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.
My two cents.
Snub nose revolver for self defense 9mm or 38sp
- Thread starter rakall69
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"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.
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.
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.
slabside2
Member
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.
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.
slabside2
Member
Yep, he's right I had that problem with my Ruger LCR 9mm
sourdough44
Member
I don't own a 9mm revolver, but I see a lot of mention about bullets jumping the crimp when fired in a revolver. For the most part, 9mm ammo has a different crimp, less strong.
I think that needs to go in the decision making.
I think that needs to go in the decision making.
I have a number of J frame and K frame .38s as well as a Rossi 85 and an SP101 in .357 Mag.
I also have four 9mm revolvers including a Ruger Speed Six, a Ruger SP101, and Alpha Proj, and a Taurus 905.
The Speed Six with its more or less L frame weight is by far the easiest to shoot in terms of recoil and reduced muzzle rise. The SP101 also shoots quite well. The Alpha Proj has a poor trigger and sticky ejection with full power loads. The Taurus 905 is the most compact but even with rubber grips it's recoil is a bit harsh and it has some sharp edges that can start to wear holes in your hand after a few cylinders, limiting your willingness to practice with it, at least with full power loads.
In most cases the standard moon clips that come with these revolvers are way too soft and fragile. However TK Customs makes replacements that are very springy and durable and hold up very well to range use and pocket carry. They are the only clips I consider suitable for concealed carry. Speed reloads with moon clips are significantly faster with some practice.
Before I discovered better quality clips I turned a moon clip holder for pocket use to support the easily bent moon clips. I also turned a practical sized moon clip unloader. The holder worked well protecting the clip, but the TK Customs clips are the way to go.
In terms of terminal performance it's a bit of a wash. There are some very good performing .38 +P loads out there based on my gel testing so a 9mm load isn't always going to be more effective, or at least not enough difference to make a difference.
I also have four 9mm revolvers including a Ruger Speed Six, a Ruger SP101, and Alpha Proj, and a Taurus 905.
The Speed Six with its more or less L frame weight is by far the easiest to shoot in terms of recoil and reduced muzzle rise. The SP101 also shoots quite well. The Alpha Proj has a poor trigger and sticky ejection with full power loads. The Taurus 905 is the most compact but even with rubber grips it's recoil is a bit harsh and it has some sharp edges that can start to wear holes in your hand after a few cylinders, limiting your willingness to practice with it, at least with full power loads.
In most cases the standard moon clips that come with these revolvers are way too soft and fragile. However TK Customs makes replacements that are very springy and durable and hold up very well to range use and pocket carry. They are the only clips I consider suitable for concealed carry. Speed reloads with moon clips are significantly faster with some practice.
Before I discovered better quality clips I turned a moon clip holder for pocket use to support the easily bent moon clips. I also turned a practical sized moon clip unloader. The holder worked well protecting the clip, but the TK Customs clips are the way to go.
In terms of terminal performance it's a bit of a wash. There are some very good performing .38 +P loads out there based on my gel testing so a 9mm load isn't always going to be more effective, or at least not enough difference to make a difference.
This time of the year here in Az 120 deg days are pretty common, so a j frame in the front pocket is the most carried, both .38 spl either a 642 or a 638.
...Ben
38sp or 9mm in a bad guys 10 ring will
pretty much ruin his day.
pretty much ruin his day.
Bullet creep in handloads compared to factory ammo is sort of an apples/oranges comparison.
My EDC is a 649-2, pocket carry. I use 2 speed strips for extra rounds. I find this to be much more practical than carrying clips for the 9. As for cartrige compare---either is fine for close range defense.
Wickerboots
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As others have said add a 32 to your consideration for the extra round.
If you're considering reloading; brass will last, primers are all spp, powder should be similar enough in cost/quantity, and bullets may have an edge in 9mm (by popularity) or 32 (by weight) but don't imagine any bullet being much more/less. Ammoseek has the 3 starting cpr within $0.02 right now.
If you aren't going to reload you may want a press anyways to avoid crimp jump with 9mm (so might as well go all in). Plus moon clips, unless you go with a garbage charter arms (sorry, just from personal experience).
If I were starting from scratch I would strongly consider a 32h&r or 327fm but I am set up in 38sp/357mag at this point. Either way one of the best parts of revolvers would be kept brass from a reloading perspective, I started with factory ammo but saved all my cases. In time the thousands of cases just made sense to reload. I almost never buy factory ammo now.
If you're considering reloading; brass will last, primers are all spp, powder should be similar enough in cost/quantity, and bullets may have an edge in 9mm (by popularity) or 32 (by weight) but don't imagine any bullet being much more/less. Ammoseek has the 3 starting cpr within $0.02 right now.
If you aren't going to reload you may want a press anyways to avoid crimp jump with 9mm (so might as well go all in). Plus moon clips, unless you go with a garbage charter arms (sorry, just from personal experience).
If I were starting from scratch I would strongly consider a 32h&r or 327fm but I am set up in 38sp/357mag at this point. Either way one of the best parts of revolvers would be kept brass from a reloading perspective, I started with factory ammo but saved all my cases. In time the thousands of cases just made sense to reload. I almost never buy factory ammo now.
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