.38 Special vs. .357 Magnum for Home Defense

Which would you choose and why?

  • .38 Special

    Votes: 105 67.3%

  • .357 Magnum

    Votes: 51 32.7%
  • Total voters
    156
If not a shotgun, I want the ability to double-tap. That second round doesn't normally stray far from the first if you train.
 
Good grief, I just used 6 shots in 6 seconds as an example. Its not based on statistical data or likelihood of necessity. People who don't practice rapid fire would be shocked at how poorly they might do even at that rate. The point is that rapid fire should be a part of everyone's practice, and its a good idea to figure just exactly how fast you can shoot follow ups and still stay on target. If you practice doing six, then hopefully you can do 2 or 3 if the need were to arise. Most people can easily empty a six shooter faster than 6 seconds. Can you hit anything when you do? Do you know how fast you can shoot and still stay on target? recoil is only one factor. It will vary between people and guns.

While message forum defense shooters never miss, people who suddenly awaken in the middle of the night in a dark house sometimes do, and not all home invaders work alone or retreat after one shot. Cocking the hammer in single action mode, carefully aiming and slowly squeezing the trigger and punching holes in a black circle 10' away while standing in your most comfortable shooting position in a well lighted range will prepare you well if you are ever attacked by a lone target from downrange that is stopped with one shot. Others should read that neat forum right here on tactics and training.
 
Hey gang!

Thanks for all the replies! I got my Model 64 in the mail and it's all cleaned up n' PURDY! I'm still not sure what loads I'll be using for home defense in either it for .38 special or with .357 magnums from my GP100. I'm reading every comment and learning as much as I can.

Thanks again guys! :)
 
Good grief, I just used 6 shots in 6 seconds as an example. Its not based on statistical data or likelihood of necessity. People who don't practice rapid fire would be shocked at how poorly they might do even at that rate. The point is that rapid fire should be a part of everyone's practice, and its a good idea to figure just exactly how fast you can shoot follow ups and still stay on target. If you practice doing six, then hopefully you can do 2 or 3 if the need were to arise. Most people can easily empty a six shooter faster than 6 seconds. Can you hit anything when you do? Do you know how fast you can shoot and still stay on target? recoil is only one factor. It will vary between people and guns.

While message forum defense shooters never miss, people who suddenly awaken in the middle of the night in a dark house sometimes do, and not all home invaders work alone or retreat after one shot. Cocking the hammer in single action mode, carefully aiming and slowly squeezing the trigger and punching holes in a black circle 10' away while standing in your most comfortable shooting position in a well lighted range will prepare you well if you are ever attacked by a lone target from downrange that is stopped with one shot. Others should read that neat forum right here on tactics and training.
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Makes sense, and well written too. Thanks.
 
Postd by TimSr: People who don't practice rapid fire would be shocked at how poorly they might do even at that rate.
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I sure was, and I had been shooting handguns for around five decades. "Shocked" and "poorly" describe it well, but more importantly, I had never even tried, because I had never understood the importance of scoring multiple hits very quickly.

The point is that rapid fire should be a part of everyone's practice, and its a good idea to figure just exactly how fast you can shoot follow ups and still stay on target.
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Yes, training and practice.

If you practice doing six, then hopefully you can do 2 or 3 if the need were to arise.
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I do not think it a good idea to always practice shooting strings of six shots. One does do not want to do that in the gravest extreme when that is not the right response, and practicing doing that will tend to cause that response.

Rather, it is a better idea to practice shooting two, three, four or more, etc. at different size targets, and at different distances, and train to act according to a cognitive assessment of the event.

That subject is well covered in this book.

Cocking the hammer in single action mode, carefully aiming and slowly squeezing the trigger and punching holes in a black circle 10' away while standing in your most comfortable shooting position in a well lighted range will prepare you well if you are ever attacked by a lone target from downrange that is stopped with one shot.
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Not very well, usually, though I had practiced that way for years. If the threat is in fact imminent, that cocking maneuver may take too long, and if it doesn't take too long....

One should be aware of the risks of a carrying revolver that can be fired single action. That subject is addressed in this book.
 
I have been trying to keep up with this thread but there is so much info and opinions in here that its tough to take it all in...

