Is the 38 spl a self defense round ?

[PRM]

It sure ain't a hunting round..... - rondog

That would depend on what your hunting - been more than a few racoons, not to mention rabbits that have been brought home with a .38.

As far as a defense round - it has been a primary and back-up round for police officers for over a century. Even seen use as a military round. Are there better - yep, is it adequate - absolutely.

 

[sm]

Yes, the standard pressure .38spl is still a defensive round.

The guns were manufactured to shoot standard pressure 158 gr loads point of aim/point of impact, along with 148 gr lead semi wad cutters.

I prefer standard pressure 158 gr lead semi wad cutters.


Then again the standard pressure 158 gr lead round nose had no problems putting down cows fired from a old S&W Model 36 and 1929 Colt Detective Special either.

Cows have been put down for a long long time with these loadings and will continue to be.

Unless I guess cows start joining gun forums and finding out what they are "supposed to do" and that is not ending up "kilt".


*wink*

 

[BADUNAME37]

Speer Gold Dot HP Personal Protection for Short Barrels

135 grain Hollow Points, +P #23921

If your gun is not +P, then I concur with others that the 158g Lead Semi-Wadcutter Hollow Points (aka, the FBI load) will work EXTREMELY WELL.

My 642 shoots +P loads. When I shot both +P and non+P, without a chronograph, I really couldn't tell the difference, there was that little difference in the "feel" of the two loads, comparatively-speaking.

If you can shoot the gun well, then that is really over half "the battle."

Someone that can shoot 15 rounds real fast in a semi-automatic may not be a good a shot at all with 15 rounds.
You might be a lot better shot with just one round from your 38.
Remember, shot placement is EVERYTHING.

One well-placed shot is better than 15 near hits!

 

[S&Wfan]

The .38 Spl. has been putting down bad guys for many, many decades now, and will for many more decades too I hope!

Lee Harvey Oswald gunned down officer J. D. Tippett in Dallas with his .38 S&W K-frame. Not long after, Oswald was gunned down with one .38 Special round fired by Jack Ruby from his Colt Detective "snubbie."

Ruby gut shot Oswald on purpose. "I wanted him to suffer as much as possible before he died," was his reply.
Oswald hit the floor immediately in extreme pain . . .and die he did, even though an ambulance was already on the scene, and the hospital not far away.


TODAY'S ONLY DIFFERENCE IN PERFORMANCE . . . are the better designed bullets today that folks didn't have "back in the day."

However . . . the good old FBI standard load is a great one for .38 snubbies . . . the 158 grain Lead Semi-Wadcutter Hollow Point (LSWC-HP).

Snubbies had sights regulated to shoot at point of aim with 158 grain ammo, thus the lighter weight bullets will generally shoot lower (since the faster velocities of the lighter loads has the bullet exit the tube earlier than heavier bullets . . . and thus before more recoil lifts the barrel a bit higher.

 

[KyJim]

If your gun is not +P, then I concur with others that the 158g Lead Semi-Wadcutter Hollow Points (aka, the FBI load) will work EXTREMELY WELL.

The "FBI Load" was loaded to +P pressures. It was not a standard pressure loading. The old standard 158 gr lead round nose (LRN) round used for very many years was known as the "Widow Maker" because it's perceived shortcomings led to many police widows.

Today's bullets, however, are much more effective. I sometimes carry an older Model 38 which is not rated for +p ammo, so I believe .38 special is a viable defense round. The Buffalo Bore ammo mentioned in a previous post warrants close attention, especially the Gold Dots.

 

[kmrcstintn]

a few non +p choices for self defense are...

Winchester Silvertip 110gr jhp, Federal Hydrashok 110gr jhp, Hornady XTP 125gr jhp; Hornady XTP 158gr jhp; Buffalo Bore's full wadcutter & semiwadcutter non +p loads; soon to be resurrected Federal Nyclad 125gr lswchp; soon to be released Hornady FTX 110gr ?polymer filled? hollowpoint