.38 special looked down upon?

[squiggy]

look at 1 shot stop data. the 38 spl is down in the 80s. wile 9mm, 357, 40 and 45 all have loads that have produced one shot stops in the 90s. the 38 looks good not paper but not in the real world. that said I sure as heck don't want to be shot with one, but I sure as heck don't want to be shot with a 32....

 

[Landric]

look at 1 shot stop data. the 38 spl is down in the 80s. wile 9mm, 357, 40 and 45 all have loads that have produced one shot stops in the 90s. the 38 looks good not paper but not in the real world. that said I sure as heck don't want to be shot with one, but I sure as heck don't want to be shot with a 32....

Handgun Stopping Power and Street Stoppers are interesting reading, but given all the variables in actual gun fights and the necessity to drop all shootings involving multiple hits from the results, its not particularly useful in determining the overall effectiveness of various handgun cartridges beyond broad generalizations. I wouldn't choose my carry load based on any one particular source or set of data. The .38 Special has been used effectively for over 100 years. There are cartridges that do some jobs better than the .38, but there are also plenty that don't do the job nearly as well.

 

[Horseless Trooper]

I have the good fortune to be able to carry whatever I want at one of the PD's I work for so I chose a S&W Model 14-2 6 inch. It is stuffed with Federal 158+p LSWC right now but I am going to try the GoldDot short barrel loads soon just to see how they shoot. My other dept. mandates a Glock 21SF but I am working on the Chief to see if I can show him the error of his ways.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I load my 642 with Corbon 115gr at 1050fps. (4 inch barrel)

But it's still nothing to sneeze at.

According to an article on an another site, the S&W 642 was Smith's best selling handgun in 2006.

Ain't nothing like a j frame in the jacket pocket.

Read Ed Lovettes "The Snubby Revolver".

 

[Kanewpadle]

look at 1 shot stop data. the 38 spl is down in the 80s. wile 9mm, 357, 40 and 45 all have loads that have produced one shot stops in the 90s. the 38 looks good not paper but not in the real world. that said I sure as heck don't want to be shot with one, but I sure as heck don't want to be shot with a 32....

I have the utmost respect for Evan Marshall and his work. Those who truly know him and understand his work will tell you that the statistics gathered were meant to be used as a unit of measurement, not a tactical philosophy. Since his booked were published there has been a significant improvement in self defense ammo. Especially the 38spl. With modern loads such as Corbon DPX, Speer Short Barrel and others, the 38spl now closely resembles the 9MM.

But as always, bullet placement should be the first consideration.

 

[ENGINE18]

God made K-frames to shoot .38s! (and Js and Ls) Most of my handguns are .38s or .357s, but none of them ever saw a 158gr LSWCHP+P that they didn't like!

 

[pharmer]

38's? Nah, too puny. Joe

 

[Beans]

IN 1974 The Dept I was working for issued model 15's.

Four officers answered a burglery in progress call. We assembled at the front of the warehouse. The shift commander, with no military service, assembled our group.

He gave us a once over and discussed our plan of action. His eyes were as big a pie plate when he looked us over.

Shift Commander, Sgt Shinn (civilian no military experience) was holding his issued S&W model 15 4 inch

The other three of us were all recent Viet nam vets
Jack Kolb (USA 11-B) was holding a Colt Govt model in 45 ACP
George ( last name to long to spell and pronounce)(Brown water Navy) was carrying a Colt Gold Cup in .45 ACP
and I (USMC 0311) was carrying a Satin Chrome Colt Combat Commander in .45 ACP,-- I still have it.

No one was in the warehouse, but the shift commander never questioned the choice of weapons.

 

[Kanewpadle]

IN 1974 The Dept I was working for issued model 15's.

Four officers answered a burglery in progress call. We assembled at the front of the warehouse. The shift commander, with no military service, assembled our group.

He gave us a once over and discussed our plan of action. His eyes were as big a pie plate when he looked us over.

Shift Commander, Sgt Shinn (civilian no military experience) was holding his issued S&W model 15 4 inch

The other three of us were all recent Viet nam vets
Jack Kolb (USA 11-B) was holding a Colt Govt model in 45 ACP
George ( last name to long to spell and pronounce)(Brown water Navy) was carrying a Colt Gold Cup in .45 ACP
and I (USMC 0311) was carrying a Satin Chrome Colt Combat Commander in .45 ACP,-- I still have it.

No one was in the warehouse, but the shift commander never questioned the choice of weapons.

Great story.

 

[Dave T]

Well after 10 pages I guess I'm going to be the lone voice in the wilderness. I don't much like the 38 Special, with one exception. I do like the old 38/44 and have two Heavy Duties to prove it. They seem to like a +P load I found that pushes a 158g hard cast SWC at 1050 fps from a 4" barrel. The 5" HD might be getting closer to 1100 fps.

My favorite cartridge for revolvers is the 44 Special. I still wish S&W would make a 5 shot K-frame 44 Special. If Charter Arms can do it I just refuse to believe Smith couldn't pull it off.

My dislike for the 38 Special was formed back when I first got into handguns and the standard load was the 158g round nose lead bullet at 750 to 850 fps depending on barrel length. That one failed to stop about as often as it succeeded. Yea, better bullets and loads are available now and I don't begrudge anyone who wants to carry a 38 Special. It just isn't a caliber/cartridge I will use (with the previous stated exception of 38/44s). Another part of my lack of enthusiasm is probably because the J-frames are just too small for my hand. My trigger finger often hits the frame before the trigger pull is completed. Squeezing as hard as you can and not having the gun go off is kind of a turn off (LOL).

Oh well, you folks that love them are welcome to them. Just don't forget to pass on the 44 Specials you come across. Some of us can always use another one of those. (smiley face goes here)

Dave