.38 special looked down upon?

[jframefreak]

No disrespect for the 38 spl here, I carry one daily.

 

[Raider]

I would rather have the 38spl with me than the 1911 in the trunk of my car or gun safe.

Charlie

 

[OLDFED]

Why do you care what the "It's a woman's gun" thinkers say? They're probably Cro-Magnons...Me Tarzan...you Jane! Determine your own need, look up the ballistics and decide for yourself. I carry .38 SPL most of the time and my wife all of the time. I really don't know what a "Woman's gun" means anyway. It's versatile and cheap and as others have noted...does the "job."

 

[Iggy]

The 38 worked just fine until Elmer Keith and Bill Jordan talked S&W into sumthin' bigger.

 

[79ipa]

22

The poachers up by me kill way too many deer with .22 long rifle for me to not respect the .38 special. 38 has similar velocity to a .22 plus it fires a heavier bullet that can be made to expand more than a .22 can.

 

[PDL]

I'm supprised he got thru this much time without one of the ladies chiming in. A number of them here have no problems carrying and handling .44 mags, .357s etc.
But going past that, I don't think you'd want to be standing in front of a .38 in a social encounter.
The main thing is shot placement, as I'm sure you'll hear. A .44 thru the love handles won't do what a .38 thru the forehead will.

Welcome to the forum otherwise.

 

[Robert B]

I love my 38 spl

I am convinced after doing a little research that the 38+P is a manstopper. It has proven itself at NYPD and at LAPD in their backup guns. Specifically, the Speer short barrel round. I know that their are other good rounds besides the Speer product as well. Does well through barriers and into gel out of snub revolvers. I carry these rounds everyday in my 442-2.

 

[LDThornton]

I have a ton of firearms in my house but I only keep one of them loaded. My S&W model 64 w/ 2" barrel. Seems like a lot of people that don't know anything get it in their head that they need to repeat whatever they hear so they watch a movie and get it in their head that the .38 is inferior. Those are the kind of people that shouldn't be allowed an opinion because you never know what is going to come out of their mouth. Shoot a .38 and lay your concerns to rest.

 

[jimmyj]

Hi:
4" .38spl revolver w/158gr LSWC-HP- Self Defense /it don't get any deadly

 

[Wee Hooker]

To me, anybody that dis's the 38 spl has likely spent more time watching Miami Vice and reading gun rags than trigger pulling time. The 38 is my favorite "DO all" cartridge. I have NO doubt it will kill since I shoot more than I read.

FWIW, I'd be more afraid of an old man with a model 10 than a young buck with a sig 40 and two mags. Chances are the old man knows how to use that 38 decisively!

 

[vytoland]

the .38 special is a fine cartridge and very accurate with my S&W 64.

 

[revolverrandy]

Buy a .357. That way you always have the option to shoot .38 Special or .357 Magnum at your discretion, and you won't have buyer's remorse.

See what I mean lol

 

[Phil W]

I carry .38 +P+ loads in my .357, I never feel outgunned with an extra speed strip or 2. I feel no need to drive a "big" truck either

 

[revolverrandy]

Looked down upon? Not by me.

Remember that a shooter's best caliber is the largest one he can put where he needs it every time. A big banger with more power than that is useless if it can't be reliably controlled; the bullet might as well be a feather in a breeze if it doesn't go where it is needed.

The previous comments are on target. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the .38 Special.

By the way, welcome to the forum. Hang around and join the conversation. Lots of good people and good information here.

I'll probably have a good share or questions.

 

[revolverrandy]

Why do you care what the "It's a woman's gun" thinkers say? They're probably Cro-Magnons...Me Tarzan...you Jane! Determine your own need, look up the ballistics and decide for yourself. I carry .38 SPL most of the time and my wife all of the time. I really don't know what a "Woman's gun" means anyway. It's versatile and cheap and as others have noted...does the "job."

I don't really "care" what they say.i can sense an attitude in them and was just curious as to what reasons there is one and why it is so

 

[Bullseye Smith]

I like the 38 the best myself, and it is a man stopper. I think most think that being able to shoot more than one round it the only way to go. Just like a deer rifle, everyone wants a fancy cal to hunt with, they go out in the back woods and run short of rounds and go to the country store and all they have is 308 or 30-06 next to the 38 specials .

 

[Black_Sheep]

I have more .38's than any other caliber. They are fairly cheap to reload and fun to shoot, what's not to like?

 

[rpg0123]

You have to watch out for internet and even gun shop advice. This is a good site, but some others are full of armchair Rambos who think anything less than a machine gun is ineffective. People who know something realize that 38 special is plenty, provided a person knows what to do with it. Looking at the Oswald picture calls to memory all those people over the decades who have been sent to the morgue over a 38 special round at even snub nose velocities.

 

[tocohillsguy]

I'm not a ballistics expert but the 38 special is not a wimpy round, and I suspect many that rely on a 357 revolver for self defense actually have them loaded with 38's or 38+p's to lessen muzzle flash and recoil. That being said, I prefer 357 revolvers when size isn't a factor, because it gives me the flexibility to use 357, 38+p, and 38 specials. Also, if I shoot nothing but 38 specials out of it, I would suspect that it would hold up better than a revolver that wasn't beefed up to handle the 357. Also they are just cool.

 

[axhoaxho]

I think with modern ammos, like the Gold Dot .38 Special +P 135g Short Barrel rounds, it can provide very adequate performance for self defense.

Regards,