Revolver folks, I still debate between owning a semi or a wheelgun. I am considering an S&W 686 as a possible buy, so my question is this: 158-grain +P LSWCHP or otherwise, would you trust your life to a .38 special? Also, I think I would like a 4" instead of a snub, as I gain a round. But in terms of accuracy and velocity, does 2 more inches of steel really matter? Am I better off with a snub?
Would you trust your life to a .38 special?
- Thread starter Kylaen
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Yes I would trust my life to a 38 +P; and two additional inches of barrel does matter. IIRC however, a S&W 686 also fires a 357 mag round. If I were you, I'd shoot that if I was able. My SP 101 has a 3" barrel. It's the shortest barreled PD (personal defense) revolver that I own. I carry it everywhere loaded with American Eagle 158 Gr. Soft Point .357 Mag. cartridges.
David E
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Yes, 2" matters. Both for and against.
The 686 is a .357, so when you're ready or your situation calls for it, you can always load heavy.
I like that particular .38 round and wouldn't hesitate to use it..........but if I had a .357 like the 686, I'd load it with 125 grain JHP's.
The 686 is a .357, so when you're ready or your situation calls for it, you can always load heavy.
I like that particular .38 round and wouldn't hesitate to use it..........but if I had a .357 like the 686, I'd load it with 125 grain JHP's.
bdb benzino
Member
For sure! I keep 38+p hp's in my bedside revolver.
What one mosty trusts their Life to ( assuming a Hand Gun is mechanically reliable )...is effective results of shot placement.
Model 10 or other K-Frame S&Ws are Six Shot Snubbies...J-Frames, when in .38 Special, are five shot.
3 Inch Barrel is also a good option.
Barrel length choice can depend on how you intend to carry it.
FPS will probably vary like 50-60 FPS per inch up or down.
Some Cartridge makers offer special versions for Snubbys which are very stout/peppy.
Model 10 or other K-Frame S&Ws are Six Shot Snubbies...J-Frames, when in .38 Special, are five shot.
3 Inch Barrel is also a good option.
Barrel length choice can depend on how you intend to carry it.
FPS will probably vary like 50-60 FPS per inch up or down.
Some Cartridge makers offer special versions for Snubbys which are very stout/peppy.
Cosmoline
Member
Yes, absolutely. Esp. your referenced FBI load. It's not fancy, but it works.
yeti
Member
It's not perfect, but some times good enough is good enough. Yeah, I trust my life to my .38s when the .45 is just to cumbersome to come along.
Stainz
Member
To be most effective, a CCW should be carried 24/7. A snubby J-frame, like my 642, in a pocket holster is more likely to be with you when you need it than a larger and heavier belt holster revolver. You bet I depend on .38's - that FBI load is fine.
Stainz
Stainz
W.E.G.
Member
If you shoot 'em between the shirt pockets, .38 Special is plenty gun.
If you can't shoot 'em there, more gun, or a different gun, might disappoint you.
If you can't shoot 'em there, more gun, or a different gun, might disappoint you.
The Gold Dot Hollow Point Short Barrel 135 gr in 38 Spl +P or 357 Magnum appear to have good reliable expansion when fired from snubbies http://www.speer-ammo.com/products/short_brl.aspx. I use these in my daily carry, a S&W M&P340CT.
rbernie
Contributing Member
My house handguns and my carry guns are loaded with 38 Special ammo; I guess you could say that I believe it to be adequate. 
PRM
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Back in the late 70s when I first got in to law enforcement we had to furnish our own guns at the agency I worked for. They had specific guidelines: it had to be a 4 inch, S&W or Colt, 38 or 357.
I not only have trusted the old 38 Special, but still carry a Colt Police Positive Special regularly.
Old habits are hard to break ~ over the years I have put more 38 special rounds down range than any other.
I don't count on reliable expansion or one shot stops from any handgun cartridge. Regardless of caliber ~ if you have too, shoot straight and keep shooting until the threat to life has stopped.
I not only have trusted the old 38 Special, but still carry a Colt Police Positive Special regularly.
Old habits are hard to break ~ over the years I have put more 38 special rounds down range than any other.
I don't count on reliable expansion or one shot stops from any handgun cartridge. Regardless of caliber ~ if you have too, shoot straight and keep shooting until the threat to life has stopped.
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CajunBass
Member
It's only been working for what? 100+ years? Short barrels, long barrels, in between barrels. Hot loads, not so hot loads, downright pitiful loads. Five shot, six shot and probably some four and seven or eight shots.
It'll do.
It'll do.
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Deltaboy1984
Member
Yes I have had the opportunity to help my Dad clean up and restore a home when the Home owner killed a bad guy with his Colt Agent 38. 2 shots 2 hits and a dead BG.
The 38 will get it done!
The 38 will get it done!
Lucky Derby
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If the .38 were not a decent stopper, do you really think it would have been THE police cartridge for most of the 20th century?
RUT
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I would, and I do.
snooperman
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Absolutely..
It has been around for more than 100 years and is a proven round for self defense. It was used by the military and law enforcement for decades. You can get adequate stopping power in a small lightweight gun that is very easy to carry on a daily basis.
