Average Joe
New member
Yes, I carry a .38 special and have for over 40 years.
38 special for self defense
- Thread starter David spargenator
- Start date
Bill DeShivs
New member
But, but,..... regular .38s bounce off winter clothes! 
The following articles include velocities of bullets fired from a snubby revolver.
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/38vs357snub.htm
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Feedingthe38Snub.htm
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Humble 38 Special.htm
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/38 Snub Ammo Test.htm
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/can_less_be_more.htm
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/38 Special 158gr LSWCHP.htm
tom -
I doubt anyone would argue that the 38spl is superior to the 357. To do so would be foolish. In my case, I load my 357 HD revolvers with Buffalo Bore's 38+P FBI rounds because the few times I've fired 357s in an enclosed area, my hearing suffered for quite awhile, even though I was wearing ear plugs. The 38+P is a few steps down the loudness ladder and has less muzzle blast to boot. So it's what I like for my personal situation. Each of us has to evaluate our own circumstances and prepare accordingly. The 357 is probably one of the best SD cartridges available. But I feel the 38+P would serve well if needed to stop a home invader.
I doubt anyone would argue that the 38spl is superior to the 357. To do so would be foolish. In my case, I load my 357 HD revolvers with Buffalo Bore's 38+P FBI rounds because the few times I've fired 357s in an enclosed area, my hearing suffered for quite awhile, even though I was wearing ear plugs. The 38+P is a few steps down the loudness ladder and has less muzzle blast to boot. So it's what I like for my personal situation. Each of us has to evaluate our own circumstances and prepare accordingly. The 357 is probably one of the best SD cartridges available. But I feel the 38+P would serve well if needed to stop a home invader.
38 Special for me, is all I need. I remember My uncle carried one for years when I was a kid. When I left the peoples republic of NYC in 2004, the first gun I bought was a S&W model 36 J Frame made in 1981,and that's my regular constant carry. I also have a model 10, and I recently acquired a SS Model 60 38 for $200.00 . I have other calibers, but I always stick with the good old 38 special.
Yankee Doodle
New member
Whenever this topic comes up, and it often does, I remember what my old firearms instructor told us when I went on "the job" many years ago.
he said, "You can easily double the stopping power of the .38 Spl. issue load. Pull the damned trigger again"
Only caliber I ever carried in uniform. S & W Mod 10. When I got out of uniform, S & W Mod 37. Today, S & W 642. (Gave my son my 37. Dumbest thing I ever did.)
Good hits count. Misses get you dead. There is NOTHING wrong with the old .38 Spl. as a defense round, as long as you can hit with it.
Nuff said.
he said, "You can easily double the stopping power of the .38 Spl. issue load. Pull the damned trigger again"
Only caliber I ever carried in uniform. S & W Mod 10. When I got out of uniform, S & W Mod 37. Today, S & W 642. (Gave my son my 37. Dumbest thing I ever did.)
Good hits count. Misses get you dead. There is NOTHING wrong with the old .38 Spl. as a defense round, as long as you can hit with it.
Nuff said.
Black Adder LXX
New member
I feel confident with my 642 as my CCW. I wouldn't want to get hit with one!
That said, if I'm home, the GP-100 is coming out with 357 HP ammo in it.
That said, if I'm home, the GP-100 is coming out with 357 HP ammo in it.
I have two j frame .357's, one with a 2" and one a 3" barrel. I doubt I will ever shoot a .357 in either one of them. I look at them as very durable 38's. I know there are those who do shoot .357's in them, but I have a GP100 for that. I think the 38 Special has some very viable loads on the factory market. I have found several that I like a lot, and that's what I carry and shoot in them. jben
Mannlicher
New member
I have been carrying a .38 Special revolver as a CCW piece for many years. This little Model 60 is a favorite. I make two different loads for this one, a 158 gr LSWC over SR4756 powder, and a Sierra 140 gr JHP over Blue Dot.
