Any CC a .38 special anymore?

[gregkl]

The one I ended up with is the Bantam style #61000...and as Snapdragon said, it's slightly smoother than many others, is nicely gripable, and yet doesn't snag on clothing...I'm surprisingly happy with it!

Thanks. I wonder how different that is from the grips I got on my 442? They look very similar, possibly not enough to make a change?

 

[Rod Farva]

Any real gun person has a revolver for every auto. Revolvers can still do a few things autos can't. For instance, a revolver will not get a failure to feed because you short stroked (limp-wristed) it. At 3:00 AM when you're sawing logs on some tropical bikini island and your whole existence gets thrown into overdrive with a big loud crash... you very likely might short stroke an auto and lose critical seconds in getting shots on target first if a deadly threat is actually upon you. At 3:00 AM you might want that heavier trigger pull on the trusty old 6. You certainly don't want to pop off unintentionally with a striker fired style trigger. What if grandma just fell down the stairs again and it's NOT actually the boogeyman? At 3:00 AM we are all different beasts and we have to acknowledge and accept that. A good revolver is dynamic, deliberate and just as deadly as any auto.

 

[Snapdragon]

Any real gun person has a revolver for every auto. Revolvers can still do a few things autos can't. For instance, a revolver will not get a failure to feed because you short stroked (limp-wristed) it. At 3:00 AM when you're sawing logs on some tropical bikini island and your whole existence gets thrown into overdrive with a big loud crash... you very likely might short stroke an auto and lose critical seconds in getting shots on target first if a deadly threat is actually upon you. At 3:00 AM you might want that heavier trigger pull on the trusty old 6. You certainly don't want to pop off unintentionally with a striker fired style trigger. What if grandma just fell down the stairs again and it's NOT actually the boogeyman? At 3:00 AM we are all different beasts and we have to acknowledge and accept that. A good revolver is dynamic, deliberate and just as deadly as any auto.

Excellent points, Rod. I very much agree.

 

[Amishman44]

Any real gun person has a revolver for every auto. Revolvers can still do a few things autos can't. For instance, a revolver will not get a failure to feed because you short stroked (limp-wristed) it. At 3:00 AM when you're sawing logs on some tropical bikini island and your whole existence gets thrown into overdrive with a big loud crash... you very likely might short stroke an auto and lose critical seconds in getting shots on target first if a deadly threat is actually upon you. At 3:00 AM you might want that heavier trigger pull on the trusty old 6. You certainly don't want to pop off unintentionally with a striker fired style trigger. What if grandma just fell down the stairs again and it's NOT actually the boogeyman? At 3:00 AM we are all different beasts and we have to acknowledge and accept that. A good revolver is dynamic, deliberate and just as deadly as any auto.

Some good, ole-fashioned, regular points...somethings that many fail to recognize and acknowledge!
I've come to prefer a .45 acp on the night stand...but over the past 25 years, a revolver has done more 'night-duty' than any semi-automatic!

 

[Nsw550]

model 36 from time to time. I usually prefer my 640 though.

 

[Joniki]

And, you can hide a revolver in a litter box and it will go "bang" when you grab it.

Any real gun person has a revolver for every auto. Revolvers can still do a few things autos can't. For instance, a revolver will not get a failure to feed because you short stroked (limp-wristed) it. At 3:00 AM when you're sawing logs on some tropical bikini island and your whole existence gets thrown into overdrive with a big loud crash... you very likely might short stroke an auto and lose critical seconds in getting shots on target first if a deadly threat is actually upon you. At 3:00 AM you might want that heavier trigger pull on the trusty old 6. You certainly don't want to pop off unintentionally with a striker fired style trigger. What if grandma just fell down the stairs again and it's NOT actually the boogeyman? At 3:00 AM we are all different beasts and we have to acknowledge and accept that. A good revolver is dynamic, deliberate and just as deadly as any auto.

 

[HCALREF]

I carry a little Charter Arms ( older model ) because it is light and I just plain like it.