It has been around for more than 100 years and is a proven round for self defense. It was used by the military and law enforcement for decades. You can get adequate stopping power in a small lightweight gun that is very easy to carry on a daily basis.
wlewisiii
Member
My EDC is a S&W Model 64 4" with Buffalo Bore 158gr LSWCHP +P. Yes, I trust it.
CoRoMo
Member
Oh heck yeah.
Absolutely. The .38 SPL has been around for years, with bullet technology being what it is today it only gets better as the years pass. The reasons it is so popular are many. Here is a list of reasons I came up with off the top of my head and I will probably miss a few.
1. One of the more inherhently accurate handgun cartridges around. Generaly in order for a semi-auto handgun to equal or surpass the accuracy a good quality .38 SPL handgun (S&W K Frame) one would have to spend considerably more $$
2. Manageable recoil.
3. Is chambered in small and medium sized revolvers.
4. Economical to reload.
5. Can utilize bullets from 90 something grains all the way up to 200gr monsters.
6. Low muzzle blast.
7. Ammo is virtually everywhere.
There is a lot of good info on the .38 SPL here.
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/OtherHandguns.htm
Here is some real world chrono results from various .38 SPL handguns.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/ammo/144598-some-38-special-chronograph-tests.html
There are no flies on the .38 SPL at all. Also don't forget about the awesome S&W K frame .38 SPL revolvers. Get you a good 3" - 4" K frame .38 SPL along with a good pancake holster such as a Simply Rugged with inside out straps and you will be set.
1. One of the more inherhently accurate handgun cartridges around. Generaly in order for a semi-auto handgun to equal or surpass the accuracy a good quality .38 SPL handgun (S&W K Frame) one would have to spend considerably more $$
2. Manageable recoil.
3. Is chambered in small and medium sized revolvers.
4. Economical to reload.
5. Can utilize bullets from 90 something grains all the way up to 200gr monsters.
6. Low muzzle blast.
7. Ammo is virtually everywhere.
There is a lot of good info on the .38 SPL here.
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/OtherHandguns.htm
Here is some real world chrono results from various .38 SPL handguns.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/ammo/144598-some-38-special-chronograph-tests.html
There are no flies on the .38 SPL at all. Also don't forget about the awesome S&W K frame .38 SPL revolvers. Get you a good 3" - 4" K frame .38 SPL along with a good pancake holster such as a Simply Rugged with inside out straps and you will be set.
Oh Dear!!
Having over a long period of time trusted my life on cartridges running from .22 LR to .44 Magnum I have no worries about the .38 Special. At the moment my old 1950's Colt Detective Special (6-shot / 2" barrel) is loaded with 148-grain mid-range wadcutters (going about 680 FPS). That's a far cry from the 158-grain +P load you specified, but it's more then enough at the the distance I'm likely to use it. The revolver itself has proven itself out to 100 yards, but I doubt that I'll ever see a serious reason to go that range.
What stops a threat isn't so much a macho-load as it is bullet placement, that and the ability to maintain a high degree of accuracy while doing it quickly with repeat shots.
Of course if I think I'm headed into an area or situation with unusual risk I'll upgrade my armament and ammunition, but that seldom happens.
I highy doubt that anyone who ever got hit with a bullet gave any thought about the ballistic performance vs. the length of barrel it came out of. However it it is easier to make precise hits with a 4" model over one with a shorter length. The only meaningful advantage of a snubby is ease of concealment and less weight to carry around. If you ever have to use it in a confrontation neither of those advantages will mean zip.
Having over a long period of time trusted my life on cartridges running from .22 LR to .44 Magnum I have no worries about the .38 Special. At the moment my old 1950's Colt Detective Special (6-shot / 2" barrel) is loaded with 148-grain mid-range wadcutters (going about 680 FPS). That's a far cry from the 158-grain +P load you specified, but it's more then enough at the the distance I'm likely to use it. The revolver itself has proven itself out to 100 yards, but I doubt that I'll ever see a serious reason to go that range.
What stops a threat isn't so much a macho-load as it is bullet placement, that and the ability to maintain a high degree of accuracy while doing it quickly with repeat shots.
Of course if I think I'm headed into an area or situation with unusual risk I'll upgrade my armament and ammunition, but that seldom happens.
I highy doubt that anyone who ever got hit with a bullet gave any thought about the ballistic performance vs. the length of barrel it came out of. However it it is easier to make precise hits with a 4" model over one with a shorter length. The only meaningful advantage of a snubby is ease of concealment and less weight to carry around. If you ever have to use it in a confrontation neither of those advantages will mean zip.
Nushif
Member
Hells yes!
I don't even use +Ps.
If 5 rounds of .38 special can't save you, is my Philosophy, you were probably in a spot you shouldn't have been.
I don't even use +Ps.
If 5 rounds of .38 special can't save you, is my Philosophy, you were probably in a spot you shouldn't have been.
Franco2shoot
Member
If you're really concerned, go with the Judge... one chamber 410 shotgun, the other .45 alternating... Quite frankly, you'ld be lucky to get more than 2 shots off and with this combo you just need to point in the general direction.
http://www.gunblast.com/Taurus-UltraLiteJudge.htm
KKKKFL
http://www.gunblast.com/Taurus-UltraLiteJudge.htm
KKKKFL
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