Hello there,
A question for you good people. What do you think about this,
which caliber for a snub nose, 9mm or 38sp? I was carrying a 22lr revolver for a while, but the ammo was totally unreliable. And I used the "good" stuff CCI, Federal Punch and so on. So I need a center fire for EDC.
What's your opinion?

Thank You!

It depends do you have another 9mm handgun or a. 38 Special handgun? If so get the Snubby in that caliber

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Retired Career Security Guard

Only you can make a decision on what suits you best. With that said some things to consider.

I have both and have .38s that can also fire 9mm, so have tried options.

The 9mm has some drawbacks that you pay for a little bit more performance.

Number 1 is recoil. I found the 9mm is a bit more punishing. Next issue is limited choices in the 9mm realm and many times they are heavier so something to consider if pocket carry is your go to.

Crimp jump due to the recoil and/or sticky extraction of spent cartridges have both been issues.

Carrying a reload can be an issue as moonclips can be fragile and bend easy. They are also bulky unlike a flat speed strip.

I went all in on the 9mm snubby. Own a 940, had a 360J and a Model 60 cylinder converted to fire 9mm. Put cylinder in a 649 and it was a formidable package.

In the end went back to 442PC as it is just more versatile without the baggage.

Still has a bite to it so you need to put in the work.

When I was done carrying a backup I moved to a Glock 43 or Sig 365. Easy to shoot compared to snubby and very reliable. It can be carried in pocket or on belt and Glock is fairly light.

Main thing to remember is whatever you go with accuracy is key so get out there and practice and get some training.

Snub nose J-frames are difficult to shoot well and require much practice to master. Being able to shoot them well is far more important than the difference between 9mm and .38 Special, a very secondary factor.

I like my .38 snubs ,all 7 of them.They carry well ,I shoot them very often and my speedloaders make them quick to reload.

Ammo cost and availability seem to be a big deal now. At least in my neck of the woods it is more difficult and more expensive to get .38 Special than it is to get 9mm (non +P both). As noted by several above you will need to practice more than a little bit to develop real skill with the platform. It's easy for me as I roll my own. If you don't this could be a real issue.

I have several .38 J's, and like them all. But to carry, if needed, it's a 365XL.

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Heavily armed old man.

Have both, like both. Also have a couple of 32 H&R Mags in the mix. Also think about 5, 6, or 7 shots. Speed loaders vs speed strips vs moon clips for reload options.

WOW lots of replies thank you all!!!. Over the years I had several revolvers in those two calibers. Now I'm down to one my Equalizer. Even though they call it a micro compact, it's uncomfortable to carry at least for me. Reading all the replies I think I'll get myself another 38 snub nose.
Thank you again for all your replies.

Look at a snub nose K frame with round butt. A good one would be a 2” Model 64. Preferred it over a Model 60 during my career carrying concealed.

9mm std pressure is much higher than .38 spl so easily out performs it in the same barrel length. But...9mm might require an all steel J frame while .38 spl can be had in lighter alloy frame revolvers. Your decision.

I find airweight J frame Smiths hard to shoot but with a grip that fits your hand a steel or stainless J frame much easier to shoot well. I had a 442 and have had two model 37’s and found them uncomfortable and difficult to shoot accurately. My 640 no dash is much easier to shoot and shoot more accurately as mass absorbs recoil and dampens motion that makes holding on a target more difficult than a steel / stainless frame. The trade off is a few extra ounces but life is a compromise.

When I carry a revolver I carry my 640 or a new Colt Cobra 38 2” which is very slightly larger than a J frame and marginally heavier. The advantage is 6 shots and very easy to hold and shoot, very easy. When carrying an auto it’s a 1st gen LCP Ruger. I carried a Smith M&P 2.0 9mm for a while but realized I liked a revolver better.

If you want something a little larger that really sucks up recoil and is a dream to shoot look at a model 10 or M&P 38 K frame. They are available uses only but you can find them easily and they were made in round butt and square butt.

The biggest downside to 9mm revolvers for me—and the main reason I don’t own one—is the moon clips. They’re a pain to carry, and a slightly bent clip can tie up the gun. I stick with revolver cartridges for revolvers.

