Would you trust your life to a .38 special?
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harmon rabb
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Cops wouldn't have carried it forever if it didn't work reasonably well. So, yes, I'd trust my life to plain old standard pressure .38spl.
Of course, I'd prefer a .357
Of course, I'd prefer a .357
seeker_two
Member
Absolutely....in fact, two of my HD pistols are a S&W K-38 and a Ruger Blackhawk loaded with .38+P....it's got a longer track record that even the .45ACP....
Peter M. Eick
Member
Absolutely and I have.
50 shots, 15 yrds offhand.
I would be more concerned about who tried to mess with me when I am armed with my Detective Special.
50 shots, 15 yrds offhand.
I would be more concerned about who tried to mess with me when I am armed with my Detective Special.
hank327
Member
I do too. My bedside handgun is a 4" S&W Model 10 loaded with Remington 158 grn LSWCHP +P as is my S&W 642 snubbie that is my "always there" pistol. I shoot them well and they hit hard enough. I like revolvers as an always loaded house gun as there are no springs under compression and the simple point and shoot manual of arms.
06
Member
Methinks the consensus of opinion is a definite yes!!! Gave my daughter a shrouded hammer S&W snubbie when in college. She is near Phoenix now and I am very glad she carries. Gave her new hubby a PF9 per his request and they both do range time. I keep a 357 on top of my BOB but loaded with 38s. It is also my hunting companion but with 357s. Nothing that I can think of that a liberal application of 38 Special rounds will not stop.
jad0110
Member
I trust .38 Special everyday with keeping my bacon from getting cooked.
All the guns I carry, including the .357s, are loaded with .38 Special. Gotta love the low recoil in a heavy gun for faster recover and quick follow-up shots.
It seems the only place .38 Special doesn't work is on the Internet.
All the guns I carry, including the .357s, are loaded with .38 Special. Gotta love the low recoil in a heavy gun for faster recover and quick follow-up shots.
It seems the only place .38 Special doesn't work is on the Internet.
Aussie_Ronin
Member
One Australian Police department is still carrying 38 revolvers, they are just about to change over to the M&P 40. They have used it quite successfully over the years
Sure. I'd prefer a 45, but if that was what I had, no problem.
A 4" barrel isn't just an extra 2". It's a barrel that's twice as long and yes, it does make a big difference in velocity. A snubnose is a trade off for concealability; don't get it unless you plan to carry deeply concealed.
A 4" barrel isn't just an extra 2". It's a barrel that's twice as long and yes, it does make a big difference in velocity. A snubnose is a trade off for concealability; don't get it unless you plan to carry deeply concealed.
TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
I carried around a Smith 386 PD loaded with the "Chiefs Special" (125gr Federal Nyclads) for many many years. When Federal discontinued this load I was pretty unhappy, but I understand it's back in production again.
Maybe I'll carry it again for a while and give the SIG a rest.
Maybe I'll carry it again for a while and give the SIG a rest.
dogngun
Member
Yes. My wife shoots an old S&W Model 15 4" and it is her house gun.
It is loaded with the famous Old FBI Load, a +P .38 Special with a lead semi hollow point bullet that has been shown to expand to .6" out of a 4" barrel. It is my favorite .38 Spl defense load and has been proven time and again on the streets for decades.
I load my .357 Smith with specials except when I'm going hunting with it.
I have NO problem at all with a good .38 Special as a carry revolver.
mark
It is loaded with the famous Old FBI Load, a +P .38 Special with a lead semi hollow point bullet that has been shown to expand to .6" out of a 4" barrel. It is my favorite .38 Spl defense load and has been proven time and again on the streets for decades.
I load my .357 Smith with specials except when I'm going hunting with it.
I have NO problem at all with a good .38 Special as a carry revolver.
mark
ColeK
Member
I carry a .38’s a lot in Models 10, 36, and a 637. I’ve also been known to use .38’s in my .357’s.
.38’s have been longer than my other fav caliber, the .45 ACP.
.38’s have been longer than my other fav caliber, the .45 ACP.
oldfool
Member
yet another YES
(just in case anybody was still confused about the the answer)
don't often carry my 38sp S&W model 60 snubbie, but don't worry about myself when I do
house guns, we like 3" SP101 and 6" 357 k-frame, with 38+P in 'em
if/when Katrina II should ever come our way, 357s will load into carbines, but aformentioned handguns will still carry 38sp and 38+P
(just in case anybody was still confused about the the answer)
don't often carry my 38sp S&W model 60 snubbie, but don't worry about myself when I do
house guns, we like 3" SP101 and 6" 357 k-frame, with 38+P in 'em
if/when Katrina II should ever come our way, 357s will load into carbines, but aformentioned handguns will still carry 38sp and 38+P
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Well, I did, and do. Since some folks contend that the .38 Special is weak, useless, can't hurt anyone, and is no better than throwing marshmallows, let's reverse the question:
If a .38 Special was being fired at you, would you consider yourself in danger?
