.38 special
- Thread starter bspillman
- Start date
Absolutely true. The .357 Magnum wasn't always in that longer case. Keith and Sharpe had worked up some phenomenal loadings in regular .38 casings, and Keith actually felt that the Magnum loading was a bit less accurate than the ".38-44" loadings he'd done using the shorter cases.
Another thing to consider is ballistics. It's not all about velocity and muzzle energy. Bullet shape and composition play a large part as well, and a good LSWCHP tends to do more damage at the same velocity as the heavily tapered bullets we need to function reliably in automatics.
Bill Jordan said the 38 Special was the most powerful round an ordinary man-meaning most of us mortals-could be expected to gain any real proficiency with. And I suspect the old RNL 158 grain round felled many a felon and assailant.
An SWC is much better for all around use, one of the complaints about JHP bullets is that they are often defeated by heavy clothing.
An SWC is much better for all around use, one of the complaints about JHP bullets is that they are often defeated by heavy clothing.
I think Keith may have been a bit biased since his own bullet design would not fit in an N-Frame's cylinder when loaded in magnum cases. However, your point stands that the reason for the .357's extra length was not to increase case capacity.
I'd also add that due to both shape and construction a good soft LSWCHP expands more reliably at low velocity than a 9mm JHP does.
ccSnoopycc
New member
.38...... Worked then...Works now...Will work in the future. +p is better but the newer buffalo bore standard .38 designed for short barrels works just as good. "Snub Nose A Real Mans CCW"
DoubleTap has that 158gr semi-wad-cutter round that supposedly clocks at 1000fps. i think its been mentioned here...
If the 38 spl can propell a 158gr bullet to 1000 fps then it can propell a 147gr bullet to around 990 - 1000 fps and that's right about where the Federal 9mm 147gr HSTcomes and Winchester Ranger T come in at.
I would think that the +P 38 spls could duplicate the bullet performance of any standard 9mm loads.
If the 38 spl can propell a 158gr bullet to 1000 fps then it can propell a 147gr bullet to around 990 - 1000 fps and that's right about where the Federal 9mm 147gr HSTcomes and Winchester Ranger T come in at.
I would think that the +P 38 spls could duplicate the bullet performance of any standard 9mm loads.
Pond James Pond
New member
Well, I own a Glock 9mm and a .38 Spl snub (6 shot).
I tried carrying for the first time recently, now that I have a decent holster for both (the guy who visited the States came through on that one!
).
Admittedly I've only carried the snub, and admittedly I come from a no-gun culture....
...but I did not feel like I couldn't handle any problems that came up through lack of fire-power. It would be more a case of lack of practice.
When I was out and about it occurred to me that I carried enough in that holster to end six lives and that sobering thought sent a shiver down my spine. It really made me fervently hope that my snub would only ever leave its holster at the range...
The .38, whilst less potent than many other calibres, is nothing to be sniffed at, IMHO. In other words, its the platform I can shoot most effectively, rather than capacity that would decide which I carry.
I've yet to carry the Glock, and I'll give it a go to see how it feels, but local laws on the condition 3 carry of semis means the snub is still the better option...
I tried carrying for the first time recently, now that I have a decent holster for both (the guy who visited the States came through on that one!
). Admittedly I've only carried the snub, and admittedly I come from a no-gun culture....
...but I did not feel like I couldn't handle any problems that came up through lack of fire-power. It would be more a case of lack of practice.
When I was out and about it occurred to me that I carried enough in that holster to end six lives and that sobering thought sent a shiver down my spine. It really made me fervently hope that my snub would only ever leave its holster at the range...
The .38, whilst less potent than many other calibres, is nothing to be sniffed at, IMHO. In other words, its the platform I can shoot most effectively, rather than capacity that would decide which I carry.
I've yet to carry the Glock, and I'll give it a go to see how it feels, but local laws on the condition 3 carry of semis means the snub is still the better option...
briandg is right. As a LEO for 32 yrs My agency issued S&W 38's, first issue was a model 10, second issue a model 64 and when I was transferred to detective division was Issued a Model 36. Carried it for many years until they Issued sig 9mm's a couple of years before I retired. Now retired I mostly carry a model 36 and feel confident with it.
The thing that most people ignore is that between the two cartridges there is so little practical difference that you might as well be comparing 30-06 and .308 win.
