..the 38 special is plenty adequate, but you cannot expect it to make up for a poor hit on a target(although indivduals react differently)...if i were to become a cop and could choose my own weapon..I would not mind at all using a good 38 revolver, provided I was shooting a higher velocity 38(not standard)...a gun with a sturdy frame...a middle round between a standard 38 and a 357...the 357 is a fine high-powered round but will split your eardrums after enough rounds....(one of my main complaints with the cartridge)...no, I am not referring to ear-protected target practice..
Is the .38 enough stopping power
- Thread starter workin_ike
- Start date
I like the Sig P245 and it's my primary carry. I don't expect even the great 45 acp to stop a dangerous suspect in his/her's tracks like a bolt of lightning. I sure in heck hope it will, but I also don't discount my feet or brain to help me out in a bad situation. Like Sean Connery said; "Make sure when your shift is over you go home alive." 
I'm authorized to carry two different 38 revolvers (Model 49 and Colt DS) as my backup or off-duty carrry. I know the 38 isn't the ideal round, but I also think it beats the 32 auto. I load my 38's with +P Gold Dot and I practice as much as possible, both at the range and at home (with empty guns.)
Whatmore can a person do?
I'm authorized to carry two different 38 revolvers (Model 49 and Colt DS) as my backup or off-duty carrry. I know the 38 isn't the ideal round, but I also think it beats the 32 auto. I load my 38's with +P Gold Dot and I practice as much as possible, both at the range and at home (with empty guns.)
Whatmore can a person do?big daddy 9mm
New member
yes yes yes yes yes yes
the 38 can handle a human. it is a little bit weaker than our beloved 9mm.
the 38 can handle a human. it is a little bit weaker than our beloved 9mm.
Harley Quinn
Moderator
Hi,
The 38 is a fine round but the problem is the lack of enough ammo at the ready. 6,6,6,6,6,6,6, plus 6 in the revolver, where do you put all the speddy loaders to carry that many rounds?
I know I will get many saying well you have to shoot better and carry less bullets. In todays multi weapon and multi magazines the revolver in 38 leaves something to be desired.
Go for the 9mm in a semi. Or if you really are serious about the correct man stopper vs amount of ammo at the ready the 40 is the Optimum. My opinion of course.
I will continue to say the 17L Glock is hard to beat as a carry gun, home defense, etc. Learn to shoot good and it is all anyone needs.
If you really like the revolver and think it is the best, do some night shooting (as in the dark). Then come back and we will talk.
Really.
Harley
The 38 is a fine round but the problem is the lack of enough ammo at the ready. 6,6,6,6,6,6,6, plus 6 in the revolver, where do you put all the speddy loaders to carry that many rounds?
I know I will get many saying well you have to shoot better and carry less bullets. In todays multi weapon and multi magazines the revolver in 38 leaves something to be desired.
Go for the 9mm in a semi. Or if you really are serious about the correct man stopper vs amount of ammo at the ready the 40 is the Optimum. My opinion of course.
I will continue to say the 17L Glock is hard to beat as a carry gun, home defense, etc. Learn to shoot good and it is all anyone needs.
If you really like the revolver and think it is the best, do some night shooting (as in the dark). Then come back and we will talk.
Really.
Harley
Marko Kloos
Inactive
Only for some.
Yes the 38 is obsolete. Especially if one subscribes to the "Spray and Pray" school of thought. What is that stat about gunfights? Oh yes,somewhere between one to three rounds on average in gunfights, the big exception being military situations. By the way where does one carry all of one's extra magazines? Or does one just go with the one mag? What if one finds ones self in a fight with the North Hollywood Bankrobbers?
I carry a 45 Sig as my duty weapon, but I don't feel undergunned when it comes to a 38 revolver for backup and CCW. Let us never forget the fundamentals; shot placement,trgger control,grip and so on.
I carry a 45 Sig as my duty weapon, but I don't feel undergunned when it comes to a 38 revolver for backup and CCW. Let us never forget the fundamentals; shot placement,trgger control,grip and so on.
I think the .38 is fine for civilian carry. If I have my stats correct:
For civilians, the primary motivation must be to ESCAPE, not to ENGAGE. Carry a .38 and be willing to use it, carry a cell phone, wear comfortable shoes, trust your instincts, and don't challenge anyone.
The most important factors in self-defense are (1) the will to protect yourself, (2) attention to your surroundings, (3) trusting in your instincts, and (4) presenting your weapon in time. If all of these are present, you most likely will not need to pull the trigger. If you do have to pull the trigger, I doubt there will be a problem with shot placement, most likely at 10 feet or less.
