Quote Originally Posted by rintinglen View Post
One other thing to mention is that 800 FPS for the these multi boolit loads might be a bit generous. Out of a less than four inch barrel, it would take a pretty good kick in the pants to get there. Perhaps not the load of choice for your non+p rated 38 snubby.
I agree that launching a couple of 100 grain wadcutters at 800 f/s might be a bit of a strain for a non+p snubby. But is 800 f/s really necessary?

In his Textbook of Pistols and Revolvers Hatcher lists the .38 Special Super Police load with a 200 grain lead bullet at 623 f/s from a 2" barrel. Assuming that was a standard pressure loading in 1935, then I wouldn't expect a 200 grain payload at 625 f/s to be too much horsepower for something like, say, a S&W 442.

And maybe 625 f/s is all you need. Make the back bullet a 100 grain wadcutter and the front a 100 grain truncated cone, and you should get about 12" and 18" of bare gel penetration respectively. The total wound mass (as calculated by MacPherson) should be more than a full-charge .38 wadcutter, more than a hard-cast .38 Keith semi-wadcutter, and more than .45 GI hardball. Add to that a significant increase in the probability of a vital hit with each trigger pull and you should at least have some food for thought.