This +P AMMO is Hot....HOT Garbage! Underwood .38 Special +P Self-Defense Ammo Test! 

New clear jelly for the jelly snobs. Underwood walks in "hold my beer"😂😅😂😅

Just want to say, with me, you do not have to prove or explain your results. I trust you. I think you are one of the most trustworthy testers on here. Thank you.

Glad you post tests that are good, bad and ugly. Some Guntubers only post the positive. Thanks for keeping it real!

That is very disappointing from Underwood. I am actually kind of shocked. They usually always have such a good track record. It is almost like they put the wrong sticker on the box.

Things I’ve learned by subscribing to Tools & Targets… *All bullets/rounds are NOT equal *Clear Jelly is dedication to viewers *Speed and weight are huge factors *All ammo manufacturers are not consistent *Big brim hats can be cool *10mm rants are justified *Barrel length can be critical *I need a Canik MC *I spent too much money on crappy HP rounds

Ever since Underwood stopped loading Speer projectiles they lost everything they built their name on. They have downgraded all their powder charges as well. I don't know what happened to them but it's not the same company that built their reputation

I said it before on one of your older videos. "+P stands for +Profit for the manufacturer". 😂

Underwood has been somewhat hit & miss lately. Glad you’re putting out this content. For the price of this boutique ammo you’d expect better quality.

👍👍Thanks Tools, that’s some pretty inconsistent ammo. One solution on people complaining about the old tracks in your gel is for each one of them to send you a new clear block. 😁😁

Damn I have my 856 loaded with this, first saw the title and was like alright! Then saw trash, uh oh. Here goes, thanks for the research as always Tools!

Tools i just bought about $700.00 worth of 44 and 357 magnum from Underwood and now I am nervous, if I see one more bad test from Underwood I will change my ammo to Buffalo bore. Tool's you are a ammo prophet my brother, please never change and keep up the good work, I do and I will continue to support you one hundred percent. 🇺🇲💪🇺🇲💪🇺🇲💪🇺🇲💪🇺🇲

Yeah, Underwood ain't what it used to be. No more Gold Dot bullets, no more quality control, no nothing!

I am shocked! This is the ammo that my wife carries in her 38 snub. Great job, Brother 🇺🇸🙏🏿

Underwood needs to investigate what is wrong with them.

I guess the silver lining is that you probably could reload those captured projectiles. 😮😅😂

So much for "Superior High Performance Ammunition" !

Im shocked underwood would send crap like this out

Good job sticking with the test. Unfortunate result's for sure. I would be tempted to contact Underwood and advise them to watch this vid.

Your one of the few channels i will watch no matter the round your testing even if i dont have that particular chambering Always a good video Tools, also i been meaning to say you have to have some of if not the clearest gel out there when you start a new video! There are a few guys i watch who make good content but even if they have new gel you cant see anything because its so dang wrinkly, truly appreciate all the work you do making that stuff nice and pretty for us!

Very good information to have, this guy makes the best videos out there. Different ammo, using different barrel lengths.

These manufacturers really need to adjust their 38 special defense ammo especially +p to perform from shorter barrels. Underwood seems to have stepped in it with these.

I learn a lot from your tests- thanks, “T&T”!

I always know where to check the reviews on Ammo before I try something different. Appreciate all of your videos. Keep them coming 👍.

Another great jelly test Tools Stay Safe Stay 2A Strong 🇺🇸

I am very surprised by the results using this Underwood ammo. Typically, it performs closer to what's advertised.

Goodbye Underwood, Hello Buffalo Bore!!

Thank you Tools for all you do.

Between that one 10mm load that was awful, and now this, I am kind of wondering if Underwood is starting to slip? I REALLY didn't like them switching from the Gold Dot projectiles to lower quality alternative projectiles, and this is just kind of making me further question their previously stellar track record. Thanks for the test.

Need to know for sure. Good on you for putting this out. Thank you!

Your upset reactions never get old to me😂 very entertaining from you and very disappointing from underwood! If you wanna hear it how it really is tools isn’t gunna sugar coat nothing! Haven’t commented in awhile but I’m still around brother✊🏻

I long gave up on expecting "performance" from .38 rounds in a snub or carry size platform. What works consistently (and this is true for every platform) is putting several rounds in rapid succession pretty close to center mass. In a .38, I just want the round to go pretty far into what I'm shooting. If it pops out the back of that target going a couple of hundred feet per second or so, oh well. That all being said, I would not want to get hit center mass with a single .22 short.

