What's the future of 38 Special

[Rexster]

I make no attempt to keep up with such things, so, “not sure,” but my general perception is that new .38 revolver availability declined, for a long time, but certainly has been increasingly, lately. Shooters certainly do seem to burn through so much more 9mm ammo, so, no surprise, more 9mm ammo is manufactured. Mag dumps are trendy. Working on split times is trendy. Properly vetting an auto-pistol includes running a meaningful sample of duty/carry ammo though the weapon, to make sure it feeds the specific bullet profile, so, quite a bit of 9mm duty/carry ammo is sold, compared to premium .38 Special defensive carry ammo. There is, quite simply, economy of scale, when manufacturing 9mm ammo.

My sample of one is a late-era “baby boomer,” born in late 1961. After working as an LEO from 1984 to 2018, I initially kept carrying Glock and 1911 autos, after retirement, but, then, trended DA revolver, usually loaded with .38 Special ammo, for a few years, until 2024. Then, last year, arthritis caught up with my index fingers., prompting a shift back to single action and Glock triggers, so, 9mm is again my most-fired cartridge.

 

[.308 Norma]

to me the cartridge and the snub are so intertwined as to be inseparable

I know you're right. Being the weirdo that I am though, I'd love to have me one of these:

.38/44 outdoorsman - Search Videos

www.bing.com

The beautiful .38/44 "Outdoorsman" (an N-frame 38 Special) has been at the top of my "bucket list" for a long time.

 

[doubleh]

I said that because I AM A COOT - 77 years old! I have a 38 SPL J frame which is one of my preferred pocket guns! I ditched my bigger 38/357s due to a move and not shooting them in competition anymore. My revolver needs moved down to the 32s, easier on the OLD COOT and easier to belt carry in J frame size if I wanted to.

Thanks for the laugh. My dad and my grandfather on his side died at 80 - so I'm watching the clock. I figured I had too much ammo that would last beyond my predicted life - haha! Of course, I am certainly qualified for the Presidency or Congress - as COOT is a positive attribute for those offices.

I am 10 years ahead of you so I'm a really old coot but still enjoy the 38 special, especially when shot out of a Ruger BlackHawk. The 357 version is so heavy recoil is little. With mouse fart handloads it's really mild.

My grandfather was going into town on a lightly used 4 lane highway when an 18 wheeler ran over him from the rear and did him when he was 83. My grandmother lived 10 more years. My mother took the long life prize for all my family making it to within a few weeks of her 106th birthday.

I would be at the range right now as it's warm except for one thing. The wind is blowing around 40 mph.

 

[jdc1244]

.38 Spl isn’t going anywhere; not as long as 7.62 mm Nagant and 9mm Mak are still being commercially produced.

Even if revolvers chambered in .38 Spl only are no longer manufactured, there are more than enough such revolvers in existence to keep ammunition factories busy, along with .38 Spl being used in .357 revolvers, not to mention .357 lever action rifles.

 

[GEM]

I am 10 years ahead of you so I'm a really old coot but still enjoy the 38 special, especially when shot out of a Ruger BlackHawk. The 357 version is so heavy recoil is little. With mouse fart handloads it's really mild.

My grandfather was going into town on a lightly used 4 lane highway when an 18 wheeler ran over him from the rear and did him when he was 83. My grandmother lived 10 more years. My mother took the long life prize for all my family making it to within a few weeks of her 106th birthday.

I would be at the range right now as it's warm except for one thing. The wind is blowing around 40 mph.

I might go except it is snowing and everything is ice. No need for the COOT slip and fall lingering death. Congrats on making me feel a touch younger. I'm the oldest in my local club usually. I won an award for being the best production shooter but that's because only old COOTS shoot production very much. My mom and grandmothers made it to the late 80's. We will see.

I still don't have trouble shooting 9s or 45 ACP.

 

[LAH]

Often I load .357 brass to .38 levels just to keep from forming the carbon ring, and they feed nicely in the lever action.

I normally shoot no 38s in my 357s for the same reason.

 

[GEM]

Here's something of interest:

An Official Journal Of The NRA | Elmer Keith & The Evolution Of The .38 Special

Elmer Keith considered the .38 Special to be "too small for a man-stopper or service cartridge," but his work improved the capabilities of the round, and today's offerings are even more capable.

www.americanrifleman.org

Keith writes in his 1955 book, Sixguns, when talking about its use for defense, the .38 Spl., “ … is too small for a man-stopper or service cartridge.” “ … t has proven inadequate as a man-stopper in so many cases as to need no further comment here on that score.” That was harsh but to the point. The only .38-cal. cartridge he felt was adequate for a man-stopper “under all conditions” was the .357 Magnum, and he played a key role in developing that cartridge.

