jimmyraythomason
Member
I'm a big fan of the .38 sp.
Any Fans of the old .38Spl?
- Thread starter Deadmanwalking_05
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These revolvers were factory sighted in to shoot to point of aim with 158 grain bullets. Different bullet weights will shoot to a different point of impact.
Shooting 148's will be very easy on the hand and ears, and will probably shoot a bit low. 125's will shoot even lower.
For practice I would recommend standard, non +P loads. +P loads are louder, recoil more, and don't make a bigger hole in a piece of paper. For self defense I would use the best +P rounds I could stuff in the thing. I think I was able to find 158 grain Hydroshoks, but just buy a brand name premium factory box. Since a snubbie is likely to be used at very close range, the difference in point of impact for a 125 or 158 grain bullet can be ignored, basically out to 10 yards. Perhaps a little further. At 25 yards, the point of impact difference will be around 6 inches in elevation, at least in my guns.
dasmi
Member
I'd say other than .22lr, .38 special is the handgun round I enjoy shooting the most.
The Bushmaster
Member
As a "fun to shoot" gun it ranks right there with the .22.
As a "self defense" gun...Well I have three Mod 10s and two of them are loaded and kept in convenient places in the house.
As a "self defense" gun...Well I have three Mod 10s and two of them are loaded and kept in convenient places in the house.
Archie
Member
Not my favorite, but...
I probably load and shoot more .38 Special ammo than anything else. I think my favorite is .44 Special, but it's hard to say.
It turns out I have more handguns in .38 Special than any other caliber. A total of 13, as I recall. That includes J, K and N frame S&W revolvers and two semi-automatic pistols. That does not include .357 Magnum revolvers that will also handle .38 Special ammo.
The bulk of what I load and shoot is 148 wadcutters and a small charge of fast burning powder - typically WW231 these days. The number two load is 158 RNL over a moderate charge of WW231 (they are very accurate as well.) The rest are fairly serious defense loads or practise loads.
I'm definately a supporter of the old fellow. It has a wide range of uses and suits any number of circumstances.
I probably load and shoot more .38 Special ammo than anything else. I think my favorite is .44 Special, but it's hard to say.
It turns out I have more handguns in .38 Special than any other caliber. A total of 13, as I recall. That includes J, K and N frame S&W revolvers and two semi-automatic pistols. That does not include .357 Magnum revolvers that will also handle .38 Special ammo.
The bulk of what I load and shoot is 148 wadcutters and a small charge of fast burning powder - typically WW231 these days. The number two load is 158 RNL over a moderate charge of WW231 (they are very accurate as well.) The rest are fairly serious defense loads or practise loads.
I'm definately a supporter of the old fellow. It has a wide range of uses and suits any number of circumstances.
perfect
My wife had never shot a gun in her life. When we decided to get one for her I drove her to the gun store. To my amazement she couldn’t get her hand around many of the grips and her finger wouldn’t reach the trigger (a tad over 4 foot she is). I found a 5-shot Taurus snub-nose in 38 that would. After a hundred trips to the range shooting cheap target ammo I must say she is very good with it. I keep a box of Magtech 158 grains for emergencies. Her confidence is very high with this little gun. This is about the most perfect gun/round for women who want something for home defense. It is not to big, or to heavy, no recoil and she knows she can shoot it well. I guess it wouldn’t be a bad concealed carry gun ether.
My wife had never shot a gun in her life. When we decided to get one for her I drove her to the gun store. To my amazement she couldn’t get her hand around many of the grips and her finger wouldn’t reach the trigger (a tad over 4 foot she is). I found a 5-shot Taurus snub-nose in 38 that would. After a hundred trips to the range shooting cheap target ammo I must say she is very good with it. I keep a box of Magtech 158 grains for emergencies. Her confidence is very high with this little gun. This is about the most perfect gun/round for women who want something for home defense. It is not to big, or to heavy, no recoil and she knows she can shoot it well. I guess it wouldn’t be a bad concealed carry gun ether.
smokemaker
Member
Love my Dan Wesson 709 VH-6. Other than the K-22, it's the handgun I shoot most. Plus my wife likes to shoot it too. Not too loud, almost no recoil out of that heavy DW, and super accurate with almost every load tried.
The .38 Spl. is the "golden mean" of handgun cartridges; not perfect for each and every purpose, but can and will get just about any reasonable job done well enough with minimum fuss.
The only other cartridge that I use nearly as much is the .22LR.
OTOH I can't remember the last time I shot a .44 Magnum load, and don't have any plans to. But then I don't buck hay bales any more either. Something to do with cost-benefit analysis.
The only other cartridge that I use nearly as much is the .22LR.
OTOH I can't remember the last time I shot a .44 Magnum load, and don't have any plans to. But then I don't buck hay bales any more either. Something to do with cost-benefit analysis.
I've shot 38's out of my 357 for years and years. Reload as well. Like it so much that I chose it again when I bought a carry gun recently. Went with a 642 and so did my wife. It may not be the best in every category, but to me it's one of the best "does everything well enough" caliber. 
David
David
The_Shootist
Member
I really consider the .38 spl to be a VERY accurate cartridge. I guess there is a reason it has been around for so long as a police/security/self-defense round. Its what I carry most of the time in one of SP101/M85/642. Specifically Buffalo Bore "standard pressure" .38's.
If that combo won't get me out of trouble, then either i am badly outnumbered, or damn inaccurate that day.
If that combo won't get me out of trouble, then either i am badly outnumbered, or damn inaccurate that day.
Frizzman
Member
That is like asking if anyone likes pie...Yep, I have more .38s than any other caliber gun.
QuickRick
Member
I think it is an all together excellent cartridge. I've put more 38 Specials downrange than any other CF pistol round.
I just did a test with my snub 38 125 +p speer LE and 135 gr. +p speer short barrel.
Wow that short barrel ammo has a lot more energy.I shot both in a 5 gal bucket,the 135 gr split the bucket and the bullet folded all the way back the other speer didn't.now I got 50 rounds of 125 gr I have to just shoot up and buy more short barrel ammo.I only have 2 rounds left
Wow that short barrel ammo has a lot more energy.I shot both in a 5 gal bucket,the 135 gr split the bucket and the bullet folded all the way back the other speer didn't.now I got 50 rounds of 125 gr I have to just shoot up and buy more short barrel ammo.I only have 2 rounds left
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