The first one was traded to lady who wanted something for her purse and had a rifle I wanted. Word to the wise: all handgun cartridges (with the likely exception of .44 Magnum and maybe even .357 Magnum) are “underpowered” for self-defense. Timing is everything when it comes to self-defense. Mild to shoot and deadly accurate at typical self-defense ranges, there is plenty to like about the .38 Special … I thought not. If it's not practical to carry a shotgun or a rifle, there isn't a big difference in the performance of the major handgun calibers (.380 ACP, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP or .44 Magnum). Built upon Ruger’s full-figured SP101 frame, this muscular snubbie features a full-length underlug and Ruger’s patented transfer bar … Model 638 Smith and Wesson .38 Special Revolver One of the most popular is the 6-shot Model 856, which they brought back (possibly) in response to Colt’s re-entry of the Colt revolver. The .38 Special +P 158gr LSWCHP was created by Federal with concealed-carry self-defense users in mind. 1 Taurus 85 2IN 38 Special Blue 5RD. The best 38 special revolver for home defense will have fairly low … Like all cartridges, there are a lot of 38 Special ammo options out there and they come from many different manufacturers. One aspect of a .38 Special revolver that people might have forgotten is accuracy. I respectfully submit a 4 inch barrel .38 double action revolver is the absolute best defense weapon since even a child can point and shoot it with little or no training whatsoever. So this is a revolver that will allow for quick shooting if the opportunity presents itself. Equally important is the trigger. These take the classic lead semi-wadcutter and add a cavity to the flat nose, with no copper jacketing at all on the bullet. When it comes to self-defense, what .38 Special ammo will do the trick? Probably the best mix and balance of any defense-oriented ammunition throughout an entire lineup, this is a particularly good choice for the .38 Special +P round. LSWCHP. Our bulk ammunition online specialists discuss what you should know about .38 Special ammo.. First developed in the 1890s; Served as primary lawman weapon from 1920 to 1990 Revolvers can be amazingly accurate, and a quality DA revolver delivers all of that. Model 66 aims to appeal to target shooters and shooting enthusiasts. This is the second .38 snub I’ve had as a carry piece. Throughout history, .38 Special has been a popular cartridge for revolver shooters. That means it can be loaded for any shooter to handle. It is very light (~9 pounds), and very smooth. It is made up of exceptional material which can be used all the time. And the modern seven shot revolver gives plenty of firepower to use in an emergency. If I ever trade this one, its replacement will be a .357 snub hammerless or shrouded hammer. [.38 Special] is a very versatile and useful round. And one of the most popular cartridges- if not the most popular cartridge- for those revolvers is the .38 Special. That’s why the IWB holster is considered the first, best choice for concealed carry, whether it’s with a .38 Special revolver, a modern slim subcompact 9mm, or a 1911 Government model in .45 ACP. A snub-nosed .38 that is lightweight and, best of all, affordable, with a price at retailers of under $400. A long gun - rifle or shotgun - is a much better choice. While I can see the dual-purpose benefits of the Judge and it's equivalents, to me, the best all-around revolver would be a .357. Two inches, single action, 25 yards, with Critical Defense 110-grain FTX bullets. Snubnose revolvers continue to be popular for self-defense. A full-size revolver generally holds 5-7 rounds, while a full-size semi-automatic generally holds 11-17. Revolvers are a particularly good choice due to their simple and rugged design. It’s simple to use and won’t give you any heavy trigger or hammer pulling. Home Defense Revolver Recommendations. Agreed. If you’re looking for a self-defense revolver, the .38 Special is one of the best ways to go. With practice, revolver reloads can be done quickly, but the the stress of using fine motor skills in a gunfight is, I believe, the biggest downside to using one for defense. The GP100 is and always has been an incredibly strong revolver. Who actually cares what the bullet velocity is at 25 yards from a snub nose? For hunting smaller varieties of game 50 lbs. Because it was introduced in the late 19 th century as a black powder cartridge and has not changed dimensionally in that time, today’s .38 Special is a mild recoiling, low-pressure round that enjoys a very healthy following. Any complaints? Here are 7 .38 Special guns that are good for concealed carry revolvers and other uses, including target shooting, home defense and so on. A .38 Special Goes Great In An Ankle Holster As A Backup Gun Even with modern powders and strong revolvers rated for +P ammunition, the cartridge is right on the ragged edge of performance. The revolver features a great construction of stainless steel with matte finish. Charter Arms Off Duty The five-shot .38 Special is one of the most popular concealed-carry handguns of all time, and the Charter Arms Off Duty typifies this category. The FTX bullet produces rapid expansion and limited penetration. Handguns are, in general, a poor