Here's a thought -
Shoot a .357, you'll have over penetration and night blindness -
Shoot a .38+P, see above.
I'm going to disagree with most of the answers here and tell you to carry .38 special standard loads. There are several reasons for this:
1) 38 Special loads, with the correct powder, can fully consume the powder load and reach maximum velocity in a 2" barrel. No .357 nor .38 +P can do this. None. Not a one. "Low flash" doesn't mean NO flash. Any reloader will tell you this. So your 2" barrel becomes a detriment when shooting hotter loads, not only for night blindness, but also for powder blowback.
2) 38 Special loads have been the defense load for police since their acceptance as the police sidearm in the 1920's. Plenty of bad guys have been disposed of by the penetration of this underestimated cartridge.
3) 38 Special can be loaded with Gold Dot bullets for excellent self defense capacity. Ruger and S&W have released several fantastic handguns chambered in 38 special over the past few years, geared toward a back-up gun. They see the utility of this cartridge.
4) 38 Special ammunition is lower recoil, allowing the shooter to regain sight composure much faster than a .357 Magnum.
5) 38 Special is easier on the wrists, making it more pleasant to practice with.
6) 38 Special is easier to find in stock at most retailers - so if you don't reload, you can practice with your low power loads in self defense situations.
7) 38 Special has a wider selection of factory bullets, so you can do your own ballistics testing to find your preferable bullet type
8) 38 Special weighs less. Yeah... it does.
9) 38 Special +P is designed to be carried and shot in 357 revolvers like your primary carry piece, but if you carry a BUG chambered in 38 Special, you can carry the same ammo in both firearms if you're carrying a good standard .38 Special defense load.
These are just a few thoughts. The .38 Special cartridge is a wonderful - mark it, WONDERFUL self defense round. People tend to poo-poo it because it's the little brother to the .357 Magnum. But unless you're going against someone with body armor, (and even then, you're talking about muzzle energy vs recoil and time on target,) it's still a .35 caliber bullet, and its certainly powerful enough to be a self defense round... any day of the week.
Shoot a .357, you'll have over penetration and night blindness -
Shoot a .38+P, see above.
I'm going to disagree with most of the answers here and tell you to carry .38 special standard loads. There are several reasons for this:
1) 38 Special loads, with the correct powder, can fully consume the powder load and reach maximum velocity in a 2" barrel. No .357 nor .38 +P can do this. None. Not a one. "Low flash" doesn't mean NO flash. Any reloader will tell you this. So your 2" barrel becomes a detriment when shooting hotter loads, not only for night blindness, but also for powder blowback.
2) 38 Special loads have been the defense load for police since their acceptance as the police sidearm in the 1920's. Plenty of bad guys have been disposed of by the penetration of this underestimated cartridge.
3) 38 Special can be loaded with Gold Dot bullets for excellent self defense capacity. Ruger and S&W have released several fantastic handguns chambered in 38 special over the past few years, geared toward a back-up gun. They see the utility of this cartridge.
4) 38 Special ammunition is lower recoil, allowing the shooter to regain sight composure much faster than a .357 Magnum.
5) 38 Special is easier on the wrists, making it more pleasant to practice with.
6) 38 Special is easier to find in stock at most retailers - so if you don't reload, you can practice with your low power loads in self defense situations.
7) 38 Special has a wider selection of factory bullets, so you can do your own ballistics testing to find your preferable bullet type
8) 38 Special weighs less. Yeah... it does.
9) 38 Special +P is designed to be carried and shot in 357 revolvers like your primary carry piece, but if you carry a BUG chambered in 38 Special, you can carry the same ammo in both firearms if you're carrying a good standard .38 Special defense load.
These are just a few thoughts. The .38 Special cartridge is a wonderful - mark it, WONDERFUL self defense round. People tend to poo-poo it because it's the little brother to the .357 Magnum. But unless you're going against someone with body armor, (and even then, you're talking about muzzle energy vs recoil and time on target,) it's still a .35 caliber bullet, and its certainly powerful enough to be a self defense round... any day of the week.
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