10:02 "If the ammo ain't it, you must acquit"

Alaskan Ballistics has been having this problem with several underwood calibers. Inconsistent compared to buffalo bore

I'd like to see you test the Underwood Extreme Defenders in .38 Spcl and their hard cast wadcutters. Love the .38 snubby tests! I have some Underwood .38 +P with 125 gr Speer Gold Dots and they're wrist breakers. First time I shot it out of my S&W 642 the gun almost flew out of my hands. I wasn't expecting the kick.

Man! Dang!!!! I remember Umderwood was always good hot ammo. They were always consistent and ran the stated velocity if not bettered the box velocity. That is some sucky ammo there. Thanks for the Video 👍🏻🇺🇲

Wow that is a bad batch for sure! or something! I had hopes when it hit over 1000 fps in the snub then all aspirations went out the window! Would expect more from Underwood for sure! Happy Friday brother Thanks for sharing! 💥💥

Would you be able to post the lot codes so we know which ones to avoid? Might help out the manufacturers to do a recall if they see your videos.

My favorite videos are always the failed tests. Its wrong to say it, but these videos are more funny when there is a high level of disappointment.😁

Thanks for all you do . I really enjoy the videos. They're informative and entertaining.

For expansion, all bullets that I have seen need to hit or break the 1,250 fps mark. That's why .357 magnum does so good. Any caliber will do great, as long as it hits around that mark.

Thanks for the short barrel.

Very helpful info. Good to know. Great videos, keep em coming. Love to see a Buffalo Bore 38 spl standard pressure 125 gr jhp(xtp) test

Very surprisingly result from Underwood.

I have underwood 38 spl +p loaded with the xtreme defenders as my defensive load out of a snubby. I'd love to see a test with those and haven't found a review of them anywhere. Hopefully their performance won't be nearly as bad as these XTPs. I really expected better from them. Good job and thank you as always!

Thanks for that. I almost purchased this ammo because I’ve heard and seen good things about Underwood. I might go with the Extreme Penetrators because they don’t need expansion and they have impressed me in other calibers.

You do great testing! Thanks. I bet Underwood had a bad run. I have generally been pleased with their ammo.

Thanks for checking and double checking. I ALWAYS listen to the end with you. And I like underwood, but yikes !!

Thanks for the warning. XTP's work well if pushed to higher velocity. Underwood needs to reevaluate this load.

Well hell! Underwood slacked on these for sure! They were all over the place. Very disappointing. I order a lot of ammo from them. I’ve had really good luck with magnum and big bore stuff but they deserve to be called out for this again. At least I got to see that beautiful Ruger again. Great test as always. Definitely an aggravating one for you though. lol. 👍🇺🇸🇺🇸

Underwood must be skimping on the power, I would have thought they had a good thing going, still enjoyed it, Thanks Brian have a warm weekend, 👍 🇺🇸

Try them in your carbine lever guns. See what happens. I use the XTP bullet in my Winchester 1873 in a 357 load and they are awesome. I use them in a stought 357 load for my 686 revolver as well, no issues. But never would have thought of it for a 38 Spl. load. Too tough a bullet in my opinion, as your test seems to confirm.

Thanks for completing the test, I’m surprised at the performance as well. With underwood would load the Speer gold dots again.

Good gawd tools, that jelly is a thing of beauty! Thats as crisp clean jelly as ive ever seen. So many channels have gel that looks like its made out of coffee, just brown and u cant see anything.

XTP rounds seem to only work in high velocity calibers -- Source? All of Tools videos. I don't know why Underwood would risk their brand with this particular offering. Anyway, Tools, your testing is never a mess. Your content is tbe best. I couldn't care how many tracks are in the gel. You always give us the correct results. Stay warm, and have a great weekend 👍🇺🇸🦅

Ill be honest man i recently came across you in late 2023 and ive been thoroughly enjoying your content. Frankly ive been shooting underwood for awhile and here lately theyve been having some quality issues imo.

Wow! Thanks for the test. I guess I’ll stick with something else. I have some and they’re coming out!

