Purpose of .38 spcl only guns?

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I notice that economy was mentioned above. From what I've seen .38 ammo costs only a bit less than .357, despite a significant difference in power.

I've also long wondered how many criticize 9 mm semi-autos for their "lack of stopping power" even though they are more powerful than a .38 Special? Yet, I don't see a ton of criticism aimed at .38S as too wimpy to do the job. Why is that?
 
KJS - .38 sp is much cheaper here.

The .38 sp isn't much weaker than some of the SD 9mm rounds. Corbon has a 294 ft. lbs load that is about 40 ft. lbs weaker than Hornadys critical defense 9mm. I have ran across some loads that claim 380 ft. lbs in .38 sp. It was a no name ammo, so I take it with a grain of salt, but neither will leave you wanting. The people that generally deride the 9mm are the same ones pushing .40 or .45 caliber guns.
 
my model 64 is one of the best shooting guns I have ever had the pleasure of shooting. It is being Blued (so to speak) as I am typing this...:D
 
A .38 S&W Special +P revolver is all one needs for protection. For a CCW, a S&W 642 is 'made to order'. For belt holster carry or bedside, a S&W 10 is ideal. Sure, the same cylinder blank may have gone to a .357 Magnum, like a 13, 19, 65, or 66, as it would a .38 Special, but the former was heat treated differently as well as having a deeper reamed chamber. Less time in the factory means the .38s are less expensive.

I have a 2" 10, actually a -11 made 1/03, as one bedside gun, another being a SS 10, a 4" 64-8 (See below.). This is a 'current' production 64 - SKU #162506 & MSRP $758 - while the least expensive medium framed .357 Magnum now is the 4" 620 - SKU #164401 & MSRP $893. Yes, if a .38 Special is all you need, why spend more for a .357 Magnum?

IMG_3434.jpg

Interesting tidbit. S&W's first SS production revolver was the infamous 60 - in .38 Special! Bill Ruger's first SP-101 was in .38 Special. A few of those were reamed for .357 Magnums - but limited to 125gr and below due to the short cylinder. Subsequent productions, ie, modern SP-101s, had the frame opening lengthened - indicated by an 'XL' suffix on their model number - and will chamber .357 Magnums, while permitting even their new .327 Magnum's chambering, too.

One odd piece of information. The 4" 10 and 64 have an odd history - they are super simple - and fantastic - plinkers! Whether you buy some cheap reloads or boxed commercial plinkers, you quickly find how much fun shooting can be again. Windage will be spot on - unless you 'pull' the trigger to the side. Elevation can be quickly 'learned' for different ammos and distances. It brings fun back to shooting. Oddly, my first year of ownership of my 4" 64 found it sporting some wood grips from a 66 I have - and getting lots of range time. Now, it is as shown above - loaded with Remington R38S12 158gr LHPSWCs with another six in an HKS #10 Speedloader - and secreted away for HD.

Of course, the question of why one buys a .357 Magnum when all they need is a .38 also arises. The most common answer concerns the round count, seven and eight shooters only being made in .357 Magnum . Also, the barrel length - current .38s stop at 4". My answer for the 'crud' buildup in a .357 Magnum is as has been mentioned - I have never loaded a 'real' .357 Magnum - just .38 Special wannabe's in .357 Magnum cases. So, my .357 Magnums are all plinkers - and my .38 Specials are all for protection. Gee, I am an odd duck!

Stainz
 
.38 sp is much cheaper here.
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How much? Some ammo I back ordered had a price difference of $4 a box between .38 & .357, which I deemed worth it for the extra power. It just doesn't feel right shooting mild .38s from a big & heavy gun, at least to me. It just seems like way too much gun for the task. Looking around I couldn't find much savings between .357 & .38s that were otherwise the same.