Someone said they want their neighbor to hear the .357, lol Well if you are in an apartment that may work but in most cases, if your doors and windows are shut and your neighbors doors and windows are shut you can shoot a 338 lapua and the neighbor may not notice, lol...

Also a lot of guys are saying the 357 reoil is not a big deal, and I agree its not like shooting a 308 pistol, BUT when compared to a 38 its significant, I would call it double... So in a high stress situation, where you are going to want all of your rounds in the target in a short amount of time, I think it will make a bigger difference than the extra power a 357 has...

Another topic some touched was the 21 foot rule, I thought we were talking about home defense, if so your weapon will be drawn and pointed in the direction of the threat maybe before it is even visible... So while I wouldn't ccw a wheel gun myself, I am thinking the 21ft rule isn't as relevant in HD as CCW...

Also I have done so many training classes and seminars and live fires, and ect ect ect.. All of which when we talk about a threat the point is to "DRAW", don't wait, someone linked the Tueller vid, which is awesome, BUT I see a mistake in each shot..
He sees a threat we are lead to believe maybe road rage or an ongoing situation that looks to be violent as soon he they exit the vehicles.. That is when at the minimum my right hand would be wrapped around my ccw and unclipped from the holster, if not by my side at the ready...

When you see a threat and you have a ccw, do your self a favor, don't put your hands up like in the vid, ready your weapon, easy enough to realise when a situation is going bad..
One of the ccw classes I have attended had an awesome work sheet we went over, if I remember correctly
"LOUD voices, Angry faces, Boiling situations"
Little vinny always fakes being sick
if you see angry faces, hear load voices, and or have a situation in front of you that has boiled to a point of violence and aggression, then get your ccw to the ready, maybe don't pull, point, and command, but at leasst get your hand on it and unlock it from its holster if need be, that will do a few things, that will show your aggressor that you may have a weapon, it will give you a headstart, and giver your body and mind time to plan the next step, vs pulling to late may get you a shiv in the kidney...

Just something to think about, I attend every class I can, I belong to multiple ranges and have had private classes with some of the best in the business when it comes to private security... I always wish I video recorded these classe from the start because its a lot of info that can't be given in a forum post, lol...
 
Posted by riflemen:... I am thinking the 21ft rule isn't as relevant in HD as CCW...
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Good point.

That is when at the minimum my right hand would be wrapped around my ccw and unclipped from the holster, if not by my side at the ready...

When you see a threat and you have a ccw, do your self a favor, don't put your hands up like in the vid, ready your weapon, easy enough to realise when a situation is going bad...

...if you see angry faces, hear load voices, and or have a situation in front of you that has boiled to a point of violence and aggression, then get your ccw to the ready, maybe don't pull, point, and command, but at leasst get your hand on it and unlock it from its holster if need be, that will do a few things, that will show your aggressor that you may have a weapon,...
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Careful!

Putting your hand in your pocket and on the grip of a pocket revolver may be a good idea, as long as it is not perceived as a gesture indicating that you are armed.

Othersise, you will have to be able to articulate why you had reasonably believed that you had been lawfully justified. Justification thresholds do vary among states.

Study this for more on the subject.
 
Othersise, you will have to be able to articulate why you had reasonably believed that you had been lawfully justified. Justification thresholds do vary among states.
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Just look for Stand-Your-Ground provisions, meant to relieve gun owners from going to court every time there is a shooting and hoping they can someday get their gun(s) back. The cops make the judgment whether to refer the shooting to a prosecutor and get seriously adversarial with you.

The idea is that the trial expense as a matter of course regardless, and inability to carry in the interim, is an undue burden on the RKBA and right of self defense. That is my understanding,
 
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Posted by Real Gun: Just look for Stand-Your-Ground provisions, meant to relieve gun owners from going to court every time there is a shooting and hoping they can someday get their gun(s) back. The cops make the judgment whether to refer the shooting to a prosecutor and get serious adversarial with you. The idea is that the trial expense as a matter of course regardless, and inability to carry in the interim, is an undue burden on the RKBA and right of self defense. That is my understanding,
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So called "stand your ground" provisions relieve a defender of having to provide evidence that he or she had reason to believe that he or she could have safely retreated before having used force or deadly force.

They do not otherwise change the laws pertaining to self defense, and they do not have anything directly to do with the defensive display of a firearm.

