.38 Special: On the job
- Thread starter samsmix
- Start date
The Speer loss does "lose" velocity from a shorter barrel, just like any round. Or one could say it "gains" velocity from a longer barrel since it is designed to work well at the short barrel velocity. It is spec'd at 860 fps from a 1 7/8 inch barrel and in the high 900s from a 4 inch.
Deaf Smith
New member
It will do fine if you are a good shot. I do mean good and fast. I suggest two things.
a) get a second gun pretty much like the carry one and shoot it on the range as much as you possibly can. Go to IDPA matches and use that revolver. Shoot from the leather. Shoot from the hip. Draw and shoot weak handed. Get real good cause you only have six rounds and they are not real powerful.
b) get a backup wheelgun. A J frame Smith will do fine. You need it cause a revolver is SLOW to reload. I don't care if it's speed loaders or ring clips, they are slow when you carry the gun and spare ammo concealed. They are slow in the dark. They are slow when you are moving. Reloading is just slow, period. But a spare gun is alot faster to draw!
I can say this cause while I carry a Glock 26, my second gun is a Smith 340PD. And I shoot expert in IDPA (all categories.) And yes, I do have a second practice gun for my 26 and J frame. I shoot them very often.
a) get a second gun pretty much like the carry one and shoot it on the range as much as you possibly can. Go to IDPA matches and use that revolver. Shoot from the leather. Shoot from the hip. Draw and shoot weak handed. Get real good cause you only have six rounds and they are not real powerful.
b) get a backup wheelgun. A J frame Smith will do fine. You need it cause a revolver is SLOW to reload. I don't care if it's speed loaders or ring clips, they are slow when you carry the gun and spare ammo concealed. They are slow in the dark. They are slow when you are moving. Reloading is just slow, period. But a spare gun is alot faster to draw!
I can say this cause while I carry a Glock 26, my second gun is a Smith 340PD. And I shoot expert in IDPA (all categories.) And yes, I do have a second practice gun for my 26 and J frame. I shoot them very often.
jbleinweber
New member
There are times, when I get the itch to go soft-uniform, I'll grab my old Colt Diamondback with the 4" barrel. Makes for a great change of pace and starts quite a few conversations starting with "Whoa, what you got there?"
I did use a .38 sp. xith 3 inches barrel during 5 years when beginnig my career as a cop.
The load : 158gr FMJ standard pressure ...
This load was poor against automobiles ( didn't penetrate windshields or doors ), and poor aigainst men, from my personnal experience.
But with a better load, I thing it would have been a good choice.
The load : 158gr FMJ standard pressure ...
This load was poor against automobiles ( didn't penetrate windshields or doors ), and poor aigainst men, from my personnal experience.
But with a better load, I thing it would have been a good choice.
Ivory Grips
New member
Another vote for the Taurus model 85 .38 Special. I NEVER feel under-guned when I'm covertly carrying this.
The Terminator
New member
I carry my 38, with 158 +P's, to work, in a DeSantis ankle holster, with two speed loaders, every day.
That's how my little Dept. did things under a certain Chief. That was only about 10-12 years ago too. Then we got the current Chief, who loved the 158g Magnum loads and we used them up until about 6 years ago when we were forced to go with Glocks to keep up with all the other LE in the County. :barf:
Thank you all. 10 years ago you still saw alot of .38's on duty with police and security gusrds, but from your replies it seem they are now few & far between. On the other hand they seem to be as popular as ever for off duty, CCW, and backup use.
Personally I still feel well armed. I'd feel even better with some of those niffty speedloaders that are spring loaded. These prevent you having to shimmy, shake, do-the-hokey-pokey-and-ya'-turn-yourself-around..., approach to getting you ammo from the speed loader into the chambers.
...That's-how-we-load-our-gun! HEY!
Personally I still feel well armed. I'd feel even better with some of those niffty speedloaders that are spring loaded. These prevent you having to shimmy, shake, do-the-hokey-pokey-and-ya'-turn-yourself-around..., approach to getting you ammo from the speed loader into the chambers.
...That's-how-we-load-our-gun! HEY!