Author Topic: Is a .38 big enough for self defence? (Read 2900 times)

glockman55 · « **on:** February 24, 2008, 12:13:13 PM »

I think this woman proved it is..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSPQKwEJcn4&feature=related

S.S. · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2008, 02:50:09 PM »

.38 is plenty if properly placed..
looked like she placed it properly !

gila_dog · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2008, 03:29:11 PM »

I sure hope so. That's my wife's self defense gun (2" S&W model 36), and I carry one a lot too. I sure wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of one of them.

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2008, 06:50:01 AM »

Hundreds of thousands of police departments felt it was adequate for decades so I trust the good old .38. It's all about shot placement.

canon6 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2008, 07:03:25 AM »

YES, Doug

Down South · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2008, 12:34:01 PM »

.38's have worked for years. There is no reason that they won't now. Not to many years ago the .38 was the major round for all LEO's.

Win 73 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 03, 2008, 04:09:54 PM »

I carry a .38. It is a S&W Model 637. Those times I can't carry a gun, I carry a .32 Auto Davis Derringer.

Turk · « **Reply #7 on:** March 04, 2008, 02:12:55 AM »

The Miami FBI shoot out was finally stopped by a 38 Spec.

Turk

rockbilly · « **Reply #8 on:** March 04, 2008, 06:39:22 AM »

I won't argue the effectiveness of a .38, it has proved it worth many times, but the shoot out in Miami was not ended by a .38 alone, both perps had been hit several times with (mm and shotgun before going down. It was more a combination of shots that a single .38 shot.

Turk · « **Reply #9 on:** March 10, 2008, 02:14:42 AM »

But the reality of it was the bad guy was dead and didn't know it and was still shooting.

Turk

gundownunder · « **Reply #10 on:** March 11, 2008, 03:49:07 PM »

Wild Bill Hickok carried a .36 navy revolver (same caliber as the 38)
Ned Kelly carried a .36 navy revolver (as well as a .32)
Jack Ruby killed Lee Harvey Oswald with a single gut shot from a .38
Mark Chapman killed John Lennon with a .38

Yes its enough gun
Whether you blow his brains out or his guts out or make him roll around on the ground squealing like a girl,
it will get the job done if you hit any of the many right places.
And the bit I like is that even here in the Peoples Demokratik Diktatorship of Australia we can own a .38 (cant carry one but we can own one).

slim rem 7 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 28, 2008, 06:00:25 AM »

these new protection rds make a 38 a real bad stopper in my opinion..

kmystry · « **Reply #12 on:** August 03, 2008, 11:38:23 AM »

Yup. Get a copy of "In The Gravest Extreme" by Massad Ayoob. Great book...(totally funny and out of date pictures) but the data is right on in favor of .38 snubs. Very good read.

Horsefeathers · « **Reply #13 on:** August 04, 2008, 08:44:58 AM »

Shot placement is the answer! In N.Y.C. Two police officers confronted a knife weilding man who was at the top of the stairs. they ordered him to drop the knife. He charged down the stairs while the first officer put six rounds into him.But he was able to stab and kill the officer. the second officer fired the fatal shot that dropped the asailant. Dont be over confidant whith any firearm Horsefeathers...

One Eye · « **Reply #14 on:** September 06, 2008, 02:11:19 PM »

Quote from: Horsefeathers on August 04, 2008, 08:44:58 AM

Shot placement is the answer! In N.Y.C. Two police officers confronted a knife weilding man who was at the top of the stairs. they ordered him to drop the knife. He charged down the stairs while the first officer put six rounds into him.But he was able to stab and kill the officer. the second officer fired the fatal shot that dropped the asailant. Dont be over confidant whith any firearm Horsefeathers...

Perhaps those officers should have spent a little more time on the range.
Dan

slim rem 7 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 16, 2008, 03:14:46 AM »

theys people thats just mentally set so they hard to stop..
but place the shot right and nobody will walk thru the 38..

fatoldfool · « **Reply #16 on:** September 16, 2008, 07:08:37 AM »

I have always considered a .38 adequate. It was the BOP sidearm until the late 80's. The one instance I know of where it was not adequate was a huge, heavily muscled man who loved to fight. He took 5 shots in the chest (old standard lead bullets) and still broke the jaw of the shooter. They say he died with his hands around the shooter's neck. We know he was drinking heavily when it happened.

federali · « **Reply #17 on:** September 16, 2008, 08:01:35 AM »

Much of the 38's bad reputation was earned using 158 grain, standard velocity, round nose lead ammunition. Citing examples of people shot with a .38 and who eventually died does not have any relevance to the argument as the reason for shooting someone is to achieve immediate incapacitation. Advances in bullet design and propellents have done much to make all handgun ammo much more effective than it was as little as 20 years ago.

While 2" guns are wonderful for concealed carry, the homeowner is better off with a 3" or 4" barrel as they benefit from higher velocity and can be fired more accurately by marginally trained individuals.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #18 on:** September 16, 2008, 08:33:40 AM »

Just ask yourself this - would i want to be shot with a .38 speical , WHY ?
Most will ansewer h--- no cause it could kill me !
See how easy it is to figure it out yourself .

Swampman · « **Reply #19 on:** September 16, 2008, 08:35:06 AM »

It's all I use. I have 2 of them.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #20 on:** September 16, 2008, 08:59:46 AM »

2nd. gun now that's a fast reload !

jsoukup · « **Reply #21 on:** September 16, 2008, 12:37:16 PM »

158gr Lead Round Nose 38 special = Widowmaker

kevthebassman · « **Reply #22 on:** September 16, 2008, 01:48:20 PM »

I sure hope it's big enough, I like mine.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #23 on:** September 18, 2008, 01:22:54 AM »

Like any tool , its the operator that really makes the quality of effectiveness . So a hit in the heart with a .38 spl. is better than a miss with a .50 BMG . And the .38 is easier to tote !

DC · « **Reply #24 on:** September 22, 2008, 01:44:41 PM »

I think if you check on the ballistics and the stopping coeficients, a 128 gr or there abouts +P is right up there with 357s. It will do the job!

wyohandi · « **Reply #25 on:** September 27, 2008, 11:17:51 AM »

Quote from: SHOOTALL on September 16, 2008, 08:33:40 AM

Just ask yourself this - would i want to be shot with a .38 speical , WHY ?
Most will ansewer h--- no cause it could kill me !
See how easy it is to figure it out yourself .
[
Quote
/quote]

Have to agree 100%
But I wouldn't bet on any carry gun stopping anyone RIGHT NOW unless
CNS is hit. If I have to shoot I shoot til the threat is no longer a threat.
Rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6.

Mike Britton · « **Reply #26 on:** September 27, 2008, 02:16:47 PM »

Quote from: gila_dog on February 24, 2008, 03:29:11 PM

I sure hope so. That's my wife's self defense gun (2" S&W model 36), and I carry one a lot too. I sure wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of one of them.

Hell, I wouldn't want to be on the wrong end of a .25 auto !! Maybe that's why we don't go 'round robbin' people, we're smart enough to think we might get shot at.