@@ToolsandTargets I actually tried these particular .38's in my Ruger GP100, but haven't tried their FMJ version yet. And to be perfectly honest, I find the .38 Special (and its +P variant) to be more of a plinking round, while the harder hitting .357 Magnum is a good all-around Self-Defense/Hunting cartridge
Just want to say, with me, you do not have to prove or explain your results. I trust you. I think you are one of the most trustworthy testers on here. Thank you.
they still have some good loads and the lack of gold dots isn’t underwood’s fault. literally no one can get gold dot bullets anymore unless you buy the gold dot branded ammo. buffalo bore stopped using them, double tap stopped using them, i’ve even seen regular people say they’re unable to find the bullets for reloading
That is very disappointing from Underwood. I am actually kind of shocked. They usually always have such a good track record. It is almost like they put the wrong sticker on the box.
You're getting alot of weird results when the ammo has been sitting in the cold for who knows how long. You say it's not temp related but I'll look forward to the same test in the summer or when you keep the stuff at room temp. It can't just be that everything in the cold sucks except the PMC. @@ToolsandTargets
Everything in the cold doesn't suck as you'll plainly see in the next couple of tests. This was the one and only bad test (and set of results) of the day. @@heathlong
Things I’ve learned by subscribing to Tools & Targets… *All bullets/rounds are NOT equal *Clear Jelly is dedication to viewers *Speed and weight are huge factors *All ammo manufacturers are not consistent *Big brim hats can be cool *10mm rants are justified *Barrel length can be critical *I need a Canik MC *I spent too much money on crappy HP rounds
@@carolinausedmachinery500 magnum has more kinetic energy then a 12 gauge shotgun slug you’re out of you’re mind to say being hit by .22lr would be the same many instances these days of drugged out or just particularly motivated attackers continuing an attack even after taking multiple shots center mass especially when it’s less effective calibers
@@carolinausedmachinerywell… if any round does go thru the heart Id tend to agree… but… in the Rittenhouse case Kyle put a 5.56 round thru the guys elbow and that removed him from the fight… had Kyle had a 22LR and hit the dudes elbow he might not have had a trial and been carried by 6. All rounds are definitely not equal. Also… puttiing a round dead sternum might take most people a few magazines… especially under duress.
@@carolinausedmachinery Yea that’s just not true in practice many people get pelted by multiple shots of 9mm center mass and don’t stop for like a full minute in police action shootings many cases of this occur you almost never hear that with close range rifle shots, shotguns, or calibers .357 and above in the case of handguns those usually almost always drop someone 1-3 shots while .22lr has a very long track record of being an extremely anemic cartridge to even compare .22lr to .500 magnum in any way is completely asinine again we are talking about the most powerful production handgun round on the planet one that produces more energy than a 12 gauge slug ballistics directly correlate to the physical effects a round will have on a person a .22lr to the heart may kill but the question of it doing so in a few seconds or a few minutes varies where a .500 magnum would remove you’re heart from you’re body along with a chunk of you’re spine on the way out so the end result would absolutely not be the same
Ever since Underwood stopped loading Speer projectiles they lost everything they built their name on. They have downgraded all their powder charges as well. I don't know what happened to them but it's not the same company that built their reputation
@@gB-xd5fk Was always a good plan for practice loads. I would carry the 158gr+P swaged SWC HP for consistency because there might be talk if they pulled a couple of my 173gr Keith wadcutters out of someone.
Tools i just bought about $700.00 worth of 44 and 357 magnum from Underwood and now I am nervous, if I see one more bad test from Underwood I will change my ammo to Buffalo bore. Tool's you are a ammo prophet my brother, please never change and keep up the good work, I do and I will continue to support you one hundred percent. 🇺🇲💪🇺🇲💪🇺🇲💪🇺🇲💪🇺🇲
The problem with 38 special is the cartridge was always below par. Even when +p hit the market many companies lied and claimed their guns could handle it when they couldn't. Smith and Wesson maintained good manufacturing standards but way to many companies used soft steel to cut costs and lied that there guns were just as good. Ammo Manufacturers are just simply concerned with consumer safety when loading this caliber. Modern revolvers from reputable brands made after the 1980's that bare a 38 +p rating can handle pressures that even buffalo bore won't offer. Personally I don't understand why anyone would stick 38 +p ammo in a classic collectable gun let alone carry it. Honestly carrying and transporting a firearm on a regular basis can be harder on the gun than firing it.
👍👍Thanks Tools, that’s some pretty inconsistent ammo. One solution on people complaining about the old tracks in your gel is for each one of them to send you a new clear block. 😁😁
Damn I have my 856 loaded with this, first saw the title and was like alright! Then saw trash, uh oh. Here goes, thanks for the research as always Tools!
Def true to an extent. I've had +p loads that proved to have extra oomph and other times was let down and regular green box remington suprised me more.
I don't think there's any doubt that about 2 hours after the release of this video, a friend of a friend of a friend sends this on in this incestuous community and before you know it, Underwood knows it.
These manufacturers really need to adjust their 38 special defense ammo especially +p to perform from shorter barrels. Underwood seems to have stepped in it with these.
