Buffalo Bore .38 Special+P 158 gr SWCHP Snub Nose Test - 9mm Fanboys are Crying! 

I just wanted to point out that the title is in good fun and not meant to be some sort of lie. I didn't load this ammo, ammunition manufactures did, but because I had some "9mm fanboys" literally get on here and harass me over this video (I equate that to actual crying) I figured I should point this out. If you are a first time viewer or new subscriber, I can understand why someone might think i'm biased about .38 Special or revolvers in general, but if you watch a few of my videos you will see that I am not. If I was, why would I own more semi auto's than I do revolvers?

As an American working temporarily with the French Intelligence Service (DGSE, the Directorate-General for External Security - Direction générale de la sécurité extérieure) on several cases linked to US interests, it was noted that the 9mm HPs used by the French took between 9 and 14 hits to bring down armed combatants with no body armor and 72% of the time, the combatants who were shot multiple times with 9mm didn't perish. When US personnel fired their sidearms (restricted by the French to revolvers), in this case, the .357 Magnum S&W Revolver with 125 gn. JHP or 158 gn. Hardcast, only one to (rarely) three rounds per enemy combatant was sufficient with a 69% fatality rate. For a comparison, look at the US-based police shootings available for public review to see a direct correlation of this data and comments like the one from Name, below. 9mm, for all its ratings and hype (a great deal of which is financially motivated), is not at all as reliable at stopping combatants as the .357 Magnum. Anyone with more experience than just a few gunfights knows two things: Revolvers are far more reliable than even the very best semi-auto, and that 9mm is not as effective as .357 Magnum. Congrats Elmer Keith. Great work, as always, Gun Sam.

Paul Harrell tested the BB in a 2" in his meat target. Even he was impressed.

Yep. I'm the same: I have my Beretta 92 for the nightstand, and my j-frame snubby for EDC. Oh, and I love the FBI Load.

In 25+ years of CCW, carrying and testing 9mm, 38 SPl, 357 Mag, .357 SIG, 40 S&W, 10mm, 45 ACP and 45 Colt, I reached the conclusion about 15 years ago that the 38 Special 158 gr Soft Lead Hollow Point is the perfect anti personnel round. In good ammo like Buffalo Bore, (or equivalent hand loads), the bullet is an ultra reliable performer in the 900 to 1100+ fps impact range, and has the best balance of control, accuracy and power in a handgun. Controllable, accurate, highly effective power is where the 38 Special shines above all other handgun rounds for citizen self defense applications.

I had this video done a month ago. Figured I better release it now before I forget it's here!

Am so glad more and more people are finding your content and how thorough you are with the available data and your testing techniques.

I got a box of 38 semi wadcutter hollow point bullets and worked up a load similar to that one. It was quite impressive. An old school load for an old school weapon.

I'm a revolver guy... mostly because I don't have to chase my brass and because it is more forgiving to reload. I own autos but my go to are revolvers.

Wow, 1,050 fps out of a 2 inch barrel?! That’s insane. I haven’t seen any +P published loads come close to that with a 158 gr slug. Buffalo Bore is really pushing the envelope. (That’s a compliment, not a complaint) 👍

I have several snubbys in .327, .38 and .357, They are all comfortable to carry and reliable, great for EDC.

Loved this test as the 158 grain LSWCHP +P Buffalo bore load has been a “go to load” of mine for some time. But only for my steel framed .357’s. I fired exactly 1(one!) round through my alloy framed S&W 637. I actually feared that very many more would crack or bend the frame! Not to mention trying to get off a follow up shot. Now I want a steel framed .38 snubby just for that round! This is the test that I’ve been waiting for. Thanks Sam!

That Buffalo Bore load is impressive! Today, we have premium JHP bullets that get the smaller autoloaders off their knees. But the .38 Special, with a lot more case, is just plain more versatile. Go back 45 years or so; before good JHP bullets, you went with a revolver or a .45 auto. Despite its high pressure, the little 9mm will never be able to do as many things as the .38 or 357.

