Originally Posted by Model 15-4ever

Folks seeking the best performance should know that you cannot turn a .38 calibre weapon into a magical death ray, and indeed there are too many variables involved to create 100% effective "one-shot manstopper" with any calibre you can carry on your person. Better advice in my view is to select a load which you can shoot in sufficient quantity to become proficient with in the gun you actually use, which means a reliable load that shoots to POA and will not beat you or the firearm into oblivion. There is really not much difference in terminal effect amongst the various .38 loadings, so long as it penetrates sufficiently. But we all want that magic bullet.

In my experience the shooter armed with, for example, .38 wadcutters who can place them accurately and quickly on one and more targets, is better armed than the person relying on a heavy load that cannot be shot well, or quickly, or that causes the weapon to be unreliable.