I remember when Underwood sold super high-quality ammo at crazy cheap prices. At that time, I bought a bunch of boxes of their 10mm and 45. Fifty round boxes. I distinctly remember going back to their website one day to buy some more ammo and suddenly their prices were insane. Basically DOUBLE what their prices used to be. I didn't buy any ammo from them that day, but I decided to check out their website again maybe a few months later to see if their prices had come down some, and instead of their prices going down, their prices were the same...AND THOSE PRICES WERE NOW FOR 20 ROUND BOXES INSTEAD OF 50 ROUND BOXES! I was stunned. They were now charging the same price for TWENTY rounds of ammo that they used to get for FIFTY rounds! They don't even sell 50 round boxes anymore outside of their standard FMJ range ammo. All of their self-defense ammo comes in tiny little 20 round boxes. It's ridiculous. There is also no doubt in my mind that they started making all of their self-defense ammo with nickel cases just to rip buyers off even more. "Oh this is super premium nickel-cased self-defense ammo! That's why we charge that much for it!" Riiiight. There was nothing wrong with their normal brass-cased ammo. Thankfully PSA with their AAC ammo is now basically what Underwood Ammo was back when they started. A company selling some of the highest-quality ammo at the lowest prices. PSA/AAC just doesn't have the variety of ammo (at least with handgun calibers...they actually do have a lot of different rifle rounds in each caliber) or the spicier velocities that Underwood did. That was another reason I initially started buying Underwood. They offered calibers like 10mm in velocities that were much higher than the trash 10mm junk that all of the big name manufacturers were selling, but it wasn't the ridiculously high velocity stuff that companies like Buffalo Bore were selling. It was the perfect middle ground between weak garbage and dangerously overpowered. Underwood was basically the perfect ammo company before they lost their minds. Oh, and I almost forgot. Their slide down the tubes also directly lined up with them introducing all of those goofy "specialty" bullets instead of normal bullets like Gold Dots or XTPs. All of that "SUPER XTREME RIP PENETRATOR" horse shit. I don't think Underwood even sells handgun ammo with Gold Dot hollow points anymore. They can go pound sand.

Thanks for the confirming secondary tests Brian

Good video. Sorry about the inconsistencies

Flagging what not to buy as well as what has good performance is very valuable. Much appreciated

Unexpected results ! I have this ammo but the fmj' s to test the 692, box of 50. Thanks for info ! Gonna be a 🥶grigid few days keep your rant panties warm !😂

I'm glad you're using the Taurus 856, that's what my sister owns, I recommended to her just to use fmj

Actually other than the inconsistent velocities, these are actually fast for +P .38 special. .38 ammo that expands usually does not penetrate deep enough.

I've reloaded 357mag xtp probably 35 years or more till checking expansion a few years ago .I was shocked. 9mm xtp, 451xtp, 430 xtp all wonderful expansion especially 44 180gr xtp on deer and outher 4 legged creature's. extremely devastating. recent tests I find soft cast lead hp and sjhp bullets get good expansion 850fps and up . more consistent. I'll still load xtp in 9mm, 45acp, 45colt, 44mag, 44special but definitely not 38special or + p. I for get how they did in my 357 revolvers. Papa wishing you well

Wow, very surprised by this. Underwood knows that they're doing so I have to imagine they just need to tweak the recipe so to speak. I have their 158gr SWCHP +P load in my Model 60 3 inch. Sure hope those would do better than this would.

I've Shot Those XTP rounds in a 4 inch barrel before. They Do Not Expand. So yes, you are right, if you are paying for Hollow points, you want what you are paying for. I look for older Ammo from at least the 1990s now. The stuff they are selling now is crap, hate it.

My favorite +p 38 spl, loads are from buffalobore, true +p 38 spl's.

Those G10 grips on the Taurus snubby are sweet. I can see why people always ask about them.

There are just some calibers that have been around a very long time, and have made a name for themselves, and as an ammunition producer you have GOT to get right. Calibers .22lr. .38 special. .357 magnum, .45 acp, .30-.30, .30-06, and could be missing a couple of more. They are as American as apple pie! It should not leave the factory until perfection has been achieved.

A difference of 1023 & 1207 in the same loading from the same gun is crazy…..I’d definitely contact underwood over that deviation.

Really shocked by the velocity inconsistencies; Underwood must have had a problem with it a powder loader. I just bought a few boxes of these too 😢

They shouldn't advertise the velocity if it doesn't come even close in a 4" revolver. Having said that, the 900+ out of the snubby with a 125 XTP should do the trick for self defense - we will see in the "jelly" ... well never mind... get your money back lol.

If you've have ever seen a bullet making factory, there is no way in hell that each case is getting the same amount of powder at the speeds they are made. And we all know that it only takes a few grains to make a difference in velocity. I can't see how they can put a number on the box and expect every bullet in the box to match it. This tells me that some manufactures don't care but some do and you're doing a good job of proving that. Keep on doing these test so we can decide what to buy. Thanks!

One other thing people arent considering is that underwood may be getting hit by supply chain shortages and trying to rework recipes on ammo, due to not being able to always get the same exact powder or even the powder companies could be making changes due to shortages and their stuff might be falling off from what it was and that would screw everyone down the line including underwood and us.

