Nightstand .38 or .357?

[amd6547]

I’ve experienced various calibers up to 9mm and 45 indoors without hearing pro, as well as the occasional high powered rifle shot.
I’ve also read accounts of LEOs involved in shootings, firing the 357 indoors or even in an automobile and never remembering hearing the shot.
If I needed to use my 357 in extremis, I know what’s coming out of that muzzle… the perp dosnt.
General Patton carried a 357 magnum he referred to as his “killing gun”… do you think he used hearing pro or even gave it a thought?
Bill Jordan begged S&W to make the Model 19… I wonder if he gave a damn about muzzle blast?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I’ve experienced various calibers up to 9mm and 45 indoors without hearing pro, as well as the occasional high powered rifle shot.
I’ve also read accounts of LEOs involved in shootings, firing the 357 indoors or even in an automobile and never remembering hearing the shot.
If I needed to use my 357 in extremis, I know what’s coming out of that muzzle… the perp dosnt.
General Patton carried a 357 magnum he referred to as his “killing gun”… do you think he used hearing pro or even gave it a thought?
Bill Jordan begged S&W to make the Model 19… I wonder if he gave a damn about muzzle blast?

I didn't hear the anti-tank mine I ran over in Viet Nam -- I just wondered why my command track was turning upside down. Nevertheless, I'm deaf as a post today.

Protect your hearing, because you can't get it back.

 

[JDeere]

Personally, I'm thinking I can do my best surviving when I'm not stunned and temporarily deafened...

As I said in my post to, each his own. I will bet that in a self defense situation you will hear nothing and not be stunned. Adrenaline has a funny way of making things different. 44mag or 9mm fired indoors with no hearing protection will ruin your hearing over time. With that I agree...

 

[Kleanbore]

As I said in my post to, each his own. I will bet that in a self defense situation you will hear nothing and not be stunned.

You may hear nothing for some time after the shots are fired, and that could have dire consequences.

 

[kje54]

My CZ 82 is in my nightstand.

 

[Archie]

6 shots to deal with a home invasion?

I have heard this objection before and find it without basis. How many members of the 'invasion crew' do you expect? Are you expecting the entire local chapter of Hell's Angels? Perhaps a reinforced battalion of Communist Chinese Regulars? Do you grasp the strategy of King Leonidas I of Sparta in that encounter? If such a horde of invaders attack, how many could one reasonably - or even providentially - expect to neutralize? Even a thirty round magazine would not be useful.
Presume that every time a defender fired, a villain was struck; each one struck falls inertly to the floor. By the time the defender - especially a single defender - has rendered four villains incapable of continuing a threat, number six or seven will get the defender. Not a happy thought, but a reasonable one.

Alternately, of the rounds possessed by the defenders, how many will be misses? Consider this in the context of defending one's home and family. I have a rather ordinary house. I no longer have a 'family' living with me; one son. The width (athwartship, so to speak) of the front room is twenty-six feet, or just under nine yards. Nine yards. That distance would require both the shooter and the shootee to be standing against the opposite walls. Expecting how many clean misses? There is a longer possible distance: From the front room to the kitchen (backs to the opposite walls again) is forty and one half feet or thirteen and one half yards. Against a silhouette target?

The idea that claims having a 17 shot pistol means victory is hollow and insufficiently considered.

I'd rather risk my hearing and increase the effectiveness of those 6 shots, with which I am hoping to preserve my life.

I have to agree completely. Of course, I'm in my seventies and my hearing is slipping anyway. One the bright side, the Lord has provided enough hearing to realize the cat is scratching at the door and wants back in.
I also opine I want the firearm and cartridge to be as effective as possible. From what I've learned from technical reports of cartridges, and reports of actual deadly encounter (both human and animal) my minimum (perceived 'adequate') is a .357"/9mm bullet diameter with a minimum weight of 160 grains and a velocity able to assure deep penetration. The maximum is less well defined, but there are upper limits. I consider .45 ACP using "Cartridge, caliber .45, Ball, M1911" (aka G. I. ball) is a typically reliable stopper. Commercial hollow point ammunition of essentially the same bullet weight and velocity are 'adequate' as well. However - and here it does get a bit more arcane - the .454 Casull is no doubt a reliable defense cartridge. However, it - in this sense only - is no more reliable against human threats than a .45 Colt or the .45 Awfulmatic. I suppose the .45 GAP would fit in here as well.
A 10mm Auto with 180 grain bullet seems to work well. But - and again in this sense only - is not anymore effective than a .40 S&W with the same weight bullet.
One can make the same comparison with .44 Special and .44 Magnum.
This list goes on. I like .357 Magnum; but it is not particularly better - in this sense - than a .38 Special with a proper load.
If anyone disagrees, you are invited to disagree. However, I've come up with this regimen after years of study, practice and carrying a gun for a living. If anyone wants to show me wrong, please do: Don't cite any movies or advertising hype.

