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Opinions on Federal "FBI" load vs Reminton

10K views 25 replies 13 participants last post by  amd6547 
#1 ·
I want to try out the FBI load in my revolver, but the classic Remington 158gr +P LSWCHP seems to be hard to find. I wonder if it's still in production as it's not listed on their website.

I've heard the ballisitics of Winchester's version were the same but it used a harder lead that was not as suited for snubbies. Well, I've never read anything about the Federal version. Anyone have user experience or info on ballistics tests for it?

Regards
 
#2 ·
Howdy Mr. scwv67,

I moved your thread to the ammo section, as it is more likely to be seen by members here, who can answer your question sir.

I wish I could answer your question, but I can not. I used JHP ammo (issued duty rounds) when carrying a J frame Smith. But we do have many members, including Mr. Steve, who can give you insightful replies to your question.

twoguns
 
#3 ·
Hello. It doesn't appear discontinued on their site and is designated "R38S12". Here is the link showing it "compared" to another of their loads, one that does appear discontinued. I have no clue why some ammunition sites (and gun sites) are made so difficult to navigate but they sure are...at least to me. Anyway, here's the link:

http://remington.com/comparison.aspx

The Remington version does seem softer than Winchesters by far. At least, it is easier to indent with my thumbnail...noticeably so. Federal's version does not seem quite as hard as the Winchester. As far as I can tell this makes no difference except in the snubs. When used in a 3" or longer barrel, any of these three seem to work just fine.

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/38%20Special%20158gr%20LSWCHP.htm

Best.
 
#4 ·
twoguns said:
Howdy Mr. scwv67,

I moved your thread to the ammo section, as it is more likely to be seen by members here, who can answer your question sir.

I wish I could answer your question, but I can not. I used JHP ammo (issued duty rounds) when carrying a J frame Smith. But we do have many members, including Mr. Steve, who can give you insightful replies to your question.

twoguns
Thanks, Twoguns. I should have perused the forum categories better!

Regards
 
#5 ·
Stephen A. Camp said:
Hello. It doesn't appear discontinued on their site and is designated "R38S12". Here is the link showing it "compared" to another of their loads, one that does appear discontinued. I have no clue why some ammunition sites (and gun sites) are made so difficult to navigate but they sure are...at least to me. Anyway, here's the link:

http://remington.com/comparison.aspx

The Remington version does seem softer than Winchesters by far. At least, it is easier to indent with my thumbnail...noticeably so. Federal's version does not seem quite as hard as the Winchester. As far as I can tell this makes no difference except in the snubs. When used in a 3" or longer barrel, any of these three seem to work just fine.

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/38%20Special%20158gr%20LSWCHP.htm

Best.
Thanks, Mr. Camp for all the user reviews that you have done. I believe I've hit most of them. I agree some websites seem to be user unfriendly. After some digging, I found the page on R's site that lists their other ammo offerings. Thanks for the link!

I'm still considering a purchase of the Federal stuff as one of the surplus ammo sites seems to have a good deal on bulk amounts of it.

Regards
 
#6 ·
I still have a small stash of each of the 158 LSWCHPs left in my personal inventory. I think that they were once the thing to have. Now, I am not so sure and I find myself with REM GS and SPR GD more often than not.

I am uncertain as to its expansion and know that it leads up my barrels pretty fast. I think I even have some with the Nyclad coating but have not shot that to see if it leads as badly as the non coated stuff.

We all seek the magic bullet but the 158 LSWCHP still had a good reputation.
 
#7 ·
[color=#000080 said:
oberstlt[/color]]I still have a small stash of each of the 158 LSWCHPs left in my personal inventory. I think that they were once the thing to have. Now, I am not so sure and I find myself with REM GS and SPR GD more often than not.

I am uncertain as to its expansion and know that it leads up my barrels pretty fast. I think I even have some with the Nyclad coating but have not shot that to see if it leads as badly as the non coated stuff.

We all seek the magic bullet but the 158 LSWCHP still had a good reputation.
I managed to find some Remington +P LSWCHP's yesterday and will give them a test along with BB's version I ordered from Cabela's. Admittedly I haven't done any type of testing on new vs old bullet styles, and thus will not rule out something like a DPX, but I tend to lean towards the "bigger is better" camp. Of course, I have been wrong more than once!

Regards
 
#12 ·
Hello. Within the last month, I chronographed the .38 Special +P "FBI Load". Nothing really exciting or surprising but since I had dug up the figures to try and help a guy on another site, I figured I'd record them here as well:

Average velocities are based on 10 shots fired 10' from the chronograph screens.

Remington 158-gr. LHP +P:

S&W Model 642: 812 ft/sec
S&W Model 042: 828
S&W Model 638: 831
S&W Model 442: 820
S&W Model 642: 822 (This is a different Model 642.)

