Is the 38 good enough for defense??

[cowboy4evr]

A lot of bad guys are taking a " dirt nap " because of the 38spl . It's been serving a call to duty , for over 100 yrs w/military and law enforcement around the world . And it will continue to serve .

 

[patrickd]

Well, when I posted this question I already knew it was. That guy in Alabama in the included link dropped an 820 lb wild pig with one. That alone tells the tale. Pigs tend to be twice as tough as men.

 

[tx40d]

Wow, that is one big pig!

 

[forrestinmathews]

I think a .38 has its real strength in its shootability. A steel frame gun and standard loads can be comfortably used by most anyone. The .357 barks and bites and needs training to overcome. There are loads that can be made that are super deadly in a .357 and super uncontrollable. 22 grains of Win 296 behind a 125 grain XTP vs. 3.5 to 4 grains of Clays behind a 125 grain XTP is an illustration of wild .357 vs. mild .38. I'm fine with a .38; it's something I understand and can wring the absolute best accuracy out of. I bought a .357 for versatility.

 

[CCantu357]

Concealed Carry: .38 special vs. 9mm. - YouTube Has some great info for you

This guy is by far the best gun guy on YouTube. I recently just discovered his work and find it to be superb, with a laid-back style that is hard to find.

I believe the .38 is more than enough for defense in most circumstances, with the right ammo of course. No, it is not as powerful as the .357 Magnum in any gun. Many 9mm rounds will perform better. But how many super compact and light guns can launch a 158 grain hollow point downrange at a decent velocity?

 

[haywood]

I watched the video. Very informative. I think I learned what I have herd all along. Carry what I like, what I can carry every day, and what I can shoot confidently and accurately.

 

[Walkingwolf]

Most stops of a criminal with a gun there is no shots fired. I don't think the criminal cares if it is a 38 special.

 

[Targets Guy]

I hope I never get first hand knowledge but I continue to try and be ready.

 

[cavnamvet]

As a rookie LE in Miami back in 1967, first service revolver was S&W Model 10 .38 special.. we were forbidden from carrying
.357 and no auto loaders.. eventually when auto loaders became more user friendly with the advent of reliable da/sa models like the Smith 39 and 59 9mm, we changed over.. not because of
the difference in effectiveness but rather the increased capacity
Of 15 rounds with the autos.. so today the same holds true for
civilians as well as police officers..

Shot placement is everything in defensive shooting, especially
when using a handgun.. years later when investigating homicides, I worked cases where a single .22 LR caused a fatal wound and others where a victim survived multiple hits from a 45 ACP..
So although I would not recommend anything less than a .380
for EDC, stopping an offender with a handgun is not a perfect
science no matter what you carry.. hence, as they say, some gun is better than no gun.. So carry what you are comfortable with
carrying ALL the time.. The only downside to the .38 is lack of capacity (5 to 7) since only available in wheel guns..
My load of choice being Speer GD 135 gr.

 

[haywood]

As a rookie LE in Miami back in 1967, first service revolver was S&W Model 10 .38 special.. we were forbidden from carrying
.357 and no auto loaders.. eventually when auto loaders became more user friendly with the advent of reliable da/sa models like the Smith 39 and 59 9mm, we changed over.. not because of
the difference in effectiveness but rather the increased capacity
Of 15 rounds with the autos.. so today the same holds true for
civilians as well as police officers..

Shot placement is everything in defensive shooting, especially
when using a handgun.. years later when investigating homicides, I worked cases where a single .22 LR caused a fatal wound and others where a victim survived multiple hits from a 45 ACP..
So although I would not recommend anything less than a .380
for EDC, stopping an offender with a handgun is not a perfect
science no matter what you carry.. hence, as they say, some gun is better than no gun.. So carry what you are comfortable with
carrying ALL the time.. The only downside to the .38 is lack of capacity (5 to 7) since only available in wheel guns..
My load of choice being Speer GD 135 gr.

Im all in with cavnamvet's opinion. That's why I carry Two J-Frames or my 7 shot Snub and a J-Frame. Extra Speed Loaders are in my pocket.

 

[g8rb8]

...let me show you what happens ......when you do something stupid like pulling a trigger before checking to see if the gun is loaded......
...pic shows exit hole on other side of wall in hall bathroom.....

Looks like you wrote, "I will not pull the trigger in the house." 100 times.

Yes. Thank goodness you and all others were okay but that sink has seen better days.

 

[misswired]

Wow, that is one big pig!

We in bama already had a hogzilla hoax a few years back.
Penned up,grain fed, headline grabbing trophy' hogzilla.
Turns out the latest hogzilla killer owns a taxidermy shop, how convenient that trophy walked onto 'his' porch...38 caliber??? Bigger headlines....the slaughter house used to kill cows with one 22 round...daily

 

[dubshooter]

I sure hope so. My J Frame is my off duty carry and my on duty BUG. As many here have stated I've taken a liking to the Gold Dot short barrel load.

 

[rwsmith]

They aren't that different in weight.....

9mm run from 90 grains to 147 grains (and higher which I am experimenting with) while .38s run from 110 to 160 grains (typically). Both do well wilth 125 gr. bullets.

 

[NYlakesider]

I sure think it is for most cases! Just going out I grab a .38+P Ruger LCR and stick it in my pocket. (its in a pocket holster) It conceals well and no one know its available if needed

I certainly hope I never have to prove out the "enough" part!

That gun is for casual carry which covers about 95% of what I do. The other 5% is a .45 in a ISWBH for when I'm going into the city. Finding less and less reasons to go to cities as time goes by.

 

[blues7]

From Dr. Gary K. Roberts:

Currently, the Speer Gold Dot 135 gr +P JHP, Winchester 130 gr bonded +P JHP (RA38B), and Barnes 110 gr XPB all copper JHP (for ex. in the Corbon DPX loading) offer the most reliable expansion we have seen from a .38 sp 2" BUG; Hornady 110 gr standard pressure and +P Critical Defense loads also offer good performance out of 2" barrel revolvers...

...There is no reason to go with .357 mag in a J-frame, as the significantly larger muzzle blast and flash, and harsher recoil of the .357 Magnum does not result in substantially improved terminal performance compared to the more controllable .38 Special bullets when fired from 2" barrels...

... As always, don't get too wrapped in the nuances of ammunition terminal performance. Spend your time and money on developing a warrior mindset, training, practice, and more training.

 

[MCorps0311]

I own seven .38 spl. so yes would be my opinion.

 

[Dennismn]

The .38 Special has served Americans well for over 100 years. Nobody likes getting shot, not with a BB gun and not with a .22 and definitely not with a .38 Special. Shot placement is the key. A .22 in the heart works a far deadlier magic than a .38 in the shoulder. But if what you are going for is a fight/threat stopper, which is really all anyone ever needs from a technical perspective, then the .38 Special is more than good enough to do the job. The only reason I am presently carrying a 9mm and not a .38 is for the flatness and concealment capability. I have carried a .38 with me daily for many years and never felt under gunned.

The .38+P is my go to gun most of the time, when I lived out in the boondocks I put down a couple of wounded but still mobile deer with the .38+P after they were tagged on the road.

 

[seatx]

Summertime means 1 or 2 airweights loaded with wadcutters as daily carry. I feel safe.

 

[Colonel]

My summertime CCW is the S&W 642 stuffed with Buffalo Bore 158 Grain semi wad cutter hollow point +P's.
The manufacture report over 1,000 fps out of a 1-7/8" barrel.
Thats not to shabby in my book!