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The
Versatile .38 Special (and .357)
© 2014 – Ed Harris
Which
Is Best As One Handgun for Non-Hobbyist?
(This
article is a rework of one I wrote in 1993. I provided some updates, but the
essentials haven’t changed very much.)
Casual shooters, who are NOT handgun enthusiasts, frequently ask what ONE
handgun they should buy for home defense and sport. They would never use a
handgun for big game hunting, but would carry it on fishing, camping or hunting
trips, use it for informal target shooting, and depend on it, if ever needed,
for home defense. They don't want a "collection," but ONE handgun to
serve multiple needs in a family where shooting is not a hobby activity.
The requirements are safety, reliability, durability, accuracy, and modest
cost of gun and ammunition. Also important is suitability for use by the
"female significant other." These parameters haven't changed since
Smith & Wesson first introduced its famed Military and Police Model in
1903. Julian S. Hatcher said, in the Textbook of Pistols and Revolvers (1935):
"Were it necessary for the average shooter to own and use but one
revolver, it should be a .38 Special." This is still true today. The late
Elmer Keith, who favored large guns and powerful loads, said in his book
Sixguns (1955), of the .38 Special, when loaded with the semi-wadcutter bullet
he made famous, as "the best to be had for hunting small game with the
sixgun," high praise indeed from Keith.
Colt Police Positive 4" Barrel - .38 Special
Remington
“KLEANBORE” .38 Special Police Service Ammunition Circa 1935
USGI
.38 Special Ball Ammo – 1960’s
The .38 Special still makes sense, because, modern ammunition options make
it better than ever. Sound, used, .38 Special revolvers are still reasonably
priced compared to modern combat auto pistols. Ammunition is still common, is
produced in great enough volume that it remains relatively inexpensive and it
available everywhere.
The .38 Special is the most accurate revolver cartridge ever developed. Ten-shot
groups fired from industrial test barrels or 5-shot ones from quality target
revolvers are frequently 1-1/2" or less at 50 yards. The very best
service-grade revolvers produce will groups of this order at 25 yards.
Targer of Colt Old Model @ 25 Yards Saeco Double Ended
Wadcutter, 3.5 grs. Bullseye
Factory .38 Special loads available today provide greater variety than for
any other handgun cartridge. Hand loading provides even more flexibility
for those who do. The .38 Special is generally deemed the minimum revolver
cartridge suitable for personal protection.
While the .38 Special is no longer the duty gun of choice for police or
military use, it enjoys great popularity in states where civilian concealed
carry is permitted. While it is true that small, pocket revolvers are now
available chambered for the .357 Magnum, using .38 Special
ammunition in small concealable revolvers which weigh less than 20 ozs. makes more sense for a variety of reasons.
While a .22 rim-fire is most often chosen as the outdoorsman's kit gun, the
owner of “one handgun” can use the .38 Special for this purpose, and find it
more effective than a rimfire. When outdoor trips are short, few rounds are
needed. In snake country I carry a Speer shotload first-up, with the rest of
the rounds in the cylinder being +P semi-wadcutter hollowpoints, such as the
Winchester X39SPD, Federal's 38G or the Remington R38S12, aka "The FBI
load." Three Bianchi speed strips fit into into an A.G.
Russell belt pouch, tabs up, without looking like an ammo pouch, printing
any "speed loader bulge" or rattling on your belt, in your coat
pocket or day pack. For longer trips or
if I plan any serious plinking, I'll pack an extra box or two of wadcutters.
A.G. Russell Belt Pouch
The non-enthusiast seeking "one handgun" should select a steel-
frame, “police-service-type,” double-action .38 Special with either a 3"
or 4" barrel. A .357 Magnum revolver of these general
specifications is also OK, because a .357 can use any .38 Special ammunition. Revolvers
designed for magnum ammunition are more durably constructed, and won’t loosen
up with frequent use of .38 Special +P loads. In states where concealed carry
is legal a used 4” service revolver will usually be as much as $100 cheaper
than a 2” snubbie of similar model and condition and a .38 Special as much as
$50 cheaper than a similar .357 model.
