in my book the 38 Special is alive and well

357smallbore

357smallbore

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Joined
Feb 14, 2015
Messages
898
Location
Leavenworth KS
I've carried all types of handguns. Revolvers were what I cut my teeth on, and I still revert back to them. Just got a mint S&W 36 3in HB gun.I will be adding this to my ccw rotation.
Primary ccw is a Ruger Speed Six in 357 with a 2 3/4 bbl followed by a Fixed sight Rossi 720 in 44 Special.
I'll be carrying Federal HST 130 hp as primary with a speed strip of Federal 125 jhps as backup ammo. I'm confident the gun and bullets will do there job if called upon. Love 38 Special. Easy to reload, shoot and carry.
Those are winning combinations
 
I’ve probably shot more 38 Special than all the other calibers I reload combined. When I shot NRA action pistol that was my caliber and the pistol was a S&W 686 with a 6” barrel. Had a red dot and barricade wings on it. Now days, it’s range use for a 66 with a 4” barrel and a 5” model 10. For summer carry around home it’s one of these.
IMG_1447.jpeg
 
I used to shoot a lot of Rem .38 special +P in my .357 mag for practice back when wal mart still sold handgun ammo because it was $5 less a box. My first revolver was a Colt official police in .38 special. I don't see anything wrong with it I think it's still a good cartridge no matter what people might say about it being out dated or obsolete etc.
 
I shoot a lot of .38 Special. It’s a very enjoyable cartridge. I also carry an S&W 442 most of the time it’s loaded with Hornady Critical Defense in standard velocity.
I have 4 revolvers chambered in.38 Spl and 3 in .357 that I also shoot .38 in. I love shooting all of them.
 
I have only recently discovered. 38spl.
I was wanting a revolver that was more pleasant to shoot Tham my
357s. I thought about a .45acp revolver or .44spl then it dawned on me that I could shoot .38spl in all my .357s , even my carbine!
Use the same bullets to reload!
Same speedloaders and strips! 20230308_122223.jpg 20230308_122435.jpg 20230308_122354.jpg
Then , of course, these showed up at my lgs:
The parkerized model 10 has become my truck gun.(that's more honored than it sounds) it has also become the favored woods gun.
The pencil barrel rides behind the seat in my luxury vehicle. :
20230503_071938.jpg
Also an honored role.
I am enjoying the mild report and mild recoil of my new-found caliber. The accuracy is quite good too.
 
It's my preferred centerfire cartridge. It can be mild and fun to shoot, or spicy. Fits in large and small revolvers.

For the OP, I don't have a Speed Six (unfortunately), but I've been fixing up this old abused 3" Model 36, and I'm a fan of the 720's as well. :)

full&d=1676839804.jpg

full&d=1482860981.jpg
 
I also shoot mostly .38 specials out of my 686. Being cheap I cast my bullets and have finally settled on the old 150 grain 358477.......among others. That little 150 grain over four (4) grains bullseye is a dandy in my revolver, so is 5 grains Unique. once in a while I like to throw in a 38-44 just for fun.

Armored Farmer your tractor is the wrong color.:)
 
357smallbore said:
I've carried all types of handguns. Revolvers were what I cut my teeth on, and I still revert back to them. Just got a mint S&W 36 3in HB gun.I will be adding this to my ccw rotation.
Primary ccw is a Ruger Speed Six in 357 with a 2 3/4 bbl followed by a Fixed sight Rossi 720 in 44 Special.
I'll be carrying Federal HST 130 hp as primary with a speed strip of Federal 125 jhps as backup ammo. I'm confident the gun and bullets will do there job if called upon. Love 38 Special. Easy to reload, shoot and carry.
Those are winning combinations
Click to expand...
OK, my question is are you "settling" for a revolver because you think the "blue" parts of the country are winning in the battle to get all semi-automatic firearms banned?
 
The ballistics are only attractive when using a 6" barrel. That's what the cartridge was designed for and shortening the barrel is what ever caused it any disparagement.
Because the 38 Special is primarily defined by low pressure, and not low recoil, in a gun capable of handling higher pressure it is inferior in every way to 357 Magnum. Therefore, it is really only suitable for antique guns or the cheapest junk from modern production.
 
westernrover said:
The ballistics are only attractive when using a 6" barrel. That's what the cartridge was designed for and shortening the barrel is what ever caused it any disparagement.
Because the 38 Special is primarily defined by low pressure, and not low recoil, in a gun capable of handling higher pressure it is inferior in every way to 357 Magnum. Therefore, it is really only suitable for antique guns or the cheapest junk from modern production.
Click to expand...
Man I hope this doesn't get me in trouble with the mods but I have a Little anecdotal evidence fir ya. My father was once involved in a shooting that the court determined to be self defense without ever going to trial. My old man felt guilty because of the horrid wound he saw delivered to his would be assailant. He put a bullet just above the knee and it fractured the femur so badly that the person who'd been shot limps to this day. No one went to prison and a month later Dad picked up the guy hitchhiking and gave him a ride to the home of the woman over whom the initial confrontation began. Good ol small town America... Point being my ol mans weapon of choice that night was a .38 special and it took just that one shot
 
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