Will an old S&W 38 special revolver do for home defense?

[FLJoe]

The gun I carry daily is the gun I shoot most often and practice the most with. I do different types of range drills and many dry fire drills. I know it completely by feel and am totally familiar with every part of it. It spends all day on my person, and every aspect of it is totally muscle memory, second nature.

Why, in the most horrible of stressful situations, in the dark of night when someone is in your house, would anyone want to use anything other than the weapon they know better than any other? Does anyone really need rifle accuracy within the confines of your home (most likely your own bedroom), God forbid, should you need it? Ammo powerful enough to stop the attack is all you need. Anything more is risking too much.

For me, my daily carry gun goes in my night stand at night and becomes my home defense gun. Why not just pick a good carry gun and kill two birds with one stone?

Edited to add, 38 special is absolutely fine for self defense, whether on the street or in the home. If the gun is all in good working order and you trust it completely to work when you need it, you're good to go.

 

[bigwheelzip]

But the risk of over-penetration remains, however, and is getting bigger, isn't it? Longer barrel, gives more power?

It's not a zero sum equation.

The inherent accuracy in using any of my long guns lowers my risk of missing the intended target at HD distances versus a handgun, and the long gun's added muzzle velocity lowers the odds of needing a follow-up shot to stop a threat.



Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

 

[WR Moore]

Thanks. Very interesting points. So a lever action rifle, say Rossi 92, or Winchester 1873 which I read shoots both 38 special and 357 magnum, is a better option for home defense, because of less noise and less flash. But the risk of over-penetration remains, however, and is getting bigger, isn't it? Longer barrel, gives more power?

Firing 357 magnum from a revolver does less damage and less risk of overpenetration than firing the same bullet from a longer barreled rifle, correct? The same if you shoot with a lever action rifle, with a 38 special bullet, it gets more power and does more damage with it, right?

I love those old lever action rifles though, maybe not good for apartment living, but if I move into a house, it should probably be a good self defense weapon I guess. But maybe have a lever action and shot 38 special could work? Hmm.

What we have here is paralysis by analysis.

OK, firing a .357 from either a handgun or rifle, indoors without hearing protection will result in permanent hearing loss.

Having said that, you get more velocity from a longer barrel, typically greater bullet expansion & more tissue damage but less tissue penetration. OTOH, assuming the bullet stays intact, more velocity means more barrier penetration. REMEMBER WHERE YOU PUT THE BULLET IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE DETAILS OF WHAT YOU SHOOT SOMETHING WITH!

Long guns typically are easier to hit with, however, they're much better for staying in a safe room/place and engaging intruders who present a lethal threat when they approach.

A handgun is far better suited for defensive use in the home as it only needs one hand to operate-and you should train to do so. That leaves one hand free to open doors, turn on lights, help an infirm elder or control a child. Or, for that matter, keep an attacker at arms length while bringing the handgun to bear.

Yes, the the neighbor from the other side of the door can be hurt if I miss, and it goes through his door or something like that.

Any projectile capable of incapacitating an attacker is going to pass through most doors and all interior walls (concrete or concrete block excepted) with enough retained energy to cause death or serious bodily injury.

Try to avoid the self anointed experts on Utube.

 

[ericrlarson]

Definitely adequate. Good ammo and practice are big plus, most will say a must.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Der Verminator]

Thank you Der Verminator, that is good points.

Ruger PC9 seems like a good gun for home defense, low recoil as you say, seems smooth, easy to shoot, lots of ammo capacity, I have read one can buy 30 round glock mags for it, also silencer, and guess ammo can be bought, hollow-point which does more damage to the attacker, but less risk of overpenetration etc. Seems to solve most problems and concerns.

The negative I see with it, unlike a revolver or a lever action rifle, is that it seems less reliable, with the magazines etc? See this for example: Ruger PC Carbine - YouTube

Same negatives with pistols, unlike revolvers, which makes me trust revolvers more for it's reliability.

Do you think a lever action rifle that can shoot both 38 special and 357 magnum, for that reason would be better as bigwheelzip above has, as his home defence gun? For example Winchester 1873. Low recoil in them, less noise as I understand it, pretty quick with follow up shots, and maybe more reliable than the Ruger?

I found this video, “Even though modern sporting rifles, like the AR15 are all the rage these days, you aren't giving up much, in terms of practical performance, if you choose to use a lever action rifle for self-defense.”: Lever Action Rifles for Self Defense - YouTube

That's why I said lots of practice and research.

I would choose 9mm auto over .357 lever, mostly due to muzzle blast.

You have to try both and see which is better for you.

Reliability is crucial. Whatever you choose you have to run it a lot and in time you will be confident with reliability.......OR you'll get rid of it and find something else.

