CCW: .38 Spl enough?

I have a 3" sp101, that I use as a CCW. I usually carry .38 spl +P or the handloaded equivalent. I feel very confident that it will stop whatever I need it to. The sp101 is a great gun, the only drawback is that it is a 5 shot. If you buy one I'd go for the .357, both for the versatility and if you ever devide to sell it, I think it might be easier to sell than the .38 spl. I really like the 3 inch barrel, but it is a little harder to find holsters for than the snubby.
 
38 spec. enough?

With proper slug and proper placement, ABSOLUTELY enough.

Thing is this: Will you practice with 357 or 38? If you practice with 38 and then carry 357, you are asking for trouble.

Either will do well, though the 357 gives you a little edge with marginal shot placement.
 
Yes,

With good ammo, I am not really worried with my detective special and some stout non-+P 158 lead semiwadcutters.

If you look at the history of the round, for decades it was considered the "cats meow" for defensive rounds and police work. It was only in the last few years (say since the internet got started) :) that it has been doubted.

If you can hit where you want, quickly and accurately, under pressure it is just fine!
 
Get the sp101 in .357 magnum. it's not much bigger if even at all than the .38 version. escpecially the 2" dao model. ( my favorite of the breed ). the .38 only model is primarily for security guard requirement against .357 mag revo's in my opinion and from what I have heard. you always have the option with the .357 mag version. I love the .38+p round but I have heard to many stories about badguys not stopping after taking hits from leo's 9mm ( probably ammo type rather than caliber in itself issue though) . this is enough for me to consider nothing less then .357 mag ammo for use in my sp101. I would like to add that accuracy is quite good with .38's in my .357 so I personally dont buy the .38's better in .38 gun argument at all. I own 3 .357's and shoot both .38 and .357 factory ammo frequently. ruger's with fixed sights do favor 158 grain ammo on accuracy.
 
Get the sp101 in .357 magnum. it's not much bigger if even at all than the .38 version. escpecially the 2" dao model
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Isn't recoil pretty bad with .357's? Or maybe the new Speer short-barrel loads are worth a try?

What I like about the SP is the flexibility of firing .357's, I wouldn't want to use a lighter platform for the caliber, like a S&W 340, Ouch! I also think it'd be a pleasure to practice with .38 +P at the range compared to an airweight .38 snub.

What I don't like is I think I'm best off with pocket carry with my climate and style of dress, and it's kinda big/heavy for that. I could get a .38 snub airweight for better pocket carry, and a larger GP100 4" for a better platform for shooting magnums.

I hate these kind of decisions! :)
 
My most common CCW now is my 2.5" 7-shot Ti/Sc S&W 386. I carry Speer short barrel (SB) 135 grain .38+P rounds in it and am quite comfortable with it unless I'm attacked by a motorcyce gang high on drugs armed with full auto rifles and RPGs who have taken a blood oath to kill me or be killed. This latter situation I leave to my hi-cap semiauto CCW packing friends. Dennis
 
Are you dead set on pocket carry? I live in florida, and plan to carry IWB at 3 o'clock. Even with shorts and a tshirt, it conceals well from what I can see.
 
Are you dead set on pocket carry?
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I dunno. I've never been a belt-wearing type. Don't you have to wear a belt for IWB carry?

I guess the SP would be well suited to IWB, where the extra weight wouldn't matter so much.
 
I own and fire frequently a S&W model 360. While I do carry first two 125 gr +P last 3 shots 145 gr 357 silvertips for CCW, I have found that since I changed grips to crimson trace the punch is quite less.
If SHTF I would not feel less sure of my shot groups fully loaded with 357 vs +P. When I go to shoot I will usually take and rapid fire all five in 357 just to keep up on the feel.
Now that I have fired this weapon a ton, it isn't an issue but boy did it open my eyes when I first fired it!:eek:
 
Is 9mm enough?
Isnt .38sp about as powerfull as 9mm?
Cant you get more rounds in a 9mm auto?
I think that .38 is enough. I would not have to worry much about overpenetration and hitting a civilian behind a wall behind the bg.
I was thinking about getting a Taurus 850 Ti in .38sp.
No safety, concealed hammer, long trigger pull, light titanium frame.
Sounds great for CC.
 
Quote:
FWIW, pistolsmith Dane Burns has some thought provoking arguments in favor of the snub .38 : http://www.pistolsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=16938



Logged into Pistolsmith can not find the discussion.
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The link provided is the first part of Dane's comments. Part two is: http://www.pistolsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=24406 Other comments are provided in the sub-forum these links are in, "Dane's Comments".

I personally found it interesting that a premier custom gunsmith, who makes 1911's that cost several thousands of dollars, is forthright enough to state on a public forum that a "$300 J-frame and one reload", if handled properly, will get a person through the vast majority of confrontations requiring a gun, short of a SWAT call. Of course, that doesn't apply if you're confronting a large motorcycle gang, high on meth, armed with fully-automatic weapons, intent on doing you harm.

And no, Dane does not go indepth on which J-frame to carry, what ammo has the best "stopping power", or what holster to use. His comments and discussions are from one professional to another, which assumes a certain level of maturity on the part of the correspondent. Personally, twenty years ago when I started carrying a gun full-time, I would have scoffed at his logic and suggestion of a J-frame - after all, they're just not cool any more. Now that I'm older, more experienced, and hopefully wiser, I can fully appreciate his advice.
 
Is .38 enough? Just to make sure you get this read it slowly...twice. Defense calibers START at .45. If you can handle it .454 Casull is a better choice, and if you're a real man the .500 S&W cover you.

That being said, I'll be carrying a .380 tomorrow.:D
 
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