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Mark Lathem

I have seen too many factory 9mm bullets creep out to ever consider a 9mm revolver

I think the OP brings up a very good question; The ammo for his 22 was unreliable. With the price/unavailability of 38 ammo, I'd be taking a close look at a 9mm snubbie if I was just getting into the game.

I like the 38 Snubs. I tried the 9 many years ago. The recoil was sharp and I hated the clips. Loading them was a pain and they were to flimsy.

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Two Handguns every day

I have several 38 special snubs.

I carried one for years.

But I'm moving to 32 H&R magnum

6 shots and less recoil than 38 special.

I have a 431pd, a 331ti, and an LCR327.

The LCR also shoot 327 Federal which puts you into 357 mag territory in both power and recoil.

Although I own 5 S&W J frame revolvers I now carry an Sig Sauer P365 9mm. It pocket carries better and has more capacity than the 5 shot 38 revolver.

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2B1ASK1

I guess it depends upon your pockets. I love my p365, but for me the j frames conceal better in most of my pockets. The rounded shape doesn’t seem to stand out as much. I use pocket holsters for both. The j frames also seem a bit easier to draw as well.

I prefer 38 Special in both J and K frame revolvers .

The rimmed cartridge gives proper headspace/ ignition and you don't have to fool with pesky moon clips .

Historically more types of ammo will be offered in 38 special ...
you can get lead wadcutter , SWC , jacketed solid point and hollow point ... bullet weights from 110 grs. to 158 grs. are common ...
and then you get into 38Special +P ammo ... there is just so much more variety of ammo ...

When you get into a gun fight and your life depends on it ...
the cost of ammo never enters your mind ...Trust me on that !
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

I recently did a study on recoil of defensive guns. With +P ammunition, a steel J frame's recoil is 3+ to 4 ft lbs. Heavier bullet, heavier recoil. You can reduce the recoil by using standard pressure loads. Going to a non exotic alloy frame, recoil goes up 38-39%. Plus, the alloy frame doesn't wear like a steel frame, cracking at the barrel threads isn't uncommon. Yeah, S&W will replace the gun, but you're still without for awhile.

Shot placement is much more important-assuming adequate penetration-than any other factor of the bullet.

IMHO if you are carrying a snub-nose revolver the best "compromise" is the Model 60 or M36 in one form or another. Only 5 rounds but the +P .38 special is the way to go IMO. Not the highest ammo capacity but easy to carry and conceal all the time. While some my tote and tout a K, L or N frame that holds 1-3 rounds more, I for one would never want to carry that much bulk and weight all day long.

While a 9mm is a very good round ballistically, it was never meant to be used in revolvers. Although they might have improved things a bit, ejection can sometimes be an issue. IMO it is not worth a few extra feet per second of muzzle velocity to possibly invite a problem. I'd just stick with Buffalo Bore, Speer GDHP or other street proven .38 special round.

IMHO the way to improve carrying a 5 shot J frame is to upgrade to a Micro 9 that holds 11, 12, or more on-board. The new crop of Micro 9's are smaller, lighter, flatter and way faster to reload if ever needed. There are now over a dozen to choose from and they have all proven themselves to be reliable, accurate and just plain work well.

I own many J frames (love 'em) - I just don't carry them anymore.

For me it will always be a .38 Special over a 9mm. Nothing against the 9mm, but a .38 Special can be loaded with heavier bullets, so I prefer it over the 9mm.

All very good comments in the above posts. If you were still considering a snub, I would also look at the new 632or 432UC in 32HR Mag. 6 rds instead of 5, very good sights and trigger, no lock and very good grip shape. Also available in .38sp. I think they are the best configured snub out there.
Having said that, I am with Chief38 regarding a snubby .38 with 5 rds on tap vs any one of the micro 9's that are much easier to shoot accurately, much faster to reload and hold many more rounds. I do still carry one of my snubbies on occasion but when I do, I question my decision because of the above statement.
It's a different world out there now. I consider multiple assailants, having to shoot someone multiple times, possibly needing to reload etc.

