I have used everything from simple lead to the most advanced machined copper bullets and found them all to be extraordinarily easy to load and shoot. I consider the 4" barrel a good compromise for a home defense handgun. Glock - G19 G4 FS Review. 2. Loaded out with two Level IV Plates, the Tactical Plate Carrier Kit retails for $449.97. Rossi Snub Nose Revolvers. These show solid numbers . Shorter barrels offer less performance and have more kick, for example, snubbiess deliver 100FPS off of standard value, and more if it is a lighter-weight bullet. This .38 Special. The recoil of the .357 magnum out of a snub is quite excessive. Taurus 856 Executive Grade 38 Special First Look and Rounds Downrange. Image: Taurus. Ruger SP101 Introduced in the early 1990s, the Ruger SP101 was the company's dominant .38 Special-only platform for decades. The .38 Special's 129-grain bullet is an interesting weight, but it leaves the muzzle at 950 FPS and drops to 926 FPS after 25 yards. However, the 5-round wheelie has some other overlooked and highly desirable aspects. With a 9mm cartridge, this handgun is preferred by women shooters for its lightweight, simple, short design and durability. Most of the time when you think of a 38 special you are thinking of a short barrel revolver. This is hands down, the top-tier model of the J-frame Smith and Wesson revolvers .38, and its alloy frame only weighs 14.6 ounces. Smith & Wesson Model 586 Features Smith and Wesson is one of the best gun manufacturers in the market and has a very good reputation for the reliability of its guns. Advanced Search. This is a medium size DA revolver with a 4" barrel and fully adjustable sights. PERIOD 540,634 views Apr 11, 2017 I get a lot of disagreement about the power of the .38 Special, but the proof is in the footage. Review of the Best .38 Special Revolvers Home & Self-Defense Firearm Retention is an Essential Skill for Civilians Who Carry Concealed . These revolvers are purpose-made for concealed carry and have features that make them ideal for self-defense. Each of these calibers has an almost equal diameter with the 9mm measuring in at .355 inches and the .38 Special at 3.57 inches. LSWCHP. For even more info, please visit bulletsafe.com. It has a capacity of 15 rounds which can avoid any danger with great firepower. This bullet has excellent high terminal performance, ensuring maximum effectiveness with proper shot placement. A rifle chambered in .357 Magnum / 38 Special, .44 Magnum, or .45 Colt can be an excellent option for a defensive rifle. 1. If I feel more power would be needed, I would carry a .357 magnum over a +P .38 special. Overall Length: 6.31 inch. Apr 5, 2020. Here's one option: The Model 69 in .44 Magnum. The Smith and Wesson Model 638 is one of the best-selling double-action revolvers of all time for a reason. The Remington HTP .357 Magnum 110 Grain SJHP is an excellent self-defense round. A five-shot shrouded-hammer design, it combines a stainless-steel frame and cylinder with a polymer trigger group, so it weighs in at just 17 ounces. Here's the Ruger GP100 stainless steel revolver as the top, middle-of-the-road pick that most people would find suitable, strong, and easy to shoot. The K6s has the smallest cylinder on the market capable of holding 6 rounds of .357 Magnum/.38 Special. In other words, you can buy lighter loads for more pleasant target practice and some +P loads to use for personal protection and home defense. Model 638 Smith and Wesson 38 Special Revolver Colt King Corbra .357 Magnum. The LCR has won accolades for its concealability. Best gun/ammo for home defense with least over-penetrati Oh, one other . It shoots a 110-grain bullet at a muzzle velocity of 1,295 fps. Cor-Bon DPX 110 gr. I've shot full-powered .357 Magnums from it, and the controllability still ain't bad. The flat ogive cuts paper into very neat holes, making these rounds easy to score for bullseye and Police Pistol Combat shooting matches. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.c. Home & Self-Defense Firearm Retention is an Essential Skill for Civilians Who Carry Concealed . The term "38 Special" actually refers to the round a 38 caliber .357-.358 inches long. It is a very high pressure load for a .38 Special and should be used only in modern revolvers specifically rated for +P ammunition. These take the classic lead semi-wadcutter and add a cavity to the flat nose, with no copper jacketing at all on the bullet. Gun News, Gun Reviews, and Self Defense Tips. After all, each pull of the trigger is delivering an . Smith & Wesson Model 638. Now that we've reviewed the origins of the .38 Special and improved ammunition, let's take a look at some of the best .38 Special Ammunition on the market today. PolyCase ammo and copper solids deliver amazing penetration. More hook-and-loop areas and Molle straps round out a system that builds out to professional or personal security and defensive needs. Not only will a pistol caliber lever rifle produce milder recoil, the ammo tends to be cheaper and easier to find. This produces about 550-650fps from a 1 7/8" barrel and feels like shooting a very powerful .22LR. Like many other things in the firearms world, legendary gunmaker John Moses Browning created .380 ACP. The Pow'RBall bullet features a cavernous hollow nose filled with a polymer ball. The Colt King Cobra revolver is a pricey but top-tier firearm, chambered in the classic .357 Magnum cartridge that offers both significant stopping power and is common enough to find at any LGS. It offered the most desirable results while testing the LCR for home defense. Hornady XTP American Gunner. Few cartridges have the reputation of Hydra-Shoks and that's not likely to change anytime soon. Best 38 Special Ammo for Self Defense Federal +P HST Micro 130 Grain Ammo Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 135 Grain +P Ammo Winchester PDX1 Defender 130 Grain Ammo Federal Hydra-Shok 110 Grain Low Recoil Picking 38 Spl Ammo for Self Defense FBI Standards: A Reliable Gauge What should you look for in a self-defense round? Again, shootability is the most important consideration in my self-defense ammo. Winchester .38 Spl. Taurus 692. Modern ammunition has given the .38 Special more teeth. But hey, there's probably that one guy, and he deserves to know what the best 38 Special ammo for self-defense is out of his gun. Speer 135-grain Gold Dot Short Barrel This is very likely the best load commercially offered load for short-barreled .38 Special revolvers. 38 Special - +P 125 Grain SJHP - Remington HTP - 500 Rounds - Best Low Recoil 38 Special Ammo 1 Hornady - Critical Defense 38 Special Ammo - Most Versatile 38 Special Ammo Hornady has an excellent name when it comes to choice of ammunition. Both cartridges predate 9mm Luger or 45 ACP rounds. Clark Armory The old police standard was the 158-grain bullet loaded with black powder. From a 146gr squared-cylindrical "wadcutter" bullet at 600fps, the original 158gr "Police" round nosed lead, later offered in a "high-speed version" by the 1930s clocking roughly 850ft/sec, it has become and will probably remain the single best selling and widely . Federal HST .38 Special Federal took a different approach. To learn more visit FederalPremium.com. Barrel Length: 1.875 inch. One is very common in revolvers, the other in semiautomatic pistols. It shoots a 110-grain bullet at a muzzle velocity of 1,295 fps. That means that they will operate with the same reliability no matter the ammo type. Smith & Wesson Model 69. Over 20,000 rounds, I've found that there's rarely a wrong way to do .38 SPL. has always been known as an accurate cartridge and most loads produced groups under 3". This .38 Special beats the power of a 9mm, .45 ACP and .40 S. The old .38 Special isn't perfect, but one of the great things about it is the incredible range of loads that are readily . By Elwood Shelton - February 22, 2022 4 Updated 2/22/2022 Go small and reliable with these excellent snub-nose .38 Special Revolver options. The best loads for .38 Special revolvers with 4" or longer barrels: The Numero Uno .38 defense load for your 4" barrel revolver is the Cor-Bon .38 Special +P 125 grain JHP. Federal Law Enforcement 38 Special +P 158gr. . Best .357 Magnum Defensive Ammo. As a testament to its success, the J-frame line's customization is to be compatible with .22 LR, .22 Magnum®, .38 Special, and even the .357 Magnum loads. The best revolver for most people. 