Has the world really changed all that much?

[theinspector]

So he basically told you that a 38 round shot at someone wouldn't put them down? XD B to the capital S! A bullet is a bullet.

 

[STCM(SW)]

I'm a big bore guy, .44's & .45's.
But the revolver that always seems to fit in a pocket or in IWB holster is one of the two M36, 2" & 3" with Rem. 125 gr Golden Sabers +P.
Just have to remember they will hit lower POI then what the sights are set for...
That old RN 158 bullet is poor at best, A HP or KSWC will do more damage.

 

[gwalchmai]

Did this young feller offer to take a round of .38 Special to demonstrate how worthless it is?

 

[Mcwsky09]

What has changed is an increased lack of respect for our fellow man.

Whatever the gun store employee's opinion of a given weapon or round - unless you were asking for his opinion then he should have kept his mouth shut and sold you what you wanted to buy.

So perhaps lack of respect or maybe just arrogance and over-confident belief in his expertise. A well reasoned and thoughtful comparison of the relative benefits of one choice over another would have been better - but still not necessary without prompting from you showing interest in anything other than making your purchase based on your criteria with you money without a lecture from someone who clearly did not take the time to determine whether or not he had anything useful to say or was even welcome to do so.

 

[shouldazagged]

I've owned a number of semi-autos over my longish life but now in old age I only have .38 Special revolvers. The .38 Special has a long, solid record of getting the job done. It's saved an awful lot of derrieres in over a hundred years. I think you chose well.

 

[spm]

I agree with others here; the .38 is still acceptable for self defense. I carry my Colt Detective Special or my S&W model 19 loaded with .38 spl all the time and I don't feel under-gunned at all. And as far as the capacity, I frequently quote Jeff Cooper; "If you can't solve the problem with six, you probably can't solve the problem".

 

[Rick_A]

As Clint Smith says, "wheel guns are REAL guns."

 

[DR505]

I just picked up a beautiful no-dash Model 67. I love the .38 special round! I carry a .45 ACP for work, but feel fine with a .38 or larger. Nice choice.

 

[Green Frog]

If my Baby Chief with standard SWC lead loads (or even my 32 Hand Ejector snub with 6 hollow points) isn't enough, I'm in a situation where I should have brought my AR or 870! Sleep well with that Model 10 next to your bed, it's a fine companion.

Froggie

 

[hkcavalier]

Since I'm a shot placement guy, it's all about being able to hit down the middle of the body and having enough penetration to get to the spine. Only 100% fight stopper is a CNS hit.

If you are proficient with your .38 you are way ahead of 95% of pistol owners who buy one, a box of ammo, and keep it in the bedstand. Maybe they shot it when they bought it, maybe not.

I keep a 686+ loaded with 110gr .38s for the wife. Kind of breaking my penetration rule but that's what she can handle.

 

[vytoland]

there are "humans" that know everything and tell themselves so each day.

the .38 special is the "bees knees",. especially coming out of the barrel of a S&W revolver....

 

[bigfreakinrevolver]

I put my bets on a 38 special all day but I can't lie I am a man of big calibers but all smith and wesson revolvers!

 

[hardcase60]

This is where I would normally try to write something profound or extoll on the virtues of wheel guns and the .38 special, but for the life of me I can't think of anything more true or better said than those who have preceded this post.

hardcase60

 

[Xfuzz]

For 100 years many a city/county mourge slab has been filled
by badguys from a coppers 38 specials.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

You think humans have gotten tougher????? Just look at what it takes to kill a deer these days! Gone forever is the deer you can kill with a 30-30. Now the minimum in the field is the .487 Whompenstomper.

 

[Pef]

Use what you are comfortable with and what you shoot accurately. I use a 686+ revolver loaded with .38 specials for home defense, and I carry a j-frame loaded with .38's as well.

The Internet is full of opinions backed up by ballistics gel tests. Bigger is better. Penetration is king. Velocity rules. Heavier bullets are a must. If I am ever attached by a ballistics gel monster I'll know with confidence which gun to reach for.

Stopping power. Right. There is no magic bullet for handguns. If one existed, we would all be carrying them. It's that simple.

I always love the "outdated" arguments. What is obsolete about velocity and bullet weight once it leaves the barrel?

As for reloads, well, if you empty all six rounds, chances are the fight is over. There's always a risk that you may need more than six rounds. Small, but yes, it's there. So I guess that rules out sub-compact semi's that only carry five or six rounds in the mag. There's also a risk a semi auto will jam after the first round. What then? Tap 'n rack while the guy is shooting or stabbing you? Right.

Honestly, I wonder what screening shop owners do when they hire gun store clerks. One time a clerk at a gun store was telling me that a certain brand of semi's was lousy. I asked him why, and he said they had a "bad rep." Okay, thanks for that circular proof. Curious, I then asked what to look for in a "good semi-auto." He paused for a second, furrowed his brow, and then mumbled, "Well, a good extractor is a must." Okay, I thought, gotcha, good extractor. I spared him the embarrassment of showing me the difference between a good extractor and a bad extractor from among the many guns the shop had for sale.

Revolvers will be around as long as guns use powder, and many a bad guy will be pushing up daisies as a result.

And, God forbid you should ever have to use your revolver to defend yourself, at least find satisfaction in the offense that the bad guy shall take from being stopped by an obsolete weapon with lousy stopping power.

 

[loc n load]

38 special

I started as an LEO in 73....our mandated duty weapon was a S&W K frame 6" with 158 gr RN bullets....our union fought for years to get us hollow point ammo and after years of struggle succeeded.....I spent 30 of my 34 years in LE also instructing firearms/use of force....I have instructed revolvers in 38 spl, 357 magnum in 4 and 2.5" bls....as agencies transitioned to auto loaders I also instructed hi cap 9mm's, 45 acp's, 10mm's, 40 S&W, and 357 sig.....as I progressed in my career I was also a tactical instructor instructing " hi speed" SWAT & Spec. Op's troops....During the time frame from 78 to present I also instruct citizens in use of force and lethal force/firearms.....I have no reservations recommending a revolver as a defensive tool....you should choose what you are comfortable & proficient with, and train with that revolver, become proficient with it...SHOT PLACEMENT IS CRITICAL.....has the world changed a lot since I was a kid in the 50's and 60's....absolutely....but one thing has remained the same....the reliability of the S&W revolver.....I would much rather have a competent and composed shooter with a model 10 backing me up, than someone who goes into "spray and pray" mode with an autoloader. Shotgun in the bedroom is a good idea also.

 

[bmcgilvray]

Sleestak;

The Model 10 hasn't changed but I've come to the conclusion that the world has changed. It's dumbed down.

I'm about to go to bed and a Model 10 is on duty. When I make trips afield on our old place a Model 10 is most often riding in a belt holster. A Model 10 is frequently carried concealed.

 

[shawn mccarver]

The Model 10 is a fine choice, and you should not let anyone tell you otherwise. Get a couple of speed loaders, and some FBI loads, and you are set.

 

[sleestak]

Awesome reply's.

I'm happy to know that my funny looking pistol that has a weird round thing that rotates when you pull the trigger isn't obsolete.

It's a good thing rifles didn't come up. If he found out I was using a wood stocked, leather sling, blued .30-06 to hunt with he might have thrown me out the shop.