What I find fascinating is that people believe you can get 125gr 1,250 fps out of a 4” barrel and not far exceed 20,000 psi .38 specs. Someone should tell the .38 super it should be hitting 2,000fps….
Your one of the few channels i will watch no matter the round your testing even if i dont have that particular chambering Always a good video Tools, also i been meaning to say you have to have some of if not the clearest gel out there when you start a new video! There are a few guys i watch who make good content but even if they have new gel you cant see anything because its so dang wrinkly, truly appreciate all the work you do making that stuff nice and pretty for us!
Between that one 10mm load that was awful, and now this, I am kind of wondering if Underwood is starting to slip? I REALLY didn't like them switching from the Gold Dot projectiles to lower quality alternative projectiles, and this is just kind of making me further question their previously stellar track record. Thanks for the test.
@@ToolsandTargets I have absolutely no reason to doubt the results you get. And in some instances I understand why they've downloaded some loads since the lack of Gold dot availability. But they need to address the info on the box. And in this case I'd say QC needs to be addressed as well.
@@walkingwolf8072 the biggest issue, far beyond the advertising problem is the absurd inconsistency and lack of quality control. I've been a loyal customer of Underwood since they've been in business. But what's transpired recently is unacceptable.
I long gave up on expecting "performance" from .38 rounds in a snub or carry size platform. What works consistently (and this is true for every platform) is putting several rounds in rapid succession pretty close to center mass. In a .38, I just want the round to go pretty far into what I'm shooting. If it pops out the back of that target going a couple of hundred feet per second or so, oh well. That all being said, I would not want to get hit center mass with a single .22 short.
Your equipment's fine , revolver ammo from Underwood almost never achieves their advertised velocity . Their "auto" ammo is spot-on though .Great test , T&T ,Thank you Sir !
Man! Dang!!!! I remember Umderwood was always good hot ammo. They were always consistent and ran the stated velocity if not bettered the box velocity. That is some sucky ammo there. Thanks for the Video 👍🏻🇺🇲
I'd like to see you test the Underwood Extreme Defenders in .38 Spcl and their hard cast wadcutters. Love the .38 snubby tests! I have some Underwood .38 +P with 125 gr Speer Gold Dots and they're wrist breakers. First time I shot it out of my S&W 642 the gun almost flew out of my hands. I wasn't expecting the kick.
Wow that is a bad batch for sure! or something! I had hopes when it hit over 1000 fps in the snub then all aspirations went out the window! Would expect more from Underwood for sure! Happy Friday brother Thanks for sharing! 💥💥
Thanks for that. I almost purchased this ammo because I’ve heard and seen good things about Underwood. I might go with the Extreme Penetrators because they don’t need expansion and they have impressed me in other calibers.
XTP rounds seem to only work in high velocity calibers -- Source? All of Tools videos. I don't know why Underwood would risk their brand with this particular offering. Anyway, Tools, your testing is never a mess. Your content is tbe best. I couldn't care how many tracks are in the gel. You always give us the correct results. Stay warm, and have a great weekend 👍🇺🇸🦅
I have underwood 38 spl +p loaded with the xtreme defenders as my defensive load out of a snubby. I'd love to see a test with those and haven't found a review of them anywhere. Hopefully their performance won't be nearly as bad as these XTPs. I really expected better from them. Good job and thank you as always!
Hard cast for 38 Special snubbies. It doesn't normally have the speed to open up the petals on many of the defensive rounds. There are some exceptions, but not always available.
The two things I can say about your channel is that you are always fair and honest. Underwood is a stand up company. I am interested to hear what they say about this.
Well hell! Underwood slacked on these for sure! They were all over the place. Very disappointing. I order a lot of ammo from them. I’ve had really good luck with magnum and big bore stuff but they deserve to be called out for this again. At least I got to see that beautiful Ruger again. Great test as always. Definitely an aggravating one for you though. lol. 👍🇺🇸🇺🇸
Ill be honest man i recently came across you in late 2023 and ive been thoroughly enjoying your content. Frankly ive been shooting underwood for awhile and here lately theyve been having some quality issues imo.
@@ToolsandTargets I mostly run their range supply 10mm and the extreme hunters/defenders and I had a batch of defenders that you could hear and feel a recoil difference just like in this video with the 38 spl. They are still my go to ammo maker for 10mm but it does make me worry a bit.
That might be a bad batch. If not...Underwood might have decided to ride on it's reputation and start to cut corners. That would suck eggs. It might be a good idea to get some more in a few months and see if it still sucks eggs. It distresses me to think that people are out there carrying this thinking that it will work well. Thanks for the test. It'll help people.
If you've have ever seen a bullet making factory, there is no way in hell that each case is getting the same amount of powder at the speeds they are made. And we all know that it only takes a few grains to make a difference in velocity. I can't see how they can put a number on the box and expect every bullet in the box to match it. This tells me that some manufactures don't care but some do and you're doing a good job of proving that. Keep on doing these test so we can decide what to buy. Thanks!
I love your content for a lot of reasons, man. You're intelligent, knowledgeable, you actually understand terminal ballistics... But possibly my favorite thing about you is that you'll get all jazzed up and start just ranting/babbling sometimes, like just an extreme rapid-fire stream of consciousness running commentary, and everything MAKES PERFECT SENSE. I can follow along with what you're thinking perfectly, and it's all useful and/or interesting.