38 Special is most commonly used in short-barreled 'snub nose' revolvers such as the Ruger LCR and Smith & Wesson J-Frame. Any roundup of home-defense revolvers runs the risk of being overloaded in the .357/.38 category. Like the other Henry X rifles, the Henry X model .410 has excellent stopping power, reliability, and accuracy. The standard .38 Special will read ".38 Special" or ".38 Sp." and the higher pressure rated cartridge is marked with a +P added to its name. If you want versatile, casual Henry rifles, lever-action pieces like Henry X Model .410 should be at the top of your list. Federal Nyclad 125 gr. These short barrel revolvers are probably most often chambered in .38 special. My personal home defense gun is a .38 Special Colt Diamondback. I get a lot of disagreement about the power of the .38 Special, but the proof is in the footage. The ported barrel reduces muzzle rise & recoil, allowing you to regain your target quicker and put more rounds onto it if needed. Buy Yours From Our Partner Now! tactical-life.com; Magazines. Energy at the muzzle is 258 foot-pounds, dropping to 246 after 25 yards. The good news is that .38 Special revolvers are not usually ammo sensitive. tactical-life.com; Magazines. It is known in the metric world as 9×29.5mm. Hornady makes both a 110 grain JHP and a 110 gr Critical Defense in .38 special; Inceptor Preferred Defense (sold by Midway) makes a 77 grain .38 special round all of which are lighter recoiling. They're intended for target shooting, and in the case of 38 Special usually make around 650-700 feet per second. Be certain the revolver has ample grips for comfort and control. 38 Special is one of the best revolver cartridges ever made. However, the 9mm's case is approximately ⅜ inches shorter than the .38 Special. Available in four different models, the Mossberg 590S provides your choice of full-length stocks or compact Shockwave-gripped models. The .38 spl was a substantial improvement over .38 S&W but it still wanders along at relatively low velocity, when compared to more modern cartridges that were designed for smokeless powder. The good news is that .38 Special revolvers are not usually ammo sensitive. The Rossi R351 is chambered in 38 special and can handle the +P ammo. Their Critical Defense 38 Special cartridges can be used in either a .38 Special or .357 Magnum revolver. Dec 10, 2019. It is better than a longer barrel for retention at close quarters and much easier to shoot accurately than 2-3" barrels. So there really is nothing in it. There are however several choices to make when determining what .38 to go with. It does a great job of balancing expansion with. 11 Best 1911 Pistols [2022] . Today's self-defense .38 Special is most commonly used in short-barreled 'snub nose' revolvers such as the Ruger LCR and Smith & Wesson J-Frame. The Remington HTP .357 Magnum 110 Grain SJHP is an excellent self-defense round. The Ruger SP101 is the heaviest of the snub nose revolvers with a 2.25-inch barrel. Buy 38 Special 38 38 Special 38: GunBroker is the largest seller of Pistol Ammunition Ammunition All: 935686365. These revolvers are purpose-made for concealed carry and have features that make them ideal for self-defense. Yet, the 9mm holds double the amount of pressure. Energy at 25 yards: 246 foot-pounds. Tactical. Not surprisingly, Winchester Ranger Bonded ammunition is one of the preferred types of ammunition for law enforcement agencies and are an excellent choice for .38 Special self-defense ammo. The .38 Spl. View at Palmetto State. The 110-grain Hornady Critical Defense FTX load averaged just over 900 fps. 380 vs 38 Special Fast Facts. It just doesn't perform well in barrier testing. Best 38 Special Ammo for Snubbies . Price: $494.99. Ruger LCR Model 5450 (.357 Magnum) Ruger's LCR is one of the most modern revolvers out there. All without the use of an adaptor. As you can imagine, full wadcutters like these are used in competition revolvers. This is another instance where we see a notable difference between .357 and .38 Specials. The penetration of 380 vs 38 Special in gel is almost the same, with 38 doing slightly better. I have an updated version of this video with A LOT more in depth information and is backed by more in depth testing! Here are 7 38 Special guns that are good for concealed carry revolvers and other uses, including target shooting, home defense and so on. Perfect for keeping at your bedside, the 590S allows for any combination of 1.75-, 2.75-, or 3-inch 12-gauge shells. Advertisement Smith & Wesson's Model 69 is chambered to the powerful .44 Magnum but takes the mild-recoiling and effective .44 Special as well. The barrel is 2 inches long and the gun weighs 1 . Remington Golden Saber .38 Special 125gr BJHP GS38SB Energy: 264 ft lbs / Velocity: 975 Both Buffalo Bore rounds are Std Pressure, Short Barrel, Low Flash Buffalo Bore .38 Special 125 Grain Gold Dot HP Energy: 225 ft lbs / Velocity: 900 fps Buffalo Bore .38 Special 158 Grain Soft Lead SWC-HC Energy: 256 ft lbs / Velocity: 854 fps Shooting . 