Hickock did another video with another PC9 and he seemed satisfied with it with Glock magazines.

I have reached the same conclusion with mine.

Other Youtube testers raved about the excellent reliability of the PC9.

You just need to do some testing for yourself to see what's best for you.

Just shoot it a lot and make sure you're satisfied.

As I said, you're on the right track.

Keep on thinking with an open mind and use good judgement.

 

[somorris]

I've been told that a few times in my life, that I tend to overthink and overanalyze things and I assume it's right, but I want things to be as good as possible and avoid unnecessary mistakes

I disagree with some here. When a person is new to something (as you said you were) and it is as serious as this overall issue is, it pays to do your research.

 

[SWFan27]

It's what I use with Underwood 100gr Defenders
http://[url=https://postimg.cc/qzk1S82Q] [/URL]

Someone gave me some of those and I have never shot any of them. I will need to try some at the range. When all the businesses closed down when Covid lockdowns started, some of our local businessmen guarded their stores. When I told the owner of the place that has worked on my cars for years that I had a 357 Mag, he asked if I wanted some ammo and went in back and brought out some Underwood Xtreme Defender 38 Specials. I said are you sure? He said he did not own anything that would shoot them.

They had been left at his shop by someone who had helped him guard his and other places during the start of the Covid lockdowns. He said it was like straight out of the Walking Dead during that time with all the homeless and riff raff criminals roaming around on the hunt for whatever they could get.

 

[Hello86]

The gun I carry daily for self defense is the gun I shoot most often and practice the most with. I do different types of range drills and many dry fire drills. I know it completely by feel and am totally familiar with every part of it. It spends all day on my person, and every aspect of it is totally muscle memory, second nature.

Why, in the most horrible of stressful situations, in the dark of night when someone is in your house, would anyone want to use anything other than the weapon they know better than any other? Does anyone really need rifle accuracy within the confines of your home (most likely your own bedroom), God forbid, should you need it? Ammo powerful enough to stop the attack is all you need. Anything more is risking too much.

For me, my daily carry gun goes in my night stand at night and becomes my home defense gun. Why not just pick a good carry gun and kill two birds with one stone?

Edited to add, 38 special is absolutely fine for self defense, whether on the street or in the home. If the gun is all in good working order and you trust it completely to work when you need it, you're good to go.

Thanks. Yes what you wrote, makes a lot of sense I belive.

I have heard somewhere that the most dangerous man for criminals to go after is the one who owns only one firearm and practices with it, because he is really good with that particular weapon and can handle it at night, under stress, etc. whenever he need it.

I myself do not own a firearm and never have, I've only shot a few at some gun shops and the like on occasion, but would like to own one, primarily for self-defense and secondarily for recreational shooting. So this gun should be the same one that I like to shoot for fun and that I practice a lot with.

It's not a zero sum equation.

The inherent accuracy in using any of my long guns lowers my risk of missing the intended target at HD distances versus a handgun, and the long gun's added muzzle velocity lowers the odds of needing a follow-up shot to stop a threat.

Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

Thanks, good point, I didn't think of that.

What we have here is paralysis by analysis.

OK, firing a .357 from either a handgun or rifle, indoors without hearing protection will result in permanent hearing loss.

Having said that, you get more velocity from a longer barrel, typically greater bullet expansion & more tissue damage but less tissue penetration. OTOH, assuming the bullet stays intact, more velocity means more barrier penetration. REMEMBER WHERE YOU PUT THE BULLET IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE DETAILS OF WHAT YOU SHOOT SOMETHING WITH!

Long guns typically are easier to hit with, however, they're much better for staying in a safe room/place and engaging intruders who present a lethal threat when they approach.

A handgun is far better suited for defensive use in the home as it only needs one hand to operate-and you should train to do so. That leaves one hand free to open doors, turn on lights, help an infirm elder or control a child. Or, for that matter, keep an attacker at arms length while bringing the handgun to bear.

Any projective capable of incapacitating an attacker is going to pass through most doors and all interior walls (concrete or concrete block excepted) with enough retained energy to cause death or serious bodily injury.

Try to avoid the self anointed experts on Utube.

Thanks, Yes good points. In my situation, in my apartment, I don't think I need to open doors, etc. If someone tries to kick in the door, I wake up, and I guess a rifle might work, wait for the attackers in and aim the door at them when they come in , with the family behind me, can then use both hands.

That's why I said lots of practice and research.

I would choose 9mm auto over .357 lever, mostly due to muzzle blast.

You have to try both and see which is better for you.