I've reloaded 357mag xtp probably 35 years or more till checking expansion a few years ago .I was shocked. 9mm xtp, 451xtp, 430 xtp all wonderful expansion especially 44 180gr xtp on deer and outher 4 legged creature's. extremely devastating. recent tests I find soft cast lead hp and sjhp bullets get good expansion 850fps and up . more consistent. I'll still load xtp in 9mm, 45acp, 45colt, 44mag, 44special but definitely not 38special or + p. I for get how they did in my 357 revolvers. Papa wishing you well
@walkingwolf8072 yes I've been reloading many, many calibers for over 44years plus make ultra reduced center fire special purpose ammunition .the right brinel hardness hp center fire ammunition and speed always proves beneficial even in our modern times.thank you for answering back. Papa from the foothills of the blue ridge mountains in NC wishing you well
Wow, very surprised by this. Underwood knows that they're doing so I have to imagine they just need to tweak the recipe so to speak. I have their 158gr SWCHP +P load in my Model 60 3 inch. Sure hope those would do better than this would.
Actually other than the inconsistent velocities, these are actually fast for +P .38 special. .38 ammo that expands usually does not penetrate deep enough.
Good gawd tools, that jelly is a thing of beauty! Thats as crisp clean jelly as ive ever seen. So many channels have gel that looks like its made out of coffee, just brown and u cant see anything.
Try them in your carbine lever guns. See what happens. I use the XTP bullet in my Winchester 1873 in a 357 load and they are awesome. I use them in a stought 357 load for my 686 revolver as well, no issues. But never would have thought of it for a 38 Spl. load. Too tough a bullet in my opinion, as your test seems to confirm.
Wow. Last year, I chronoed my two inch 856 with underwood 125+P and was pleased with the velocity and consistency of the loads. I didn’t write it down but i seem to reccollect that the average velocity was around 1170 fps. I don’t have any jelly to shoot but i shot water jugs and caught a couple of those bullets that had expanded pretty good. I hope that ammo you got was just a bad batch but who knows,,,,
For expansion, all bullets that I have seen need to hit or break the 1,250 fps mark. That's why .357 magnum does so good. Any caliber will do great, as long as it hits around that mark.
I expected better too. I would like to see a test of the new Fiocchi Hyperformance 110 grain +P in 38 Special. The box says 1100 fps probably from a 4 in barrel I assume but I have a Taurus snubbie and am quite picky about my ammo choices for it. I can't find another video where thus one has been tested. I predict poor or moderate performance but I could be wrong. You never can tell.
Unexpected results ! I have this ammo but the fmj' s to test the 692, box of 50. Thanks for info ! Gonna be a 🥶grigid few days keep your rant panties warm !😂
Our .38s currently have 110gr Hornady loaded, doing great on HD duty...i don't know exactly how reliably the rounds will expand (I watched Tool's video, but hollow points at low velocities are simply suspect)...at worst, the penetration is entirely adequate...I am surprised at how poorly this Underwood performed, I'd wager most folks commenting would vouch the brand is normally pretty reliable...interesting video, carry on...!
it's a good thing to see the comparison to the PMC Bronze. Otherwise I was going to suggest you try blaming the early morning cold temperatures for the uncharacteristic inconsistency. You're a man of science!
Seems like the only consistent 38 spl rounds are the Hornady 110 grain Personal Defense rounds. The old Remington UMC 125+p semi jacketed rounds do good in bare gel , but get clogged with denim. I'd rather take my chances with those!
They shouldn't advertise the velocity if it doesn't come even close in a 4" revolver. Having said that, the 900+ out of the snubby with a 125 XTP should do the trick for self defense - we will see in the "jelly" ... well never mind... get your money back lol.
Whenever you got such inconsistancy. What about weighing some unfired rounds (let's say 5 to 10), in order to see if there is a significant difference in powder loads.
Unlikely. Whenever you've got a low pressure round with a big case capacity it's hard to get tight velocity spreads. They have to either leave unused space in the case or use a special, low energy density powder to fill the case, both methods tend to have inconsistent pressure curves (the case half empty method is by far worse though).
One other thing people arent considering is that underwood may be getting hit by supply chain shortages and trying to rework recipes on ammo, due to not being able to always get the same exact powder or even the powder companies could be making changes due to shortages and their stuff might be falling off from what it was and that would screw everyone down the line including underwood and us.
Curious to see what this does out of a carbine. I know it defeats the purpose of the general use of this loading, but the inconsistency warrants it. Either quality control is atrocious (which I doubt), or the powder choice (to get such high velocities from a .38Spl) is not fully burning in these barrel lengths. Just a thought.
This is why I'm a subscriber to this channel, you get the truth, no BS, T&T just calls it as he see's it. Great testing Brother! I think I'm going to send you a pair of raybans or oakleys, which do you prefer? Take care Sir!
Appreciate ya brother. You know you don't have to send me anything, but I was actually thinking the other day that I outta buy a decent pair of glasses. These Amazon specials I get only last till I drop em a couple times and then I can barely see through the scratches.😆
Do an underwood .45 +p test they claim they’re 185 grain bullets do 1200 fps an 592 ft lb of kinetic energy I got a box I’d love to see you do a test to see if it’s effective or not
I've been loading my j frames up with Norma safeguard 158 grain hollow points, it's not +p but it's rated at 968 fps, I haven't seen anyone test it yet though but Norma has always been pretty good stuff.
