OP
Triggernosis
Member
Moondawd, did you choose the 9mm Para. because you wanted more "power" or more rounds?
More power than .38, less rowdy than .357 Mag?
- Thread starter Triggernosis
- Start date
Triggernosis,
As you have read, there are many options to your situation.
Allow me to muddy the waters just a little bit more.
My primary off duty sidearm is the Glock 32 (357 Sig) with a Hart's recoil reducer guide rod. The reason it is my primary off duty is I have 16 rounds (with a 2+ magazine adaptor), it is a very good round, I am (without bragging) dead on with it, and it is very manageable from a recoil standpoint.
This is not to take anything away from the other comments.
Were I to have to go back to a revolver for duty carry, I would choose my S&W 25-5 in 45 Colt, or a Model 29 4" loaded with 44 Special, or my Model 57 in 41 Magnum.
But I will probably just keep toting my S&W M&P in 45 ACP, oh and in a compact version, that would be great as well.
Remember, the joy is in the quest.
As you have read, there are many options to your situation.
Allow me to muddy the waters just a little bit more.
My primary off duty sidearm is the Glock 32 (357 Sig) with a Hart's recoil reducer guide rod. The reason it is my primary off duty is I have 16 rounds (with a 2+ magazine adaptor), it is a very good round, I am (without bragging) dead on with it, and it is very manageable from a recoil standpoint.
This is not to take anything away from the other comments.
Were I to have to go back to a revolver for duty carry, I would choose my S&W 25-5 in 45 Colt, or a Model 29 4" loaded with 44 Special, or my Model 57 in 41 Magnum.
But I will probably just keep toting my S&W M&P in 45 ACP, oh and in a compact version, that would be great as well.
Remember, the joy is in the quest.
BarbC
Member
The S&W M&P 45 compact is great - powerful yet not punishing to the shooter.
OP
Triggernosis
Member
Thanks again for all the replies.
Pawncop, what is the difference between the Models 29 and 57?
Pawncop, what is the difference between the Models 29 and 57?
oldfella
US Veteran
And then there is Buffalo Bore, especially for short-barreled guns - Check it out:
Standard Pressure Short Barrel Low Flash Heavy .38 Special Pistol & Handgun Ammunition
Pete
Standard Pressure Short Barrel Low Flash Heavy .38 Special Pistol & Handgun Ammunition
Pete
I hate to tell you a secret, but there are guys around here that feel that if we let this out, there will be one more shooter looking for an already scarce item. The 38/44 is the best of both worlds HV 38 specials shot out of a very heavy N frame. Little recoil and performance about the same as the .357 mag. Old time quality and accuracy. There, now I've done it!
M29 is 44 mag and 57 is 41 mag.
I normally avoid these caliber threads like the plague. They usually descend into "Mine's better than yours." Then I saw the magic words, 38 Super. Trig, if you're open to a 1911 platform, take a look at one in 38 Super. It should fit your needs like a glove.
Last edited:
cmort666
Member
+1
My 4" 29-2 is very pleasant to shoot with .44 Specials, even the 200gr. Speer and Federal self-defense loads.
I've probably shot 10:1 Specials over Magnums in mine.
Dennis The B
US Veteran
Try one of these:
I normally don't respond to threads that are nearly 4 years old....
Is there something between a .38 and a .357? Yeah, just about every other cartridge!!
.
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
Muzzle blast and flash are magnified from any short-barreled revolver. A while back I was shooting .38 Special +P in my J-frame and guys in bays on either side of me asked if I had a .357.
Flash and blast of .357 Magnum are pretty hellacious anyway. In a snubby, no thanks. That night shooting thing is a key point for me. I see no way the first shot in a night time SD incident wouldn't temporarily blind me and render me unable to recognize a possible second assailant.
There's a ton of good .38 Special +P ammo out there. The 135gr. Gold Dot Short Barrel apparently is very impressive. The FBI load has worked well for forty years, and now Buffalo Bore seems to have improved on it in higher-velocity, low-flash versions.
I'd love to have a 696 or other .44 Special, but I'm quite confident my .38 +P can get the job done if needed.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
Most any cartridge .38 special and above is pretty good for self defense. I would also add .32 H&R mag and .327 mag to the list. 44 special is my favorite and I also like .45 colt. The .44 special and .45 colt doesnt make the sharp ear ringing blast like the .357. Also they have a easier kick and better knock down. Many people here are ga ga with the heavy models 27 and 28 smiths. Yet on the same N frame you can choose 44 special and 45 colt. I own a beautiful model 27-2 5" I bought new around 1970. Yet it`s barely fired. Why? Because I own some smith N frame .44 specials that I like better as they are lighter with a better cartridge that isnt a ear ringer. All told, I also own 4 .357s. A 3" 66 - 3 and a couple pythons. Why carry a heavy 27 or 28 when you can carry a lighter 19 or 66 on a K frame? If I want to carry a N frame its usualy a 4" 24-3 or a converted HD to .44 special in 5". I also have a model 29-2 5" but seldom carry it as my .44 specials will do everything I need 99.9% as well. I dont need 6 of the 7 .44 specials I have but I am greedy.
Triggernosis, If you have a 38 special or .357 Magnum revolver, try the Buffalo Bore 38/44 38 special round. Defiantly a step up from a 38 special +P round and somewhat of a step down from a .357 Magnum round. The only drawback is the price. At a $1.75 per round they are not target or plinking ammo.
george minze
Member
38 super is just about the ideal round IMHO However finding the right framed 1911 that shoots it with out flaw can be not only a hard task ,but a extremely costly one. Ammo can be hard to get also....of course 22 can be hard to get now...Even Novak with his buyinmg power has a hard time getting 38super colts or he did.....As I can't afford one I have not been shopping for one.....But if the wonder gun at a wonder price became avaiable I probably would...well you know how that goes...
Mickey D
Member
Wow, three year thread revival.
Badkarma 1
US Veteran
Super .38! Yeah that's the ticket alright. Dale
Actually, the .45 Long Colt designation was used to distinguish it from the .45 Schofield or ".45 Short."
I have to go along with what several others have already said...go with the .45 Colt or the .45 acp.
.45 acp
.45 Colt
Gunsnwater
Member
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
I dont know about that, I have one. Its a snappy, flat shooting, accurate, recoiless cartridge.
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