Reliability is crucial. Whatever you choose you have to run it a lot and in time you will be confident with reliability.......OR you'll get rid of it and find something else.

Hickock did another video with another PC9 and he seemed satisfied with it with Glock magazines.

I have reached the same conclusion with mine.

Other Youtube testers raved about the excellent reliability of the PC9.

You just need to do some testing for yourself to see what's best for you.

Just shoot it a lot and make sure you're satisfied.

As I said, you're on the right track.

Keep on thinking with an open mind and use good judgement.

Thank you. I will look up more about PC9, and I will try to get the opportunity to test it, and lever action gun.

I disagree with some here. When a person is new to something (as you said you were) and it is as serious as this overall issue is, it pays to do your research.

Thank you.

 

[Hello86]

Anyway, in any case, I'm keen on a S&W model 15 or model 67. They look so incredibly nice, and I guess they're pure joy to shoot. But suppose it would be reasonable to try to get hold of one, as well as a rifle, PC9 or a lever action rifle. A handgun and a longer one would probably be enough, to be able to train and get really good at both.

When it comes to ammunition it would be nice and good to be able to shoot the same ammunition from the handgun as in the rifle as well I guess.

38 special in a S&W model 15/67 and 38 special in a Winchester Model 1866 or a model 1873.

Aesthetically, they also fit well together, pure beauties:

 

[CH4]

Seemed to be acceptable for most purposes during the past century, no reason why it won’t now.

 

[Hello86]

Seemed to be acceptable for most purposes during the past century, no reason why it won’t now.

Exactly why not? And human anatomy and things hasn't changed in that time directly, so why not.

 

[John Patrick]

Hello86,

Another advantage of a 38spl revolver is that a wide range of ammunition, from very mild through the Buffalo Bore +P is available so you can pick your power and recoil level.

Most cowboy action ammo is very mild, up from that is mild wadcutter target ammo, then typical standard pressure ammo, then other than BB +P and at the top is BB +P.

With a semi auto your choice of ammo that will cycle the action (without spring changes) is limited.

 

[WR Moore]

With all due respect, I've been shooting/hunting for over 60 years. In that time I've seen "revolutionary", "you'll never need another type of bullet", "greatest thing since gunpowder" designs come and go and some that kinda hang in there on the fringes. Heck, I even used one particular one-for awhile. Then I got disenchanted, but at least I wasn't betting my life on the concept. As a result, I'd suggest caution on new designs. Let others do the real world beta tests on defensive ammunition.

I'm speaking here of the current fad for bullets with flutes instead of soft/hollow points. I watched the ballistic test videos using ballistic gelatin with some interest. You use ballistic gel to compare bullet A to bullet B in the same medium. IT IS NOT PREDICTIVE OF REAL WORLD PERFORMANCE. I also noted that the design has penetration at the extreme end of the FBI suggestions. This might be desirable in certain limited situations, it could be a major problem in others.

 

[WR Moore]

Exactly why not? And human anatomy and things hasn't changed in that time directly, so why not.

He's agreeing with your concept.

 

[DETROIT]

38 spl is a great round for stopping, but if the person shooting the gun is unable to keep calm and focus the 5-8 shots would be worthless.

I have seen several officers mis targets 6ft out during practice while under stress. If you don’t have time / cash to dedicate to training under stress, I would recommend a hi capacity gun(14+rds) to increase your chances.

 

[AJ]

Placement is what shooting defensively or offensively is what this is all about. If you can't hit your target, it does not matter if you are using a 155!

 

[BSA1]

I love these threads. Home defense, IMO, refers to a home "intruder". However, many of the replies infer a home "invasion". I'll stand by my little old .38 and my little old 158gr RNL ammo to protect from an "intruder". If my home is "invaded", I'll raise my hands and surrender. Thankyou very much.

Don’t confuse being lethal the same as stopping power. It may be of small consolation to your wife or family if your attacker dies 30 minutes after you did.

 

[AJ]

Don’t confuse being lethal the same as stopping power. It may be of small consolation to your wife or family if your attacker dies 30 minutes after you did.

This the reason for "Failure To Stop" drills. You keep fighting until the opponent is down and no longer fighting.

 

[Retired W4]

Thank you all guys for many good answers.

What is the difference in practice, the damage to the enemy etc between 90 gr, 110 gr, 125gr, 135 gr, 158gr etc?

So many different grs, names etc confuse me as an amateur

E = 1/2 mv2, where E is energy, m is mass (110,125, 158, etc.) and v is velocity. Notice velocity squared.

 

[rock doc]

E = 1/2 mv2, where E is energy, m is mass (110,125, 158, etc.) and v is velocity. Notice velocity squared.

.....and notice 1/2 mass