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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 10,840
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 10,840 |
US Secret Service carried .38's into the '60's...then went to the .357, does anybody know why that decision was made? Ballistics?
FUGK CCP
It’s time to WAKE UP GOD BLESS THE USA WWG1WGA THERE ARE NO COINCIDENCES
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 14,039
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 14,039 |
my wife carries that gun in 357 only dao. i wouldn't want to get on her hit list.
the consolidation of the states into one vast republic, sure to be aggressive abroad and despotic at home, will be the certain precursor of that ruin which has overwhelmed all those that have preceded. Robert E Lee ~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,197
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,197 |
NYC law enforcement found a Key ingredient into one shot stops in the 30's with a 190g and 200g SWC loaded to +P velocities in the 700-800 fps, all that heavy Winter Clothing took a heavy bullet.
My brother in law was with LAPD, shot a guy five times in the chest with his 38 duty weapon, and the guy kept coming, partner had to dispatch the guy with a shot gun. A good friend was with Atlanta Police, first day on the job. He had to shoot a bank robber 6 times with his 38, and he survived.
Bullets have dramatically improved since this time, but nothing trumps shot placement.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,531
Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,531 |
I've carried lots of double action .38 Special revolvers over these past 40 years. Nothing wrong with it, assuming you know how to shoot a double action revolver well. Six rounds will cover the vast majority of situations in which you will need to draw a gun to save your life, and well placed .38 Specials will do the job in most cases. It's the minority of situations that I worry about, though, and why I like to carry a double stack 9mm instead, nowadays.
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Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 4,367
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 4,367 |
My 12 ounce loaded S&W 337PD is my most often carried piece because it is a whole bunch lighter than anything else that I have. I don’t put myself into dangerous enough situations to warrant packing too much else. The wife has never operated anything but a cap pistol and could work that little .38 Special if the need arose. Snake shot goes into it for southern snake country woods walking
My other auto is a .45
The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,045
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,045 |
I don't carry a revolver nowadays for CCW, but I have a couple DA 357 revolvers (Security Six, and LCRx). I will always have a special place in my heart for a 38 Special. That is what we carried back in my days as an Embassy Guard. '82-'83, Ruger Service Six with 130gr ball (Brazzaville) '83-'85, S&W Model 10 with 130gr ball (San Salvador) '92-'93, S&W Model 19 with 125gr Nyclad HP 38Spl+P(Frankfurt) '93-'95 S&W Model 19 with 125gr Nyclad HP 38Spl+P(Zagreb). Here's an old pic of yours truly, with the Model 10, down in El Salvador, 1984. That's back when I was young, dumb, and hard as woodpecker lips.....grin
Last edited by MontanaMarine; 09/28/20.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,674
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,674 |
MM, why the .38 revolver and not the 1911 .45 or Beretta 9mm?
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,177
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,177 |
I take a .38 Chiefs Special with me when I carry, which is rare. Since I'm not enrolled in the spray and pray crowd, I think the 5 rounds will suffice, however, just in case, a speed loader is not far from hand. Additionally, I think that even though malfunctions may be rare in the autoloaders, it is even rarer in a revolver. Phil
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,045
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,045 |
MM, why the .38 revolver and not the 1911 .45 or Beretta 9mm? It's kind of strange, but the State Department supplied the firearms/ammo. I don't know if that is still the case or not.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,674
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,674 |
Yeah, seems odd and doesn't make sense. Welcome to working for Uncle Sam, right?
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,045
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,045 |
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 10,790
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 10,790 |
I always felt a J frame or SP101 with 158 grain +P LSWHP's was perfectly adequate as a CCW. Then I got my Sig 365.
Mathew 22: 37-39
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,045
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,045 |
I take a .38 Chiefs Special with me when I carry, which is rare. Since I'm not enrolled in the spray and pray crowd, I think the 5 rounds will suffice, however, just in case, a speed loader is not far from hand. Additionally, I think that even though malfunctions may be rare in the autoloaders, it is even rarer in a revolver. Phil I'm not in the spray and pray club either. I just prefer to carry the 'reload' already in the gun. I did carry a SP101 for a while, with an extra speedloader. The Glock 17 just seemed to me like a more efficient way of going about things.
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189 |
Seems like the bullet choice matters a bit more in cartridges like the 38 for self defense purposes. If picking a the right bullet and load, I think it is a great choice. My preference would be something heavy and easily deformed, like a backward hollow-based 150gr wadcutter, or some version of a soft SWC-HP at 150-160 grains. I suppose some of the newer short-barrel Gold Dots at 135 grains would be a good choice, too, because of their thin jacket and bonded core.
I am more in the semi-auto camp though. There are flaws with autos, but they can be mitigated by tailoring the ammo to the gun so that functionality is as close to 100% as one can get. And because of the higher operating pressure, 9mm will trump 38 Special in power in same barrel length every time. That's never a detriment, and both are hard to shoot in small guns without practice.
I belong on eroding granite, among the pines.
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,045
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,045 |
If I was carrying a 38Spl today, I'd really like the OP's Taurus for the shootable size, 6 rounds, tritium fixed sight, round-butt Hogue grip, and the 3-inch barrel that generally takes velocity into the range of expansion. I might just opt for the 'FBI Load'. Soft 158gr lead SWCHP, at +P.
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 17,259
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 17,259 |
Yup SW 637 airlight with extreme cavitators.
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 79,321
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 79,321 |
I like revolvers. They're my favorite handguns. I have a few old S&Ws, Colts, and Rugers that I enjoy.
But for CCW I go with an autoloader. I don't really feel any pride of ownership in the autoloaders like I do the revolvers. To me, the autos are just appliances. But their high capacity, light weight, flat profile, and quick reloads make them superior to revolvers for a CCW in my opinion.
My LCP in a Desantis pocket holster is my second wallet. Other times I carry a Kahr CT-9 in an IWB holster.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,525
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,525 |
I like revolvers. They're my favorite handguns. I have a few old S&Ws, Colts, and Rugers that I enjoy.
But for CCW I go with an autoloader. I don't really feel any pride of ownership in the autoloaders like I do the revolvers. To me, the autos are just appliances. But their high capacity, light weight, flat profile, and quick reloads make them superior to revolvers for a CCW in my opinion.
My LCP in a Desantis pocket holster is my second wallet. Other times I carry a Kahr CT-9 in an IWB holster. Question, you like revolvers but your carry guns are a LCP (have one too) and a Kahr 9.... but neither of those are considered high capacity. Why not stick with a six or 7 shot revolver?
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284 |
I don't carry a revolver nowadays for CCW, but I have a couple DA 357 revolvers (Security Six, and LCRx). I will always have a special place in my heart for a 38 Special. That is what we carried back in my days as an Embassy Guard. '82-'83, Ruger Service Six with 130gr ball (Brazzaville) '83-'85, S&W Model 10 with 130gr ball (San Salvador) '92-'93, S&W Model 19 with 125gr Nyclad HP 38Spl+P(Frankfurt) '93-'95 S&W Model 19 with 125gr Nyclad HP 38Spl+P(Zagreb). Here's an old pic of yours truly, with the Model 10, down in El Salvador, 1984. That's back when I was young, dumb, and hard as woodpecker lips.....grin Those are some awesome pics Shane. Thanks for sharing.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 37,869
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 37,869 |
A S&W 642 here.
After 25 years j-frames just feel so familiar in the hand and pack so easily in a pocket.
I woulda got the Airweight with the shrouded hammer but all they have around here recently is the 642, hidden hammer.
"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744
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