~Ichiro
- In 90% of self-defense cases involving a gun, no shots are ever fired.
- Of the remaining 10%, the average number of shots fired is between 2 and 3.
- More than 80% of all self-defense shootings happen within 10 feet.
For civilians, the primary motivation must be to ESCAPE, not to ENGAGE. Carry a .38 and be willing to use it, carry a cell phone, wear comfortable shoes, trust your instincts, and don't challenge anyone.
The most important factors in self-defense are (1) the will to protect yourself, (2) attention to your surroundings, (3) trusting in your instincts, and (4) presenting your weapon in time. If all of these are present, you most likely will not need to pull the trigger. If you do have to pull the trigger, I doubt there will be a problem with shot placement, most likely at 10 feet or less.
~Ichiro
My two carry guns, S&W 2.5" 66 & 386, are both loaded with 135 gr. Speer SB (short barrel) .38 Special +P ammo. I can empty either gun, 6 or 7 shots, in a matter of seconds and keep all the rounds in a 4-inch pattern at 15 yards firing double action. I figure if that don't work I'll smack 'em in the head with the 66. LOL! - at 17.5 oz the 386 is too light for that task.
As soon as the 135 gr. Speer SB .357 Magnum ammo is out I'll try it and probably switch both guns over to it if its as good as the SB .38 stuff.
Dennis
As soon as the 135 gr. Speer SB .357 Magnum ammo is out I'll try it and probably switch both guns over to it if its as good as the SB .38 stuff.
Dennis
Harley Quinn
Moderator
Jeff #111
Hi,
The North Hollywood shooting was a thing of nightmares.
Lets see, neither one had armor on their faces, necks, feet, hands, ankles etc. I think the shots that were fired, almost all of them were from the robbers except a few in comparison from the police.
I heard about the study and all shots that were fired from the police, not one round was from the female officers at the location. Yep not one round. Does not help the situation when 30% of the officers on scene did'nt fire back.
In 9mm one mag in the gun and two on the hip will equal what I am talking about for the number of speed loaders one would need to equal that. If you are a citizen and have a ccw well I would say I would still go for the larger holding capacity of the pistol, revolver. The old mdl 80 Astra in 45 with a capacity of 10 is hard to beat.
That shooting was a land mark decision for the change that has gone on towards what the police now carry and when they can shoot. The gun store that helped out is now out of business, sure did not help them any.
The story was about guts and fortitude, not about good shooting.
Harley
Hi,
The North Hollywood shooting was a thing of nightmares.
Lets see, neither one had armor on their faces, necks, feet, hands, ankles etc. I think the shots that were fired, almost all of them were from the robbers except a few in comparison from the police.
I heard about the study and all shots that were fired from the police, not one round was from the female officers at the location. Yep not one round. Does not help the situation when 30% of the officers on scene did'nt fire back.
In 9mm one mag in the gun and two on the hip will equal what I am talking about for the number of speed loaders one would need to equal that. If you are a citizen and have a ccw well I would say I would still go for the larger holding capacity of the pistol, revolver. The old mdl 80 Astra in 45 with a capacity of 10 is hard to beat.
That shooting was a land mark decision for the change that has gone on towards what the police now carry and when they can shoot. The gun store that helped out is now out of business, sure did not help them any.
The story was about guts and fortitude, not about good shooting.
Harley
There's a big difference between civilians and police. Police have an obligation to ENGAGE the bad guys and resolve the sitution. Civilians, in most states, have an obligation to try to LEAVE, and a .38 can certainly help with that objective.
Even if the legal obligation to leave is not there, escaping the situation is always the best idea for civilians, if it's practical.
Carrying a .45 or similar platform with two or more extra magazines is fine, but a .38 snub with no reloads and a mind-set of "get the heck out of here" is adequate as well, I believe. For civilians, the purpose of toting a gun should be to avoid fights, not engage in them.
~Ichiro
Even if the legal obligation to leave is not there, escaping the situation is always the best idea for civilians, if it's practical.
Carrying a .45 or similar platform with two or more extra magazines is fine, but a .38 snub with no reloads and a mind-set of "get the heck out of here" is adequate as well, I believe. For civilians, the purpose of toting a gun should be to avoid fights, not engage in them.
~Ichiro
Ichiro speaks with wisdom. Capacity is greatly over-rated. Most gun fights are resolved within 5 or 6 shots. If you need more than that you are probably doing something wrong and have certainly lost no matter what you are carrying. I have yet to see any incidents involving private citizens where they would have been better off with an auto over a revolver, in terms of capacity.