HoraceHogsnort
New member
The old FBI load (SWCHP) at +P velocities is given the thumbs up by none other than M. Ayoob.
how good is 38 special SJHP for self defense?
- Thread starter zeeshan
- Start date
SGT-MILLER
New member
You can do alot worse than a .38. It's a good round for defense. Just follow the advice of some of these posts regarding using +P ammunition.
One idea would be to purchase a good quality .357 magnum if you can. You can practice with .38 cal rounds (to keep costs down of that's an issue), and carry full power .357 rounds for self-defense (just an idea).
One idea would be to purchase a good quality .357 magnum if you can. You can practice with .38 cal rounds (to keep costs down of that's an issue), and carry full power .357 rounds for self-defense (just an idea).
bbigboomer
Inactive
Bullet placement is more important than the caliber, especially if you only have that caliber. I think any commercial 38 Special ammo with a jacketed hollow point is fine for home protection. Provided vital areas are hit.
Better Than Nothing
I used to have a couple of S&W airweight 38+P 2" barrel revolvers, however, after doing some ballistic testing a few years back with Gold Dot 38 spl. +p 125 gr., I was not inpressed with the results, so, I decided to get rid of the .38's and now only use 9mm, .45 ACP, and .357 mag.
Take a look at the Speer Gold Dot ballistics data for .38 +P 125 gr., and the 9mm +P 124 gr. for comparison:
Speer Gold Dot 125 gr. 38 spl. +P = 945 FPS and 248 FPE
Speer Gold Dot 124 gr.9mm +P = 1220 FPS and 410 FPE
http://www.speer-ammo.com/ballistics/ammo.aspx
Keep in mind this is premium ammo, believe me, I wouldn't want to get shot with the .38, however, with all the negative's about 9mm being under powered, where does that leave .38 for comparison,also, these numbers are from a 4" barrel with considerable energy lost in a 2" snubby
I feel much better with my Walther P99 compact 9mm with 16 rounds of +P than I did with the .38+P with 5 shot's.
Sigbear
I used to have a couple of S&W airweight 38+P 2" barrel revolvers, however, after doing some ballistic testing a few years back with Gold Dot 38 spl. +p 125 gr., I was not inpressed with the results, so, I decided to get rid of the .38's and now only use 9mm, .45 ACP, and .357 mag.
Take a look at the Speer Gold Dot ballistics data for .38 +P 125 gr., and the 9mm +P 124 gr. for comparison:
Speer Gold Dot 125 gr. 38 spl. +P = 945 FPS and 248 FPE
Speer Gold Dot 124 gr.9mm +P = 1220 FPS and 410 FPE
http://www.speer-ammo.com/ballistics/ammo.aspx
Keep in mind this is premium ammo, believe me, I wouldn't want to get shot with the .38, however, with all the negative's about 9mm being under powered, where does that leave .38 for comparison,also, these numbers are from a 4" barrel with considerable energy lost in a 2" snubby
I feel much better with my Walther P99 compact 9mm with 16 rounds of +P than I did with the .38+P with 5 shot's.
Sigbear
It's better than a sharp stick, I guess.
My feelings on this are predjudiced by an incident I was involved in in 1982. I was an LEO attempting warrant service on an individual that was unknown to me, a diagnosed psychopath. He came after me with a butcher knife. Issue weapon was a 4" S&W M66 loaded with S&W brand (dating myself, huh?), .38 Spl. +P 125 JHPs. Four rounds C.O.M. (all on sternum) at 3 to 6 yards had no effect. None. Round five struck an upper arm. I used number six for the space taken up by the bridge of his nose. That one did work. I had a flight of descending stairs immediately behind me with nowhere to go. I was very glad that number six worked, as there was no other good options.
I still have a hard time feeling good about carrying a .38, even though I have a few times.
My feelings on this are predjudiced by an incident I was involved in in 1982. I was an LEO attempting warrant service on an individual that was unknown to me, a diagnosed psychopath. He came after me with a butcher knife. Issue weapon was a 4" S&W M66 loaded with S&W brand (dating myself, huh?), .38 Spl. +P 125 JHPs. Four rounds C.O.M. (all on sternum) at 3 to 6 yards had no effect. None. Round five struck an upper arm. I used number six for the space taken up by the bridge of his nose. That one did work. I had a flight of descending stairs immediately behind me with nowhere to go. I was very glad that number six worked, as there was no other good options.
I still have a hard time feeling good about carrying a .38, even though I have a few times.
+1 Sgt Miller.
I be you wouldn't volunteer to be shot with one, Old Corp.
Some of you detractors tell me, if the .38 spcl is SO BAD, why so many police departments carried them for so many years? And yea, I know the reasons they escalated to the .357 mag., then to the 9mm, and now .40, .45, and 10mm. That doesn't change the fact they carried the .38 spcl for a LONG time.