I figure my hearing probably won't be that useful if I'm dead. But I've been wrong before.

Sounds right to me. God informs me He will issue me a new body - presumably with new ears - when I die.

 

[Tinman357]

In reply to the OP, If the only choice is .38 or .357, then I would go for the .357. If I'm limited to 6 and reloads, I want the heavy hitters.

(sarcastic remark)
I just keep a laser pointer on the nightstand. Light the perp up and let the 3 cats deal with him. Vacumn up whats left the next morning.

 

[Kleanbore]

If I'm limited to 6 and reloads, I want the heavy hitters.

It "hits" as much as it penetrates and expands, and there is a maximum for useful penetration.

 

[Kleanbore]

Presume that every time a defender fired, a villain was struck; each one struck falls inertly to the floor.

Nether of those is a likely result.

 

[Archie]

Nether of those is a likely result.

I quite agree in the main, but this simply makes the conclusion more likely. I was 'presuming' the most optimistic scenario.

 

[armydog]

The idea that claims having a 17 shot pistol means victory is hollow and insufficiently considered.

What do you think is sufficient for an unknown number of home invaders?

 

[WrongHanded]

I have heard this objection before and find it without basis. How many members of the 'invasion crew' do you expect? Are you expecting the entire local chapter of Hell's Angels? Perhaps a reinforced battalion of Communist Chinese Regulars? Do you grasp the strategy of King Leonidas I of Sparta in that encounter? If such a horde of invaders attack, how many could one reasonably - or even providentially - expect to neutralize? Even a thirty round magazine would not be useful.
Presume that every time a defender fired, a villain was struck; each one struck falls inertly to the floor. By the time the defender - especially a single defender - has rendered four villains incapable of continuing a threat, number six or seven will get the defender. Not a happy thought, but a reasonable one.

Alternately, of the rounds possessed by the defenders, how many will be misses? Consider this in the context of defending one's home and family. I have a rather ordinary house. I no longer have a 'family' living with me; one son. The width (athwartship, so to speak) of the front room is twenty-six feet, or just under nine yards. Nine yards. That distance would require both the shooter and the shootee to be standing against the opposite walls. Expecting how many clean misses? There is a longer possible distance: From the front room to the kitchen (backs to the opposite walls again) is forty and one half feet or thirteen and one half yards. Against a silhouette target?

The idea that claims having a 17 shot pistol means victory is hollow and insufficiently considered.

How many home invaders? How many misses are we accounting for? How many shots will it take to stop just one of what may be multiple invaders? Are we assuming home defender is using a separate handheld flashlight during this encounter, or firing in the dark, or what?

Too many questions for me to be comfortable with a 6 shot revolver for home defense at my bedside. We have better technology today: multiple times that capacity in the gun, tritium sights, intergrated flashlight. A gun may hold 17+1 cartridges, but no one is saying you have to use them all. They are available if needed, and the chances are that if you're awoken in the night into a violent encounter, the clothes that you're wearing will not have a pocket containing a reload.

 

[Archie]

Wronghanded: You are a big kid, you have to make up your own mind. Best of fortunes.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

I personally prefer not to limit myself to a handgun.

Much has been written about the “devastating stopping power” of the .357 Magnum revolver. But a 7.62x39mm also uses a 125 grain bullet, but traveling about 800 FPS faster. Despite this, many claim the 7.62x39mm has “no stopping power” and will just “pencil through” the target while a .357 Magnum or .45 ACP will knock them over.

I think these people have not seen what a 7.62x39mm soft point load will do?



I’d rather have 125 grains at nearly 1700 ft-lbs of energy (7.62x39) on hand than a 125 grain with 600 (.357).

 

[Archie]

What do you think is sufficient for an unknown number of home invaders?

Six. In reality one will probably not fire that many in such a circumstance.

 

[armydog]

Six. In reality one will probably not fire that many in such a circumstance.

Ok... I just wanted to confirm you are just professing nonsensical gibberish. In case no one has told you, you should not be offering anyone any advice on home defense strategies.

 

[WrongHanded]

Wronghanded: You are a big kid, you have to make up your own mind. Best of fortunes.

And I have done. I'm not sure why you'd like think otherwise. I tend to assume that if I'm every in a lethal encounter, I'm not going to perform like an action movie hero.

 

[Boattale]

There's also a cruiser ready 12 gauge 870 loaded with four rounds of 00 buck hanging above the closet door, just in case things get Western.

 

[Walkalong]

Closed at the OP's request.