For field use a gun having adjustable sights is a plus. A 4” barrel is
easier to shoot accurate and is still easily concealed in a proper
holster. For most purposes you will want an inside-waistband type with
reinforced opening which permits one-handed re-holstering such as El
Paso Saddlery's C-Force.
“Snubbies” are most popular today as carry guns. But do not buy a snubby
unless you are willing to practice with it A LOT. I often carry one myself, but
they do lose some ballistic performance and are MUCH more difficult to learn to
shoot well. While snubbies have advantages in the close-quarter backup role,
they require frequent practice to maintain proficiency. Remember that for
our scenario here we are talking about ONE gun for the non-hobby shooter...
Colt "Snubbie" in .38 Special with "Can
Keeper" Ammo Storage
Wadcutters are ideal for most general use including field shooting. They
are accurate, give a good knockdown blow on small game, and don't destroy much
meat.. They are a valid choice for defense carry in
"airweight" or alloy-frame guns which cannot handle +P ammunition.
Novices should use wadcutters until able to six shots DA at ten yards into a 6
inch group reliably. After developing some skill, experiment with heavier +P
loads, in guns suitable for them, to become accustomed to their additional
recoil. +P ammo is not for casual shooting, but for serious defense carry
against two or four-legged varmints when more power is needed.
The .38 Special +P with proper ammunition is fully adequate for personal
defense. The Winchester X38SPD, Federal 38G and Remington R38S12 158-gr.
all-lead hollow points provide stopping power equal to .45
ACP hardball. This represents the upper limit of power the average
person can handle.
In light alloy frames the most effective non+P load is the Winchester
110-gr. Silvertip HP. It is the only load which I have found which expand
reliably from a 2" barrel. Recoil is mild, like shooting a wadcutter, so
this load is easily managed by the female significant other who is recoil-shy.
In my experience the 125-gr. jacketed HP loads require a 4" barrel for
normal performance, but the major-brand name, Federal, Winchester, Remington
and Speer factory +P "personal protection loads," such as Hydrashok,
Silvertip, Golden Sabre and Gold Dot excel from those.
Ten years ago the market was flooded with police turn-in .38 Specials in
good condition which you could get for under $200. These days you must shop
around to find a used revolver which isn’t worn out and you can expect to pay
$300 or more for a used S&W Model 10 and $450 or more for a used Ruger
SP101. If you don’t know revolvers take someone with you to shop who is. You do not want to buy into a "gunsmithing
project," because you can easily invest more in fixing up a used revolver
than it is worth.
In new guns look at the Ruger GP100 or SP101. In used guns the S&W
Model 36 or Model 60 Chief's Special, with 3" heavy barrel, and the older
K-frame Models 10 and 13 heavy barrel, or the stainless Model 64 in 3"
round butt, or 4" square butt configuration are good choices, if you can
find one.
Simplify your ammunition supply. If you have a light alloy frame gun use
mid-range target wadcutters for practice. In steel frame guns practice with
cast lead flat nose "Cowboy" loads or semi-wadcutter field loads. For
actual defense carry use only factory loaded +P lead hollow point or JHP
"personal protection loads." You may also want to keep a few Speer
shotshells around if you live in snake country. These loads really handle all
uses for a .38 revolver. Competent use of .357 ammunition
requires a higher level of training and expertise which generally departs from
our "non-hobbyist" scenario.
The muzzle of a revolver should always be elevated when ejecting fired cases,
so that any unburned powder particles fall out with the empties, rather than
under the extractor, or between the crane and frame, which could tie up the
gun. Smart revolver shooters always carry a toothbrush in their kit for cleaning
residue out from under the extractor. If you haven't shot a revolver before, my
advice is to make friends with an old retired cop who carried one for at least
20 years and ask him to show you how to properly clean and maintain it. I would
also get a copy of Ed
Lovett's book, The Snubby Revolver.
Colt
“Snubbie” with Cast Hollow Point Bullets…
If you don't currently own a handgun, but have been thinking about getting
one, you can't go wrong with a sturdy 4" .38 Special (or .357).
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