.38 special

I can't explain it but I have developed an irrational love of K frame .38s in my old age.
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Irrational isn't always bad. A love for art could also be considered irrational.

The K-38 is one of the most ubiquitous handguns of the 20th century, and for darned good reason. I frequently get asked why I carry a 4" medium-frame, six-shot revolver in .38 as my primary. It's like 2011, right? There are lighter, smaller, more powerful guns, right? It's double action, and nobody can shoot well with a long trigger pull! I mean, do you want to get killed?

My response:

19_38_target_sm.jpg
 
Hey Tom...with all respect in the world, not challenging you at all. Just wondering. Can you pull off a quarter tight group like that with someone shooting back, ducking & running, and your heart and blood pumping everything at 100mph with you too ducking and possibly running?
 
I shoot .38 SWC handloads almost exclusively in my .357's, (targets,varmints.etc.) After shooting, when I get home, I fill my M19 w/.357's, if I remember. I usually don't remember and don't worry at all. I'm not even sure if i have any .357 ammo right now.
 
Constantine,

with a group like that he probably wouldn't have to worry about someone shooting back. . . . ;)

and he'd probably still have like 4 or 5 rounds left in his cylinder if he needed to duck for cover, call 911, and wait for backup.

if you are a civilian, not a LEO or agent, and if you had to go on a city or rural street today here in America, would you rather go with an old S&W in your hand or a Glock 17? No question which is better for followup or a potential long duration situation. .

- MN
:cool:
 
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the only thing i fear more than an old timer carrying a Smith and Wesson

is an old timer, or the thought of an old timer, putting a deserved thumb in my chest. . . .

- MN
:cool:
 
I believe that the 38 special got its' bad rep. when the 158Gr. round nose bullet was standard fair. Today with the assorted +p and +P+ loads and the advancement in bullet designs the 38 special is once again considered to be a decent self-defense round. As I live in a town home with common walls my "house gun," a .357 Magnum is loaded with 38 special +p ammo.

My carry revolvers are loaded with 158Gr. .357 Magnum ammo. As for the muzzle blast and recoil of the .357 Magnum round I just don't notice it very much. Perhaps this it just me, or I'm fooling myself.
 
38 Special?

Love 'em... In fact I have five.. (two Cobra's/one DS/one J-frame 49/one J-frame 638...):)

What do I carry in an iwb for self defense?

Ruger LC9...

Why?

FOR ME, because the LC9 has been absolutely reliable, surprisingly accurate at self defense distance, and has a capacity of 7+1...

Also, it's thinner and easier to conceal..

So, 8 vs 5 or 6.... Thinner and I'm thinking the 9MM round is a bit "stouter" than a 38cal round, all things being equal.

But, I'm not selling my snubby's.. Two serve me well as "car guns", one is my throne room hidey gun, the other two are in the gun safe..... ;)

No offense,

Jesse
 
Can you pull off a quarter tight group like that with someone shooting back, ducking & running, and your heart and blood pumping everything at 100mph with you too ducking and possibly running?
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Of course he can't. Virtually nobody but Jack Bauer, Jason Bourne and Angelina Jolie have ever attained that level of tactikool.
 
I have an old, late 70's, model 10 38. I love that little pistol. It used to be a cops gun LOL My buddies love riding me about that, but it is a sweet little piece. 9's are great for the ammo price and 9's pack a pretty big punch for a little shell, but I am old school. Saturday night special baby!
 
I was just reading through this thread, reading only mnero's posts.

He wasn't really asking us, he had already made up his mind.

He would rather miss with a 357 and feel cool in the meantime than hit with a 38. :rolleyes:

I only hope he never needs his nice 357 for defense, because he will probably die looking cool too.
 
The ancient 38 Special got it's start with black powder. It expands about the same as 327 MAG but penetrates 2-4 inches less by some reports. The 38 generates far less KE. If it wasn't for the noise, and if the 327 could be successfully chambered in a two inch barrel gun, the venerable old 38 might be headed to the graveyard.
 
I look real COOL with my 38, my 357 or just walking about town, Shi* what the hell is wrong with looking good?
 
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I had a big long winded post typed up but here are the cliff notes instead

- nothing wrong with a 38

- people often make the recoil of the 357 out to be much more than what it really is

- a 357 revolver gives you the versatility to shoot either cartridge depending on the situation

- the best thing to do if you are unsure of any handgun purchase is to actually go shoot one if at all possible

- personally, I prefer the 357
 
I agree man. I like my 357 and with it's long barrel it is real accurate and I barely feel the recoil. I doubt anyone over 160 lbs would have any trouble getting used to the recoil from most 357 rounds. That said I love my 38; it is small enough to carry.
 
I prefer less noise, and can get the parameters I like with either mild .357 or hot .38+P: 158gr at 1100fps. (Assuming a 3" revolver.)

In my 442, I can get 158gr at 850fps while retaining the ability to shoot accurately and relatively quickly.

Those will work just fine on bipeds.

The hot Magnum loads, in my case, are for rural or woods carry.
 
Little to add, but that's rarely stopped me. . . :-)

I have a "rule": if you have to ask which you should get, a .38 or a .357, the answer is a .38. Like any other rule, I'm sure there are exceptions, but the .38 has served well for experts AND for novices, whereas the .357 is less forgiving for a relatively new shooter.

Of course, the .357 can handle both, but the people who thrive with full-house .357 shooting are relative experts who devote lots of time to mastering that combination. The more occasional shooter is almost certain to find it easier to hit accurately and rapidly with a .38, and will wind up shooting .38s out of his .357 anyway.

Before going into the Army, I shot tons of .22 pistol and occasionally got to shoot some centerfire. I quickly got comfortable with the .45 Automatic. I then bought a Mod 66 .357 4" and found that gun's flash and blast rather punishing at the indoor range with 158g LSWC, 170g IMI FMJ. The 125g JHP had a flash & blast that were unreal. Yes, I learned to shoot it pretty well, but I achieved speed & accuracy with the .38 and .45 that I never equalled with the .357.

Guess what I carry & have by the bedside and in my car, my wife's car, and my daughter's car? Yessir, .38's. Recently acquired a nice 1911 that will play a role once I replace the factory mag, which always jams on the third-to-last round. My 38s all go bang every time I pull the trigger. I don't own any 357s these days.
 
I shoot the .357 with full loads pretty well.

I attribute that to lots of practice with .38 level loads.

I have no trouble controlling full house .357... but I think if I shot more that a few cylinders full at frequent practice I would probably develop a helluva flinch from the noise and concussion, which I find more problematic that the recoil.

If I had trouble controlling the .357 I would still feel pretty well armed with the .38
 
A 357 is not as hard to handle as you all seem to suggest. Ok I am used to noise and the recoil is no problem, but I am a big dude. Now, my little sister, she's 40 but still my lil sis; weighs in at around 160 lbs and she can shoot her 357 better then me. I keep a 38 for sd, but she uses the 357 and her husbands 44 mag, so anyone of you can handle one too, with a little practise. And before you all say 'well maybe at the range but what about underfire' just remember that their are not too many of us who wouldn't take 'dump' when under fire; I know would.
 
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