how good is 38 special SJHP for self defense?

how good is 38 special SJHP for self defense?

  • bad

    Votes: 2 3.1%

  • good

    Votes: 46 71.9%

  • excellent

    Votes: 16 25.0%
  • Total voters
    64
  • Poll closed .
Worse than bad.

AWFUL.

It actually heals people you shoot with it.

Doctors in hospitals carry .38s loaded with SJHPs and routinely shoot patients to provide a quick dose of healing power when other options would take too long.
 
I wouldn't say excellent but definitely good. If it was what I had at hand I would feel comfortable defending myself with it.
 
Depends upon barrel length, whether it's +P, etc.
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The OP is a little vague. In .38 Special I like the Speer 135 grain Gold Dot Short Barrel and the Remington 158 grain Lead Semi Wadcutter Hollow Point. They both work well in 2 to 6 inch barrel lengths.

Most of the 125 grain and 158 grain SJHP out of a 4 inch or longer barrel offer a decent level of performance.

Out of shorter barrels it is good to test them for penetration and expansion, if you can, or find where someone else has tested them.
 
The .38spl is...

Not what I would carry into an expected fire fight with hopped up Moro tribesmen or near the border of Afghanistan .
Other than that, it's OK, I guess.
Even I carry it on occasion!!
 
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SJHP?

Semi jacketed hollow point?

What weight?

I have a Smith model ten ,four inch barrel that I routinely load with the dreaded 158 Lead round nose reloads.

Why?

Because it will put all of those lead round nose bullets in a quarter size hole at fifteen yards.

And yes,I can let the pistol do it for me.

While I sleep.:D

It's that good of a gun.

Seriously,I shoot those bullets in this gun,I smile every time.

You show me a bad guy with 790 grains of lead in his chest that's still advancing at me and I'll show you a bad guy with a 158 grain moonroof between his eyes.
 
In short barrel guns, expansion may be iffy with a JHP. If the gun you will be using is a snubbie, I would opt for something along the lines of the 158 grain, LSWC.
 
The short answer, depending on other variables, like bullet weight and velocity is adequate.

Everything is a compromise. I would rather take an HK91 to a gunfight but they are kid of hard to conceal. Grenades, RPG's and artillery can be useful too.

As a civilian in an urban environment I oft carry a .38 snubby revolver. It will probably take care of most goblins. When I get into a less urbane setting, I opt for more gun as my target is more likely to be farther away. (also I can probably carry openly)

This is the long way to say "probably, depends on the situation"
 
how good is 38 special SJHP for self defense

I've never had to fire my .38 in self defense, but I feel confident that it would be up to the task. Some of the newer bullet designs make the .38 a very potent caliber.
 
While partial to some of the more potent stuff available (my .38 Spl guns are loaded with 158gr LSWC-HP +P, 135gr GDHP +P, or 147gr HS +P+), I would not feel unarmed with a .38 loaded with older 125gr SJHP.

For that matter, I would not feel unarmed with a .38 loaded with 148gr HBWC.

Where the bullet lands is a lot more important than what the bullet is. Train to make the bullets land where you want.
 
While partial to some of the more potent stuff available (my .38 Spl guns are loaded with 158gr LSWC-HP +P, 135gr GDHP +P, or 147gr HS +P+), I would not feel unarmed with a .38 loaded with older 125gr SJHP.

For that matter, I would not feel unarmed with a .38 loaded with 148gr HBWC.

Where the bullet lands is a lot more important than what the bullet is. Train to make the bullets land where you want.
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Pretty dang smart, for a kid with only fourteen-thousand posts.;)
 
The .38 +P version with the 125g JHP (# R38S2) uses the same bullet as the .357 125g load which is an excellent manstopper. The .38 +P load only flies at 925 fps (4" barrel) which makes it's expansion less than 100% reliable. Still, it's considered a good load, because when it expands it does a good job.

I wouldn't feel undergunned with it in my .38's even a 2" barrel. I think a better round is the Speer Gold Dot 135g +P "short barrel" load or their 125g +P load. The Winchester 130g SXT seems to be a good round also.
 
I sometimes carry a 2" .38 spcl. loaded with Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel ammo. I believe it'll do the job or I wouldn't carry it. It ain't a BAR, but neither is a .45 ACP. ANY handgun caliber can be a stopper or a loser, depending on a LOT of things: bullet design, powder load, accuracy, distance, etc.
 
I voted good, based on some data I'd seen somewhere. I can't find it now.

Just curious. You've been posting a lot of "What is best"-type threads in the past couple weeks. Have you come any closer to a decision, or are you just having fun doing the analysis?

If you have come closer to a decision, what are you leaning towards at this piont? It seems like maybe a small, light 38 for your ankle?
 
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