Why in the name of God do you believe that a .38 with plus p cold do everything a nine can do without also possibly cause bullet jump? It will be larger, heavier, weaker, and not necessarily stronger on the grip than a crimped xtp..
Weaker?
Lets compare apples to apples in the .38 +P to nine comparison.
From one manufacturer, Buffalo Bore and their hottest load for each:
9mm +P out of a Sig with 2.9" barrel was 1024 fps with 147 grain = 340 ft. # ME
.38 spl +P out of an LCRx with 3" barrel was 1087 with 158 grain = 400 ft. # ME
Hardly weaker!
Sure, maybe if you compare a glock 17 to a snubby 1 7/8 LCR, but even then that is apples to oranges.
9mm +P out of a Glock 17 maybe gets 1100 fps with 147 grain = 394 ft. # ME
.38 spl +P out of Ruger LCR gives 1024 with 158 grain = 360 ft. # ME
I'm one who believes that it can work, I agree that you can certainly use it far more cheaply. I never see .38 brass layng around at the ranges.
Ha, if you shoot at any public indoor range, you are bound to lose some 9mm, but shooting .38 you can retain 100% of your brass if that's what you mean by shooting cheaper.
For revolvers, I prefer .38 special to 9mm
As shown above in my example, the power factor is nill.
I like the ability to pull out a SD round and insert a snake round while at the ranch, but then put in a heavy 180 grain HC for walking in the woods. Doing that with a 9mm moon clip isn't as easy.
Yes, it's nice to have the same ammo for semi and revolver, but personally I dislike moon clips for carry, too bulky.
Second, I like that .38 special and .357 are more interchangeable, so having .357 revolvers as well, the .38 special platform works better. When ever possible, I will choose the .357 version of the gun over a strictly .38 special +P version, but sometimes this is not possible.