The people that generally deride the 9mm are the same ones pushing .40 or .45 caliber guns.
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Yeah, I know. There are those who mock 9mm pistols as being for bad shots who need high capacity to "spray the landscape" with bullets instead of being an expert shot and hitting the bad guy each time and leaving a big hole with a .45. And then they have the .40 S&W won't can't decide if that want maximum ammo capacity or the most stopping power in each shot.
 
the primary cost difference I see is in the Practice ammo. 50 rounds of .38 for under 18 bucks... I rarely see .357 practice stuff unless it was reloaded as such.... so I would go with cost and availability of practice ammo as a major benefit of .38 special.. of course there is the argument that one could just use the .38 special practice rounds in their .357 but that isnt the same shooting experience now is it...
 
I can find JHP for 20 dollars a box here in .38 sp. .357 is closer to 30-40 dollars a box. Not all .38's are heavy guns, charter arms makes a very lightweight gun. A hot .38 (not a mild loading you will find for target, but a good SD round) out of a featherweight gun will kick a good deal. I actually traded my charter arms for my rossi, neither which have / had ever failed me, because firing stout .38 sp +P rounds would sting a bit. I have some reload data at home that puts the +P stuff squarely in the mild .357 mag range.

Shoot, I have .38 SP loadings (non +P) that have over 300 fpe. I have a .38 sp +P that will do 382 fpe and 1085 fps :). I have starting loads for the .357 mag that are weaker than that (by a full 200 fps for the weakest .357 mag loads).

I wouldn't call a 12 -13 oz gun heavy.

There are those who mock 9mm pistols as being for bad shots who need high capacity to "spray the landscape" with bullets instead of being an expert shot and hitting the bad guy each time and leaving a big hole with a .45. And then they have the .40 S&W won't can't decide if that want maximum ammo capacity or the most stopping power in each shot.
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The way I see it... IF you need more than 3-4 rounds.. you don't need a higher cap gun... you need more people on your side of the argument. (blatantly plagiarized from another poster on this forum)
 
I have several .357's and always shoot .38's out of them, and even carry .38+p in them if I carry them in an everyday situation. I don't feel "underpowered" with that. I do, however, like having the versatility of being able to load up with .357 if I am going on a hike in the woods. I think a .38 revolver certainly has its place, especially one rated for +p rounds. Like others mentioned, lighter, possibly more concealable, etc.
 
It is about need

Most people do not need a .357 magnum as the 38 special is quite adequate for many different uses including self protection in home or for conceal carry. The 38 special has been around much longer and has proven itself in police use for about 75 years. That said, there is nothing wrong in carrying the hotter .357 if that is what one thinks he needs. There have been studies and research by retired Detroit police officers that there are no more hits on target with the high capacity semi autos then the venerable 38 special, when they were used. The use of a .357 magnum for self protection is brutal to most peopls and that shot placement and follow-up shots with the 38 special is more than adequate.
 
I'm with Walkalong...Are you serious?

I have both. Three S&W M-10 .38 specials and three .357 magnums (Colt, Ruger and S&W). I enjoy shooting them all and two are used for CCW.
 
The .38 Spl. is a great cartridge. It may not stop a car but it does a pretty good job on the Zombies.
 
You get a .38 Spl.-chambered gun when you don't want or need the extra power (this is itself not a bad thing, but it will be accompanied by extra kick and roar) of the .357 Mag. An example of this is the lightweight snubnose revolver. If it is painful or even debilitating to shoot with magnums and you're not going to use them, why bother?
 
As Fuff pointed out, .38 only guns often cost a LOT less than .357 equivalents.

A Model 15 .38 4" can be bought for under $300. The average 4" Model 19 (same gun in .357) sells for $150 or more.

I've also long wondered how many criticize 9 mm semi-autos for their "lack of stopping power" even though they are more powerful than a .38 Special? Yet, I don't see a ton of criticism aimed at .38S as too wimpy to do the job. Why is that?
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Not sure what posts you are reading, but I actually see .38 derided even more than 9mm; because the 9mm guys are looking down upon it in addition to the .40 and .45 disciples.

9mm looks stronger on paper, but the human body honestly doesn't know the difference in 50 ft-lbs of energy. Placement and penetration matter most, and both will do the job equally well. And for most people, .38 is a lot more controllable than .357.

