russlate
Member
For nearly 7 decades, the 38 spl was in such widespread use if there was a police shooting, it was usually a 38 spl .
The 2" bbl 38 snubby was commonly carried off duty or in plainclothes. It's ballistic twin in standard loadings was the 380 acp. Both produced arpund 200 foot pounds.
For the same 7 decades cops were taught that the number one factor in taking an opponent down was shot placement.
Granted, there were failures. Precision placement went down the drain when the cop was shot or stabbed before he could draw. But the cops won as a rule, because they had some training.
Now, in the era of controlled expansion rounds, we find people saying that the standard pressure 38 and the 380 auto are beneath consideration for defense despite improvements from roughly 50% stops with ball ammo to 65% to 70% stops using hollowpoints.
Today we have 357 J frames, 9mm's the size of 380's and 357Sigs, 40's and 45's only slightly larger. And, I suspect, we have people shooting patterns instead of groups.
In the 70's I shot expert scores with full charge 41 magnums ( because I couldn't control the 44 magnum ). I shot distingueshed master scores with full power 357's from a 2 1/2" k frame.
Yes, the hard hitters ( and kickers ) can be controlled with practice, and bleeding hands.
Today, in my 50's an airweight snub with standard pressure loads or a 380
13+1 with a couple mags is far more accurate for me than loads with twice the energy I have little time to train with. I can still shoot the 200 foot pound "inadequate" loads pretty accurately, and faster than I hope an opponent would expect.
Is anyone else out there with me or am I a whining wimp who needs to grow hair on his chest?
The 2" bbl 38 snubby was commonly carried off duty or in plainclothes. It's ballistic twin in standard loadings was the 380 acp. Both produced arpund 200 foot pounds.
For the same 7 decades cops were taught that the number one factor in taking an opponent down was shot placement.
Granted, there were failures. Precision placement went down the drain when the cop was shot or stabbed before he could draw. But the cops won as a rule, because they had some training.
Now, in the era of controlled expansion rounds, we find people saying that the standard pressure 38 and the 380 auto are beneath consideration for defense despite improvements from roughly 50% stops with ball ammo to 65% to 70% stops using hollowpoints.
Today we have 357 J frames, 9mm's the size of 380's and 357Sigs, 40's and 45's only slightly larger. And, I suspect, we have people shooting patterns instead of groups.
In the 70's I shot expert scores with full charge 41 magnums ( because I couldn't control the 44 magnum ). I shot distingueshed master scores with full power 357's from a 2 1/2" k frame.
Yes, the hard hitters ( and kickers ) can be controlled with practice, and bleeding hands.
Today, in my 50's an airweight snub with standard pressure loads or a 380
13+1 with a couple mags is far more accurate for me than loads with twice the energy I have little time to train with. I can still shoot the 200 foot pound "inadequate" loads pretty accurately, and faster than I hope an opponent would expect.
Is anyone else out there with me or am I a whining wimp who needs to grow hair on his chest?
