Just as the title says, anyone have any data or experience I could reference as far as the longer barrel self defense rounds and results?
Luckygunner has some good 38/357 ballistic gel results, but only test a 2 and 4 inch barrel.
From this and other data, you can extrapolate that not always does the longer barrel improve on terminal results.
Sometimes, a round was design with special powders and projectiles to burn/open up quickly and thus perform best from a shorter tube. From a longer barrel these rounds often seem to open up way too early and suffer in the penetration department.
My first foray into longer barrels and self defense, as I've long favored 3 the shorter barrels for handiness. Now appreciating 6 or 7 + inch revolvers I'm wondering if some of the choice self defense rounds for use against human attackers may not be ideal from the longer barrel.
My thinking currently is going with buffalo bore heavy 38 +p 158 gr lswchp. Those seem pretty good, and from a 6 inch magnum the recoil that's nasty in an airweight shouldn't be bad at all in the larger frame, heavier platform.
I am open to 357 or 38 rounds, but indoors the noise on the magnums is a consideration (and I think there are some great 38 rounds!).
Thanks in advance, just haven't found much in the way of ballistic testing online with the longer barreled 38s/357s.
Luckygunner has some good 38/357 ballistic gel results, but only test a 2 and 4 inch barrel.
From this and other data, you can extrapolate that not always does the longer barrel improve on terminal results.
Sometimes, a round was design with special powders and projectiles to burn/open up quickly and thus perform best from a shorter tube. From a longer barrel these rounds often seem to open up way too early and suffer in the penetration department.
My first foray into longer barrels and self defense, as I've long favored 3 the shorter barrels for handiness. Now appreciating 6 or 7 + inch revolvers I'm wondering if some of the choice self defense rounds for use against human attackers may not be ideal from the longer barrel.
My thinking currently is going with buffalo bore heavy 38 +p 158 gr lswchp. Those seem pretty good, and from a 6 inch magnum the recoil that's nasty in an airweight shouldn't be bad at all in the larger frame, heavier platform.
I am open to 357 or 38 rounds, but indoors the noise on the magnums is a consideration (and I think there are some great 38 rounds!).
Thanks in advance, just haven't found much in the way of ballistic testing online with the longer barreled 38s/357s.