[Boats]

Since the .38 Spec case was used in .44 caliber framed handguns to develop the .38-44 HV, the parent idea of the .357 Magnum revolver, I think it's safe to say that the .38 Spec. has more potential than it is routinely given credit for.

The .38-44 HV could push a 158 grain bullet at 1500+ FPS, albeit out a 8 3/8" barrel. Even cutting 50 FPS per inch to take it down to a 4" barrel makes for a 1300 FPS round. No 9x19 can push a 158 grain pill at 1300 FPS.

 

[DEADEYEGUY]

Out of a 2" barrel a .38 will get at best a little over 200 ft. lbs. of energy. That's with +P ammo. Out of a 4" barrel in the mid to high 300's ft. lbs. of energy. Load one of the J-frames made for 9mm and the really hot loads go around 1200 f.p.s.. That's snubby .357 magnum velocity out of a snub. With less recoil and muzzle blast. The 9mm in it's +P+ can get close to 500 ft. lbs. of energy from a 4" barrel.
Energy wise not even close. But some of the newer .38 loads (Speer Gold Dot 135gr.) and the old 158gr. LSWCHP do the job pretty well. I prefer the 9mm.But I often carry a 9mm or .45 with 642 loaded with the above mentioned Gold Dot. Hard to beat a j-frame as a back-up. I don't really understand why the 9mm J-frame never did better. Should something go wrong with your main 9mm you've got ammo compatibility with your main gun. Seems like a great idea.

 

[Berto]

Out of a 2" barrel a .38 will get at best a little over 200 ft. lbs. of energy. That's with +P ammo. Out of a 4" barrel in the mid to high 300's ft. lbs. of energy. Load one of the J-frames made for 9mm and the really hot loads go around 1200 f.p.s.. That's snubby .357 magnum velocity out of a snub. With less recoil and muzzle blast. The 9mm in it's +P+ can get close to 500 ft. lbs. of energy from a 4" barrel.
Energy wise not even close. But some of the newer .38 loads (Speer Gold Dot 135gr.) and the old 158gr. LSWCHP do the job pretty well. I prefer the 9mm.But I often carry a 9mm or .45 with 642 loaded with the above mentioned Gold Dot. Hard to beat a j-frame as a back-up. I don't really understand why the 9mm J-frame never did better. Should something go wrong with your main 9mm you've got ammo compatibility with your main gun. Seems like a great idea.

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=108

(379ft lbs/2" bbl, approaches 500ft lbs in a 4" )

Double Tap also loads some warm ones

http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_57&products_id=322

Corbon also loaded a 115gr .38sp +P+ that went 1400fps in a 4" and 1200fps in a 2", since discontinued.

Hot loaded .38sp gave us the .357mag, and many folks were using .38sp loaded beyond 9mm half a century ago. Since the .357mag has been available, .38sp tends to be loaded light, unless you look for the hot stuff.
Just because it's not as common, doesn't mean it don't exist.

 

[R*E]

For some reason this link doesn't work for me.

Yeah, it doesn't work right when I click on it. I cut and pasted it into a new tab and it downloaded a pdf file of the ballistics table.

<cite>www.arizonagunrunners.com/handgunballistics.pdf </cite>

 

[zackwatt]

I carry this most of the time now...

 

[Bullman]

why cant you shoot .38 spl out of a semi auto pistol?

this is usually a good cue for Bac to show us his model 52 S&W, which was a semi automatic target pistol chambered in .38 special and designed to use wadcutter ammuntion.

Generally, rimmed cartridges don't do all that well in a semi auto pistol. There are exceptions to the rule though.

 

[mboylan]

Wow I always thought the .38 was more powerful than 9mm.

The max load on a .38 Special is more powerful than the max load in a 9mm. You have to be a handloader to benefit.

 

[my762buzz]

The max load on a .38 Special is more powerful than the max load in a 9mm. You have to be a handloader to benefit.

Ok, so 115 grains @ 1415 fps is safe in a standard .38 special handgun with a 4 to 5 inch barrel?

 

[Puppy]

I feel plenty comfortable carrying a .38spl j-frame.

 

[vikingsoftpaw]

Wow I always thought the .38 was more powerful than 9mm.

If you only look at the case length, one can easily come to that conclusion. The 38 Special was conceived when black powder was still on peoples minds. It easily hold a double charge of smokeless pistol powder, bringing it to .357 Mag levels.

 

[mboylan]

Ok, so 115 grains @ 1415 fps is safe in a standard .38 special handgun with a 4 to 5 inch barrel?

Depends on the revolver. .38 is underloaded because there are alot of weak old guns out there.

There aren't many dedicated .38s with 4 or 5 inch barrels being made right now. Everything including the longer barrel 60s are .357s and can take hot .38 loads. S & W built .38s designed for really hot loads before the .357 came out in the mid-1930s. So it just depends on the gun.

 

[txpitdog]

I carry Buffalo Bore +P 158gr LSWCHP's in my 442. I remember seeing a test of these on BrassFetcher where they impacted at 950-1000fps, fully expanded, and penetrated up to 18". Yes I would rather have a fullsize 1911, but these little rounds are nasty enough that I'm comfortable only carrying the 442 when the situation dictates.

 

[muckdawg24]

Thought this page might be interesting to some:
http://www.genitron.com/Basics/Cartridges.asp?NAV=3

 

[Bren]

I saw a .38 Special Colt Gold Cup at a show this weekend. While I have seen the S&W 52's, that was the first Colt I've seen. Interesting.

 

[frank4570]

If you talk to people who are actually in gunfights from time to time you will find that people who don't want to go down when shot, will continue on with what they are doing regardless of what caliber they are shot with. A person will soak up .45s and keep going same as they will with a 9mm or a .38. What is needed is a perfect hit, or multiple hits. Something that breaks the structure, or damages the CNS is a perfect hit. Beyond that it's bleed out.