Nice shooting and thank you for reinforcing my opinion of .38 Special. It's Special for a reason! Paul Harrell would approve.

Great video! This is why you're my favorite gun channel. I'm all in with .38 Special.

Very professional production. The best part is that you have no agenda except to present accurate information.

In seeing what I've seen in my job over 33 years, I'm saying placement is everything. I've seen heads hit by .38 that would have been in big chunks on the ground save for the skin stretching with the impact and holding it together afterward. I've also see a big muscled-up guy get hit with .38 from behind and it stopped in the muscles over his shoulder blade. I've run on 300 lb. baby boys put down with one round of 380. 357 Magnum impresses me the most. It puts MFs down. Oh, and I've seen very few exit wounds, no matter the caliber. Head shots work, guys. I practice those as much as center mass.

It's just nuts how much violence can be packed into a 38 round when done right. Near 12 gauge diameter at the end!

That BB .38 Special load really amazes me... I am not much of a snubbie carrier but will be getting some of this ammo for my S&W 649. Thanks again...

Always good information and interesting to watch , enjoy your tests

I’ve been using this Buffalo Bore round in my S&W model 640 & model 66 for quite a while now & have been pleased with its accuracy and performance. BB remains my go to personal defense ammo.

Now THAT is an informative video. Very applicable to real life! Well done. I have new appreciation for those two rounds.

I'm actually pretty impressed with those 147 Silvertips! I bought 2 boxes just before the ammo 'scamdemic" for very cheap.. glad I did!

9mm has NEVER given me the impression of being a "three rounds or less" threat stopper. It's great for Marksmanship competition and Home Security (less penetration through walls). With that being said, I guess you'll have to fire until adequately satisfied that the threat is disabled. However, .38 SPL, .357 MAG, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, & 10mm definitely fall into the "three rounds or less" category when it comes to ammo stopping power in daily carry firearms.

Very nice. That BB load just keeps provibg itself, no muss no fuss. Excellent point about the problem with pocket size autos. I used to help teach a CCW class, and i can tell you that most people cannot shoot them well, or the very small 380's. When i was still in LE, my 2 most common off duty guns were a Kahr P9 (3.5") on the belt and a Taurus 850 in a pocket holster (not at the same time). The Taurus was also my backup the last 8 yrs or so. Before i got the Kahr, my SP-101 was king, with magnum ammo. With good ammo, the 38+p still rocks. The 147 gr Silvertip 9mm did better than expected too.

I'm surprised at how well that Silvertip did. For such a low tech round out of that short barrel, it really expanded pretty wide. Plus with that heavy weight and low velocity the recoil was probably pretty tame too.

Been binge watching your videos last few days and overall love the content. I used to carry a 605, actually bought it because of some valid points Paul H. brought up in one of his videos but stopped carrying it when I bought my Glock 22. Then bought a Glock 48 and those 2 swap off often depending what I’m doing. After watching these videos and you bringing up some more valid points I’ll have to get some more 38 special +p and carry that again.

9mm fan boys will say 38 S&W Special is under powered at the same time when it comes to 9mm they will say; Ohh 😮! Shot placement is what stops a threat. 🤷🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️

The accuracy at close range was good but 50 yards is stretching for a pocket gun well today it was. Good video 👍

I too use the BB in my sp101 3" barrel and its great, ev3n at 59 ya4ds it's consistent. Thanks for all the great info Sam!

Thank you for pointing out the profound and overwhelming difference between a micro 9 and a mid to full size 9. It's not that they can't work well when cramming 10lb into a 5lb bag but they are moody and temperamental. Yet something like a S&W 642 is exactly the opposite. There are disadvantages to the platform but reliability is not one of them. I carry both BTW. Well done. I think both loads on this video were winners and the micro 9 needs to TLC

Glad to see this test. I have handloaded that exact bullet for my steel 856CH. My loads clock about 890fps in my 20 oz gun and recoil is stout but not bad. The bullet maker has told me that at 1000 fps that bullet will do .750 dia. or better but I'd never seen an actual short barrel test. I'm not going to try to jack my loads up to that BB velocity......whoooo those are really movin' Thanks for the vid.

