Ammo questions

[Gargamel]

Since I have my new to me inexpensive Rossi 38 special, I've got questions about ammo....

What would be some good cheap ammo to use at the range that I can pick up at Cabela's or Wal-Mart?

What is the difference in different "grain" counts as well as jacketed rounds and +P?

What would be good ammo for home defense?

[IHaveAMustang]

I have a Rossi .357/.38 2" and I use Bitteroot ammunition (Cheaper than dirt). It's once fired brass ammo but really cheap.

Im not an ammo expert, I think +p has higher pressure when fired? Not sure. I just know my revolver goes bang every time when I use the .38 or .357 rounds.

[BlackGT]

I use the 100 round box (Green and Orange) of Remington 38spl in my 1873 Cattlemen in .357mag. Work good, not overly dirty either...

[Trick Pony]

Make sure your gun is rated to fire +P ammo if you decide to get some as it is higher pressure and can damage a gun (and the shooter) if it's not made for it.
If you're talking about 'grains' when you're looking at a box of ammo, that's the weight of the bullet. The amount of powder is also measured in grains but that wouldn't be on the box. Jacketed just means that the bullet has a copper jacket on it vs an all lead bullet.
I carry my .38 with Cor-Bon +P ammo.

[Gargamel]

Why do many ranges not like FMJ rounds?

[dee]

Fear of ricochet's typically.

[CJ]

Why do many ranges not like FMJ rounds?

They are pussies. FMJ rifle rounds, not pistol.

[futant]

i thought it was actually just that it tore up their berms, making more work or something...
at least that was the only thing that made any sense to me

[bottlerocket]

Since I have my new to me inexpensive Rossi 38 special, I've got questions about ammo....

What would be some good cheap ammo to use at the range that I can pick up at Cabela's or Wal-Mart?

What is the difference in different "grain" counts as well as jacketed rounds and +P?

What would be good ammo for home defense?

Cheap ammo from Walmart like Winchester White Box works well in my 38/357.

Grain counts you see on the box are TYPICALLY the weight of the bullet, not the weight of the powder load.

Jacketed is just how the copper is on the lead. It can be jacketed, plated, bare, etc. Most of what you'll find at walmart will be jacketed. You're perfectly safe shooting lead SWC through yours though, and its usually cheaper.

+P is just a hotter round.

Good ammo for home defense? I don't have any defense loads in my 357 and no clue about 38spl so cant help ya there, sorry

[pr1042]

Just get whatever is on sale. If you find it less than pleasant to shoot, Cabela's "may" have wadcutters.

For defensive, I use Speer Gold Dot +p 125g. I've tried to find the short barrel gold dots but I've seen it back ordered as long as August in some places