Does A Short Barrel Equal Poor Performance? .38 Special 158 vs 125 Grain Ballistic Gel Test!

Testing Monarch (PPU) & Ammo Inc. .38 special hollow points using the Taurus 856 2" revolver! Which weight is the best? Can either one perform well from the short barrel?
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[@mattjaxdad8693]

Tools, I would just like to point out to the rest of your viewers how patient you must be with cleaning, melting, and setting up these gel blocks. Just take a look at some of the other channels how they knock it off the table and lose patience and burn it, turning it yellow/brown. Your testing, measurements, camera work, editing, and thoroughness is very similar to (tnoutdoors) which is a helluva compliment. Thanks.

[@yuvgotubekidding]

Apparently these rounds didn’t enter the gel with enough energy to do what they’re designed to do. Testimony to testing your carry ammo. Thanks. 👍

[@carlosgutierrezjimenez200]

Super helpful video, especially because the vast majority of .38 Special tools that people own & carry nowadays have either a 1 & 7/8ths inch barrel or a 2 inch barrel.. Test your carry ammo folks- or at least watch tools&targets test it- great video

[@leederby136]

I always use the 158 grain .38 since I get the best accuracy from it. I’m surprised by the lack of expansion for both of those rounds. 🤔 Thanks for the experiment!

[@markapril0206]

Nice video thanks for the 38 special. I glad I carry the underwood extreme defenders. Be cool to see what they would do but I pray I'll never have to find out. Thanks again Tools

[@TARandFEATHERS]

Looking forward to the slightly longer barrel test. I believe those rds were designed for 4"-6" barrels.

[@demetriusnelson2392]

Dang TOOLS I’m so glad you did this test. I also picked up some of that exact AMMO Inc. 125gr Hollowpoints, so your video is performing a real service for me personally. I had a feeling that under standard pressures for 38 special, they might not expand well; however I’m glad to see that the AMMO Inc. round at least sorta tried to do something haha. This test provided information I needed to know. (My revolver barrel being 4 inches) I’m curious whether the added barrel length will increase velocity enough to see noticeable effective performance. Huge thank you for this test TOOLS. This is some seriously valuable practical data that is personally beneficial to my life, protection, and safety in my shooting endeavors. Blessings from AZ 🌵

[@ronaldperkins4222]

Surprising results. BTW, your screen display of the chrono face is superb! NO ONE on KZbin shows their chrono display so clearly. Kudos to you. 👍

[@HamiltonOutdoors]

They are just moving too slow to expand, it would be interesting to see what a 158 grain lead wodcutter would do in comparison to them

[@valkyriect3919]

Very interesting Tools...keep it coming. All your tests are food for thought. Thank you 😊

[@cdlund2840]

I only use hardcast wadcutters in snubbies because there are no JHP that function reliably. They either do not open or open too soon for good penetration. Hardcast wadcutters go deep and straight and leave a full caliber sized hole that does not close behind the bullet like a FMJ.

[@JJ_SDWR]

This is why I practice with standard pressure but when it comes to carrying my Rossi M88 2 inch... I load 5 Speer 135gr +Ps, despite the gun not being rated for +P. I've shot 2 or 3 +P out of it and when my life is on the line, I'll take the extra wear on the gun and possible damage over not stopping the threat.

[@fabionegri4855]

these jelly tests are like forrest gump's chocolates, you never know what' s going to happen, maybe this is why i like it so much

[@bjagfan9452]

Awesome test, learned something I would have thought but not proved myself.

[@sergiogiron3659]

My wife use to carry a Taurus model 85 38 special. With a 158 grain ppu brand hollow point. I’m glad she never had to use it. She now carries a Shield plus 9mm. I feel better that she switched now. I would really like if you revisited this again with other Ammo and the 4 inch gun. Thanks tools. You never disappoint.

[@bigtrev761]

🇦🇺😎👍Where did that one come from 🎥? Love those 38 Specials….that’s a long way in…nice…nice…great video mate. 🇺🇸🏁

[@mikewhite8490]

I think that you need right around 1,000 fps for reliable expansion on most projectiles

[@keithmaxwell2169]

That's why the 357 was developed, Good Test Tools

[@LuckyDog350X]

I kind of expected this with standard velocity out of a 2" It's amazing what an extra 1/2" length of barrel will do for velocity. I remember you did a test before in .38 with your rock river snub with the federal punch 120 gr. +P I think that is supposed to be right at 1,000 fps and that test was real good. That test is what made me grab a few boxes of the .38 punch. Have a good one my brother and I will see you on the next one.

[@haroldhatcher1239]

They both performed about as I expected. I believe you need at least 1,000fps for expansion.