Author Topic: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?  (Read 2919 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline glockman55

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 154
  • Gender: Male
Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« on: February 24, 2008, 12:13:13 PM »
Glock 23  http://obamaclock.org/
Sig. Ultra Compact 1911
Sig. P-232
Sig. P-238

Offline S.S.

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2840
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« Reply #1 on: February 24, 2008, 02:50:09 PM »
.38 is plenty if properly placed..
looked like she placed it properly !
Vir prudens non contra ventum mingit
"A wise man does not pee against the wind".

Offline gila_dog

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 44
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« 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.

Offline Doublebass73

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (46)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4579
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« 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.
"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."

---- William Pitt (the Younger), Speech in the House of Commons, November 18, 1783

Offline canon6

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (119)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1508
  • Gender: Male
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« Reply #4 on: February 25, 2008, 07:03:25 AM »
YES,   Doug
a armed man is his own master

Offline Down South

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 24
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« 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.

Offline Win 73

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 125
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« 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.
"When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace."  Luke 11:21

Offline Turk

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 187
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« Reply #7 on: March 04, 2008, 02:12:55 AM »
The Miami FBI shoot out was finally stopped by a 38 Spec.

Turk
In God I trust all others bring data.
If you know you're going to a gunfight take a rifle.
Life Member 1/50th Infantry Association (Vietnam)
Member of the 173rd Airborne Association
Life member NRA & ORPA

Offline rockbilly

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3367
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« 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.

Offline Turk

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 187
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« 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
In God I trust all others bring data.
If you know you're going to a gunfight take a rifle.
Life Member 1/50th Infantry Association (Vietnam)
Member of the 173rd Airborne Association
Life member NRA & ORPA

Offline gundownunder

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 15
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« 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).

Offline slim rem 7

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2028
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« Reply #11 on: March 28, 2008, 06:00:25 AM »
  these new protection rds make a 38  a real bad stopper in my opinion..

Offline kmystry

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 52
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« 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.

Offline Horsefeathers

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 124
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« 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...

Offline One Eye

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 139
  • Gender: Male
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« Reply #14 on: September 06, 2008, 02:11:19 PM »
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
"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have." ~ Thomas Jefferson

Offline slim rem 7

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2028
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« 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..

Offline fatoldfool

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 43
  • Gender: Male
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« 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.
Will Rogers said, " If dogs don't go to heaven, when I die I want to go where they go."

Offline federali

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 71
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« 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.

Offline SHOOTALL

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 23836
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« 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 .
If ya can see it ya can hit it !

Offline Swampman

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (44)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 16518
  • Gender: Male
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« Reply #19 on: September 16, 2008, 08:35:06 AM »
It's all I use.  I have 2 of them.
"Brother, you say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agreed, as you can all read the Book?" Sogoyewapha, "Red Jacket" - Senaca

1st Special Operations Wing 1975-1983
919th Special Operations Wing  1983-1985 1993-1994

"Manus haec inimica tyrannis / Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem" ~Algernon Sidney~

Offline SHOOTALL

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 23836
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« Reply #20 on: September 16, 2008, 08:59:46 AM »
2nd. gun now that's a fast reload !
If ya can see it ya can hit it !

Offline jsoukup

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 154
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« Reply #21 on: September 16, 2008, 12:37:16 PM »
158gr Lead Round Nose 38 special = Widowmaker

Offline kevthebassman

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 979
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« Reply #22 on: September 16, 2008, 01:48:20 PM »
I sure hope it's big enough, I like mine.

Offline SHOOTALL

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 23836
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« 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 !
If ya can see it ya can hit it !

Offline DC

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 285
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« 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!
Dana
Ruger M77 243, Browning B2000, Ruger 22's, Ruger Red Hawk, SBlackhawk, Savage 223 Target...about 20+rifles less than I used to have. :-(

Offline wyohandi

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 158
  • Gender: Male
  • NE Wyoming
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« Reply #25 on: September 27, 2008, 11:17:51 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.

Offline Mike Britton

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 378
  • Gender: Male
Re: Is a .38 big enough for self defence?
« Reply #26 on: September 27, 2008, 02:16:47 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.
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf"   George Orwell
Life member NRA, Life member TSRA
Crabby conservative old fart