Snub nose revolver for self defense 9mm or 38sp

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.
 
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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mm93 said:
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.
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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.
 
It would be interesting to see what kind of lead projectiles you could shoot out of a 9mm revolver.
 
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max503 said:
It would be interesting to see what kind of lead projectiles you could shoot out of a 9mm revolver.
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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.
 
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.
 
Dump1567 said:
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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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..........
 
rakall69 said:
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!
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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.
 
Doug M. said:
I don't like J snubbies in general. They are a niche platform, and for me, of very limited utility.

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 ..
Click to expand...

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.
 
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