In the majority of tests across all calibers The XTP bullet never seems to reliably expand as well as other designs. Always penetrates on the deep side too and seems to plug easy with clothing barriers.
The quality control is garbage all over the United States I don't know why. And as far as I'm concerned you are the best tester on youtube thanks tools
After seeing how good those .357 you just tested did it's crazy how they managed to get these so wrong. That spread is absolutely unacceptable, this stuff might do well at 1200fps out of the GP100 but it's a total roll of the dice whether or not you get that. It's almost like they have standard pressure and +p mixed together. Thanks again for saving me money.
Would be interesting to pull down a few rounds and see if Underwood is using a 'flakey' propellent, which would be near impossible to meter consistently, or if the charges are even consistent at all. I handload a lot of 38 SPCL +P type ammunition and rarely see that kind of velocity spread...
As much as I like Underwood ammo, the ammo I use for self defense is HST. I will load my own Leighhigh bullets from Wilson and know exactly what powders are being used. I agree 100% about this. You should get what you paid for. If I were you I would call them with your results and see what they say.
New clear jelly for the jelly snobs. Underwood walks in "hold my beer"😂😅😂😅
🤣🤣🤣
🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
The jelly snobs don’t have to pay for or maintain it 😂
@@ToolsandTargets I actually tried these particular .38's in my Ruger GP100, but haven't tried their FMJ version yet. And to be perfectly honest, I find the .38 Special (and its +P variant) to be more of a plinking round, while the harder hitting .357 Magnum is a good all-around Self-Defense/Hunting cartridge
Just want to say, with me, you do not have to prove or explain your results. I trust you. I think you are one of the most trustworthy testers on here. Thank you.
Glad you post tests that are good, bad and ugly. Some Guntubers only post the positive. Thanks for keeping it real!
I guess that's the good thing about no ammo sponsor. I don't have to worry about losing one for posting the truth.😆😆😆
Yeah, Underwood ain't what it used to be. No more Gold Dot bullets, no more quality control, no nothing!
they still have some good loads and the lack of gold dots isn’t underwood’s fault. literally no one can get gold dot bullets anymore unless you buy the gold dot branded ammo. buffalo bore stopped using them, double tap stopped using them, i’ve even seen regular people say they’re unable to find the bullets for reloading
Underwood has been somewhat hit & miss lately. Glad you’re putting out this content. For the price of this boutique ammo you’d expect better quality.
That is very disappointing from Underwood. I am actually kind of shocked. They usually always have such a good track record. It is almost like they put the wrong sticker on the box.
Stuff was all over the place.🤷♂️
You're getting alot of weird results when the ammo has been sitting in the cold for who knows how long. You say it's not temp related but I'll look forward to the same test in the summer or when you keep the stuff at room temp. It can't just be that everything in the cold sucks except the PMC. @@ToolsandTargets
@@heathlong I can't assure you that my EDC situation is going to be ISO 15C and 29.92hg. It should work rain or shine, hot or cold...
Everything in the cold doesn't suck as you'll plainly see in the next couple of tests. This was the one and only bad test (and set of results) of the day. @@heathlong
Coulda accidentally misread the load data or misplaced the decimal and sent the .38 out loaded like the .380😂
Things I’ve learned by subscribing to Tools & Targets…
*All bullets/rounds are NOT equal
*Clear Jelly is dedication to viewers
*Speed and weight are huge factors
*All ammo manufacturers are not consistent
*Big brim hats can be cool
*10mm rants are justified
*Barrel length can be critical
*I need a Canik MC
*I spent too much money on crappy HP rounds
😂😂😂 😎👊
@@carolinausedmachinery500 magnum has more kinetic energy then a 12 gauge shotgun slug you’re out of you’re mind to say being hit by .22lr would be the same many instances these days of drugged out or just particularly motivated attackers continuing an attack even after taking multiple shots center mass especially when it’s less effective calibers
@@dariodicarlo8745
Couldn't agree more.
@@carolinausedmachinerywell… if any round does go thru the heart Id tend to agree… but… in the Rittenhouse case Kyle put a 5.56 round thru the guys elbow and that removed him from the fight… had Kyle had a 22LR and hit the dudes elbow he might not have had a trial and been carried by 6. All rounds are definitely not equal. Also… puttiing a round dead sternum might take most people a few magazines… especially under duress.
@@carolinausedmachinery Yea that’s just not true in practice many people get pelted by multiple shots of 9mm center mass and don’t stop for like a full minute in police action shootings many cases of this occur you almost never hear that with close range rifle shots, shotguns, or calibers .357 and above in the case of handguns those usually almost always drop someone 1-3 shots while .22lr has a very long track record of being an extremely anemic cartridge to even compare .22lr to .500 magnum in any way is completely asinine again we are talking about the most powerful production handgun round on the planet one that produces more energy than a 12 gauge slug ballistics directly correlate to the physical effects a round will have on a person a .22lr to the heart may kill but the question of it doing so in a few seconds or a few minutes varies where a .500 magnum would remove you’re heart from you’re body along with a chunk of you’re spine on the way out so the end result would absolutely not be the same
Ever since Underwood stopped loading Speer projectiles they lost everything they built their name on. They have downgraded all their powder charges as well. I don't know what happened to them but it's not the same company that built their reputation
😣
same thing with Double Tap. They used to make mack-daddy 10mm loads, then they started to water them down.