This is still one of my favorite rounds for .38 Spl.. They still haven't really topped it and it's been around for sooooooooo long.

Nice video. Looking at how the buffalo bore load recoild in that Taurus I think that might be a wrist breaker in an alloy framed gun like a S&W airweight!

The .38 Special has been with us for over a hundred years and it's still relevant. To be fair 9mm is an excellent round also when used in full size pistols. Using a pocket pistol for a 50 yard target is best left to Jerry Miculek. Thank you.

I grew up shooting semiautomatic pistols. It wasnt until decades later that I started shooting revolvers and found I naturally find them easier to shoot accurately. My current carry gun is now a 605. It just works well. But there are days I want higher capacity and carry a shield in 45, or on heavy days a sig 226 9mm.

Cold weather can effect a auto loader a lot easier than it does a revolver. The metal of the springs, slide, firing pin etc. tightens up, gets slow, etc. Revolvers, the only effect is lower velocity as always in colder weather. But no malfunctions.

I have watches several of your videos in recent weeks and I feel better about my decision to get a new revolver over another 9mm semi-auto. I have had jams with pretty much every semi-auto I have ever owned, but thinking back to my revolvers from 25 years ago, I can never remember having a revolver that failed to go BANG every time I pulled the trigger.

I live in Canada so I don't carry handguns. I prefer revolver's because I shoot them more accurately and I don't have to run around picking up my brass . ( I am a hand loader)

I bought a 4" bbl Rock Island armory m200 in 38 special and I bought it initially because it was cheap ($199new), yet solid. Ended up having awesome trigger pull in both single and double action and really well made. I'm ecstatic with all of that gun for $200!!!!

Federal used to market a 158 gr. SWCHP .38 spl loading, using their Nyclad bullet , as I recall they were listed at around 850-900 fps. In actual documented gun fights they scored pretty high, rating at about the same as .45ACP hard ball.

Interesting comparison with surprising results.

Interesting & impressive results with 38. Not terrible in 9.

The Buffalo Bore .38 +p rounds are a great choice, especially for anyone who owns a .357 snubby but does not wish to carry full house magnums. I use them for and HD and warm weather carry in my Rossi 462. In my S&W 437, I carry the Buffalo Bore Standard Pressure .38 LSWCHP rounds as the +Ps are a bit strong for the Airweight .38.

I carry 9mm and .38 SPL snub nose both.

I think it rocks that you did this test with a db9. Im one of the minority that like diamondbacks and the db9 is in the running for my new purchase. Still debating between 9, 38/357, and 380. Also not sure if i want a revolver or micro auto. I sold all of my mouse guns and am feeling a need for something, but i dont like the 2 finger grips on most smaller pistols. The grip angle on the db9 and the feel overall are keeping it in the running. Thanks for the video. I think it has me leaning more towards the 605, at least today. Lol

The conclusion was pretty apparent from just the chrono tests. A heavier bullet at a higher velocity will usually do more damage, barring some major difference in bullet construction.

I'm with you bro! I'm glad you do these vids - they serve to answer many questions & curiosities. This one in particular can edumicate those who don't know any better, lol. The .38 spl in a good loading is more than sufficient to stop a threat. Thousands have found their way to the hereafter courtesy of the .38. TBH, I think the real question should be: Why does it matter which one is "better?" Both will get the job done. I happen to love both 9mm & .38, but I tend to favor .38 because I like revolvers (& once again, it doesn't matter which is "better" - wheel gun or semi-auto) & don't like moon clips. I kind of look at it this way: I'll take a '57 Corvette over the current iteration 8 days a week. The current one goes faster, handles better, & is better on gas. I just LIKE the '57 better, but EITHER ONE will get me where I need to go.

