Many shooters love the 38 Special because it’s accurate, low-recoil defense rounds have been proven to stop threats at close range. Combine that with a snubnose revolver, and you have the recipe for an excellent concealed-carry firearm.
So, what is the best 38 Special ammo for self-defense? I’m glad you asked!
Hornady Critical Defense 38 Special +P 110gr JHP is the best overall, thanks to the unique hollow point Hornady has developed.
If that defense load is a little pricey, don’t worry; we will discuss many more options as you continue reading.
Recommended .38 Ammo For Self-Defense
| Best Overall 38 Special Ammo | Hornady Critical Defense 38 Special +P 110gr JHP |
|---|---|
| Best Self-Defense | Speer 38 Special +P 125gr JHP |
| Best For Training | Blazer 38 Special 125 Grain FMJ |
| Best Hollow Point | Underwood 38 Special +P 125-Grain XTP |
| Honorable Mention | Black Hills Ammunition 38 Special 158gr CNL |
| Most Powerful 38 Special Ammo | Federal LE 38 Special +P 158 Grain LSWCHP |
Testing Procedure: How to Choose The Best .38 Special Ammo For Self-Defense
I have a straightforward process for choosing ammo for my firearms. It’s always based on the intended use, which determines how well the ammo needs to perform. If you’re having a fun day at the range, you don’t need expensive hollow point bullets, but you do need those bullets in a home defense situation. That’s why I’ve taken the time to explain my thought process for choosing the best ammo for snubnose revolvers based on the scenarios below.
During the ammo testing process, we consider many critical factors, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Was the round designed for self-defense?
- Ballistic performance
- Price
- Performance at the range
- Accuracy
Various bullets perform better when designed for specific tasks. Since we’re talking about personal defense and training for those situations, the rounds I selected to test were JHPs or had similar enough ballistics to make training with them worth the effort and time.
We’re already at a ballistic disadvantage when firing a 38 SPL, so using the rounds that perform the best out of the muzzle and terminally is a must.
Cost is my biggest consideration when training, plinking, and target shooting, but I’m willing to pay more when my family’s lives depend on it. In a self-defense situation with a gun that has a short barrel length, two things matter most: accuracy and knockdown power. You have to be able to hit the threat, and you want your hits to be as effective as possible so you stop the bad guy quickly.
I’m most concerned with performance at the range. How reliable was the round? Does it have enough stopping power to end a threat? Am I capable of being accurate with this round, or am I just hoping it hits the target?
I tried to answer all these questions while shooting these rounds at the range. I hope I never have to use them in self-defense, but I need to know how they’ll perform if that scenario ever happens.
Hornady Critical Defense 38 Special +P 110gr JHP - Best 38 Special Ammo for Self-Defense
Specs
- Casing: Brass
- Bullet Type: Jacketed Hollow Point (FTX)
- Bullet Weight: 110 grains
- Muzzle Velocity: 1,090 fps
- Muzzle Energy: 290 ft-lbs
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Trusted Brand | Expensive |
| Technologically advanced bullet design | A little extra recoil with the + P load |
| Fast | |
| Hard-hitting |
Why I Chose It
Hornady Critical Defense 38 Special +P 110gr JHP is the best 38 Special ammo for self-defense overall because it’s made by a trusted brand, uses a unique bullet, and hits the target hard and fast.
The bad guys won’t know what hit them!
I use Hornady Critical Defense in my Springfield 45 ACP, Smith & Wesson 9mm, and my wife’s Ruger LCR. That’s how much I trust this brand of ammo. It’s never let me down and has remained incredibly accurate in various firearms.
That’s thanks in part to the specialized FTX bullet that Hornady uses. A polymer tip sits inside the jacketed hollow point to increase accuracy and aid in expansion. This means you don’t have to worry about over-penetration when engaging a threat.
The 110gr FTX bullet is also very fast when paired with + P ammo, which translates to more accuracy and energy to dump into the target when it hits. This gives the round more knockdown power than standard pressure self-defense ammo.
While I often praise Hornady Critical Defense, I must mention a couple of downfalls to be transparent.
The first is the cost. This + P round is expensive. I won’t take it to the range to punch holes in paper with it, that’s for sure!
However, it’s not even the most expensive 38 Special round on the market, Winchester PDX1 Defender 38 Special 130gr JHP is even more costly and doesn’t come close to matching the muzzle velocity of Hornady Critical Defense but it’s also a heavier projectile.
The other thing is for those that are a bit recoil sensitive, this isn’t the round for you. My wife found it to be too snappy, and she wasn’t comfortable shooting it from her short-barrel handgun.
If that’s you, I recommend trying Hornady 38 Special 125gr JHP. It doesn’t have the ballistics of the increased pressure load, which means the recoil will be much more manageable.
Even with the drawbacks, Hornady Critical Defense 38 Special +P 110gr JHP is the best 38 Special ammo for defense situations overall because it’s accurate, fast, and has the needed knockdown power to stop a dangerous threat.