Looks like it's just straight reloading from here damn shame.
@@gB-xd5fk Was always a good plan for practice loads. I would carry the 158gr+P swaged SWC HP for consistency because there might be talk if they pulled a couple of my 173gr Keith wadcutters out of someone.
Lawyers
Tools i just bought about $700.00 worth of 44 and 357 magnum from Underwood and now I am nervous, if I see one more bad test from Underwood I will change my ammo to Buffalo bore. Tool's you are a ammo prophet my brother, please never change and keep up the good work, I do and I will continue to support you one hundred percent. 🇺🇲💪🇺🇲💪🇺🇲💪🇺🇲💪🇺🇲
I wouldnt be too worried, their mangum loads are usually good, its the low pressure rounds like 38 Special loaded with XTPs that blow.
The problem with 38 special is the cartridge was always below par. Even when +p hit the market many companies lied and claimed their guns could handle it when they couldn't. Smith and Wesson maintained good manufacturing standards but way to many companies used soft steel to cut costs and lied that there guns were just as good. Ammo Manufacturers are just simply concerned with consumer safety when loading this caliber. Modern revolvers from reputable brands made after the 1980's that bare a 38 +p rating can handle pressures that even buffalo bore won't offer. Personally I don't understand why anyone would stick 38 +p ammo in a classic collectable gun let alone carry it. Honestly carrying and transporting a firearm on a regular basis can be harder on the gun than firing it.
👍👍Thanks Tools, that’s some pretty inconsistent ammo. One solution on people complaining about the old tracks in your gel is for each one of them to send you a new clear block. 😁😁
I like the sound of that!😎👊
@@ToolsandTargetsJust so we know, what does that cost? I think most people aren’t aware of how expensive this stuff is. (I have an idea)
Damn I have my 856 loaded with this, first saw the title and was like alright! Then saw trash, uh oh. Here goes, thanks for the research as always Tools!
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Underwood needs to investigate what is wrong with them.
The construction material of the gun has nada to do with bullet performance...the bullet does not know or care what kind of gun fires it...
Wrong @@walkingwolf8072
@@JohnPublic-dk7zdcorrect
I said it before on one of your older videos.
"+P stands for +Profit for the manufacturer".
😂
True!
Def true to an extent. I've had +p loads that proved to have extra oomph and other times was let down and regular green box remington suprised me more.
So much for "Superior High Performance Ammunition" !
I am shocked! This is the ammo that my wife carries in her 38 snub. Great job, Brother 🇺🇸🙏🏿
Goodbye Underwood, Hello Buffalo Bore!!
Good job sticking with the test. Unfortunate result's for sure. I would be tempted to contact Underwood and advise them to watch this vid.
Thank you sir. I mainly wanted to head off any excuses or doubts. I'm sure there will still be plenty.
I don't think there's any doubt that about 2 hours after the release of this video, a friend of a friend of a friend sends this on in this incestuous community and before you know it, Underwood knows it.
These manufacturers really need to adjust their 38 special defense ammo especially +p to perform from shorter barrels. Underwood seems to have stepped in it with these.
I sure expected good stuff.
Put a danger warning for old guns on the box. Problem solved@@walkingwolf8072
If you have an old gun you probably dont. want to shoot +p ammo to begin with@walkingwolf8072
What I find fascinating is that people believe you can get 125gr 1,250 fps out of a 4” barrel and not far exceed 20,000 psi .38 specs. Someone should tell the .38 super it should be hitting 2,000fps….
Your one of the few channels i will watch no matter the round your testing even if i dont have that particular chambering
Always a good video Tools, also i been meaning to say you have to have some of if not the clearest gel out there when you start a new video! There are a few guys i watch who make good content but even if they have new gel you cant see anything because its so dang wrinkly, truly appreciate all the work you do making that stuff nice and pretty for us!
Between that one 10mm load that was awful, and now this, I am kind of wondering if Underwood is starting to slip? I REALLY didn't like them switching from the Gold Dot projectiles to lower quality alternative projectiles, and this is just kind of making me further question their previously stellar track record. Thanks for the test.
Very good information to have, this guy makes the best videos out there. Different ammo, using different barrel lengths.
I always know where to check the reviews on Ammo before I try something different. Appreciate all of your videos. Keep them coming 👍.
😎👊
Another great jelly test Tools Stay Safe Stay 2A Strong 🇺🇸
Thank you sir!😎👊
I am very surprised by the results using this Underwood ammo. Typically, it performs closer to what's advertised.
Same here. Especially after the last two tests of their stuff being so good.
@@ToolsandTargets I have absolutely no reason to doubt the results you get. And in some instances I understand why they've downloaded some loads since the lack of Gold dot availability. But they need to address the info on the box. And in this case I'd say QC needs to be addressed as well.