The article then talks about modern rounds so perhaps Elmer would appreciate them now.

 

[TTv2]

Not to mention that 38 Special is actually a pretty good field cartridge for small and medium sized game.

Not really the intended use that most people in urban areas (which is over half the country's population) have when they are in the market for a revolver, which those who are are usually looking at a small frame snub.

The majority of people interested in buying revolvers are looking at them for concealed carry in the cities and suburbs, not hiking or hunting or working out in the country.

 

[Bazoo]

Not really the intended use that most people in urban areas (which is over half the country's population) have when they are in the market for a revolver, which those who are are usually looking at a small frame snub.

The majority of people interested in buying revolvers are looking at them for concealed carry in the cities and suburbs, not hiking or hunting or working out in the country.

True, but the 38 special does have some market for field use. I doubt many guns chambered for 38 Special only are sold for those purposes, but I bet a lot of 38 Special cartridges are used in 357 Magnum chambered guns for those purposes.

 

[TTv2]

.38 will continue to decline in popularity, but the caliber will always be around and probably kept alive by the .357. The revolvers chambered only for .38 tho, outside of the J frame, LCR, Taurus 85/856... no. Ruger no longer makes GP100's in the .38 any longer, they make one in the LCR, two LCRx (2 and 3 inch barrel) and one SP101. Smith's focus on .38 is either J frame or "Classic" series like the Model 10, and Taurus is similar with the J frames and the make one larger size in the model 65.

I don't see much reason to buy a brand new K frame .38 because honestly, the used ones are better made and cheaper. Because of the lack of interest in large size .38's, revolvers like the GP100 and Security Six can be gotten for very low prices relative to the quality.

IDK if that will be enough to get people to buy them tho going into the future as the focus today is the semi automatic and 9mm. Personal experience is guys I work with have zero interest in revolvers because they don't hold enough rounds for their liking or, and this is key, they cost too much to buy and shoot. At my club the couple times I've seen revolvers pulled out it's been ridiculously large hand cannons in .500 and .460 Magnum. I'm probably the most prolific revolver guy at my club. There are times I see people logged in they shot .38, but it pales in comparison to 9, .40, and .45.

I'm also probably the only guy who shoots .32 at the club and personally, I shoot my .32 revolvers more than .38 because I reload for both, but just have more interest in shooting the .32s.

.38 will not disappear, it will turn into a more popular version of .38 S&W simply due to the support that .357 gives it in being able to be shot in a .357.

In the revolver world, I do see .32 revolvers taking more market share away from .38 and maybe .357 (as most people end up shooting the .38 in the .357 anyway), so again declining popularity, but that's not to say the .32 revolver will ever overtake the .38. Then again, looking over at the autoloader side, the 5.7 is growing ever popular and that is driven by two factors: capacity and low recoil. The .32 revolvers are similar in that regard, so who knows. All I can say is understand what the trends are now and the future will come soon enough.

 

[TTv2]

True, but the 38 special does have some market for field use. I doubt many guns chambered for 38 Special only are sold for those purposes, but I bet a lot of 38 Special cartridges are used in 357 Magnum chambered guns for those purposes.

Depends on what you're likely to encounter in the field. 9mm can handle most things, but loading for hog when the most dangerous thing you're likely to encounter is a poisonous snake or rabid chipmunk makes snakeshot quite viable and a reason I don't hate on the .410 revolvers.

For me the most dangerous creatures I'm liable to encounter are large, aggressive women upset that I got my vanilla shake before she did. For that threat a push kick and a face full of pepper spray does a lot to calm them down.

 

[cfullgraf]

I recently did my bit to help keep 38 Special revolvers viable. I bought a new, target 38 Special revolver and a case of 38 Special wadcutter ammunition Granted, a drop in the bucket in the grand steam of things, I don't really plan on competing but I do reload and the spent cases will supp[ly my reloading habit for 38 Special target ammunitiion.

A well prepared firearm is so pleasant to shoot and it is easy tio hit what you are shooting at. Makes for a great afternoon oif plinking.

