Underwood Ammo .38 Special +P 100-grain Xtreme Defender ammunition (part no. 853) pairs a Lehigh Defense solid-copper bullet with +P pressure for shooters who carry a small-frame revolver and want real stopping power from a short barrel. Underwood Ammo loads the Xtreme Defender to 1,300 feet per second, generating 375 foot-pounds of muzzle energy that is well beyond what a standard-pressure .38 Special typically produces. The solid-copper bullet does not expand like a traditional hollow point; instead its fluted nose displaces tissue to create a wide wound channel while resisting the clogging that can defeat a hollow point through heavy clothing. Nickel-plated brass cases resist corrosion in a pocket holster or ankle rig carried daily. Among handgun ammunition for snub-nose revolvers, this is a load built specifically for the compromises a short barrel forces on every other +P round.

Key Specifications

• The caliber is .38 Special +P, a hotter pressure loading built for concealed-carry revolvers.
• The bullet weighs 100 grains, light for caliber to maximize velocity from a short barrel.
• The bullet is solid copper Xtreme Defender construction rather than a traditional jacketed hollow point.
• A fluted nose displaces tissue instead of expanding, creating a wide wound channel that resists clogging from clothing.
• Muzzle velocity reaches 1,300 feet per second, high for a .38 Special load.
• Muzzle energy is rated at 375 foot-pounds, well above typical standard-pressure .38 Special loads.
• The cases are nickel-plated brass, resisting corrosion during daily concealed carry.
• Each box holds 20 rounds, enough to load multiple revolvers and speedloaders.
• The cost runs about $2.09 per round, reflecting the specialty self-defense loading.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Xtreme Defender bullet expand? No, it is a solid-copper design that uses a fluted nose to displace tissue and create a wide wound channel instead of expanding like a traditional hollow point.

Is this safe to shoot in any .38 Special revolver? It is a +P load, so confirm your revolver is rated for +P pressure; most modern .38 Special revolvers are.

Why choose a nickel-plated case? Nickel resists the corrosion and tarnishing that come from daily carry in a pocket holster or ankle rig.

Buy Underwood .38 Special +P Xtreme Defender Ammunition

A snub-nose revolver already gives up velocity to barrel length, and the Xtreme Defender is built to claw it back. Load your carry gun and your backup with a round designed around the short-barrel compromise instead of ignoring it. Order from our Lubbock, Texas gun shop and it ships fast to your door.