choice for home defense. The Off Duty has a lightweight aluminum frame with a tough steel barrel and cylinder. For some, the biggest selling point should be … The Smith & Wesson Model 642 .38 Special will certainly stand out as one of the top concealed carry revolvers for a woman. The .357 is one of the most versatile guns ever, shooting .38 special, .38 special +p, or .357 magnum loads. The ammunition costs of the .45LC and the cost of the pistol outweigh (for me) the benefit, as you can buy "birdshot" rounds for the .38/.357, and the .38 and .357 ammo is far cheaper than the .45LC, as well as being more readily available. Basically, we would all be better off if we spent more time at the range practicing than trying to find the best caliber for self-defense. The .38 Special is one of the best revolver cartridges ever made. However, it’s ideal for self and home defense as well. For example, many revolvers chamber the .38 special, which can be bought fairly cheaply but perform well. Revolvers are somewhat slower to reload, but reloading reliably under stress is a much bigger concern. If the only option is +P rounds, get a .357 in the first place. ... A modern home-defense handgun will either come in .38 Special or .357 Magnum calibers, and … Smith & Wesson is arguably the best revolver brand. The .38 spl was a substantial improvement over .38 S&W but it still wanders along at relatively low velocity, when compared to more modern cartridges that were designed for smokeless powder. The .38 Special cartridge is more relevant today than any other time in history. One advantage to buying a .357 revolver is that the owner can use .38 special, .38 special +P, or .357 magnum rounds, as the gun accepts and safely fires all of them. It has undergone numerous improvements to offer great usability. Common choices are .38 Special (also available in a slightly stronger “+P” variety), .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .45 Long Colt. Ruger SP101 This compact five-shot revolver, officially known as Model 5737, is rated for .38 Special +P ammo and sports a 2.25-inch barrel. The rounds I recommend most for hunting include… Best .357 Magnum Hunting Rounds. The 110-grain Hornady Critical Defense FTX load averaged just over 900 fps. and under I have used a .38 Special revolver. Misfires… When you misfire a revolver, the next shot … I would use a bullet weight of 158 Grains in a .38 Special +P cartridge. A modern home-defense handgun will either come in .38 Special or .357 Magnum calibers, and guns chambered in the latter can fire both calibers of … The 38 special caliber was the dominant choice among police officers for decades, which is a testament to its defensive power. Ultimately, throughout the lifetime of your revolver, you could save a lot of money on ammo. It offered the most desirable results while testing the LCR for home defense. Specifically, the cap and ball variety. One interesting thing to think about when it comes to comparing handgun calibers is the concept of caliber conversion.For this particular comparison, the possibility of buying a handgun that can be converted to shoot a totally different caliber is another thing that makes choosing the 9mm over the .38 Special more appealing. Best 38 Special Ammo For Home Defense. That way I can carry .38 Smith & Wesson, .38 Short Colt, .38 Special … Many people tend to poo-poo .38 Special (standard pressure) for self-defense as being somehow “underpowered”. To help you find the best .38 Special ammo for self defense, we conducted a variety of tests as part of these independent self-defense ammo tests.Today, we focus on 38 special and how we can help you find the best .38 Special ammo for self defense. This handgun can shoot both the very potent defensive around the .357 Magnum and the easy to handle .38 Special. Plenty of components for handloading are available, so there aren't any concerns there. Ruger GP100: Ruger’s flagship .357 Magnum revolver would be my top recommendation for a home defense revolver from current production offerings. If you’re looking for a revolver that can do double-duty as a carry gun and as a strong home defense gun, you should definitely check this one out. Federal Law Enforcement 38 Special +P 158gr. If you want to get started with wheelguns, these are the best points of entry. Fact is the .38 special is a perfectly good round for self defense in a revolver without trying to turn it into a .357 magnum. This revolver is on a very short list of revolvers I regularly employ for self-defense. Since buying conventional cartridge firearms is difficult at best right now, have you thought about buying a black powder revolver for self-defense? The PMC .357 Magnum 158 Grain JSP. For the most part of it, you should find the manufacturing done quite well. The parts will easily fit together without much of a hassle. Is A Semi-Automatic Handgun Or Revolver The Best For Home Defense? We’re talking about the cowboy action guns, meaning those chambered in .38 Special, .44-40, .44 Special … Flexibility in concealment and body placement—along with its reliability—also makes the petite .38 Special revolver among the best backup guns ever set in cold steel. This 357 magnum and 38 revolver from S&W has been on the market since 1899. Dual-caliber Revolver vs. Convertible Semi-auto.