Around my hobby horse farm, I try to keep undesirable critters at bay. I'm not always successful but 38 Special, 32 H&R Mag and 22 RF as the rounds of choice for handgun distances. Unfortunately, successful encounters with the undesirables is few and far between as it is difficult to determine what combination works best. Our barn cats and dogs pull their own weight in keeping the unwanted critters at bay.

 

[someguy2800]

Not really the intended use that most people in urban areas (which is over half the country's population) have when they are in the market for a revolver, which those who are are usually looking at a small frame snub.

The majority of people interested in buying revolvers are looking at them for concealed carry in the cities and suburbs, not hiking or hunting or working out in the country.

I know I'm the minority but that is my only use for 38 special. I take a 4" model 10 when I go hunting because I can shoot it more accurately at distance than my 9mm's. It hits harder than my 22 LR revolver and doesn't blow my ears out like my 22 mag revolver.

I don't see much reason to buy a brand new K frame .38 because honestly, the used ones are better made and cheaper.

Amen

 

[Armorer 101]

Please tell Smith they no longer make this:

https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-637

I just built four of these antiques for the ladies of my family. At 14 oz it makes a good addition to a purse and a better argument against attack than pepper spray. I reload so am not concerned about weak crap for carry. Made up two boxes of ammo for them to shoot for the state CWP shooting here in FL.


What a 9mm will not do, is to be in my carry holster. I carry a 357 mag in a 66 or 1911 in a 45 ACP. Glocks do not go with me either.

 

[LAH]

Please tell Smith they no longer make this:

https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-637

I just built four of these antiques for the ladies of my family. At 14 oz it makes a good addition to a purse and a better argument against attack than pepper spray. I reload so am not concerned about weak crap for carry. Made up two boxes of ammo for them to shoot for the state CWP shooting here in FL.
View attachment 1251341

What a 9mm will not do, is to be in my carry holster. I carry a 357 mag in a 66 or 1911 in a 45 ACP. Glocks do not go with me either.

I have a 637-2, a modern one with an excellent trigger both SA & DA.

 

[fxvr5]

Please tell Smith they no longer make this:

https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-637

??????

 

[Pat Riot]

I just built four of these antiques for the ladies of my family.

I’m curious. You “built “ them? From spare parts?
That sounds like a fun and interesting project.

 

[Speedo66]

They’re still making, and people are still shooting, .38 S&W.

That‘s a pretty good argument for the .38Spl. being around for a while.

On another note, I bet people who shoot .357 magnums through their J-frame size revolvers will soon be buying .38Spl. ammo.

 

[JERRY]

A J frame .38 is just a handy gun in a lightweight for the pocket. Or a heavier K frame for the house for those not pistol savvy.

 

[tws3b2]

Got hung up in this black 9mm semi auto thing. Went out and bought one. Had to get it broke in then find ammo that works in it. Went out and bought another. Same thing. Just can't find the trust in it. Back to the 38 revolver. Life is much better now.

 

[skoro]

The 38 Spl will be around longer than any of us.

 

[shafter]

I think the decline is very slow but it's happening. As others have mentioned the options in the box of 50 category are not as plentiful these days.

38 Special and revolvers chambered in it will be with us for a long time but every year there are more and more semiauto options that fill the niche the 38 snub did. The snub is still alive and well but longer barrel variants are less common now.

 

[Enfieldier]

I rarely see fired .38 special cases at my local range. The pits are carpeted in 9mm, .40, some .45 ACP, some 10mm, rarely .38 special. I could be that the .38 special shooters are taking their cases home (like I do) or maybe because the range is more tactical than bullseye, but I think .38 special is definitely declining. It will probably never go away completely but the number of revolvers being purchased, let alone in .38 special is declining. I think that the older crowd is keeping the interest in revolvers alive and are the ones still buying .38 special capable revolvers when we're gone, DA revolvers will be novelty items like the Italian made single actions are now.

 

[.308 Norma]

The snub is still alive and well but longer barrel variants are less common now.

I don't like it, but I believe you're right.

 

[TTv2]

They’re still making, and people are still shooting, .38 S&W.

Not in the US and if they are, they're infrequent, low quantity runs for overseas markets in former British Empire colonies where the .38/200 was in use.

That does show the long lifespan of cartridges, especially centerfires and the longevity of a caliber depends on how many guns are around to shoot it. The .38 S&W endures because millions of revolvers were made to shoot it. Many more millions have been made that .38 Special can be shot in.

This topic is not about the death of .38 Special as it will live forever, it's about whether the .38 will continue to be as prolific and desirable as it is today and the answer is it's already in decline and the bottom has yet to be reached.