0.38 Special or 0.44 Special

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Vacavillains

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I've seen similar threads and I'm guessing it's been asked before but can't find any supporting ballistic data such as gel tests that do both the 38 and the 44. I need a good revolver for my wife to use if there's ever a situation where I'm not home. We currently have a Charter Arms .44 special which she can shoot fine but it isn't a very fun gun for either of us so we're looking at Smith 686 and 689's. I like the .44 and it seems like it would be a better choice since she can shoot it and it would put the same number of bigger bullets towards any threat (California so I can't get any of the or 8 shot 357's) but everyone at the club keeps telling us that .44 special's have a poor reputation and that new .38 +P is a better choice. Checking out other forums it seems like the opinion is split so I'm looking for any info on stopping power or other tests to show which one is actually superior.

Thanks
 
Hello Vacavillains,

Let's start with the first rule of order, that being there is no such thing as stopping power. That's all internet b.s.
Now lets move on to the fact that a handgun is a terrible defensive weapon but one that we can carry and sometimes conceal.

And finally when you mention the Mrs. even a .38 + p might be rough to handle.
Personally I'd get a semi-automatic shotgun for home protection. I sure wish I could get one but I have nowhere to practice with one.

Anyway if your dead set on a handgun try to find out if there are any places you can rent some and let her shoot 'em to see what she thinks.

Good luck.
 
Honestly, don't get too hung up on caliber. What really matters is hitting the target, preferably more than once, in important places. Practice until this is readily repeatable and repeatable under stress. If it is easier to do with a .38 and easier to get out to the range to practice with a .38 (more fun usually equals greater will to go out and practice), then by all means go with a .38 special! You could even use standard pressure (not +p) ammo. Just get good with it.
 
As to cartridge effectiveness, i think its about the same 44spl vs 38 spl.

The larger (and heavier) Smiths mentioned will be much easier to shoot well, at speed then the Charter Arms Bulldog in 44spl

If the recoil of the Bulldog is too much then id say look hard at the 686. Its as good a wheelgun as you could ask for.

Personally, id go for a mid sized semiauto pistol in 9mm...but that's just me;)
 
Clairification

I should have been more clear but didn't want to drone on too long.

1) There's a 12 gauge pump under the bed, this would replace our "Oh Schmidt!" downstairs gun (I live just north of Oakland and we've had 2 shelter in place active shooter situations in the past year)

2) I didn't say this well but she shoots the current charter .44 fine, so that's not a concern. It's just that neither of us like shooting it that much and can't get good groups anywhere past 7 yards. Also, she doesn't like auto's

3) We have shot the .357 and the .44 smiths and both shot them very well even the 4 inch barrel. So either would be a step up if any potential target is more than a couple strides away. It just seems to me that the best expansion I've seen from a .38 barely gets it up to a half inch so the .44 is almost there before it even starts to expand.

3.5) Yes, this reinforces the need for a new gun, I just want to be sure it's the most practical :D
 
One more thing

I love both guns and would buy both if that was practical at the moment. I like the idea of a .44 better, but everyone I ask in person rags on it and I'm just trying to determine if there's anything to what they're saying or if it's just outdated info. Most people at the club are in their 60's :cool:
 
That's because they come from decades of knowing just how many bad people the good old .38 sent to the grave. Semi-Automactic did not come about because of the .38 being insufficient it came about for round count and quicker reload.

Ever been to New York city ? You'd be shock to see some of the older street sgts. still carrying a revolver.
 
Easy on the age comment, youngin!! Jk:D

Actual bullet expansion at defensive handgun velocities on HUMAN targets is an iffy thing.

One of the places i used to work had a shooting shortly after transitioning to the 40s&w from the 38spl. Of the 11 hits on the badguy only 3 bullets expanded at all...those all hit thigh muscle and buttocks, transitioning laterally thru both cheeks (180gn Speer Gold dot out of a Smith 4046).

Gel tests allow us to compare 2 different loads against each other in a consistent test media. It does not equate to what those bullets will do in flesh. Dont get caught up in the hype..."this round is better then that round". Handgun rounds ALL SUCK.

Find the gun that you and the wife will shoot best and practice most with...stoke it with any of the high end defensive loads and rest easy, youve done all you can.
 
I can't really speak to .44. I probably wouldn't buy one personally just because the ammo is harder to find and more expensive than .38 which can be found everywhere and ballistics of modern .38 self defense ammo seems good enough, if you can hit with, as others have said. I think a 686 or Ruger GP100 would serve you well.
 