MisterMills357
Inactive
.38 Special Out Of A .357 For Defense
Yeah, I'm OK with the .38 Special; but I must confess my heavy preference for the .357 Magnum. OK, there, I have confessed it, now to the topic.
I fell in love with the .38, when I held a snub-nose in a gun store. I liked the gun, it was as handy as all get out.
I loaded it with NyClad because of, its big fat Hollow Point.
I figured that if I ever really got in too deep; that I was going to press the gun into my attacker. Yes, I know, that sounds gruesome. But it would work, and I would keep all of my original human parts, in working order.
Yeah, I'm OK with the .38 Special; but I must confess my heavy preference for the .357 Magnum. OK, there, I have confessed it, now to the topic.
I fell in love with the .38, when I held a snub-nose in a gun store. I liked the gun, it was as handy as all get out.
I loaded it with NyClad because of, its big fat Hollow Point.
I figured that if I ever really got in too deep; that I was going to press the gun into my attacker. Yes, I know, that sounds gruesome. But it would work, and I would keep all of my original human parts, in working order.
Deaf Smith
New member
David,
If you can shoot, and shoot very well, even a .22 will do for SD.
If you can't hit the broad side of a barn, then even a 20 shot 9mm won't help.
Funny thing is just yesterday I handled a Colt 'Army Special' .38. 5 inch barrel, nickel plated (original nickel at that) and it locked tight.
I'm sure with standard pressure 158gr LSWHPs it will do a fine job if you can shoot strait.
Oh, and I use a S&W 640-1 .357 snub with Buffalo Bore DPX .357 'low recoil' ammo in it for summer use. Power is about like a +p .38 (but from a 2 1/4 inch snub.)
I am quite comfortable with it. But then I practice weekly. And my practice isn't target shooting.
Deaf
I used to carry 38 spl model 10 at work for protection. That was issued from the dept. I also carried a back up.
Now I only use 38spl for target practice. It's not that I don't think it's adequate, it is! I just choose .45acp for that over anything in a pistol. Although I carry a 380 at times as primary and sometimes as backup. Depends on weather and dress. I do feel a little under gunned with the 380, but not defenseless.
38dpl has become a range/ plinking round or Shotshells for snakes( copperheads). And collector value.
My wife uses a S&W 38spl revolver though.
Now I only use 38spl for target practice. It's not that I don't think it's adequate, it is! I just choose .45acp for that over anything in a pistol. Although I carry a 380 at times as primary and sometimes as backup. Depends on weather and dress. I do feel a little under gunned with the 380, but not defenseless.
38dpl has become a range/ plinking round or Shotshells for snakes( copperheads). And collector value.
My wife uses a S&W 38spl revolver though.
Back "in the Old Days" the .36 caliber Black Poqdwe revolver was deemed adequate for Police work and Colt even buit a special Police revolver around the load! It was good enough for the likes of Wild Bill and other noteworthy characters.
Fast forward to 1899 and S&W built revolvers around the then new .38 Long/Special. Then, untill the 1970's when the modern high capacity semi-auto 9mms became the standard for Police and self defense work.
Howrver, the venerable standard .38 Specisl outpreforms the old BP C&B loads qith the old standard 158 gr bullet moving out of a 4" revolver at over 200 FP of energy with good penetration, No it didn't knock opponents down likw a .45 Long Colt but proved more than acceptable foe Law enforcers and civillians alike to stop Hostile actions!
Todey we have even more potent loads of +p and +P+, also light, fadt low presure ,38 spec loads for standard .38 revolvers,
Just as the .36 C&B Black Powder loads worked, the nodern .38 Special loads work even BETTER!!! It was considered state of the art in carry guns for self defense and Police work.
You can count on tidays modern ammo to guarantee powerfull anti-personell loads more than capable of stopping a gunfight.