9mm should be the more effective round if using HP ammo. It's about 50-100 fps slower than .357 mag out of a 2" barrel without the blast and recoil. And on par with something like a Glock 43 or Sig 365.

.38 Spl is around 300-400 fps slower than .357 mag.

So, you are much more likely to get bullet expansion in a 9mm vs. a .38 Spl.

But you can't get a 9mm in a lightweight frame like you can .38 Spl. If weight is a factor. And S&W isn't making a J in 9mm right now. You could probably get something like a S&W 340 or 360 in .357 mag cut for 9mm moon clips if weight is an issue. But a light loaded .357 mag may be just as effective, so why bother?

And 9mm requires moon clips and prevents "topping off".

My snub 9mm Revolver is an LCRx.

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Watch & Pray

Yes, the .38 Special is a more versatile cartridge, but there are way too many 9mm disciples for the .38 Special to make much of a comeback. If one shoots well (something few like to discuss), I suppose that narrows the differences between the two cartridges.

I don't like J snubbies in general. They are a niche platform, and for me, of very limited utility. I do have a 940. TO ME, the recoil is a distractor. The concerns about extraction and maybe moon clips are valid. I had to get different duty ammo for it due to the extraction, and yes, the cylinder has been checked and polished.

In the .38, the best answers are good wadcutters and standard velocity SWC. Most JHP will not reliably expand. Day in, day out, the lightweight .38 with WC/SWC is ok, but I do prefer auto pistols generally and can easily carry my G33 in a Kramer pocket holster.

The suggestion of the 432UC is a good one. Not a good choice for me right now, but something I would consider.

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NHI, 10-8.

It would be interesting to see what kind of lead projectiles you could shoot out of a 9mm revolver.

In three 9mm semi-autos, cast bullets have worked very well. They are at least as accurate as jacketed bullets, but it took a lot of work to get there. I don't see why factory ammo with cast bullets wouldn't work as well, but I can't see a demand for such ammo.

I used my department issued Colt DS (.38 snub) in a gunfight w/three armed robbery suspects in 1974. Our duty round was 158 grain lead round nose high velocity. It worked, but I still had to fight one suspect after putting four rounds into him. We changed our duty round to a 158 grain +P HP (FBI round) following this event. My EDC in retirement is a light weight J Frame w/110 grain +P to control recoil.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I carry a auto most of the time. If I do carry a revolver, it is mostly my Magnum Carry 357 loaded with 38 + P's.

I've personally chronographed a bunch of .38 special loadings from two different Chronographs over the years. In general, I do agree with your statements, however the Buffalo Bore 158 grain .38 special +P SWCHP-GC moves out of a 1 7/8" M60 barrel at 1,025 fps (with very little variation) on average. A 158 grain 357 mag. will do only about 75-100 fps more out of the same barrel - so no great advantage and may disadvantages. Blast, flash, recoil, etc.

So if you go by the data on the back of the ammo boxes - yea I see your point. That said, the test results on the back of the boxes are never from 1 7/8" barrels with 357 mag ammo - usually either 6" or "test barrels" of unknown lengths. I was really into chronograpghing when I carried a snub nose M60-7 and I have a bunch of results from common ammo selections. Standard velocity 158 grain fodder from Winchester, Remington and Federal produced dismal results and their +P ammo was only slightly better. Buffalo Bore is the King of the hill (158 grain weight) and Speer GDHP takes second place but is not even close! That will produce 860 fps and that is only a 135 grain projectile (1 7/8" bbl).

Lots of fun and interesting comments and opinions.

Offhand, I have no idea when S&W started making J-frames in 9mm. For me it would be a good fit because my EDC rotation is a M649 in .38 Special and two 9mm pistols.

OTOH, I have no particular need for another J frame these days and I love the M649 so I stick with it. Presently, it's stoked with Mag-Tech's 158 grain FMJ-Flat (semi-wadcutter is what I'd call it).

It will do to ride the river with..........

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Come and take it!!

In my opinion, if you are going with a revolver, go with the round designed for a revolver. If you decide the benefits of 9mm outweigh this, then I think the question should be whether a revolver or an auto is a better choice.

