I recommend you take a look at this link and scroll down to “.38 Special Ballistic Test Results”
We conducted ballistics gelatin tests for 38 self-defense revolver loads in 38 Special and 357 Magnum. Here are the full results along with photos and video
www.luckygunner.com
I have an S&W 442 .38 Special. Very nice light, but not too light, carry revolver. It weighs 14.6 ounces unloaded. When I bought it in ‘97 I tried all the available .38 Spl +P ammo.
I learned 2 things real quick:
1. +P ammo sux in a light revolver for snappy recoil.
2.
Accurate quick double taps were very hard to accomplish.
Perhaps my early +P testing also contributed to my right wrist’s demise. That and a bunch of other dumb moves have essentially destroyed the cartilage in my right wrist where the thumb meets the wrist.
Sure, shooting a hard hitting round in a light handgun is fun…until it’s not.
There are quite a few standard velocity .38 Special rounds that have some great penetration and expansion numbers in 4 and 2 inch revolvers and they will allow for quick recovering shots and will be less punishing to your joints.
My 2¢