? Was if 357 then why 38 ?

[DirtyDan]

Hey all

 In a previous post I was asked why 38 not 357. Well...... short answer is I/we (my family) doesn't need it. For target/fun it's not needed for self defense it's "too much".

If I have to shoot it would probably be very close n very dark. Recoil noise blast n penetration, 357 has too much. In a dark room one can be blinded n deafened by the blast. More chance of over penetration. Less accurate (mom more then I but both of us) mom did good with .38 one shot and she did not like 357.

I figure if it's been working for the police for...... ever then it's good enough for me.

So yeah if I need to shoot through an engine block I could go 357 with the 6 inch barrel

The 38 would probably stop the motor/car regardless of barrel length. Assuming one hits

My 2  cents

Dan

[Psychotic Bovine]

.357 would do little more than chip the paint of an engine block.

[DirtyDan]

.357 would do little more than chip the paint of an engine block.

Yes "through an engine block" is an expression. To me a more important question would be how functional would the car be if struck (engine area) by a 38 or 357 ?

[Psychotic Bovine]

like most things, depends on where it gets hit, I imagine.

[rocketray]

I'm with Dan...I bought my brother a .357 w/6 inch barrel--awesome gun but a bit too much for carry.....and yes I have a .308 pistol..it is ....a closet queen

[Serk]

and yes I have a .308 pistol..it is ....a closet queen

That would be one hell of a pistol...

(And yes, I knew what you meant...  )

[phideux]

If you want a 38 get one, if you want a 357/380/45/9mm/10mm/22/40/etc, get one. If you are looking for a "protect your life and loved ones" kind of gun, I always say to get the biggest caliber you can safely and reliably handle. In a self defense situation bigger holes are always better than little holes, but little holes in the right spot are better than big holes in a bad spot. A hit with a 22 is better than a miss with a 45 kind of thing.
If the 357 is a little to much for you to shoot accurately, go with the 38. Placed in the right spots those 0.38in holes can leak out pretty good.

[Pete]

Holes are .357 or .358 usually depending on manufacture and bullet type it was never a true .38.
Just fyi.

[Robert]

Didn't read the other post so maybe I am just repeating someone.

If you buy a 357 you can use 38's but you cannot use 357 in a 38 so that is maybe that is why everyone is asking why not buy a 357. They make many good 357 carries and since the frame and barrel are made for the hotter caliber then they hold up better. There is another option also if you buy a 357 you can buy 357 ammo that is not as hot or reload yourself to a 38 load. So you would have the best of both worlds especially in a 6 inch barrel.  But unless I wanted the smallest lightest carry possible I would buy the 357 since its nice to have the options of different ammo when you may not be able to get one or the other. No difference in price, no real weight difference, so why not the 357 ?

Even if you dont see a need for a 357 the double use with no down sides seems kind of logical. Not to mention even if you use 38 its kind of fun to put a few 357's through it. 

[Hooter]

What Robert said about the exchange of rounds is right. A 357 will shoot through a car, even through the dash or windshield. A 357 will go through the rear window and through the drivers seat. A 357 spear round will penetrate an engine block.

In regards to the 38. It will do none of the above as efficiently.  Wheel guns in LE are pretty much non existent in law enforcement.

[MarkT]

What Robert said about the exchange of rounds is right. A 357 will shoot through a car, even through the dash or windshield. A 357 will go through the rear window and through the drivers seat. A 357 spear round will penetrate an engine block.

In regards to the 38. It will do none of the above as efficiently.  Wheel guns in LE are pretty much non existent in law enforcement.

.357mag used to be very prevalent in LE until they got supplanted by the higher firepower autoloaders largely thx to Glock - esp .40S&W. In 4"+ barrels they still hit much harder than anything carried by LEO's in autos. I think it's a great gun for carry, particularly J frames with green laser grips - carry 2 of them. Use 38's if you are concerned with overpenetrating.  I'm not - with 2" Detective Special snubbies .357 compares to .38's ballistically and I'm OK with a loud blast and flames in a defensive scenario. So small, very easy and comfy to carry in most any season / clothing. Hard to name any full size auto that you can easily conceal all the time. I used to pick the gun by what I had to wear to conceal it.  No more.