Jim
If a .38 Special was being fired at you, would you consider yourself in danger?
Jim
06
Member
I like a 380 and do not consider them underpowered. I call them mini 45s because they travel slowly and dump all their energy quickly instead of shooting holes through people. Sorry for the thread drift but just wanted to counter the slighting remark about the 380s. Like the above said--if someone were shooting at you with one would you consider yourself in danger.
22-rimfire
Member
Trust my life to a 38spl? Definitely. My house gun is a Ruger GP-100 which is loaded with 38spl +P's and my carry gun is a Smith 442 loaded with 38spl HP's.
I think the 38spl is the best compromise between power and control-ability for self defense if you choose a revolver. I do like the G23 (40 S&W) a lot for self defense also. It and the GP stay loaded at home. The rest are always unloaded.
I think the 38spl is the best compromise between power and control-ability for self defense if you choose a revolver. I do like the G23 (40 S&W) a lot for self defense also. It and the GP stay loaded at home. The rest are always unloaded.
MathurinKerbouchard
Member
Yep!
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
.38 Special revolvers were issued to police agencies in huge nembers mainly because at the time, there wasn't really anything better without going to heavy, large-framed revolvers or one of the ground-shaking magnums. Also...The service revolvers produced by Smith & Wesson and Colt were inexpensive and the companies could crank them out by the thousands. They were in big demand by police and citizens alike.
While there are more powerful choices...often read as "better"...the .38 Special is adequately effective if shot well...even in standard pressure/velocity loadings. They weren't hard to control, and the noise and flash wasn't nearly as disconcerting as the .357 Magnum. Since a large percentage of police and citizen defensive shootings occur at night, that's no small concern, and since a good portion of citizen actions happen inside the home...the .38 isn't as likely to cause your ears to bleed as the .357 is.
The .38 Special isn't as intimidating for the ladies. Not saying that the gentler sex isn't capable, but most women are put off by the noise and recoil of the mid-bore magnum, and they're not nearly as amenable to practicing with it.
Personally, I'm as confident with a Model 10 as a nightstand gun as I am with a Model 1911. In fact, a Model 10 is a permanent resident of my nightstand, with a twin on the other side for the alien creature who shares my sleeping quarters.
While there are more powerful choices...often read as "better"...the .38 Special is adequately effective if shot well...even in standard pressure/velocity loadings. They weren't hard to control, and the noise and flash wasn't nearly as disconcerting as the .357 Magnum. Since a large percentage of police and citizen defensive shootings occur at night, that's no small concern, and since a good portion of citizen actions happen inside the home...the .38 isn't as likely to cause your ears to bleed as the .357 is.
The .38 Special isn't as intimidating for the ladies. Not saying that the gentler sex isn't capable, but most women are put off by the noise and recoil of the mid-bore magnum, and they're not nearly as amenable to practicing with it.
Personally, I'm as confident with a Model 10 as a nightstand gun as I am with a Model 1911. In fact, a Model 10 is a permanent resident of my nightstand, with a twin on the other side for the alien creature who shares my sleeping quarters.
officerdave
Member
I carry a Smith 60 stainless 2 1/8" loaded with Nyclads as a BUG on my duty vest. It is my oh s...t gun, pull and shoot at less than five feet. A highly worked over Sig 1911 rides on my hip loaded with 230+Ps. I still believe for most folks at home defense ranges, a wheel gun is simple and effective. The Nyclads are soft shooters in my 60 with no recoil at all. I do load up short barrel 357 when working undercover and my only weapon is my 60....
joe_security
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The .38 has protected me for decades.
RonBernert
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^^^^^
.38 is a GREAT round for SD.
.38 is a GREAT round for SD.
Black Knight
Member
I have trusted my life to the 38 Special for a good part of 30 years. I carried one as an armed security officer for about 12 years and a police officer for 4 years. The ammo I carried varied form 125 Gr. SJHP +P to 158 Gr. LSWHP +P. I also carry the same 125 Gr. load off-duty more than I carry anything else, and I do have several other choices (9MM, 40 S&W, 45 ACP, 357 Magnum, 44 Special, and 44 Magnum) available.
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