Way better than a sharp stick.
Agreed. I see half of the folks said it was okay. I don't much like to carry a .38 Agent in my pocket, but there are days when that's all that I can conceal.
I keep the Speer 135gr short barrel hollow point ammo in there and hope I don't have to use it. It's enough protection I don't exactly feel unarmed, but not enough reassurance to make me feel like getting in over my head.
Agreed. I see half of the folks said it was okay. I don't much like to carry a .38 Agent in my pocket, but there are days when that's all that I can conceal.
I keep the Speer 135gr short barrel hollow point ammo in there and hope I don't have to use it. It's enough protection I don't exactly feel unarmed, but not enough reassurance to make me feel like getting in over my head.
Hello folks. I have reloaded some of the 125 gr semi jacketed hollow points (SJHP) in .38 special and have done some informal testing.
My handload was 4.6 gr of Bullseye, Federal small pistol primers, 1.45 in. OAL, with Remington 125 grain SJHP. I fired one round from a Smith & Wesson model 642 (1 7/8" barrel) into water filled 1 gallon milk jugs from a distance of four yards. The bullet penetrated 3 jugs and stayed in the 3rd jug. Each jug is 6 inches so it penetrated in between 12 to 18 inches of water. The expanded bullet diameter was .57"
I am suprised this load expanded when fired out of my snubby revolver. It is a little easier to control than my usual carry round of Remington .38+P 158 gr Lead Hollow point. This load has proven accurate in all of my revolvers. I have not used the SJHP in the hunting field or the real world so I can't comment on its effectiveness.
I think I may start carrying factory loaded .38 special 125 gr SJHP in my SW 642 just because it is a lot easier for me to get quick accurate hits compared to the Remington 158 gr LHP b/c of the reduced recoil.
My handload was 4.6 gr of Bullseye, Federal small pistol primers, 1.45 in. OAL, with Remington 125 grain SJHP. I fired one round from a Smith & Wesson model 642 (1 7/8" barrel) into water filled 1 gallon milk jugs from a distance of four yards. The bullet penetrated 3 jugs and stayed in the 3rd jug. Each jug is 6 inches so it penetrated in between 12 to 18 inches of water. The expanded bullet diameter was .57"
I am suprised this load expanded when fired out of my snubby revolver. It is a little easier to control than my usual carry round of Remington .38+P 158 gr Lead Hollow point. This load has proven accurate in all of my revolvers. I have not used the SJHP in the hunting field or the real world so I can't comment on its effectiveness.
I think I may start carrying factory loaded .38 special 125 gr SJHP in my SW 642 just because it is a lot easier for me to get quick accurate hits compared to the Remington 158 gr LHP b/c of the reduced recoil.
ford car analogy...
I'd say the .38 is a Ford Focus with all the options ie. reliable, proven and adequate - lots of bullet choices too. It's not a racer or a limosine - but it will get you anywhere you need to go with relative comfort - and it's very manueuverable and conceals well. It's very affordable and has great fuel economy ie. ammo is cheap. It can be quite peppy. How good a driver/shooter are you?
.357 mag. = Ford Mustang
9mm = Ford Fusion
.38 = Ford Focus
.44 = SUV/Crown Vic...
I'd say the .38 is a Ford Focus with all the options ie. reliable, proven and adequate - lots of bullet choices too. It's not a racer or a limosine - but it will get you anywhere you need to go with relative comfort - and it's very manueuverable and conceals well. It's very affordable and has great fuel economy ie. ammo is cheap. It can be quite peppy. How good a driver/shooter are you?
.357 mag. = Ford Mustang
9mm = Ford Fusion
.38 = Ford Focus
.44 = SUV/Crown Vic...
jamesgordon
Inactive
Evan Marshall's Report
The .38 spl is as effective as a .45 230 hardball for one shot stops ~60 percent in actual shootings .
Personally, I would not want to be shot with either.
The .38 spl is as effective as a .45 230 hardball for one shot stops ~60 percent in actual shootings .
Personally, I would not want to be shot with either.
There's no magic bullet. Even the renowned manstopper .357mag will 'fail' at times ie. it's good but not magical. One benefit of the .38 is that there's lots of cheap good ammo - and the .357 can fire .38's too. At a certain point, bullets end and tactics begin; the .38 provides enough bullet. The .38 is a great round for someone to try to master ie. practice practice practice...
In the book, Don Corleone was shot five times. Once in the back, followed by two shots to the buttocks. The fourth bullet hit him "in the fleshy part of his arm" and the fifth hit him "in the calf of his right leg". **** poor shooting for two professional hitmen, in my opinion.