Back in the early 90s a group of gun writers claimed the most lethal 38 ammo out of a snub nose was the 158 swchp. They based it on autopsy results from actual shootings and on the fact that most snubs had difficulty expanding copper

"The baloney pack hit my leg" 😂 I personally don't like carrying anything less than a baloney pack destroyer.

Run for the hills, the 9 mm fan boys are ganging up....oh wait....it looks like only 6 of them don't agree with your presentation. That was a very impressive hole in that mdf. If the ammo gods decide to start dropping ammo again, I may have to buy some of the BB +P .38 special. Thanks for the great presentation. BTW... you might consider an athletic protective cup....next time you shoot that bologna pack with that BB....

Great video! Here in Brazil we can only buy magtech ammunition. Could you do a Brazillian Special testing all the magtechs available in .38 spl? That would be great. You have great audience here. Thanks for your great work!

Good video as always, .38spl gets the job done as usual. Question have you tested the 147gr hardcast 9mm Buffalo Bore that somebody killed a grizzly in Alaska with? I ask that because while I tend to carry a GP100 in the woods in cooler months, when it's summer and super hot and humid here in Bama I prefer something much lighter to carry,generally a 9mm S&W Shield. Not that even a black bear sighting is common around here but it's nice to know what you have will get the job done just in case.

13 hours in and still monetized? DUDE! Congrats! (SHHH, no one tell RU-vid!)

Buffalo Bore FBI load is a beast. Almost 1060 fps in a snubby revolver. Awesome performance. I would like to know how fastest will be in a 6 inch barrel....

You dont have to defend your opinions; your experiments and comparisons are well done. Stick to the science, its very useful to most of us.

Haha good thing it's not a bear charging with that shooting. Great content!!

Personally i think the .38 spl/ .357 are more optimal with barrels less than 3" but i try to carry one on the hip and an backup snubby in the pocket :D

The 158 Buffalo Bore lhp plus p or even standard pressure version is close to the optimum round for a balance of size , weight and power.

Nice video. I have a shield 9mm that I wouldn’t necessarily consider a pocket gun, although I have carried inside a jacket pocket before. It has a 3” barrel and with what I have loaded in it (federal 124gr hst+p) I know it’s more powerful than what I have loaded in my 357 LCRx (Remington 38spc+p 158gr lhp) however I know from my testing of both rounds their effectiveness is similar. The whole power thing is something we all like to talk about but more power doesn’t always mean more or better effectiveness. I think modern 38 special+p loads prove this over and over again. I guess because 9mm is so popular is why it seems the “fanboys” get upset when it doesn’t beat a round it’s typically more powerful than. I like them both. Neither are my personal favorite though and yet both are what I carry most of the time.

I really liked that performance of both. Do they make any projectiles like that for .327 fed or .32 h&r mag? I just checked buffalo bore, and unfortunately they only have jhp or hard cast in those 2 calibers

When the 9mm semi-auto handgun was first offered to law enforcement officers, it was rejected by about 65% of them. The handgun currently in widest use at that time was the 38 special service revolver. Cops did quite well without 17 rounds back then. Maybe only having 6 rounds, made most cops more particular about where their bullets were going?

Hey great content, u do great work,just curious, what kind of coat/ parka do u have on??

I carry the Buffalo Bore .38 special +p 125 grain loaded with XTP projectiles ... in my 686 + 3 inch revolver... it's still clocking in 1200 FPS in 3 inch barrel... .38 is and will always be relevant..

I'm considering to add one the following .38 SPL. Compact revolvers for everyday carry - Smith Air weight M37, a Coot Agent or Cobra or a Charter Arms Undercover. A concern of mine is managing recoil from heavy .38 loads from such lightweight pistols. Appreciate your thoughts and experience with air weight revolvers ? I don't intend to use this piece for extended target practice; I do have to become skilled with one to be competent in case I need to defend myself or other innocents.

