Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Does anyone shoot a 38 special?

Kind of old school, I know. I used them years ago along with a 9mm. I think I need to scratch an itch. 38s are harder to come by, and I was looking around for either a Model 64 or maybe a Ruger SP 101 in 357.

I also saw a Charter Arms Police Bulldog. I googled this, but there isn't much info on this particular model. There is also the problem of which era Charter Arms revolver is owned and reviewed.

I was wondering about this latest generation of CA products. Can anyone provide some up to date info about their newly manufactured guns, or the Police Bulldog in particular?

Easily my favorite and most used handgun cartridge. I have at least half a dozen revolvers so chambered in easy reach at any given time.

I’d pass on by all the CA, Taurus, Rossi type low priced offerings and hold out for a Ruger at minimum but ideally an S&W. If money is an issue M10s with finish issues are still relatively inexpensive and I’d much rather one of them than a new cheap gun.

Don’t you Canades have to have a 4.2 inch barrel or something silly like that to be legal? If so the M10 was made with 5” and 6” barrels but a K38 or M15 will likely be an easier find and they were 6” and 8 3/8”.

Put 4.5-5.5gr Unique over any old primer and cork it with a 150-170gr SWC.I’m especially fond of the RCBS 38-150KT SWC but there are lots that will work just as well. You’ll be ready to handle about anything that can be handled with a 38.

My favorite fun cartridge have a K38 and several others to play with

Had a 638-3 in my pocket today!!

A K-frame S&W with a 5" or 6" barrel would do you very well.

Yes. I have a lever action carbine and a few revolvers chambered for 357 Mag / 38 Spl -
They have almost exclusively fired only the 38 Special round:

Marlin 1894C carbine. Dan Wesson M 15-2 revolver, S&W M 19-3 revolver,
My only dedicated 38 Spl only, handgun is a Ruger LCR -X, with 3" barrel.

At one time, the .38 Spl was my favorite round. I just enjoyed shooting
the .38 Special revolvers more than my 9MM semi-auto pistols

For the ultimate 38SPL option & not a wheel gun.

A S&W Mdl 52 shoots well w/ flush seated 148 DEWC's.

S&W would be my only consideration for a wheel gun of which I have several S&W 38/357's.

I have a S&W model 67 (I think) no dash that used to be my favorite pistol to shoot, until I got a S&W .44 special. Now the .38 rides in my truck most of the time and rarely gets shot. I need to fix that. miles

Don't forget the Colt Diamondback.

Get a 586 S&W or a Model 28 S&W and know what its like to shoot in Heaven



Hank

Does anyone shoot a 38 special?

Doesn't everyone? Every red blooded gun owner should own at least a few guns so chambered

Of course. I have several .38 Special revolvers, and shoot .38 quite a lot.

The last one I shot was my Colt Official Police. Before that, my S&W Combat Masterpiece.

there is a S&W 442 in my front pocket as we speak

My .357's are really just 38's that require a little more cylinder cleaning.

In order of numbers of rounds through handguns for me it's 22's, then 9mm's, then 38's....and the 38's are not that far behind the 9mm's.

I have, and use 4 different Smiths. On occasion "The Warden" lets me shoot hers.
2 - M 10's, 2- M 37's, and 1 M 12.

I have a Charter Arms 2" 38 splc. not sure of manufactory date as I bought it used.
Accurate but has a heavy rough trigger. The trigger is the only negative in my opinion

I might shoot some wuss .357 once in a while but no
38 spcl.

Just one case to stock.

I did many moons ago have a Smith 60 but only shot factory +p in it.

Have only one revolver now 6" .357. Hunting gun, dont really target shoot.

A K-38 is a great shooter, my favorite revolver of all the S&W centerfires. My son found a really nice one (appeared unfired ) with grips numbered to the gun and the original box last year, just a sweet handgun.

I appreciate all the inputs. Money isn't a problem. Availability is. Being in Canada and with COVID ongoing, there is a supply problem. We all know about the problems with getting stuff from manufacturers. I owned a 6 inch barreled 686 for about 8 or 10 years, but I got rid of it because it was awkward. I tried a couple of grips, but it was actually the barrel. It felt like I was holding a toilet plunger.

I liked the Model 64 and used one for several years. It had a 4 inch barrel, which handled and holstered nice. I still have the leather holster for it. Canada has a 4.2 inch minimum barrel length for civilian use, so that would be the smallest. It should fit in my old holster.



I see that there are several Model 66s available here. They would fill the bill for size and heft and are a K frame. I am familiar with S&W having been an armourer.

I was curious about the latest CA revolvers. The one thing about the Internets is you have to be very careful which information you accept. Case in point is with Charter Arms.

Here’s my 38 Special. A gun show find this spring. I have a few 357s that see ten times as much 38 Special ammo as 357 shot through them. This is my only dedicated 38 Special. I’ve not had a chance to shoot it much yet.