@@walkingwolf8072 the biggest issue, far beyond the advertising problem is the absurd inconsistency and lack of quality control. I've been a loyal customer of Underwood since they've been in business. But what's transpired recently is unacceptable.
@@walkingwolf8072 Who carries a 6" 38spl as their CCW?
@@walkingwolf8072 Awesome, we should hang out
I guess the silver lining is that you probably could reload those captured projectiles. 😮😅😂
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Alaskan Ballistics has been having this problem with several underwood calibers. Inconsistent compared to buffalo bore
Thanks for the short barrel.
I long gave up on expecting "performance" from .38 rounds in a snub or carry size platform. What works consistently (and this is true for every platform) is putting several rounds in rapid succession pretty close to center mass. In a .38, I just want the round to go pretty far into what I'm shooting. If it pops out the back of that target going a couple of hundred feet per second or so, oh well.
That all being said, I would not want to get hit center mass with a single .22 short.
I learn a lot from your tests- thanks, “T&T”!
Appreciate you!😎👊
Thank you Tools for all you do.
Appreciate that!😎👊
Would you be able to post the lot codes so we know which ones to avoid? Might help out the manufacturers to do a recall if they see your videos.
😎👍
Your equipment's fine , revolver ammo from Underwood almost never achieves their advertised velocity . Their "auto" ammo is spot-on though .Great test , T&T ,Thank you Sir !
Thank you sir. Surprised the heck outta me!
Man! Dang!!!! I remember Umderwood was always good hot ammo. They were always consistent and ran the stated velocity if not bettered the box velocity. That is some sucky ammo there. Thanks for the Video 👍🏻🇺🇲
I'd like to see you test the Underwood Extreme Defenders in .38 Spcl and their hard cast wadcutters. Love the .38 snubby tests! I have some Underwood .38 +P with 125 gr Speer Gold Dots and they're wrist breakers. First time I shot it out of my S&W 642 the gun almost flew out of my hands. I wasn't expecting the kick.
Need to know for sure. Good on you for putting this out. Thank you!
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Wow that is a bad batch for sure! or something! I had hopes when it hit over 1000 fps in the snub then all aspirations went out the window! Would expect more from Underwood for sure! Happy Friday brother Thanks for sharing! 💥💥
Thank you sir. Surprised me for sure.🤷♂️
Thanks for that. I almost purchased this ammo because I’ve heard and seen good things about Underwood. I might go with the Extreme Penetrators because they don’t need expansion and they have impressed me in other calibers.
XTP rounds seem to only work in high velocity calibers -- Source? All of Tools videos. I don't know why Underwood would risk their brand with this particular offering.
Anyway, Tools, your testing is never a mess. Your content is tbe best. I couldn't care how many tracks are in the gel. You always give us the correct results.
Stay warm, and have a great weekend 👍🇺🇸🦅
Appreciate that, brother!😎👊
I tried XTP bullets when they first came out. I reloaded. The were garbage then just as they are now.
I have underwood 38 spl +p loaded with the xtreme defenders as my defensive load out of a snubby. I'd love to see a test with those and haven't found a review of them anywhere. Hopefully their performance won't be nearly as bad as these XTPs. I really expected better from them. Good job and thank you as always!
Shoot some water jugs lined up and you'll get some idea of performance.
Hard cast for 38 Special snubbies. It doesn't normally have the speed to open up the petals on many of the defensive rounds. There are some exceptions, but not always available.
Thanks for all you do . I really enjoy the videos. They're informative and entertaining.
Tumbling is wound producing too 12:56
The two things I can say about your channel is that you are always fair and honest. Underwood is a stand up company. I am interested to hear what they say about this.
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Well hell! Underwood slacked on these for sure! They were all over the place. Very disappointing. I order a lot of ammo from them. I’ve had really good luck with magnum and big bore stuff but they deserve to be called out for this again. At least I got to see that beautiful Ruger again. Great test as always. Definitely an aggravating one for you though. lol. 👍🇺🇸🇺🇸
Appreciate ya, brother.😎👊
You do great testing! Thanks. I bet Underwood had a bad run. I have generally been pleased with their ammo.
Ill be honest man i recently came across you in late 2023 and ive been thoroughly enjoying your content. Frankly ive been shooting underwood for awhile and here lately theyve been having some quality issues imo.
Appreciate that. I run a lot of their stuff. Sure didn't expect this.
@@ToolsandTargets I mostly run their range supply 10mm and the extreme hunters/defenders and I had a batch of defenders that you could hear and feel a recoil difference just like in this video with the 38 spl. They are still my go to ammo maker for 10mm but it does make me worry a bit.
I dont know if its just me, but it seems like its hard to get a good defensive round for 38 spl
It definitely is.
That might be a bad batch. If not...Underwood might have decided to ride on it's reputation and start to cut corners. That would suck eggs. It might be a good idea to get some more in a few months and see if it still sucks eggs. It distresses me to think that people are out there carrying this thinking that it will work well.
Thanks for the test. It'll help people.
Agreed. I expected this to be great stuff.
If you've have ever seen a bullet making factory, there is no way in hell that each case is getting the same amount of powder at the speeds they are made. And we all know that it only takes a few grains to make a difference in velocity. I can't see how they can put a number on the box and expect every bullet in the box to match it. This tells me that some manufactures don't care but some do and you're doing a good job of proving that. Keep on doing these test so we can decide what to buy. Thanks!
