Originally Posted by
35remington
An educated guess would put penetration of 38 HST at the low end of FBI spec if not a little short of it. Hopefully I am a little wrong, but HST across the board in the calibers I am interested in tends to be as I described. I would like to see a less widely expanded bullet to help facilitate more penetration than the HST lineup normally provides.
If I don't like what it does I can shoot something else or stick with my full charge Lee wadcutters. Lower penetration ammo from a snubby does not appeal to me.
38 HST in a speedloader would be somewhat hangup prone compared to a bullet with a more rounded ogive protruding beyond the case mouth. In my opinion such rounds should be already in the gun and the speedloader ammo should be something more reload friendly.
The deep seating of the HST will reduce the velocity variation the 38 is known for with changes in powder position compared to conventionally seated bullets.