"Rode the river"?
I understand it to mean: Been there, done that and bought the tee shirt. Larry
"Rode the river"?
A lot of people are getting hot and bothered by this. I think OP should carry the ammo he trusts, and we should all do the same. This topic comes up all the time, with ¨ What about this ammo, or that ammo for this gun or barrel length¨ While I agree we should try and get every advantage we can, I think if we are honest with ourselves our ammo choice will probably not be high on the list of the things that save us in the extremely remote chance we have to shoot in self-defense.
I think what is far more important is regular training, taking quality classes, being in shape (as possible), and being aware of your surroundings. I used to care a lot more about bullets until I realized most defensive loads are fine if I do my part. I think that is the key, do your part, pick what you are confident in, and go about your day.
To me, the effectiveness of the .38 SPL is on the shoulders of those who tout it. I don't know of any handgun hunters who have used it on animals much bigger than a jackrabbit.
Remember that about 50% of shots fired in an average self-defense situation do not even hit the their intended target.Of course, that doesn't include YOU!!!
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That right there.
Remember that about 50% of shots fired in an average self-defense situation do not even hit the their intended target.Of course, that doesn't include YOU!!!
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This is a discussion I've seen over and over again on firearm forums and IRL over the years. It always seems to turn into a discussion of people who are ignorant about 38 spl against people who are knowledgeable about 38 spl, and quite often the ignorant people keep spouting myths.
Training and shot placement are king. The round doesn't matter if all you can do is keep missing. You can't expect a red dot or a laser to save the day for you, when you haven't practiced enough to keep the barrel straight and steady. You can't expect a certain type of round to do it's job, if you haven't taken the time to learn how to shoot that round.
If you're claiming a snubby isn't good past "bad breath distance", you probably haven't trained for very long with one. Ditto if you think 38spl is only good for shooting jack rabits or that a winter coat will stop it.
38spl is probably the most versatile round out there, but current manufacturers keep them underpowered for some reason. I suggest anyone who's serious about snubs and 38spl learn to hand load, and look at recipes from the days of yore. There are also quite a few SD rounds out there that expand reliably from a short barrel, even if clogged by 4 layers of denim for some reason. Remington Golden Saber is one, for instance. There's a plethora of testing vids available online, and if someone is looking for an ammo brand I'd suggest starting there if you're not willing or unable to do it yourself.
While I don't carry wadcutters, they have been proven to create an open wound channel that doesn't automatically close behind it, like a round nose or unexpanded hollow point round usually will. Are they the best out there? Probably not, but I'd rather carry a strong WC load than a round nose or flat point FMJ or lead round. If that was all I had, I would be okay with it.
If I'm carrying in regular life, my 442 or 637 PC is loaded with the aforementioned Remington Golden Saber 125gr +P. If I'm hiking or camping, it's loaded with Hardcast Keith 158gr +P loads, either from Underwood or ones that I've loaded myself.
I should have phrased my statement better. I was referring to a 148 gr. HBWC. Obviously the .38 SPL can be very effective with many different loadings.Does whitetail deer count?
I put one down with a +P 125 grain JHP from my Model 15.
... The 2" .38 +p is more on the .380 side of things, so better to buy an '80s double-stack Beretta.
Does whitetail deer count?
I put one down with a +P 125 grain JHP from my Model 15.
That is a Training Issue:
Well trained = 100%
Not trained = 0%
Not exactly true. Well-trained people still miss a lot. Maybe not as much as those less skilled.
A lot of people get shot every year by people with few skills and no training.
Not sure if that means you agree with me or not.