Finally, there are some might nice guns chambered in .38 Special that are quite affordable, the Model 10, 14, 15 and 64 being just a few examples.
 
I agree with the original post. Get 357 and step down to 38 if you want but you have a choice and that is nice. Buffalo bullets make a 357 158 grn moving 1485 gps from a 3 inch barrel so if you have a 2 1/2 inch you can find hot loads. For the guys with the 38s you also can shoot +p 158 grn 1200 gps. You can get some nice rounds for both guns.
 
I hope this isn't highjacking but does anybody think that a .38 spl only gun is inherently more accurate than the same .38 load in a .357 gun? Say, for instance, a .38 Python vs a .357 Python.
 
wedgeester - mind posting a link to that 1200 fps .38 +p?
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http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=108

S&W mod. 60, 2 inch- 1040 fps (379 ft. lbs.)
S&W mod. 66, 2.5 inch- 1059 fps (393 ft. lbs.)
Ruger SP101, 3 inch- 1143 fps (458 ft. lbs.)
S&W Mt. Gun, 4 inch- 1162 fps (474 ft. lbs.)

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I hope this isn't highjacking but does anybody think that a .38 spl only gun is inherently more accurate than the same .38 load in a .357 gun? Say, for instance, a .38 Python vs a .357 Python.
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From my understanding, all things being equal, 38 Special shot from a 38 only revolver will be slightly more accurate than fired from a .357, because 38 only guns have a tad less free-bore.
 
This one's been hashed out before. But, why would I wanna spend a grand or whatever they cost on a Scandium .357 12 ounce that I'm going to shoot .38s in anyway when I can get something like a 642 or my Taurus UL for half the price that works just as well for the same ammo? I pocket carry and weight matters. For that matter, price matters if you ain't a billionaire....or maybe, you're trying to become one. I question why anyone would spend that kinda money for a Scandium .357 when they could get a great little alloy .38 for a whole lot less. Just seems perfectly logical to me. +P .38 is tough enough in a 17 ounce .38 snub. Have you ever fired full house .357 in a 12 ounce revolver? I have.....once. I think I can live just fine without it.

My .38s are Rossi 3" M68, Taurus 2" M85SSUL (a regular carry), and a Smith and Wesson M10 4" heavy barrel that is just sweet, no other explanation necessary. No one should ever call a collection complete without a .38 K frame in it.
 
But, why would I wanna spend a grand or whatever they cost on a Scandium .357 12 ounce that I'm going to shoot .38s in anyway when I can get something like a 642 or my Taurus UL for half the price that works just as well for the same ammo?
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Not to mention S&W .38 J Frames are a tad smaller than their. 357 cousins. Every little bit helps in a pocket gun.
 
I hope this isn't highjacking but does anybody think that a .38 spl only gun is inherently more accurate than the same .38 load in a .357 gun? Say, for instance, a .38 Python vs a .357 Python.
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I'd say so, but there are .357s that shoot .38 very well. I have a Taurus 4" 66 that will put as many wadcutters as you wanna fire into an inch at 25 yards from a sandbag rest. I went through a Security Six 4" (terrible with .38s), a M19 Smith (not too bad), an Rossi 971 (not too bad) before settling on that Taurus. It's just as accurate with .357s, too. All it requires is an elevation change. I also have a very accurate Ruger 6.5" Blackhawk in .357 that will put those same wadcutters into an inch and a half, not shabby. But, my M10 has always been able to do it and even my little Rossi with its 3" barrel, shorter sight radius, can shoot 2" at 25. That 4" 66 is amazing, though.
 
Thanks for posting the link on the Buffalo rounds. I thought the 158 grns were a little quicker I must have been thinking of the 125 grns. Either way still hot rounds.
 
With Ruger (unlike other manufacturers) the only difference between the 357 models and 38 models is the cylinder honing. Materials, dimensions, and heat-treatment are the same.

Reason to buy a Ruger 38 special only is:

1 Less wear for used models
2 Less liability (Non-Magnum rounds)
 
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