The 38 Special is a great round. When I practice with a handgun, I usually start off with a 38 Special due to the low recoil and superb accuracy.
But, if you are as old, or older than I, you remember when the 38 Special was the issue round for the Police. When Cops carried the 38 Special that gave a legitimacy to the round and the revolvers that Cops carried. Sometime in the 80's, Cops started carrying autopistols, and of course, the 9mm's had huge magazine capacities, which made six round revolvers appear archaic.
There was a time when I picked up lots of 38 Special at the range, that time was decades ago. Now, I am tripping over 9mm brass and if I find a 38 Special case, it is a wonderful but rare day.
I wonder where the 38 Special would be if snubbies did not exist. I am of the opinion that the 38 Special gives the best combination of power, portability, and control of any snubbie.
Only recently have I started Bullseye Pistol competition, I would have liked to have seen Master class shooters shooting a 38 Special in timed fire and rapid fire. Rapid fire is five shots in seven seconds, which is easy as heck when you are using two hands to support the pistol, but when you use one, shooters either thumb cock, or they double action with the support hand. I really don't see how they shot cleans either way, but they did. When I look at vintage match pictures, the 38 Special revolver is common on the line, during the centerfire stage. Now days, I saw only one being used once.
This is my practice 38 Special. Very accurate despite all the wear.
This 1927 vintage Colt Police Positive is smooth and accurate.