 

[marksman1023]

At this point I only really have a snubbie to stoke it with snakeshot when I'm down in Texas hanging out with my dad. When I carried it as a backup regularly I stoked it with some old Winchester Ranger +P 130gr JHP but I found the slap unpleasant with stock grips in an S&W Airweight.

 

[MCgrease08]

And, you can hide a revolver in a litter box and it will go "bang" when you grab it.

Wouldn't that scare the hell out of the cat?

 

[Joniki]

Wouldn't that scare the hell out of the cat?

I hate cats.

 

[Spikedog]

S&W 340, Gold dot 125+p.

 

[Somemedic]

Momma carries her air weight with hornady critical defense with little pink polymer tips for breast cancer awareness. To me that seems a bit ironic since you most likely wont notice the tips if they're coming at you and cancer wont really be the main issue. Of course I dont know what color they're using for hemopneumothorax awareness which would tend to make more sense.

She carries iwb with an alien gear holster.

 

[derrickgoins]

J-Frame 442 Winchester PDX1 130grain +p

 

[rugertoter]

Just being curious...but does anyone still CC a 5-shot .38 snubbie revolver anymore?

If so, what is your preferred ammo for personal defense?

Just being curious...

Yeah. I carried my M605 today, loaded with .38 Special + P's. I generally don't carry .357's in it. Tomorrow, I'll be toting my Model 637, loaded with the same Remington load.

Yeah, a snubby with a spare speed strip or two? All day long.

 

[gregkl]

I notice quite a few of you use lighter projectiles than the "standard" 158 gr stuff. Is the reduction in felt recoil noticeable?

I haven't been to the range yet to shoot my 442, but all I have right now are factory 158 stuff.

 

[Amishman44]

I notice quite a few of you use lighter projectiles than the "standard" 158 gr stuff. Is the reduction in felt recoil noticeable?

I haven't been to the range yet to shoot my 442, but all I have right now are factory 158 stuff.

I actually prefer the feel of the standard-pressure 158 grain load vs the (somewhat) harsher 'pop' of the lighter +P loads...especially in the lighter
Air-Weight S&W J-frame revolvers.
Older .38's were built for the 158 grain loads and I've also found them to be more accurate with the heavier, standard-pressure loads.
I always say, With a new gun, buy several different loads, different manufactures, different grains, standard-pressure, +P pressure, etc.
and see how it handles different loads and where each one lands on the target.
Then buy lots of the stuff that your gun handles well...

 

[gregkl]

I actually prefer the feel of the standard-pressure 158 grain load vs the (somewhat) harsher 'pop' of the lighter +P loads...especially in the lighter
Air-Weight S&W J-frame revolvers.
Older .38's were built for the 158 grain loads and I've also found them to be more accurate with the heavier, standard-pressure loads.
I always say, With a new gun, buy several different loads, different manufactures, different grains, standard-pressure, +P pressure, etc.
and see how it handles different loads and where each one lands on the target.
Then buy lots of the stuff that your gun handles well...

Good advice. I'll start trying out different loadings.

 

[goldsmithr3]

From time to time. I usually use a 5 shot, although the Rossi 462 seems safe with .38's. I usually use the old 158 gr. swc hollowpoint lead, +P. Not quite .357, but a good record. Admittedly, it's harder and harder not to justify the higher round count of a small 9mm, or 40, with a flatter profile to boot. I guess the best arguments for the revolver, are simplicity, and reliability. Like most issues, it comes down to personal preference, and practice, practice, practice!

 

[Amishman44]

Good advice. I start trying out different loadings.

In .38 Special, I've found that Hornady's 158 grain JHP XTP is a great round out of the shorter-barreled revolvers...
Second to that are Winchester's 130 grain PDX-1's...also very accurate...but I still prefer the heavier Hornady round.

 

[Glock1230]

I carry a SW 340PD as a backup. I like the .357mag, but I can still train with .38 special. I like it from a grappling standpoint because if I make contact with the gun, it will still keep running, unlike a semi auto pistol.