Thw real question should be one of proper shot placememu and quick reliable shooting practices Even with a .44 mag, a poor hit or miss and undesireable and
uneffective in stopping gunfight!
With the basic 158 gr LRN is plenty food enough to stop an opponent with a good solid hit! Good shooting being Paramount!
The .38 Special is effective as a fighting cartrige/caliber even today!
I depend on it with complete confidence
The caliber and an array of easilly portable/ concealment revolvers on the market,
Ammo is BETTER than ever and with pratice and skill, you ARE well helled with it!
My well researched and practiced opnion...
BPDave
Fast forward to 1899 and S&W built revolvers around the then new .38 Long/Special. Then, untill the 1970's when the modern high capacity semi-auto 9mms became the standard for Police and self defense work.
Howrver, the venerable standard .38 Specisl outpreforms the old BP C&B loads qith the old standard 158 gr bullet moving out of a 4" revolver at over 200 FP of energy with good penetration, No it didn't knock opponents down likw a .45 Long Colt but proved more than acceptable foe Law enforcers and civillians alike to stop Hostile actions!
Todey we have even more potent loads of +p and +P+, also light, fadt low presure ,38 spec loads for standard .38 revolvers,
Just as the .36 C&B Black Powder loads worked, the nodern .38 Special loads work even BETTER!!! It was considered state of the art in carry guns for self defense and Police work.
You can count on tidays modern ammo to guarantee powerfull anti-personell loads more than capable of stopping a gunfight.
Thw real question should be one of proper shot placememu and quick reliable shooting practices Even with a .44 mag, a poor hit or miss and undesireable and
uneffective in stopping gunfight!
With the basic 158 gr LRN is plenty food enough to stop an opponent with a good solid hit! Good shooting being Paramount!
The .38 Special is effective as a fighting cartrige/caliber even today!
I depend on it with complete confidence
The caliber and an array of easilly portable/ concealment revolvers on the market,
Ammo is BETTER than ever and with pratice and skill, you ARE well helled with it!
My well researched and practiced opnion...
BPDave
There is nothing wrong with it. ITs accurate, its not that hard to get used to. New ammunition is improving quite a bit for short barrels.
Every post in here has not been about the actual power of 38 special versus any other cartridge. we all seem to have another handgun in a more powerful caliber.
What each post has thumped into the reader is that, yes its enouhg, but all handguns regardless of caliber need to be used well on target. That means each shot hits the target.
I got into a small fight with a wannabe cop i work with,he touts the new training standard of "5 minutes to shoot 2 whole magazines into a paper plate"
that its alla bout accuracy and precision. Yet back in the olden times it was draw revovler, fire, reload and fire again into a target in 1 minute. Look at the hit count compared to then ..
Every post in here has not been about the actual power of 38 special versus any other cartridge. we all seem to have another handgun in a more powerful caliber.
What each post has thumped into the reader is that, yes its enouhg, but all handguns regardless of caliber need to be used well on target. That means each shot hits the target.
I got into a small fight with a wannabe cop i work with,he touts the new training standard of "5 minutes to shoot 2 whole magazines into a paper plate"
that its alla bout accuracy and precision. Yet back in the olden times it was draw revovler, fire, reload and fire again into a target in 1 minute. Look at the hit count compared to then ..
I'm not a huge fan of .38s for carry -- sold my Smith 637 last year -- but I keep a Taurus 617, 7-shot .357 steel snubbie in my living room, loaded with Hornady +p Critical Defense rounds. I believe I'm well-defended with that combination, getting too old to deal with recoil from .357s and the .38s are accurate, easy to shoot and I bet they'd hurt if you were on the receiving end. Accuracy uber alles ...
Biff Tannen
New member
I agree with naysayers, that for concealabity, round count, and power, it's there are better choices.
But for reliability in function and ballistics, which for me is the deciding factor, the .38 is my choice of carry.
But for reliability in function and ballistics, which for me is the deciding factor, the .38 is my choice of carry.