.38 for edc?

R

ratrodney

New member
Found a good price on a s&w. 38 with a crimson laser but i keep hearin bout how the. 38 isnt great for self defense???
Oppinions please?
 
I've carried a .38 Spl., either a Charter Arms or an S&W, as my primary EDC since the early 1980s.

I like to think that I'm smarter than the average bear when it comes to guns and the like, and can count a stint with American Rifleman magazine in there, as well, a position I got primarily because of my knowledge of firearms, ammunition, and the like.

Plus, I'm a better than average shot (or used to be, I've not practiced much lately).

If I had ANY doubt about the .38 Spl., or my abilities with it, I wouldn't be carrying one.
 
From what I have seen its from the semi-auto fan club guys that think you need to carry high capcity 20 round mags. I edc a k frame 357 and feel plenty comfortable with the ammo count. Practice using moon clips and speed loaders. As for the ever debated "stopping power" topic that folks like to debate, I don't see a .38 as being undergunned. If I'm not mistaken that was a common law enforcement round prior to the semi auto push.


In short, I think you choosing a .38 j frame is a very wise choice. Concealable and reliable.
 
The .38 is good for self defense.
Would you like a second opinion, OK.......The .38 is good for self defense.:D
 
i keep hearin bout how the. 38 isnt great for self defense
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Presuming you mean .38 Special, it's not a phaser but with good SWCHP or DPX it ain't bad.

You can get a 158gr SWCHP at 900 to 1100 fps from a 3 inch barrel depending on the make of ammo. That is nothing to sneeze at.

Key is practice. Good practice done often. Not only gun handling skills (drawing, pivoting, using cover, shooting fast and accurately) but also good tactical sense like using cover, gaining position, looking for tells, etc..

While I pack a Glock 26 very very often, I still have a J .38 spl. Centennial I use often to. Plus by my hand now is a Ruger 2 3/4 Security Six revolver that is good as any.

Deaf
 
I carry a s&w j frame 38 special all the time. It is a proven caliber. Think about it, it was standard issue for police departments for decades.

I'm not a big fan of crimson trace laser grips though.
 
There are better cartridges for stopping fights, but the .38 Special isn't bad. It's also controllable enough that it can be easily learned. I'D prefer something bigger, but YOU should carry whatever pistol you shoot best (and no, you may NOT carry your Colt Woodsman or Hi-Standard Victor, for self defense).

I wouldn't go to anything LESS powerful than a .38 Special for self-defense. I would also develop a plan for what to do if 2 shots in a chest from your .38 does NOT take your aggressor out of the fight (head shot).
 
I used to believe that Bravo Sierra too, but as I got older I got less dumb.

If the Colt Cobra I carry can't handle the job, I figure I'm having a really bad day.
 
Don't be distracted by the mega blaster, ya gotta nuke 'em with enough power to bring down an elephant BS. The 38 Special is very viable CCW round.
 
I figure I'm having a really bad day.
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Usually with someone, and maybe an amego or two, trying to kill you, you are having a bad day.

While packing a revolver for SD does not bother me, it does take more skill to use one. Train hard as you have only five or so rounds and a very slow reload.

Deaf
 
I carry two different J frames - a Model 36 snub and a Model 36 3" - which one depends on what I'm wearing and where I'm going. Both are 38s and I feel very confident with a 38 spell. The one thing I don't like are laser sights . . . I don't need a little strand of light to show me where to aim . . . that comes with practice, practice and more practice.
 
For a private citizen and for self defense, I'll join the .38spl supporters. Shot placement always comes up in caliber discussion & rightfully so. Another thing to remember is why, and more particularly who, was involved in bigger & more powerful ammo choices.

The military moved to .45acp due to the need to stop a motivated enemy from fighting even after he'd been mortally wounded (in the Philippines IIRC). Law enforcement will need to shoot through windshields, doors, or other barricades sometimes, so the .357sig or .40s&w do a better job there. Modern military ammo needs to penetrate body armor, and FMJ 9mm is just their last choice option anyway (NATO compatibility, and NATO loads are roughly equal to +P I believe).

As private citizens, we have to be able to defend our shooting decisions legally, so we don't shoot through walls or doors at someone we can't identify, probably aren't in imminent threat from someone in their vehicle, and are unlikely to be shooting at someone with body armor. And most criminals (if not on drugs, or enraged) aren't motivated to fight to the death. I know, there are all kinds of low probability "what if" scenarios; personally I'd rather prepare for the more likely ones.

That's a long way to say, yes, .38spl and even .380acp would be adequate for EDC for the average private citizen.
 
"The .38 spl. isn't great for self defense."

Wish I had a nickel for every time I've heard that nonsense.

The .38 special round, when loaded for SD (such as +P loads), as opposed to light target loads, using proper SD bullets, is just as effective in the REAL world, as any of the other commonly used handgun cartridges.

Yes, there are other cartridges that have greater muzzle energy. Yes, there are other cartridges that will produce greater penetration, in some circumstances. No need for anyone to start blathering about specific numbers.

But, in the REAL world, with good shot placement (which is important for ANY cartridge), the good ole 38 WILL get the job done. The OP need not worry about that.
 
Yes, the .38 is an effective self defense cartridge.

The US military used the .38 Special all the way into the 1990s. We can shoot more effective ammunition than the military's Hague Convention compliant ammo.
 
If someone were trying to mug me, I would prefer to have my hammerless snub 38 in my pocket over any other handgun. It can shoot from any hold or any angle, or even from a coat pocket. You can't limp wrist it, and it can't get pushed out of battery. It is not ammo sensitive, and a dud round just means pull the trigger again.

I have full confidence in the caliber. A good self defense 38 special round is very effective. Plink at some water jugs or rotten produce or something and you will become a believer.
 
Bill Jordan said the 38 Special is the most powerful round the average man-most of us-can hope to master. Charlie Askins did quite of job with the 38 Special, and the Iron Rule of Self Defense is that only the hits count.
 
I think we rationalize in favor of what is easy enough to carry (weight) and to conceal (profile). I expect that 38 Special would usually get the job done, but I personally think of it as a good backup to something like a small 357 like my Model 60-10 or to a 5-shot 44 Special like my SW696. Actually I would rather have 6 shots and go with the SP101 in 32 H&R, but the 60-10 and I shoot too well to leave that gun in the safe.
 
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