Average of these five S&W snubs ( 1 7/8" barrels): 823 ft/sec with this load.

Federal 158-gr. LHP +P: (Lot #K31P2)

S&W Model 642: 779 ft/sec
S&W Model 042: 786
S&W Model 638: 796
S&W Model 442: 781
S&W Model 642: 783 (This is a different Model 642.)

Average of these five S&W snubs (1 7/8" barrels): 785 ft/sec with this load.

Winchester 158-gr. LHP +P:

S&W Model 642: 789 ft/sec
S&W Model 042: 810
S&W Model 638: 825
S&W Model 442: 814
S&W Model 642: 797 (This is a different Model 642.)

Average of these five S&W snubs (1 7/8" barrels): 807 ft/sec with this load.

Best to all.
 
#14 ·
With all the high-tech loads being promoted, most data goes to the 158gr. LHP+P .38 load. Hornady promotes a new bullet, but no stats yet. From what I've gleaned from 42yrs. LEO experiece, most Forensic guys I know who are gun-intelligent(as in what would I want to carry) like the Federal Nyclad loads in .38/.357/9mm! They always seem to have expanded very well and kept the MEs busy!
 
#17 ·
Burgs,

While not a real snubbie fan, the 158 Gr. +P SWCHP has always been my "go to load". When I got my Charter Arms that was dad's it came with a box of 158 Gr. RNL...man, have times changed.

Con't complain to much, Burgs. You can always use a 147 gr. HP in your 9mm. If a 158 is what you realy want look for some old IMI FMJ's in that weight. I believe Fiocci may have made that weight at one point, too.

Wes
 
#18 ·
Wes:

My 9mm handguns really like the 147 grain projos. They are extremely accurate. I have not seen the 158 FMJ 9mms in some years. They were developed as I recall for use in suppressed pistols as they were subsonic. I once had the opportunity to shoot a magazine of them thru a S&W M59 Hush Puppy up at Little Creek. They were accurate and fed reliably.

STA
 
#19 ·
weshowe said:
Burgs,

While not a real snubbie fan, the 158 Gr. +P SWCHP has always been my "go to load". When I got my Charter Arms that was dad's it came with a box of 158 Gr. RNL...man, have times changed.

Con't complain to much, Burgs. You can always use a 147 gr. HP in your 9mm. If a 158 is what you realy want look for some old IMI FMJ's in that weight. I believe Fiocci may have made that weight at one point, too.

Wes
They still make it. It shoots just as good now too. I have found this load to be in the top 3 most accurate rounds when fired in any 9mm pistol. It also has a bit more velocity than the IMI load. Privi makes a clone load to the IMI 880fps load. The Fiocchi load is still subsonic, but at 940fps it is a tad faster.

My current stock came in the white box and had a NATO headstamp. The stuff in the snazzy boxes do not have the NATO headstamp (atleast the ones I bought did not) but are the same exact load, like the one in this link.

Get some. It is great ammo...

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/product_info.php/pName/50rds-9mm-fiocchi-158gr-subsonic-fmj-ammo/cName/9mm-fmj-ammo
 
#20 ·
I can still remember the older timers referring to the Winchester load as the "Chicago Load" and the Federal/Remington S&W stuff as the FBI load, only thing I liked better than that load for the Dick spl was the Nycad stuff that was out for awhile.

burg know what you mean about a smorgasbord of carry ammo, 1st partner used to spend an evening with swiss files cross hatching his favorite 200 grain Lawmen load
 
#21 ·
~burgs,

All you have to do is convince Federal to bring back more of the Nyclads and add a 147 in 9mm. The 124 they made was a good load.

Like the 125gr Nyclad in .38 that I carry, they weren't sexy or high tech, just worked, and worked without a lot of flash, roar, hate and discontent. Glad they brought that one back.

Still got a half a box of the 9mm Nyclads.

They also made 158gr SWC and SWCHP Nyclads in .38 which I liked as they didn't lead the bore. Less of a concern for me since discovering Tuf-Glide.

Dave, if you're talking about the non+P 125gr Nyclad .38 load, they have brought it back.

http://www.federalpremium.com/products/details/handgun.aspx?id=828



Regards,

Pat
 
#26 ·
I recently bought a box of Remington 158gn +P SWCHP at Bass Pro Shop near Toledo Ohio. It looked different from the box I bought last year....Last years round had the bullet seated further out, and the case mouth was heavily crimped. The New box has the bullet seated deeper in the case, giving a shorter overall length, and the case mouth does not look to be crimped.
I fired a couple cyliders full in my Airweight J-frame, and it shot just like the earlier version, which is to say it shot great. I checked and did not find any evidence of crimp jump, which had concerned me.
 
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