38 special for self defense

Wow, I didn't realize so many people agreed that 38 special is an effective round. It's a low velocity round but in my personal shooting I've done with it. I've found that it's penetration and power is good enough to get the job done.
 
My 38 carry load is a 125 JHP at a clocked 1,150 FPS (4" barrel, about 1,100 from a 2"). I feel comfortable with it.

The 38 +P is a 125 at 925. I believe the standard 9mm loads will outperform this one and the LEO 9mm loads will significantly out pace it.
 
.38 Spl is a perfectly acceptable round for SD. If you do your part, it will do its part. No, it doesn't have the same ballistics as a .357Mag or a 10mm, but that doesn't mean that it's a wimpy round.

If you're interested in how it stacks up against some other calibers when fired through a snubnose: Ballistics by the Inch
 
I may have missed it, but when did people become so tough that nothing less than .50 BMG will so for self defense? It seems to me that a lot of the "caliber X is worthless and you need..." stuff is coming from range heroes who just like making a lot of noise.

Jim
 
well it seems that since the general public became aware of the followign fact, that any cartridge under a certain muzzle energy or velocity was considered wimpy...

the fact being that various legal and illegal medicines like opiates, meth, etc can make a 98 pound "barney fife" type person as hard to stop in a fist fight as a 260 pound "otis" type individual.

also note, that the holly "minimume" of self defence the .380 and 9mm were until the 50 considered to be for women and petite men. But the real man carried a .38 special or bigger
 
I'm just looking at bullets themselves, and seeing what is obvious to me
Click to expand...

The 38Spl does have heavier options in bullet weight than the 9mm. 158gn is real common, 147 is about as high as 9mm goes.

I just loaded some 38 and 9mm. For the 38 I used 125 HDY XTP. For the 9mm I used 124 HDY XTP In those particular bullets they are about physically the same.
 
The concensus is that a .38 is perfectly viable self defense round. I agree with that.

I would only like to add that you will be much better prepared to use it as such if you make the investment in ammo and training to become proficient with it.

.38 snubbies are great little guns, but only if you can use them well. Buy yourself a thousand rounds of ammo and shoot it. When it's gone you'll be a better shooter and you'll know for certain whether your revolver is up to the task and worth carrying.

Then buy more ammo and keep practicing.

Good luck.
 
Ye Olde 38WC Target load is a good self defense round. What it lacks in velocity it makes up for with accuracy, low recoil and the shape of its bullet.
 
Funny thing in my career..all 45ACP shootings guy lived...stopped quickly and lived. The 38 +P lead hollow point...stopped forever. I have carried a 38 snub for years off duty and retired and it beats the pants off of the CCW du jour of LCPs and other tiny autos. Some might say the snub is as big as a G26 and you may as well carry a baby Glock. That's true in a holster but try stuffing one loaded in your pants...I'd rather not myself. 638 and two speed strips of 158 +P LHP for me.
 
I think people have a tendency to try to justify their choice of caliber with facts. But the facts are all over the place, so if you pick and choose you can get the backing you desire.

Compared to rifles and shotguns, hand guns all fall into the minor leagues. Except in movies, all popular SD calibers, (38spl,9mm,40S&W, 45acp), are close to each other in performance. Whatever you shoot the best is what you should carry. When you get into the magnum rounds like 357, 41 or 44, you should be aware of over penetration. If your bullet goes through your target and hits something or someone else, you may have serious problems. On the streets I carry 38 SPL +p, 9mm or 40S&W. In the woods 357, or 44 mag. If I could only have one gun, it would be a 357 mag with 38spl+p for the streets, and 357 for the woods.
 
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I carry a compact .45, I like it. My wife carries a 357 snubby loaded hot, she likes it. But from time to time, especially if we're taking out new shooters, I'll load up a batch of warm 125gr 38 sp rounds. I have to say, we both can make two very accurate shots to center-center mass very quickly. Easy to shoot and more than enough snap on the serious end. I've been tempted to change from time to time.
 
I am just fine with either 38spl or 38spl +P factory ammo for self defense. I guess it's always possible you might run into superman some day and wish you have a 44 mag snubbie or feel you need 15 rounds of 9mm. Frankly I am comfortable with a 22LR revolver simply because I suspect I'll never fire a defensive shot in my entire life and the only use for the gun is to carry around and make you feel good and punch a few holes in tin cans and targets.
 
The .38 Special got a bad reputation for stopping fights due to the insistence of many police departments on loading them with 158gr standard pressure LRN bullets. These loadings are really only good for range work as their shape and construction causes them to create narrow "ice pick" through-and-through wounds. When loaded with a good expanding bullet like Speer 135gr +P Short Barrel Gold Dot or Remington 158gr +P LSWCHP, a .38 Special is a fine defensive cartridge which compares favorably to a standard pressure 9mm loaded with quality JHP's.
 
I think a +P 38 is adequate in most cases, but weak in others. In my case, in a cold northern climate, extra layers of clothing and heavy coats are worn. I prefer a magnum 357 or 44 during winters.
In the summer, during shorts & tee-shirt season, I'd carry a snubbie with a +P 38 ok.
 
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