I have thought about using my 696, no-dash .44 special for HD. But at "market value" of the gun, and ammo prices for practice, currently stay with my 64-2, 2-inch or 65-5, 3-inch. Both of them are very accurate w/ Federal, Remington, or Buffalo Bore, 158gr SWCHP+P
Now isn't that special?
- Thread starter el jefe
- Start date
Snapping Twig
Member
.44spl for me.
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
I thought you were talking about Heavy Duty as well. Since we're talking about Home Defence ( English spelling-makes me more cultured-see the "gifting" thread 
)-I'm a gonna go with a .38.
)-I'm a gonna go with a .38.
Green Frog
Member
Well, nobody has answered my query about the factory vs reload ammo in the eyes of the law, 
so I'll give it a bump and ask another question.
Is anyone besides me concerned about overpenetration in a home defense situation? IMHO, the old Glaser Safety Slug or its equivalent should be just the ticket for home defense as well as the legal defense after. It even sounds like you are trying to do right, and overpenetration would be no problem! JMHO, YMMV!
Froggie
so I'll give it a bump and ask another question. Is anyone besides me concerned about overpenetration in a home defense situation? IMHO, the old Glaser Safety Slug or its equivalent should be just the ticket for home defense as well as the legal defense after. It even sounds like you are trying to do right, and overpenetration would be no problem! JMHO, YMMV!
Froggie
I disaree with the entire line of conjecture. First, anything that will penetrate a human will penetrate sheetrock. Secondly, 80% of shots fired in gunfights miss the intended target. Third, the legal consequences of shooting someone inside your home are completely dependent on what state you are in and your compliance with the law. In OK, someone who breaks into my home and "causes any fear, however slight" is a legal target for deadly force, end of story, cannot be sued. Since your post does not indicate where you live, the best I can suggest is to get thoroughly trained in the laws where you live and plan accordingly.
senecaap
Member
.44 Special every time.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
I am not a bit cocerned about overpenatration. Maybe I should be, but I never sweat the small stuff. That and I am a gambler.
thomasinaz
US Veteran
44 (simple)
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el jefe
Member
West Texas. Our state has good laws compared to others. Our Gov Rick Perry shot a coyote and Ruger gets a .380 "coyote spcl" on the market pretty quickly.
The reason I started this thread is because the "special", in the eyes of some, seems to be the "little brother" to the magnum in either caliber.
My wife and I recently were next to 2 retired men at the shooting range and they offered me their 44's to shoot.
I shot a few of their special loads and said to myself, "I want (need) one of these."
I have a 19, 2 1/2" and 13, 3" that we shoot .38's out of because of the cost. My plans are to add a 4" .44 mag and shoot .44 spcls the majority of the time and mags now and then.
I believe that all who enjoy shooting ought to have at least one gun that makes you smile. I have a few.
SOUTHERNGUNNER
Member
If you don't handload the I would pick the 38 because it is more available in most areas, thankfully I don't have that problem as I can reload for both calibers . My pick is the 44special with silvertips or "Skeeter loads".
stantheman86
US Veteran
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To those who say the .38 Special "isn't good enough" there are many people laid 6 feet under over the past 110 years who may disagree.......
Does .38 Special +P+ count? Some of those are on par with .357.
I have never heard of anyone who used handloads for defense having it "hurt" their case, if it's a clean shooting in lawful self defense, with no innocent people hurt, they can't touch you. Besides, how would they know? Can anyone look at a cartridge loaded in factory brass with a factory HP bullet and tell me if it's factory or a handload? Because I can't.
Does .38 Special +P+ count? Some of those are on par with .357.
I have never heard of anyone who used handloads for defense having it "hurt" their case, if it's a clean shooting in lawful self defense, with no innocent people hurt, they can't touch you. Besides, how would they know? Can anyone look at a cartridge loaded in factory brass with a factory HP bullet and tell me if it's factory or a handload? Because I can't.
NFrameFred
Member
Big bullets make big holes. 'nuff said.
As far as the "roll your own self-defense ammo" chestnut, I guess there could be some jurisdictions with an alpha hotel prosecutor that might try to make hay with that, but a good lawyer can easily refute it.
"My client is a target shooter and he loads his own ammunition as a cost saving measure, which allows him to practice more and be a safer shooter and gun handler than someone who rarely shoots at all because of the costs."
That's my story and I'm stickintuit.
As far as the "roll your own self-defense ammo" chestnut, I guess there could be some jurisdictions with an alpha hotel prosecutor that might try to make hay with that, but a good lawyer can easily refute it.
"My client is a target shooter and he loads his own ammunition as a cost saving measure, which allows him to practice more and be a safer shooter and gun handler than someone who rarely shoots at all because of the costs."
That's my story and I'm stickintuit.
BEARMAN
Member
.44 special...without a doubt.
