Has the world really changed all that much?

[oberon]

Golly. I wonder why the .38 special is the single most handloaded round in the history of ballistics?
Could it be its' natural affinity for being slung down a barrel of any lenght with a reasonable expectation of effective terminal performance? Or maybe on account of being adaptable to any combination of bullet, powder, primer, & case? Or maybe because every security organization on the planet has employed it at one time or another?
Or do y'all suppose it is just a fluke? Like a silly coincidence?
I have a lot of .38s and it is what I always recommend for new handgunners. The hotrod high tech equipment can be aquired as the knowledge of the new shooter accumulates.
It is simply the best in its' size range for the most application.
Don't misread me; I also shoot a ton of pistol rounds, too. And in those, the .45 acp acts the same way. As if it is the natural evolution of ballistic capability in that size & weight.
I just have to wonder why that is.
Jes' sayin'.

 

[george minze]

Don't feel foolish.....Thousands of us carried those revolvers for years on duty and more than a few of us owe our safety, and life to them. Sure there are more capable rounds available. Some are better man stoppers. Some of those rounds are also deffecient if you are shooting trough a rear vehicle window. etc. etc. Now there is the .40, 357 Sig etc. All have limitations even the great 45acp....Remember almost all defensive shooting happens with in less that 20 feet. Shotgun if available. I trusted my life to the 38 special for years. I changed when the original SW mod. 39 semi auto serviced for police use. A few more rounds was about all I gained.....Carry and shoot what works the best for you...No round no matter what it is will work if you don't hit the target.....JMHO ....Ps; I don't know to many departments local state or fed that give blanket approval of your choice...Some do if you qualify with that handgun and calibre. Gun people would always tend to buy their own if allowed, however over 80% of Law enforcement only shoot when required to for annual or semi annual Qualification it is a sad fact but it is a fact non to less.....Stay safe!

 

[David Armstrong]

The world has changed in that now days any idiot with access to the internet thinks he is an expert. Truth is that a gun that was effective back in the 1920's is just as effective today, only more so due to the advances in ammunition design. Are there better guns and calibers for self defense than a .38 revolver? Maybe, depending on your needs and situation. But that .38 revolver that was perfectly fine at defending your grandfather and fighting off the bad guys in 1950 is just as good at fighting off the bad guys of 2013. If the only gun everyone could carry for CCW was a .38 revolver everyone would be well armed.

 

[rasmith3442]

Buffalo Bore

To Silver Dollar:

Col.,

Buffalo Bore makes some very good standard pressure loads for .38 Spl. Their standard pressure FBI load (158 Gr. lead, semi-wadcutter hollowpoint) has the same velocity (850 FPS) as the other mfgr's. +P offerings. I have chrono'd some of their +P loads and found their velocity numbers to be as advertised. Here is link:

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=23

BTW, if you go to the link just below, it will give penetration and expansion data using calibrated ballistic gelatin. If you scroll to the bottom of the page, it is very clear that a 158 LSWCHP .38 Spl. at about 800 - 850 FPS gives virtually optimum penetration and expansion. That is why I said in my previous post that caliber and energy are virtually irrelevant, within reason. If you look at the pics on that post - a picture is worth a thousand words.

Here is link to penetration / expansion data:

.38 Special Ammunition Performance Data

I now use 135 Gold Dots in my revolvers, not because I don't like the FBI load, but because I don't like all the smoke and dirt from shooting lead bullets. I still have a bunch of 158's in ready reserve.

Hope this helps you and the other posters, esp. Sleestak.

S/F,

RAS, P.E.

 

[Badkarma 1]

Thanks Kanew, thanks BK for the info. If my 15-3 is rated for +P, that I can find. I just don't want the blinking thing to blow up in my hand or damage the gun in any way.

Sir, you can always run standard pressure stuff at the range or for plinking, the a couple of cylinders full of +P at the end if your session to stay familiar with the bark and recoil of the hotter load.
If nothing else, wadcutters will work in a pinch. Last groundhog I got with my model 60, didn't think it was a weakling! Dale

 

[gwalchmai]

Any steel S&W revolver with a model number will handle all the +p .38s you can afford to shoot.