See this for more.
 
So called "stand your ground" provisions relieve a defender of having to provide evidence that he or she had reason to believe that he or she could have safely retreated before having used force or deadly force.

They do not otherwise change the laws pertaining to self defense, and they do not have anything directly to do with the defensive display of a firearm.
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In court, mandatory referral to a prosecutor. We aren't disagreeing on this, that I can tell. But this is off topic anyway, when sorting out 38 Special versus 357 Magnum for home defense.
 
I'm currently keeping .38+p in my revolver, and the main reason is, it's a helluva lot less damaging on me to shoot it. Perhaps I give up some penetrating power, but it's debatable if I need or want it in a home defense scenario - meanwhile I know for a fact that a single magnum round from my snubbie will take me out of action for at least a few seconds and deafen me indoors. There are tradeoffs in all choices, and that's the balance I'm comfortable with.

But the gun in my dresser drawer is a HK45. :)
 
I think I am going to go with some Federal 357B, 125 grain SJHP .357 magnums for home defense. After some research, it appears these loads pack more stopping power out of a 4" barrel than any other defensive handgun caliber out there.

I understand they are loud, but IMHO the ability of a 96% one shot stop is more important to me in ending the threat quickly.
 
I think I am going to go with some Federal 357B, 125 grain SJHP .357 magnums for home defense. After some research, it appears these loads pack more stopping power out of a 4" barrel than any other defensive handgun caliber out there.

I understand they are loud, but IMHO the ability of a 96% one shot stop is more important to me in ending the threat quickly.
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96% one shot stop?!?

Where are you getting this figure? That would be extraordinary!
 
Nice! I will look into that. That's almost .30 carbine from an M1 energy.
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I have a ton of this guys ammo in my safe, I have personally chrono'd his 45, 40, 40, 357 sig, 357, 308, and 38sp, lol {stock up when he has sales}, I have used all of them calibers and his 7-08, 22-250, and a couple others.. I wish he would make .204... All of it tests to what he says {variable barrels} google his name, you will see tons of positive reviews, and tons of videos on youtube, its some next level stuff for sure, I will put it against any other available {$t$}...

His prices are awesome but he sells out, right now he is having a sale so a lot of stuff is coming up "sold out" but after the sale ends it comes back fast, you can always contact him and get a date when he will have what you want..

I had good conversation with them, they get the Hot numbers because they did the foot work, they tested thousands of different combos, every bullet is touched by human hands, I don't use them for plinking but my carry guns, hd guns, and hunting guns use his ammo...

I can not recommend him enough, and I have never heard a bad thing about the stuff, everyone always thanks me for the tip, hes like a hidden gem of the ammo world, lol...


PS we are going to be testing some of his 458 socom through a custom ar this weekend... gonna destroy some poland spring jugs I have been saving... The boxes say something like 2600ft lbs, lol I can not wait till tomorrow its going through a rra socom, gonna be epic...
 
Model12Win said:
I think I am going to go with some Federal 357B, 125 grain SJHP .357 magnums for home defense. After some research, it appears these loads pack more stopping power out of a 4" barrel than any other defensive handgun caliber out there.

I understand they are loud, but IMHO the ability of a 96% one shot stop is more important to me in ending the threat quickly.
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FYI, one shot stopping percentages, as popularized by the research of Marshall & Sanow, are now seen as methodologically flawed and outdated. There's really no way to say what percentage of the time a given round will stop an aggressor. There are simply too many factors that cannot be controlled for.

The most up-to-date research focuses on and recommends rounds that can penetrate 12 to 18 inches, reliably and consistently, while expanding reliably and consistently, through a variety of barriers.

The repeatability, a core trait of good science, rather than relying on past data, makes the modern approach much more sound.

For what it's worth, that's why the Speer Gold Dot is my favorite round. It has it where it counts in both measures - street reputation and lab performance. I also use 125-grain in my .357 magnums in my 4" Python, the Speer Gold Dot factory load.
 
So what about Marshall and Sanow's data was really flawed? Weren't their findings based on the threat stopping after 1 shot? They sure didn't overate the 44 and 41 Magnums and gave +P+9mm, 40S&W, 45ACP and 357 Magnum's very good marks, dependent on the specific load in question of course.
 
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