Sellier & Bellot loads its 158-grain LRN, a plain lead round nose, to 997 fps and 349 ft-lbs, the fastest and hardest-hitting lead load in this group by a wide margin. Power factor is 158, about 38 over the 120 USPSA revolver-minor floor and more than 50 over the IDPA stock-revolver floor of 105. From a 25-yard zero it is 1.8 inches low at 50 yards and 12.9 inches low at 100. Recoil energy is the highest of any lead load on this page.

Every other lead load is a long way behind at the muzzle. HSM Cowboy Action 158-grain is next at 840 fps and 248 ft-lbs, 157 fps and 101 ft-lbs back, with about 24 percent less recoil energy in the same revolver. Black Hills Cowboy 158-grain CNL gives up 197 fps and 124 ft-lbs and recoils about 30 percent less. Federal American Eagle 158-grain LRN is 227 fps and 141 ft-lbs behind with about 34 percent less recoil. Remington UMC 158-grain LRN and Magtech 158-grain LRN, at 755 fps and 200 ft-lbs, produce about 36 percent less recoil energy than the Sellier & Bellot, and its 349 ft-lbs is about 75 percent more than theirs.

Buy this if you want the most muzzle energy a lead .38 Special load on this site delivers, for steel or for practice that feels like a hot load. It produces about 18 percent more recoil energy than Speer Lawman +P 158-grain TMJ in the same revolver, so it is nobody's soft practice load, and it is the wrong pick for a light or old revolver. Shooters who want lead for paper at 25 yards should take Remington UMC LRN or Magtech LRN, which deliver 149 ft-lbs less at the muzzle. Shooters who want a jacketed bullet, for a similar feel or for ranges that restrict lead, should take the Speer Lawman +P at 284 ft-lbs in a revolver rated for +P.