of more modern hollow point and controlled expansion bullets, the FMJ is not encountered as frequently. Because the FMJ does not possess the stopping power of modern hollow point or controlled expansion bullets, it is not seen as often these other bullets.

    Regards,

    Heavyiron[8D]
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  • river
    I get them at Galyans for $10 and they shoot great
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  • Herschel
    heavyiron, I shot military bullseye competition in the 1970's and never saw or heard of anyone shooting .38 FMJ in competion. By those years no revolvers were being used in military competition and the .38 FMJ rounds would not function in the S & W model 52 and Colt .38 Gold Cup. When and on what course of fire was the .38 Spec. FMJ used by the military?
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  • William81
    There also seems to be more of this type of ammo available again due to many indoor ranges requiring FMJ ammo due to airborne lead issue.

    Two of the indoor ranges I shoot at no longer allow any ammo that is not FMJ, copper coated etc....

    Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Liberals....
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  • beantole
    OK, interesting discussion. Question........if I shoot outdoors at targets only is there any reason I would ever want to shoot FMJ?
    Thanks.

    Bruce
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  • pack rat633
    Yes, to stop those charging elephants!![:D]

    SEMPER FI MAC, SEMPER FI
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  • CFPython
    We were carrying the FMJ .38 ammo in our S&W Model 15's well into the 1980's, at least 1985, when I was in the air force.

    "One day lad, all this will be yours."
    "What, the curtains?"
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  • Iconoclast
    breech - welcome to the zoo!

    The most likely answer is, as others suggested, a military loading.

    However, Winchester (in particular - I've had examples of other makers' as well) *did* use fully jacketed projectiles in several different commercial and LEO loadings.

    In order for me to give you a definitive answer, please provide the headstamp and a description of the projectile's profile.

    "There is nothing lower than the human race - except the french." (Mark Twain) ". . . And liberals / demoMAGGOTS" (me)
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  • breechman
    Thank you all guys, I think the performance as with most of military loads is OK. I will fire them on my Taurus 669 .357 6 inches barrel. I'll see how does it woks.

    Breech
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