Would you test a Chiappa Rhino and compare it to other revolvers? I wonder how you'd like/dislike the different recoil, what loads you'd like in it and if you'd work on the trigger.

Very good the 38 spl +P

Hell i love all guns lol. I also have the taurus 605 357. I have same revolver in 9mm. Its the 905. My problem is i cant make up my mind which one im going to carry day to day lol. On the weekends i dont have that problem ill carry both lol. Unless its spring and im night fishing off the river bank. Then i take my ruger 6 inch GP 100 357 loaded with buffalo bore. It gets spooky around 1am when im by myself lol.

In a close fight the buffalo bore real effective. Might have to take a look at it. I use a Crowned JHP. 125 gr +p.

Thanks for the video as always. If I could give you a little bit of advice it would be to place something else out at 50 yards besides that metal tank. The tank doesn't show much as way of impact damage/ power. Maybe hang steel so we can see the difference in kinetic energy as it swings the metal plate differently with different caliber bullets.

Thank you for calling out the "cherry pickers" and the not "applies to apples " reviews! Reviewers often say a 357 at so many ft per second is overkill. Hay, here is a nine mil load approaching 1400 feet per second. 38 special is underpowered. They often don't mention the 38+p. I may be mistaken but that is what I see on a lot of sites. Thank you for your reviews.

Hey Sam, great content. Would you say you have pretty good eyesight in general? I don't question your marksmanship at all but having sharp vision plays a lot into being able to range things.

I've actually been shooting to the left with my Ruger GP100 as well. I'm going to try changing my grip on my gun (use my left hand to brace it better) to see if that helps. If not, then I'll adjust my sights. It's interesting how we assign value to our guns by power, capacity, reliability .etc. We try to find the most value in our guns in the wrong areas. This is just an opinion of mine, that Semi-auto owners want to believe their guns are powerful, and revolver owners want to believe their guns aren't antiquated by an older design and lack of capacity. We don't need to say 9mm is just as powerful as a 38 special or 357 magnum, because 9mm doesn't need to be! Capacity, recoil management, rate of fire, reload speed. 9mm guns outperform revolvers in many ways, and there will always be situations where they out perform one another. I've finally finished paying off my new 10mm last night - Rock Island Armory 51991 Rock Ultra FS Single 10mm 5 8+1 Gray G1. Its being shipped now...... I chose a powerful caliber, and a name I knew provided great value for the money, but now I know I may get less value in other ways like reliability for choosing power in my caliber. Hopefully, I get a great gun regardless. My advice is to choose a semi-auto based off it's own strengths, and value the guns/calibers you have by their own strengths, not by comparing it to a revolver.

I made some hot 38 special +P when I bought a Ruger LCR. It was as powerful as it could be and still be safe to fire in a 38+P revolver. Man! they sting your hand when you shoot! It's a great round to let someone shoot when they say your LCR looks like a toy gun.😂 I make more moderate rounds for plinking. I keep the spicy rounds for carry. I also have a gp100 and a lever gun that they would shoot smooth out of.

I conceal carry Taurus #85 5 shot revolver w/ red dot optics. I owned this same handgun for over 30 years. I carry it at the 2 o'clock position in my belt surrounded by a black leather Blackhawk holster for the last 15 years . My concealed bullets are the Buffalo Bore "OUTDOORSMAN HARD CAST 158gr BULLETS first designed by Elmer Keith. That bullet is one tough SOB! BUFFALO BORE ain't no joke... I put my life on the line everytime I rig up and leave the house. I compare this 38 Buffalo Bullet to a tamed down .357 mag. It's not a fun bullet to shoot cause it kicks like a mule! My Taurus is all steel handgun with a hammer and trigger spring job.

good videos., thanks. sam

I love m 605. Mine is black. It shoots great - points well, prints right to point of aim. It's on my hip right now. I handload so mine is stoked with 38 special +P+ with 140 grain Lehigh 140 defenders at about 1000 fps (Power Pistol propellant). This is the "Philips head" looking copper solid bullet - the tests that I've seen using this bullet or even the lighter 120 grain version is very positive - they have temporary cavities like an expanding hollow point but penetrates to about 18" which is great IMHO.