1, the +P-rated revolver's fantastic trigger. With all these considerations, let's have a look at the list of the best .38 Special revolvers. Best 38 Special Ammo For Home Defense. If you insist on using a snubnose revolver, and you insist on standard-pressure 38 Special, then I would look at these three loads: Buffalo Bore Short Barrel Low Flash 158 gr soft lead SWC-HP. LSWCHP The .38 Special +P 158gr LSWCHP was created by Federal with concealed-carry self-defense users in mind. The caliber itself allows small six-shooters and even smaller-cylinder, five-shot revolvers perfect for concealing. All are old rounds that were created before WWI. However, with Ruger LCR .38 Special +P, this doesn't seem like a dealbreaker since in most self-defense situations five shots should be plenty. This handgun is suitable for women with average or small wrists. Rossi is now owned by Taurus. Tactical. Review of the Best .38 Special Revolvers The Tactical Plate Carrier starts at $79.97. It's not too big nor too small. The .38 Special is well known for its accuracy, relatively mild recoil, and the variety of loadings available for it. 2.) In this case, a modern JHP design like the Speer Gold Dot 135 grain +P or the Federal HST Micro will work great. 158-gr. Best 38 Special Ammo for Snubbies . With extremely careful, deliberate aim you can hit a man sized target at 25 yards with a snub nosed .38 Special, but those little guns weren't made for that. Even more impressively, this ammunition performed very well out of both snub-nosed and longer-barreled handguns in tests. That marginal increase in velocity comes at a heavy cost. A 1.87-inch barrel keeps overall length down to six and a half inches. Capacity: 5. I practice with my .38 special M85 at 20', with standard loads and I demand accuracy within a 4" group at that distance. What you may not know is that the 38 Special is identical to that of the .38 Short Colt, .38 Long Colt, and the .357 Magnum. The. Perhaps A-No. The Taurus 692 is a hefty medium frame revolver boasting a 7-round capacity in .357 magnum, and giving the option of 2.5", 3", or 6.5" ported barrels, the 692 is configurable to any need. Technical Details. What this means is an excellent service and warranty. Small-sized revolvers are made in large quantities for the conceal carry market. Pocket revolvers in .38 Special still pack a punch and will even chamber the longer .357 Magnum and rock your world with recoil and muzzle flash. For a good reason, Ruger's carry-tailored .38 Special revolver is small, light and easy to keep under wraps. Of course now the self defense cartridges in these modern times are much more potent and highly recommended. Gun Tests Grade B 38 Special Snubbie Loads Cor-Bon Pow'RBall 100-grain JHP +P PB38100 $19.74/20 (CTD #2-CORPB38100). That lead round-nose bullet load was a bit on the mild side compared to today's cartridges. Weight Empty: 0.94lb. In general, .38 Specials are far less expensive and also easier to come by than .357's, and the handguns that use .38 Specials are typically less expensive as well, all other things being equal (e.g., the price of a .38 Special Ruger LCR vs a .357 Magnum . The diameter…. Assuming the wheel gun of choice is chambered in something really potent like .44 Magnum or .357 Magnum, the slow reloads are acceptable. Tactical Life; Ruger LCR. These three do well out of snubnose revolvers in ballistic tests. Even with modern powders and strong revolvers rated for +P ammunition, the . I carry a decidedly weak round in my 637, but it's one I practice with and know I can control. These take the classic lead semi-wadcutter and add a cavity to the flat nose, with no copper jacketing at all on the bullet. The FTX bullet produces rapid expansion and limited penetration. If you do not anticipate barriers, then you will be happy. The double-action Ruger GP100 in the .357 Magnum caliber with a 3-inch barrel and 6 rounds is the ultimate 'Goldilocks' revolver. The cartridges SAAMI has established a second, higher pressure, +P version, include the .38 Special, 9mm Luger, .38ACP, and .45ACP. Muzzle energy: 258 foot-pounds. SWC $29.99 brownells.com The FBI load in .38 Special, 158-grain, lead semi-wadcutter, at +P pressures, worked then and works now. What Are The Top .38 Special Revolvers For Carry: Smith & Wesson Model 642 Ruger LCR