I chronied some of this a couple years ago, it was disappointing back then. The 158 gr. LSWC/GC was higher than what the box said, though.

Wow. Last year, I chronoed my two inch 856 with underwood 125+P and was pleased with the velocity and consistency of the loads. I didn’t write it down but i seem to reccollect that the average velocity was around 1170 fps. I don’t have any jelly to shoot but i shot water jugs and caught a couple of those bullets that had expanded pretty good. I hope that ammo you got was just a bad batch but who knows,,,,

That might be a bad batch. If not...Underwood might have decided to ride on it's reputation and start to cut corners. That would suck eggs. It might be a good idea to get some more in a few months and see if it still sucks eggs. It distresses me to think that people are out there carrying this thinking that it will work well. Thanks for the test. It'll help people.

Hey tools. Love the channel. Would you mind doing some Speer Gold Dot 124 gr standard pressure jelly test please?

Consistency is important but I have been impressed with their 158 jhp 357. I could just tell from the recoil.

Whenever you got such inconsistancy. What about weighing some unfired rounds (let's say 5 to 10), in order to see if there is a significant difference in powder loads.

it's a good thing to see the comparison to the PMC Bronze. Otherwise I was going to suggest you try blaming the early morning cold temperatures for the uncharacteristic inconsistency. You're a man of science!

Nice work. Is it the XTP bullet, or just not enough gas? I am just amazed at all these 2.00 dollar rounds not working any better than Ball ammo.

Your equipment's fine , revolver ammo from Underwood almost never achieves their advertised velocity . Their "auto" ammo is spot-on though .Great test , T&T ,Thank you Sir !

Wow was expecting better from the underwood. Thanks for the video 👍🇺🇸

Buffalo Bore is definitely the way to go with a rimmed cartridge in 125gr 38 Special. There is ONE exception. The 158gr 38+p from Underwood is the world's most powerful 38 Special load. It penetrates like mad.

Seems like the only consistent 38 spl rounds are the Hornady 110 grain Personal Defense rounds. The old Remington UMC 125+p semi jacketed rounds do good in bare gel , but get clogged with denim. I'd rather take my chances with those!

Our .38s currently have 110gr Hornady loaded, doing great on HD duty...i don't know exactly how reliably the rounds will expand (I watched Tool's video, but hollow points at low velocities are simply suspect)...at worst, the penetration is entirely adequate...I am surprised at how poorly this Underwood performed, I'd wager most folks commenting would vouch the brand is normally pretty reliable...interesting video, carry on...!

The two things I can say about your channel is that you are always fair and honest. Underwood is a stand up company. I am interested to hear what they say about this.

It’s starting feel like I have to buy a chronograph and personally test any individual box of ammo I’m going to load in a carry gun or a bear gun.

Would be interesting to pull down a few rounds and see if Underwood is using a 'flakey' propellent, which would be near impossible to meter consistently, or if the charges are even consistent at all. I handload a lot of 38 SPCL +P type ammunition and rarely see that kind of velocity spread...

Never have expected much from a .38 snub but did expect better results from the 4 inch revolver.

Would love to see a test of SuperVel’s 90gr+p JHP. Pretty unique cartridge, bold velocity claims. I really like it, but have never tested it.

As much as I like Underwood ammo, the ammo I use for self defense is HST. I will load my own Leighhigh bullets from Wilson and know exactly what powders are being used. I agree 100% about this. You should get what you paid for. If I were you I would call them with your results and see what they say.

Someone needs to send this to Underwood asap! Usuallly Underwood with the XTP projectile does good. +P MY ASS! That PMC proved that totally wrong! I'd say Underwood owes you an explanation, a real box of real +P, and a free gel block! Thanks for showing this as there is some serious loading issues with the Qaulity Control Department!

I tried XTP bullets when they first came out. I reloaded. The were garbage then just as they are now.

What is normally good ammo done went on vacation. I sure hope they fix the problem, Very good honest test.

Hi! Can you test Hornady American Gunner, defensive Hollowpoint ammo in .38 spl? I carry a snubby S&W model 64 and I ‘m curious how much expand in the gel blocks. Very good videos!

Good job, thanks. Looks like I will stay with the Remington. 38spl +p.

Another good test and commentary. Very interesting kinda disappointing though. Did not expect that from Underwood. Pitiful even. Definitely not worth the price difference. Thanks for sharing and good work. Be safe. 👍🇺🇸⭐️

Good video 👍 You showed us , what Underwood 38 +P does in gel.