That Buffalo Bore is some great stuff. As long as they load it at safe levels. I've loaded some hotter loads in .38 brass before.

158 grain swc. Its a ride in a j frame but not painful, unlike my experience with subcompact 9mm...ouch

Have you tested the Buffalo Bore 180gr Heavy .357 hardcast Keith and .38+P hardcast Keith Outdoorsman ammo? Those are the two I carry for mountain hiking and camping and haven't seen any reviews on them.

Thinking of buying another SP101. Not sure if I should get a 2" or 3" barrel. Does it make a difference with 357mag ammo?

Nice comparison. I’m not a pocket gun kinda guy. I carry a Glock 19 (concealed) and Critical Duty and Federal HST are my carry ammos.

Im tempted to go purchase a snubbie of some sort. If I don't really focus with the small semi autos, will either hit the mag release or get my thumb against the slide. In a stressful situation, they'res less time to concentrate. Lol

The Buffalo Bore makes the 38 a serious fighting round in a 2 inch snubbie. I shoot it in a late model Colt Detective Special with service grips and a Tyler t grip. No big deal. That said I believe the 9mm is short changed here . My friend had a Sig 365 a d pocket carries it. I have fired it and it is accurate . It chronographed. Federal 124 Jhp At around 1100 fps far faster than the rounds in your test. I still prefer the revolver for carry, but with the right ammo the 9mm is ok

Honestly you would get higher velocity number out of a Kimber K6xs with the better tolerances. Love mine carry it alot over my sig365, fn reflex and hellcat. Great video

Sam,like I always say,,,,, REVOLVERS RULE PERIOD. Try it at 25 yards with short barrel handguns.

Good video! Thanks. Would you carry that .38 Special round? It sure expanded a bunch. Take care.

I have a Ruger LCRX in 38 Special and a DB9 and like them both for different reasons

I feel good either way if I carry my Wather PPS with HSTs or my Smith 442 with +p GOLD DOTS..

Bravo Sam《☆》I had an older Taurus 605. I'm surprised you were able to hit anything with it using 38spl LOL. Buffalo bore makes good stuff. I'd love to get some for my Bodyguard 38 spl🌴◇:*:◇🌴Greetings from⛾Florida🤳my friend😎🎱☮🔊✌👍

You will probably think this is a goofy comment but is a real response to you and most every other Firearms aficionado on toutube. I get anxios every time someone points a gun in my direction even though it’s actually being pointed at a camera. I usually watch on big screen tv which probably adds a few points to my elevated blood pressure. Maybe being old or old retired LEO is a factor. Am I the only one or do others react similarly?

I’d like to try those BB .38 in my 340PD but worry about crimp jump. I may order a box and try them.

In terms of penetration AND accuracy, I would be interested in finding out how Federal brand ammo in .38 SPL. +P, 158g, LSWCHP does against Federal in .38 SPL. +P, Hydra Shock, ???g. Is the Hydra Shock round all the rage??!!

Everyone can have a bad day shooting. I do have to admit it's fun to watch when the bologna pack explodes

Years ago when on the job . Federal SWCHP on bad guy… K5 1shot. Dropped like a rock EMS could not find wound entrance for serval minute. Needles to say suspect was room temperature.. seen other shooting with same load 1 to 5 shot drop bad guy. Model 64 4 inch

Awesome video.

I carry the Buffalo Bore load in my S&W 642. It sucks to shoot, and I'll bet it really sucks to get shot with. The only reason I would consider any other ammo is because the POI is very high. Either way, I'll probably stick with Buffalo Bore and switch to a lower-weight bullet in a couple of years when I rotate this lot out.

Great video , very good Ammo

I Love your videos but I can’t find 38 special anywhere in Illinois . Let me know if you have any info on finding any . Thanks Chris

Wow. Snobby rocked it