Rock Island M206 Weihrauch Windicator Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard 38 Taurus 856CH Charter Arms Off-Duty In fact, the low velocity solid semi wad cutter penetrated more than anything else I tested. And priority three, believe it or not, brings accuracy in last. 38 Special is one of the best revolver cartridges ever made. In other words, you can buy lighter loads for more pleasant target practice and some +P loads to use for personal protection and home defense. Sign In; Register . It still comes with a .22 caliber but with a shorter 17-inch barrel. Again, here we have a range of incredibly reliable revolvers that have predictable long-lasting performance and are very powerful. This bullet has excellent high terminal performance, ensuring maximum effectiveness with proper shot placement. Framing is kept to a minimum, yet the gun does not lose any of its aesthetic punch. 148 gr hollow-base wadcutters. That means that they will operate with the same reliability no matter the ammo type. Henry X Model .410. If you want to get started with wheelguns, these are the best points of entry. $290-$350 from a dealer. These revolvers are purpose-made for concealed carry and have features that make them ideal for self-defense. It weighs like a brick—27 ounces of stainless-steel magnificence. Best 38 Special Ammo For Home Defense Federal Law Enforcement 38 Special +P 158gr. The .357 magnum on average only pushes the bullet out of a short barrel about 100-150 feet per second faster than the same weight bullet fired from a .38 special. Priority two is power, which should be in a "serious" caliber, such as .38 Special on up. The Colt Cobra 38 Special returns as a snub nosed conceal carry revolver that should bring a smile to the face of anyone looking for a personal defense firearm. It measures only 1.39 inches in diameter. The revolvers made by them are no exception too. The R351 is 5 shot, with a 2-inch barrel, and weighs in at 24 ounces. MSRP: $623.00 - $731.00. 5. .38 Special Revolvers can be highly accurate. This is another instance where we see a notable difference between .357 and .38 Specials. The claim to fame in revolver loads is that the polymer ball will keep the bullet expanding whatever resistances is met. The tested .38 Special loads were fired into bare, (nominal) 10% calibrated ordnance gelatin blocks, that were calibrated with a 0.177" BB fired at 592 fps to depths ranging from 3.125 to 3.375 inches into the gelatin ( FBI specifications call for 590 +/-15 fps, penetrating to a depth between 2.95-3.74 inches). The .38 Special +P 158gr LSWCHP was created by Federal with concealed-carry self-defense users in mind. Gun News, Gun Reviews, and Self Defense Tips. Anything more is not acceptable, and in my experience, I get a lot of fliers with hot ammo out of the shorter 2" barrel. 38 Special is most commonly used in short-barreled 'snub nose' revolvers such as the Ruger LCR and Smith & Wesson J-Frame. To learn more about the LCR .38 Special +P, watch this video. The small .38 Special snub nose was a last ditch "belly gun", intended to be fired without sights, into a man at spitting distance. Then compare the same weight bullet in the .38 spl in this table. If the home defender is also the carry gun the snub .38 may be the best choice for a shooter on a budget. 5. In general, .38 Specials are far less expensive and also easier to come by than .357's, and the handguns that use .38 Specials are typically less expensive as well, all other things being equal (e.g., the price of a .38 Special Ruger LCR vs a .357 Magnum . I load the same Federal 148-grain wadcutters in it for self-defense as I do the lightweight 642. Tactical Life; The .38 Special Is The Best Handgun Cartridge. Best .357 Magnum Defensive Ammo. The spousal unit carries the 110 grain Critical Defense in her Aluminum alloy framed and Total Titanium snub revolvers. Here are five of the best guns you can shoot .38 Special out of. It's nice to be able to hit a marauding gnat at 300 yards, but in most cases if your home-defense rifle can hold inside 4 inches at 100 yards, it'll be good enough. 1. However, many homeowners prefer a lever rifle chambered in a pistol caliber for home defense. A heavy leather jacket might stop it, but otherwise it will definitely hurt, especially at sel defense distances of 25 ft or closer. Toggle navigation. The .38 Spl., particularly when used in a full-sized handgun like the GP, is an easy .