Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 38 Special- Curious

WM 60+ Seeks Contentment with a warm gun. 38SPL-Curious.

. . . but seriously folks. I've owned a 357 magnum for. . .well, since Reagan's 1st term at least. For a good part of that time, I shot 38 SPL just because it was cheaper. Over the years, I amassed quite a bit of brass. In 2000, I got into reloading, and one of my first projects was loading 357 mag brass with 38 SPL loads, and that has continued until this day. On top of that, my #2 son has a 357 MAG and he's carried on the family tradition. He gives me all his brass, so I now have scads of the stuff.

With all the 38 SPL brass, I'm wondering if it is not time (after 40 years) to start contemplating an actual 38 SPL revolver. This revolver would probably be used mostly for punching paper. Adjustable sights would be a plus. I've got big Johnny Bench-type hands.

Any ideas?

....paper punching with a dedicated .38 Special.... Look for an older S&W Model 14.

I have 6 inch K model that was carried by a Colorado trooper. Every chick that I ever taught to shoot claimed it as their own, and I have to frisk family members to make sure they don't try to sneak off with it. It is simply a joy to shoot.

Get yourself a pre-82 S&W Combat Masterpiece or a Target Masterpiece. Both great range guns that could, of course, serve double duty as defensive arms.

The only .38 I bother with anymore is strictly for coat pocket carry on cold winter night walks, i.e., a J-Frame snubbie.

Just adding a tenor note to the choir.

S&W Model 14 with target grips is your huckleberry. If you want to get fancy look for one with the "three t's" - target trigger, target hammer and target grips. If you want a 4" barrel for some reason then S&W calls that the Model 15.

Yes, some of the finest actions and guns ever made by S&W

I agree with getting a K38. Stocks are Herrett's Troopers.
Bob

Perfection of the revolver!

S&W 64 or 67 or their blued versions. Generally the fixed sights are dead nuts. No finer range gun/plinker than a 64 but seeing that you like the adj sights then get the combat masterpiece.

I will join the K-38 chorus, although the only thing wrong with a Colt Officer's Model Match .38 is that they are now just too expensive. I like the later ones from the late 1940s and 1950s (better stocks and sights than the prewar ones, IMO). Unfortunately they usually cost nearly twice as much as a comparable K-gun.

Here's an offbeat suggestion--how about a S&W M52?

Now this is downright fascinating.

I had no idea that there was such a dearth of revolvers out there that didn't have adjustable sights-- at least compared to 357 Mag. Ya all have educated me.

A quick perusal of Gunbroker proved it-- GOBS of 357 Mag revolvers, new and used, with all sorts of configurations. 38 Spl? Very few models without fixed sights and moderate to long barrels.

I'm beginning to think I might just amend my search and go with a 357 Mag pistol. It's certainly cheaper to own. Although I'll definately now keep an eye out for a suitable used S&W.

Many thanks.

Lots of old Model 10's out there as well for considerably less. And they shoot very well too.

Question: Why? Seriously. I have three .38s and a .357. Two of the .38s are snubbies, a S&W M-36 and a Charter Arms Undercover, and one is a 4" barrel Taurus that was my father's. My .357 is a S&W M-19 4.25". I shoot all of them on occasion, but by far the M-19 the most, and usually with .38s in it. I carry .357s in it for "business" loads. Unless you are wanting to go to a smaller frame, such as a J frame S&W, or you find a really good deal on a .38, why buy one? The .357 of the same size category, as you know, does the exact same thing as a .38 and gives you the option of also using magnum loaded cartridges. A .357 is just a long .38 that can handle higher pressures. I mean, you know that. You have one. Now....If you are looking for an excuse to get a new gun, by all means do so. And, if you really just want something that is officially a .38 only, by all means go for it. That's the best reason I know of, right after needing one, is because you just want one. Enjoy whichever way you go with this.

Shaman: I am going to be a "little" different in my recommendation - based on my own useages over the last several decades.
I would buy either a Smith & Wesson Model 66 with 6" barrel or a Smith & Wesson Model 686 with 6" barrel!
I have shot countless paper targets using 38 Special ammunition with both these models along with some Varmints, predators, Grouse and small game.
Relish the mass and barrel length in improved accuracy and enjoy the longevity and lack of wear on the pistol when using either model I have recommended and 38 Special ammo.
And if the need be for you to sell said pistol the "versatility" of the 357/38 combo will speed up and enhance your sale.
Best of luck to you with whichever you choose.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I agree with VarmintGuy. I have probably shot more 38 sp loads in .357 cases in my 686 .357 mag than I have .357 loads.

Years ago when.357 brass was harder to come buy, (more expensive ) I amassed lot of 38 sp from range pickups at bullseye target matches. .The other day I weighed it and I have about 2200 rounds. I don't have a 38 sp handgun except my wife's Lady Smith, but I have three each.357 magnums . Now I have more than that in.357 brass so I have no use for the 38 brass.

I usually load 4.5 grs of Universal Clays or W231, with a 158 gr cast bullet.The Clays, I found to be a lot cleaner burning, but I came upon an 8 pound jug of W231 for free and you can load a LOT of rounds at 4.5 grains with f 8 pounds of powder.

That's kind of how I'm netting out on this too.


It certainly was a question worth asking.

Thanks all.

Some of my first handloads ever, were using the Speer Swaged SWC (158) over 4.0 231 powder. I loaded a helluva lot of that stuff, it was safe in my honkin' heavy M28 Smith, and my buddy's little 36 square butt snubby.


One day, just for fun, we shot at some "beverage cans" at 100 yards. After two shots with his snubby, I hit the next three shots. Pete was agog at that. I don't think he ever trusted that thing again. He didn't shoot it nearly as well as I was doing with it. The .38 Special certainly IS special, even the little Rossi 3" snubby I have now. I've hit prairie dogs with it at 45 yards, which is pretty good for a cheap little roscoe.

Find yourself a nice 4 inch model 15 or 6 inch model 14 Smith. You will enjoy every minute.

In case anyone is confused, the Models 15 and 14 are also called the Combat Masterpiece and the Target Masterpiece.