If you want a 9mm go with an auto pistol . If you want a small revolver use a revolver cartridge and not a cartridge designed for an automatic. My most carried small guns now days are a Colt Cobra .38 Spl , Smith & Wesson m32 in .38 S&W and a Tarus G3c in 9mm. If I'm going to the big city during riot season I would carry the G3c and a couple of spares otherwise the revolvers see the most use and I shoot them best. I carry the speed strip type loaders as they lay flat in the pocket and never have issues with loosing cartridges like the bulky speed loaders do carried loose in your pocket. One or two strips should be plenty , if not buy a shotgun.

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Grumpy Old Man With a Gun

Both are proven hole punchers.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

.380 in a pinch (with moon clips)

38 Special of course.

S&W K Frame two inch like a 10 or 64.

Colt Detective Special (I carry one for 20+ years)

Kimber K6XS best made today. (I carry now)

I always found the Colt Detective Special a much better revolver than the J Frame.

Any .38 is good to go. We have to remember in a shooting when the Paramedics get on scene they will do their best to save a life, even if it is a bad guy/gal.

Pocket carry an old, but minty, '71 Colt DS.
Six handloaded rounds of HC/SWC or JFNSP.
OEM grips with Tyler T.
Great trigger DA or SA.
9mm in an M59 or Sig P239.

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Have Fun/Stay Safe

The .38spl is a tried and true round inside a great J-frame or Colt DS. I always looked at the 9mm short-barreled revolver kind of gimmicky.

My two cents.

"Gimmiky" is a most appropriate way to put it, but I suppose ballistically, if you get the best ammo for each, the 9mm isn't far behind the .38 Special.

I have a 940-1 J-snubbie that I pocket carry whenever I pocket carry. It's a heavy gun because it's all steel, but I'm ok with that as it's in a dedicated front pocket anyway. I went this route because the performance of a 9mm is much better than a .38 Spl +P, and the .357 would be a lot more flash, blast and recoil. With the Federal +P HST 124gr, the velocity is 1151 FPS and 365 ft/lbs of energy. That's actually better than the same round out of my Kahr PM9, also a pocket gun.

No, the 9mm isn't far behind the .38 Spl. It's far ahead of the .38 Spl.

.38 Special, only because I have two.

I find J Frame S&W’s to be the most practical handgun there is for EDC. I bought my M36 Chiefs Special when I was in college and practiced with it about as often as I did with the M28-2 Highway Patrolman my Dad gave me. (I still have them both.)

Since then, I have purchased (and still have) several J Frames, mostly Centennials (my favorite) in .22LR, .22WMR, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, and 9mm Parabellum. I’ve always shot them well and I’m too old to change now.

Bottom line for me: You can’t really go wrong with either of them, just practice with what you carry. I bought my M940 when they first were released because I was carrying a 9mm service pistol and I wanted to use the same ammo in both. After the department went away from 9mm, I bought a M442-2 in .38 Special for backup. (Funny thing, after I retired they went back to 9mm.) My M940 isn’t going anywhere though, I even bought a new Ruger SP101 9mm to keep it company.

I had a 9mm snub for a short time. I didn’t like the recoil and hated the clips to hold the ammo. I have 38 special J-Frames. I like them. Most are light weights and I can still practice with them for an hour. Here are the Two I’m carrying the past few days.

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Two Handguns every day

38 Spl. 380 for a quick trip to the store 9mm for going into the bad lands.

Nether a 9mm or 38sp revolver . rather have a 357mag snubby or larger revolver and loads can be fired in 38sp , 38sp+P , or 357mag in several power levels Or roll my own ammo . My more serious handgun needs are la 40sw or 45 auto .

No disrespect to any of the previous post but this wasn't about 9mm vs. 38 Special. The OP question was what would be better in a revolver.
I shoot a lot of competitions and have seen 9mm bullets in a revolver creep out of the case, sometime just a bit, sometimes locking a cylinder up, once falling out completely. Some of my fellow squad mates have a single stage press set up just for crimping factory 9mm ammo.