Yesterday I bought a used S&W 642. It's my first snubby. I picked up some of the new(ish) Federal HST in .38 +P. These are the ones with the bullet loaded completely in the case, simular to a full wad-cutter target load.
I headed to the range today to try the gun out and all the good stuff that you do when you get a new carry gun. I grabbed 3 gallon jugs out of the recycle bin and filled them with water before heading out. I figured I see if I can stop one and see how it did.
After my initial shot to check operation and point of aim with standard 158 gr jacketed rounds, I shot a cylinder of the HST's to see their point of aim. This was done at about 8-10 yards. The 158s were right on, the 130s shot a little higher.
Anyway, I put the 3 jugs on top of a barrel, taped them together and took aim from about 10 feet. I wanted to make sure I gave it the best chance to catch the bullet.
I got wet. Not bad but wet no the less. The first jug, which was a old washer fluid jug, was split from top to bottom. The next two were milk jugs. The middle one was leaking profusely and the third looked ok.
I thought I had lost the bullet but after closer inspection, it was in the 3rd jug. I poured out the water and found it. Almost perfect.
I know it's just water and this "test" was nothing more than to catch an expanded hollow point. Going through 2 1/2 jugs of water seems ok. Lots of LE agencies use the HST for their ammo. I think it will work if I ever need it to.
Recoil was pretty mild. I guess the only down side is if you use a speed loader of speed strips, the flat front of the round can slow the loading process down a little.
I headed to the range today to try the gun out and all the good stuff that you do when you get a new carry gun. I grabbed 3 gallon jugs out of the recycle bin and filled them with water before heading out. I figured I see if I can stop one and see how it did.
After my initial shot to check operation and point of aim with standard 158 gr jacketed rounds, I shot a cylinder of the HST's to see their point of aim. This was done at about 8-10 yards. The 158s were right on, the 130s shot a little higher.
Anyway, I put the 3 jugs on top of a barrel, taped them together and took aim from about 10 feet. I wanted to make sure I gave it the best chance to catch the bullet.
I got wet. Not bad but wet no the less. The first jug, which was a old washer fluid jug, was split from top to bottom. The next two were milk jugs. The middle one was leaking profusely and the third looked ok.
I thought I had lost the bullet but after closer inspection, it was in the 3rd jug. I poured out the water and found it. Almost perfect.
I know it's just water and this "test" was nothing more than to catch an expanded hollow point. Going through 2 1/2 jugs of water seems ok. Lots of LE agencies use the HST for their ammo. I think it will work if I ever need it to.
Recoil was pretty mild. I guess the only down side is if you use a speed loader of speed strips, the flat front of the round can slow the loading process down a little.
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