[Gavin_Sons]

Guess my 44 mag is too much power for some  I regularly carry my 380 glock 42 because it os so easy to conceal. Rarely carry my springfield xdm unless in a bad neighborhood. Sometimes ill carry my 44 snub in a shoulder holster alomg with my 380 iwb. Mostly just the 380. Most self defense shootings are within 5 feet. A 380 is deadly through clothing at 20 feet. I trust my life to my 380 most every day. Having something that goes bang is better than having nothing. 

[klb]

Got curious reading this thread and looked up the effectiveness by caliber and was surprised when I came across this chart.
Guess bigger is not always better.

[Robert]

Gavin = Dirty Harry 


As for the chart I would be a bit surprised in some of those stats, since it states the 380 is a better stopper than the 9MM.

I wish you could find one that lists the 10MM I used to have a Glock chambered for that round. To me it was the best of both worlds. Enough stopping power, easy to shoot a little heavy to holster or wear plain clothes but a really cool gun.

[Pete]

Long term shooting of 38 SPL in a 357 Mag chambered gun can lead to a ring of crude in the chamber, if not cleaner properly.

The ring is at the 38 SPL case end in the chamber for about 1/10 inch.

The ring can prevent 357 ammo from loading completely and if forced in can be difficult to extract.

If you do it you will see it and it can be a bit$h to clean out.

[Pete]

The chart has been around for a long time and has been debated up and down.
It is statistics and is not indicative of KILLING power, just a measure of shots til the fight was labeled stopped.

[rocketray]

move to west of  Ft worth ,Tx --Weatherford -and don't worry about it

[Robert]

454 Casull Ballistics Chart
Round    Type    Weight    Muzzle Energy ft·lb    Muzzle Velocity ft/sec.
454 Casull    JFN    300                     1813                      1650

460 Magnum Ballistics Chart
Round          Type    Weight    Muzzle Energy ft·lb    Muzzle Velocity ft/sec.
460 Magnum    JFN    300                       2826                    2060


For those that need a little more than the 44 magnum 

[fudgie]

Aint handguns just needed till you can get to your rifle? 

[Hooter]

MarkT, , my backup gun when I was a LEO was a 38 hammerless carried in a shoulder holster under my uinform shirt. No one could ever detect it. My main carry back then as a service revolver was a model 28 Smith 6 inch.

At the end of my career I was carrying  a 40 Glock. IMHO, a good weapon.  But, my backup still remained my hammerless 38 even though there were a bunch of better guns to carry. My off duty gun was a 380, and I still have my model 28 Smith 357. I will never get rid of any of them.

I also have a model 29 Smith 44 mag with a 6 inch barrel.  That is one sweet weapon, but not for everyone.  Guns are like oil, everyone has an opinion about what they like. To each his own. I did ballistics testing for years for the department and recommended type, caliber use for the department.  I shot everything from garbage cans, through walls and vehicles. Different rounds through any guns provide different results. That's why homework is important, to include shooting a certain gun before purchase is important.

[Robert]

MarkT, , my backup gun when I was a LEO was a 38 hammerless carried in a shoulder holster under my uinform shirt.

Was that in alloy or steel? I had one in alloy that was like a feather with an ankle holster. I think if memory serves me correctly it was a 5 shot not 6. I think it was a pre Model 42 Centennial Airweight with a worked action.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Aint handguns just needed till you can get to your rifle? 

That's the way I see it.

[Valker]

Aint handguns just needed till you can get to your rifle? 

That's the way I see it.

...and the rifle to get you to your tank, and the tank to get you to your fighter jet.....well, in a world of justice!

[Hooter]

MarkT, , my backup gun when I was a LEO was a 38 hammerless carried in a shoulder holster under my uinform shirt.

Was that in alloy or steel? I had one in alloy that was like a feather with an ankle holster. I think if memory serves me correctly it was a 5 shot not 6. I think it was a pre Model 42 Centennial Airweight with a worked action.

Mine is  steel and a 5 shot. Great gun, still in the top drawer of my dresser bt my head board. I don't grab that first if I think something is going on. I grab the 12 gauge riot gun behind the bedroom door loaded with  buckshot , slug, buckshot, slug.

[signart]

The best gun to save your life is the one you have in your pocket.