.38 special

38 a fine pistol. I carry 38+P . I have never fired a 357 pistol that I liked . Loaded with 357.. I have a couple but shoot 38 spl in them . You all can keep the 357.
 
While more power is potentially a good thing, it's really only a good thing if that power is harnessed and controlled.

I see a lot of guys buying hand-cannons, and then going to the range to (it seems) mostly be seen shooting a big, bad gun and making lots of noise, fire, and smoke.

Because an awful lot of them sure don't hit the X or 10 with those blasters. Some barely hit the target portion of the paper.

As for follow-up shots and split times? Might as well use an egg-timer...

Not to say that there aren't shooters out there who can shoot a .454 very, very well.

Just saying that for many, many people, a .38 that they can get fast, accurate hits with blows the doors off the .44 magnum that they miss with, and fairly slowly to boot.

This is one reason why the .38 special in a 3" or 4" revolver is normally one of the most recommended firearms for inexperienced shooters.

To the OP, the .44 special in the right platform is a teddy bear. But the .38 is a teddy bear in smaller platforms, to an extent. A lot of it will depend on what size gun you need for your intended use; your experience level; and your recoil tolerance.

I think you'll be happy with the .357/.38 idea you're now proposing.
 
mnero,

While I use revolvers mainly in the field, the .38 Spl., like the old 158gr LSWHP FBI load, will do the deed as well as anything if you can shoot strait.

You want stopping power. Well shooting strait does more to stop an opponent than any fancy round. You want +P? Shooting strait IS +p+. That is hitting them well does far more to stop them than jacking up the velocity.

If all I had was my Smith 60 and Ruger Speed Six in .38 special, and my Dillion square deal B in .38 spl (and thus the ammo to practice!), I'd do just fine.

Deaf
 
Shoot straight, oh my then I really am screwed;):DSeriously that makes alot of sense. And if I do miss; I will look good doing it with that beautiful 627:D
 
What do I think of the .38 Special?

It is a fine kid's cartridge when used in full sized .357 Magnum Revolvers. The mass of a 6" barrelled .357 damps the already light recoil of the .38 down to "my 8 year old can handle it" level ......... even though he lacks the finger strength to shoot it DA very well.......
 
The .38 is a fine cartridge. I use it in lightweight pocket revolvers, full size duty revolvers, and long barreled target guns. I sometimes also use .357 in the latter two.
There is a reason that the .38 special was the main police service cartridge for most of the 20th century. Because it works.
Remember though that today's standard loads are watered down versions of standard loads of 40 years ago. Today's +P is what was the standard load of 4 decades ago. Back then there were also things called "Super-Vel", " Hi-Vel", ".38-44" and the like. Those loads dabled into the low to medium end of today's .357 Magnum loads.
Of course today, projectile design has eliminated SOME of the need for the higher velocity. Newer bullet designs such as Gold Dot, Ranger T, etc do a lot to make up for the lighter loads that the manufactures give us do to the litigousness of our society.

As some have pointed out, the human body has not gotten stronger since the first half of the 20th century. I would point out, that in some ways, it has gotten weaker. As a whole, fewer of us regularly do hard physical work that make people stronger physically. More of us sit at a desk and type, than ever before. Children sit in front of a monitor and play video games, instead of running around playing tag, cops and robbers, or kick the can. Yes some of us go to the gym and work out. Yes, health care is better than ever. But are we physically stronger, or even as strong as previous generations? I think not.
 
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mnero,

Keep in mind your revolver has but 5 to 7 shots (usually 5 or 6) and thus spray-n-pray is not a good answer. So yes shoot strait and make each shot count.

And as I always suggest, if you pack a wheelgun.... pack two. Even Wild Bill H. packed two (as did J. W. Hardin.)

Deaf
 
38 Special was good enough to save my butt.

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It's the first gun/caliber I carried forty-two years ago and I have never been without one since. Loaded properly, it will usually get the job done.
 
38.special

The 38 is my favorite caliber for years. My problem now is that a decent 38 bullet that you can run thru your gun is about 38 cents a round. thats to much for to many trips for fun at the range. Its cheaper to use 9mm about 20 cents a round. And thats a bit much to.
 
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