Velocities of good 9 mm rounds to good .38 rounds in equivalently sized handguns are close. versatility of bullet weights automatically goes to the .38 and in a lot of cases, bullet construction goes there too. The guy with the 9mm will be able to pick up super ammo anywhere, but the guy with the less popular .38 will be stuck with one or two brands and weights.
Bottom line, as so many say, is what the hole in the bad guy does to him, and the 9mm hasn't got any magical properties that make it more deadly. It in reality, can really suck if you use the wrong ammo, and so can the .38.
The ONLY advantage that the 9mm has that is worth discussion by such elevated minds as we have here is in the handgun itself. there you can have factual and quantifiable differences.
The cartridges can only be compared by historical performance and really hard to interpret individual observations.
Velocities of good 9 mm rounds to good .38 rounds in equivalently sized handguns are close. versatility of bullet weights automatically goes to the .38 and in a lot of cases, bullet construction goes there too. The guy with the 9mm will be able to pick up super ammo anywhere, but the guy with the less popular .38 will be stuck with one or two brands and weights.
Bottom line, as so many say, is what the hole in the bad guy does to him, and the 9mm hasn't got any magical properties that make it more deadly. It in reality, can really suck if you use the wrong ammo, and so can the .38.
The ONLY advantage that the 9mm has that is worth discussion by such elevated minds as we have here is in the handgun itself. there you can have factual and quantifiable differences.
The cartridges can only be compared by historical performance and really hard to interpret individual observations.
you never saw the 1990's vintage movie, "the .38 special zombies."
Everybody who had ever been killed with a .38 special or smaller weapon came back to life and ate the brains of anyone they found with a 9mm.
They could only be killed again with another shot from a .38 special police revolver to the head.
Boy, a whole lot of people threw away their glocks the week that came out.
Everybody who had ever been killed with a .38 special or smaller weapon came back to life and ate the brains of anyone they found with a 9mm.
They could only be killed again with another shot from a .38 special police revolver to the head.
Boy, a whole lot of people threw away their glocks the week that came out.
Black_Sheep
New member
The .38 Special has been around for over a century, no doubt it's stopped plenty of bad guys...
Shotgun693
New member
But if you go to your wife's Christmas party and a band of Merc's take over.............oh, no wait that was a movie.
A small easy to carry .38 will do just fine.
A small easy to carry .38 will do just fine.
10Ringmagic
New member
I find myself carrying my S&W 638 quite often anymore. It used to see more carry time in the warmer months than in the cooler ones.
Five rounds of .38Spl with a speed loader, or speed strip in my pocket, works just fine.
Five rounds of .38Spl with a speed loader, or speed strip in my pocket, works just fine.
valleyforge.1777
New member
Some of the comments in this thread are nothing but a carnival of misinformation. Carry whatever you want, it's a free country. Say whatever you want, it's a free country. But for goodness sake, don't start believing your own nonsense even if you can convince others to believe it. And get some real training, like force on force with marking rounds, and see just what happens when you are in a REAL shoot-out with a REAL other person shooting at you. THEN tell me all about how 5 rounds of 38 from a 2 inch barrel is so darn good.
I'm sorry, it is a free country and you really can believe whatever you choose to believe. But after reading 3 pages of self-reinforcing nonsense I could only point out the obvious. And, in case you are wondering, I'd rather carry a rock than a Glock.
I'm sorry, it is a free country and you really can believe whatever you choose to believe. But after reading 3 pages of self-reinforcing nonsense I could only point out the obvious. And, in case you are wondering, I'd rather carry a rock than a Glock.
"...Some of the comments in this thread are nothing but a carnival of misinformation. Carry whatever you want, it's a free country. Say whatever you want, it's a free country. But for goodness sake, don't start believing your own nonsense even if you can convince others to believe it. And get some real training, like force on force with marking rounds, and see just what happens when you are in a REAL shoot-out with a REAL other person shooting at you. THEN tell me all about how 5 rounds of 38 from a 2 inch barrel is so darn good.
I'm sorry, it is a free country and you really can believe whatever you choose to believe. But after reading 3 pages of self-reinforcing nonsense I could only point out the obvious. And, in case you are wondering, I'd rather carry a rock than a Glock..."
Every carnival needs a clown.
I'm sorry, it is a free country and you really can believe whatever you choose to believe. But after reading 3 pages of self-reinforcing nonsense I could only point out the obvious. And, in case you are wondering, I'd rather carry a rock than a Glock..."
Every carnival needs a clown.