Thanks for completing the test, I’m surprised at the performance as well. With underwood would load the Speer gold dots again.
Underwood must be skimping on the power, I would have thought they had a good thing going, still enjoyed it, Thanks Brian have a warm weekend, 👍 🇺🇸
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Dude keeps it real with honest reviews I found me a new channel thanks for saving me money cause I was researching was gonna order them tonight
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I love your content for a lot of reasons, man. You're intelligent, knowledgeable, you actually understand terminal ballistics... But possibly my favorite thing about you is that you'll get all jazzed up and start just ranting/babbling sometimes, like just an extreme rapid-fire stream of consciousness running commentary, and everything MAKES PERFECT SENSE. I can follow along with what you're thinking perfectly, and it's all useful and/or interesting.
😂😂😂 Appreciate the heck out of that, brother!😎👊
I've reloaded 357mag xtp probably 35 years or more till checking expansion a few years ago .I was shocked. 9mm xtp, 451xtp, 430 xtp all wonderful expansion especially 44 180gr xtp on deer and outher 4 legged creature's. extremely devastating. recent tests I find soft cast lead hp and sjhp bullets get good expansion 850fps and up . more consistent. I'll still load xtp in 9mm, 45acp, 45colt, 44mag, 44special but definitely not 38special or + p. I for get how they did in my 357 revolvers. Papa wishing you well
Thank you sir. 😎👊
@walkingwolf8072 yes I've been reloading many, many calibers for over 44years plus make ultra reduced center fire special purpose ammunition .the right brinel hardness hp center fire ammunition and speed always proves beneficial even in our modern times.thank you for answering back. Papa from the foothills of the blue ridge mountains in NC wishing you well
Thanks for the confirming secondary tests Brian
Wow, very surprised by this. Underwood knows that they're doing so I have to imagine they just need to tweak the recipe so to speak. I have their 158gr SWCHP +P load in my Model 60 3 inch. Sure hope those would do better than this would.
Actually other than the inconsistent velocities, these are actually fast for +P .38 special. .38 ammo that expands usually does not penetrate deep enough.
I'm glad you're using the Taurus 856, that's what my sister owns, I recommended to her just to use fmj
Great revolver.😎👊
Good gawd tools, that jelly is a thing of beauty! Thats as crisp clean jelly as ive ever seen. So many channels have gel that looks like its made out of coffee, just brown and u cant see anything.
Appreciate that, brother. This sure isn't how I wanted to use it up first thing.😆
Good video. Sorry about the inconsistencies
Try them in your carbine lever guns. See what happens. I use the XTP bullet in my Winchester 1873 in a 357 load and they are awesome. I use them in a stought 357 load for my 686 revolver as well, no issues. But never would have thought of it for a 38 Spl. load. Too tough a bullet in my opinion, as your test seems to confirm.
Wow. Last year, I chronoed my two inch 856 with underwood 125+P and was pleased with the velocity and consistency of the loads. I didn’t write it down but i seem to reccollect that the average velocity was around 1170 fps. I don’t have any jelly to shoot but i shot water jugs and caught a couple of those bullets that had expanded pretty good.
I hope that ammo you got was just a bad batch but who knows,,,,
Very helpful info. Good to know. Great videos, keep em coming. Love to see a Buffalo Bore 38 spl standard pressure 125 gr jhp(xtp) test
Wow! Thanks for the test. I guess I’ll stick with something else. I have some and they’re coming out!
Very surprisingly result from Underwood.
My favorite videos are always the failed tests. Its wrong to say it, but these videos are more funny when there is a high level of disappointment.😁
😆😆😆 It stresses me out!😂
Thank the Lord this wasn't a failed 10mm. test... we'd be dealing with a Chernobyl of a meltdown .
It definitely saves us the trouble of stocking up on lame bullets. Especially when they are high priced Underwood.
@@robwilson3749
😳........😆..🤣..😂..😅..🥵
@@cgsimons1187 Yeah. And we also get a little comedy in the process. Its a win win.
Their xtreme defenders are my favorite for .38spl
I chronied some of this a couple years ago, it was disappointing back then. The 158 gr. LSWC/GC was higher than what the box said, though.
Thanks for checking and double checking. I ALWAYS listen to the end with you. And I like underwood, but yikes !!
Flagging what not to buy as well as what has good performance is very valuable. Much appreciated
Two more good ones coming in the next tests.😎👊
For expansion, all bullets that I have seen need to hit or break the 1,250 fps mark. That's why .357 magnum does so good. Any caliber will do great, as long as it hits around that mark.
I expected better too.
I would like to see a test of the new Fiocchi Hyperformance 110 grain +P in 38 Special. The box says 1100 fps probably from a 4 in barrel I assume but I have a Taurus snubbie and am quite picky about my ammo choices for it. I can't find another video where thus one has been tested. I predict poor or moderate performance but I could be wrong. You never can tell.
My favorite +p 38 spl, loads are from buffalobore, true +p 38 spl's.
