.38 Special Fun?

[oneounceload]

There are no matches within a reasonable driving distance for me

Define "reasonable" for me that is between 50 and 100 miles - each way

 

[Olympus]

About an hour or so each way is all I'd want to be driving. My weekends are pretty busy in the summer and gas ain't cheap.

 

[smkummer]

Colt govt. gold cup 38 special

Another expensive competition gun that's been long discontinued and I believe it only held 5 rounds anyway. I would agree that a Marlin lever gun is the way to go. Sometimes they need a certain bullet to feed well though. If you ever tried cowboy action shooting, you would NOT have an abundant supply of 38 special laying around anymore.

 

[Morgo]

Likely not going to find a semi auto pistol to shoot your .38 loads.

The Coonan likes a heavier load.
The target type auto loaders (S&W 52, P240, Colt 1911) like a particular load. I have a S&W 52 and it will pretty much only run with a 148 wadcutter and 2.8 of bullseye