Given the level of crime that has come to plague the Fairfield/Vacaville area in the past few years, I certainly would want a reliable weapon close. Chose a quality weapon that you two can shoot well and practice with it. I would consider either caliber to be up to the task with quality ammo.
 
The .44 Special is a bad choice only in the minds of .45 Colt fans. No one on the receiving end could tell the difference. I think I would concentrate on finding a gun your wife can handle and shoot well. Remember, a hit with a .22 is better than a miss with a .460 (though the bad guy may have a heart attack when the .460 goes off, but then anyone else around might also).

The problem with a shotgun, even with as short a barrel as is legal, is that it is long and can get caught on doorways and the like. Plus, it usually ends up in the corner or in the closet, just where you don't want it if needed.

Jim
 
I find no mention of a S&W Model 689 .44.
I find no mention of ANY current .44 Special.
That would leave you with a .44 Magnum and whichever ammo seemed suitable.

I admire the .44 but for home defense would go with a .357 and pick ammo from the tremendous variety of Special and Magnum loads, balancing recoil vs power.


Outside the OP, I would look hard at a .45 ACP revolver.
"Pre-expanded" bullets in wide variety that have been getting the job done for a long time.
 
I agree, buy a .357 magnum and play with all the premium loadings of .38spl .38+P, if you find that you can shoot those w/o problems, you have the option to move up to .357mag if she/you can handle it. my wife is very small and pretty weak. shes about 125# and can shoot 38+p pretty good. I had her out the other day, shooting some anemic 357mag loads and she was doing pretty good, but didn't like the blast and noise. I would not give my wife a .44 and expect her to able to shoot it accurately. I think .38 is adequate and it's a pleasure to shoot, I think 38+p is more appropriate for defense and also enjoyable for most if used in a decent sized revolver.
 
can't get good groups anywhere past 7 yards.
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By Charter Arms 44 Special I assume you have a Bulldog. You can't expect target gun accuracy with a snubbie like the Bulldog, and if you can consistently shoot to where the shot is needed to be you are covered for most any SD situation you would find yourself in.
But the fact that neither of you enjoy shooting it is problematic. You will need to continue shooting to keep proficient, so you do need a gun you will shoot. Plus because of the much lower popularity of the 44, poor ammo availability, and higher prices are both negatives.
 
First off, since this is a home defense gun, and not a carry weapon, bypass the snubbies and get something with a barrel on it. A 4" barrel is much less difficult to shoot well, and you will find it a lot more enjoyable to shoot for FUN instead of as a a necessay chore. Lots of .357s out there to fit that bill, and you can stick with shooting .38s if that is you pleasure.

Then we have the issue of ammo cost an availability. If you're not a handloader, practicing with a .44 spl will put you in the poor house, as you probably already know, and ammo isn't always on the shelf for it.

Both rounds are effective, but I'd recommend a 4" or even a 6" 38/357 that she might actually enjoy shooting, and hopefully will shoot often.

I make this recommendation with a fascination with the Bulldog, and am considering one for a concealed carry weapon myself in place of my .38, but my housegun is a 6" GP100.
 
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From what you have provided I think you should look at a Charter Arms model that would be more fun to shoot. The 4+" Target Model 44 Bulldog might be just the ticket, familiar to both of you.

Note that shooting supersonic, especially with magnum pressures, is a bad idea inside the house. The 44 Special is well suited to home defense, but be aware that you have to push it hard or use a light bullet if you expect much expansion. That takes a certain level of velocity. Hornady ammo (other than XTP) is a PITA for reloading those shorter, nonstandard cases, but they do have it figured out how to get bullet performance. There may be other choices but I think Hornady is more readily available, as you probably have found out.
 
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California so I can't get any of the or 8 shot 357's
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Yes you can, I just bought a new A-stamped M&P R8 two weeks ago, both the R8 and the TRR8 are on the roster. The A-stamped versions can be hard to find, so failing that you can go the single-action exemption route, basically have a shop convert an out-of-state revolver to single action, sell it to you, then convert it back to DA/SA.

There are as many opinions on the optimum home defense weapon as there are gun owners, but countless millions of dead folks can attest to the deadly effectiveness of handguns, which have some significant advantages over long guns for this application. I've heard the shotgun argument many times before, but never agreed with it - the angular spread isn't huge and doesn't buy you a whole lot of margin for aiming error, the main mass of shot still goes through walls, shotgun recoil can be formidable, etc. But to each his own, you're best off with whatever you're most comfortable and skilled with using.
 
Both are perfectly fine for a defensive handgun

The real key is practice, practice, practice.
Also, you may want to purchase specific self defense loads.
 
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