Really shocked by the velocity inconsistencies; Underwood must have had a problem with it a powder loader. I just bought a few boxes of these too 😢
Unexpected results ! I have this ammo but the fmj' s to test the 692, box of 50. Thanks for info ! Gonna be a 🥶grigid few days keep your rant panties warm !😂
Our .38s currently have 110gr Hornady loaded, doing great on HD duty...i don't know exactly how reliably the rounds will expand (I watched Tool's video, but hollow points at low velocities are simply suspect)...at worst, the penetration is entirely adequate...I am surprised at how poorly this Underwood performed, I'd wager most folks commenting would vouch the brand is normally pretty reliable...interesting video, carry on...!
it's a good thing to see the comparison to the PMC Bronze. Otherwise I was going to suggest you try blaming the early morning cold temperatures for the uncharacteristic inconsistency. You're a man of science!
Seems like the only consistent 38 spl rounds are the Hornady 110 grain Personal Defense rounds. The old Remington UMC 125+p semi jacketed rounds do good in bare gel , but get clogged with denim. I'd rather take my chances with those!
It’s starting feel like I have to buy a chronograph and personally test any individual box of ammo I’m going to load in a carry gun or a bear gun.
There's no telling how much ammo from any manufacturer is way off and people never even know.
They shouldn't advertise the velocity if it doesn't come even close in a 4" revolver. Having said that, the 900+ out of the snubby with a 125 XTP should do the trick for self defense - we will see in the "jelly" ... well never mind... get your money back lol.
10:02 "If the ammo ain't it, you must acquit"
Thanks for the warning. XTP's work well if pushed to higher velocity. Underwood needs to reevaluate this load.
Whenever you got such inconsistancy. What about weighing some unfired rounds (let's say 5 to 10), in order to see if there is a significant difference in powder loads.
Unlikely. Whenever you've got a low pressure round with a big case capacity it's hard to get tight velocity spreads. They have to either leave unused space in the case or use a special, low energy density powder to fill the case, both methods tend to have inconsistent pressure curves (the case half empty method is by far worse though).
Those G10 grips on the Taurus snubby are sweet. I can see why people always ask about them.
One other thing people arent considering is that underwood may be getting hit by supply chain shortages and trying to rework recipes on ammo, due to not being able to always get the same exact powder or even the powder companies could be making changes due to shortages and their stuff might be falling off from what it was and that would screw everyone down the line including underwood and us.
Curious to see what this does out of a carbine. I know it defeats the purpose of the general use of this loading, but the inconsistency warrants it. Either quality control is atrocious (which I doubt), or the powder choice (to get such high velocities from a .38Spl) is not fully burning in these barrel lengths. Just a thought.
This is why I'm a subscriber to this channel, you get the truth, no BS, T&T just calls it as he see's it. Great testing Brother! I think I'm going to send you a pair of raybans or oakleys, which do you prefer? Take care Sir!
Appreciate ya brother. You know you don't have to send me anything, but I was actually thinking the other day that I outta buy a decent pair of glasses. These Amazon specials I get only last till I drop em a couple times and then I can barely see through the scratches.😆
@@ToolsandTargets I decided I'll send one pair of each and a couple of extra surprises.
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Do an underwood .45 +p test they claim they’re 185 grain bullets do 1200 fps an 592 ft lb of kinetic energy I got a box I’d love to see you do a test to see if it’s effective or not
I'm wondering if you lose velocity when using 38 special ammo in 357 guns. Maybe do a test in the future?
if done with a .38 revolver, yeah, the results should be different
Never have expected much from a .38 snub but did expect better results from the 4 inch revolver.
Even so they didnt what they are supposed to the disruption from tumbling is greater then from expanding bullets.
I've been loading my j frames up with Norma safeguard 158 grain hollow points, it's not +p but it's rated at 968 fps, I haven't seen anyone test it yet though but Norma has always been pretty good stuff.
In the majority of tests across all calibers The XTP bullet never seems to reliably expand as well as other designs. Always penetrates on the deep side too and seems to plug easy with clothing barriers.
I believe the HTP jacket is to heavy for 38 spl it's designed for 357 velocities.
Xtp doesn’t perform well with low velocity unfortunately regardless of caliber. It’s good if you get it going fast enough.
The quality control is garbage all over the United States I don't know why. And as far as I'm concerned you are the best tester on youtube thanks tools
After seeing how good those .357 you just tested did it's crazy how they managed to get these so wrong.
That spread is absolutely unacceptable, this stuff might do well at 1200fps out of the GP100 but it's a total roll of the dice whether or not you get that. It's almost like they have standard pressure and +p mixed together.
Thanks again for saving me money.
I honestly couldn't even believe it myself after just recently dealing with that Aria mess.😆
Would be interesting to pull down a few rounds and see if Underwood is using a 'flakey' propellent, which would be near impossible to meter consistently, or if the charges are even consistent at all. I handload a lot of 38 SPCL +P type ammunition and rarely see that kind of velocity spread...
As much as I like Underwood ammo, the ammo I use for self defense is HST.
I will load my own Leighhigh bullets from Wilson and know exactly what powders are being used.
I agree 100% about this. You should get what you paid for. If I were you I would call them with your results and see what they say.
I haven't put em' over a laser but UW .38spl 150gr wadcutter hardcast hurts out of my j-frame.
I've got Underwood full wadcutters coming. I'm hearing 800s from sub 2".