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Post by tacomaslim on Jul 14, 2024 17:02:23 GMT -5
It seems to me, that the .44 special is thought of as a round of character and the .44 magnum as a round of power. If that is the case then is the .38 special also a round of character and .357 magnum a round of power? Please don't take this too seriously.
There are many fine .38 specials. I wonder why we don't discuss it more. The Outdoorsman, Shooting Master and Model 52 all use the same brass. The desirability(price) of SA Colts in .38 special is high. Is the .38 special underrated and overlooked today?
Sorry for the ramble, I realize, I've perhaps put this in the wrong category.
TS
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Post by x101airborne on Jul 14, 2024 17:32:16 GMT -5
I think it is the perfect place.
For me, it is about the "blast" or "crack" from firing 357 Magnum rounds without hearing protection. Somehow, and I dont know how, the 44 Mag is not near as bad as a 357 (IN MY OPINION). Now, I admit, I am a handloader. I dont shoot much factory ammo anymore. I am definitely biased in that I shoot what I like and a 44 magnum downloaded is still a formidable weapon on anything.
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brant
.327 Meteor
Posts: 521
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Post by brant on Jul 14, 2024 17:39:45 GMT -5
I believe it to be overlooked and under rated by the masses. I can only go by those I know and those I interact with at the few gun shops I go to. There I will see the same dusty boxes of 38 specials that have been there for the last couple of years. The 9mm ammo out sells it by landslide. The truth is the 45/410 judge and Heritage arms .22lr outsell all other revolvers around here.
I few years ago I picked up some 38 specials at a bargain and enjoyed a great afternoon plinking. I now have stocked up on brass and load some nice target ammo for my shooting pleasure. I have an idea for 3 custom revolvers that I hope get made. The second one is a 38 special.
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Post by bula on Jul 14, 2024 18:05:05 GMT -5
Wonder what decade it was that the 38spec started losing shelf space at the LGS ? As good as it's always been, popularity is where it has taken the hit. Also, I agree, a friends 357 BH always worse on the ears than my 44mag SBH.
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,749
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Post by jeffh on Jul 14, 2024 18:49:20 GMT -5
tacomaslim, I love your avatar and sorely miss that view. Spent three wonderful years looking at that in the early eighties.
I agree on all counts and I love the 44 Special the most. No flies on the 44 Mag at all, but the 44 Special is more special to me for reasons already stated in comparing the 38 to the 357.
I despised the 357 for its obnoxious blast for decades, had an on again - off again relationship with it until I got out of the Army and got set back up to cast again. MOST of my 357 loads range from sub-sonic in an 18" carbine to just over sub-sonic, so it's a lot like a 38 anyway. The 38 is, as stated underappreciated, maligned for years, but used as a benchmark for anything smaller trying to compete. It's an incredibly useful cartridge. If you cast and hand-load, it REALLY becomes versatile.
Such a shame it's taken a back seat to other less versatile rounds. I think a lot of new shooters will miss out. Thank goodness for the popularity of snubbies though. They seem to be whats keeping the round alive.
I've had to handle a lot of varmints/vermin close up here at my place and the 22 rimfires have long lot their chance at that. 30 and 32 cal does a decent job, but the all-time best, most decisive, definite and permanent anchoring has come from a slowish 35 caliber lead WC, SWC or RFN at about 158 grains. You know, like a 38 Special.
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brant
.327 Meteor
Posts: 521
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Post by brant on Jul 14, 2024 19:00:32 GMT -5
Hey Jeff, let’s be friends! I like the 44 special most of all too!
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Post by Encore64 on Jul 14, 2024 19:02:28 GMT -5
The 38 Special is an excellent cartridge that suffers from "not as powerful as the 357 Magnum."
It's a dandy woods or defense cartridge that handloads easily.
My last gun from Clements was a 38 Special built on a Bisley Single Six.
I'd like to see more adjustable sight 4-6" revolvers available in 38 Special...
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Post by drycreek on Jul 14, 2024 19:47:21 GMT -5
I carry a 9mm daily, but in my truck there is a Taurus .38 Special snub with a bobbed hammer. It’s my “get the hell offa me gun”. It’s much easier to reach quickly if I’m belted in. It helps that if my truck ever gets broken into, it didn’t cost much used, but it shoots very well. I haven’t owned a .357 since the 80s because of that loud crack when it fires. Yes, you can use muffs or plugs, but that’s for the gun range, not everywhere you might carry or shoot. I find a softer loaded .44 mag to do anything else besides what the 9mm or .38 can’t handle. I think the .44 Special is a great round, but I divested myself of several firearms a year or so ago due to my health, and the specials were among them. I should have kept at least one since I’m still kicking.
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Post by tacomaslim on Jul 14, 2024 20:06:16 GMT -5
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Post by Encore64 on Jul 14, 2024 20:10:12 GMT -5
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nicholst55
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Retired, twice.
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Post by nicholst55 on Jul 14, 2024 20:18:35 GMT -5
I would hate to be a .38 Special fan these days, and not be a handloader. There certainly isn't much of a variety of factory ammo available - 130 RNFMJs seem to predominate. I shot up a bunch of that crap (M41 Ball) in the Army, just to get rid of it. We didn't even have any military weapons in the unit that would chamber it, just S&W M52s!
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Post by bigbore5 on Jul 14, 2024 20:30:50 GMT -5
I shoot a whole pile of 38sp every year. More than everything else combined now that I don't compete regularly anymore. Mostly loaded between +p and 38/44 pressure. Even with the poor sights and my bad eyes, I have posted many pics of 2-1/2 to 3" groups at 50yds on here from my Police Service Six 4". A 7yds Bill drill can be covered with the palm of my hand. Sub one second Mozambique drills are the norm from the Galco pancake it rides in. In the real world I will take it over any other handgun to defend myself against cat,canine, or man.
Tucked under my shirt everyday is a 1969 vintage m36.
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Post by tacomaslim on Jul 14, 2024 20:51:01 GMT -5
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Post by ridgeline on Jul 14, 2024 22:14:09 GMT -5
I shoot more 38sp than any other centerfire cartridge by far, although I've been shooting quite a bit of 44sp lately since getting my first 44sp revolver. I have 357 magnums as well, but for home defense or carry, it's 38sp, and I'm about to try it for field carry as well.
I sort of scratch my head when I see comments about the 38sp fading away or few factory ammo options. I just did a quick search on Midway for centerfire handgun ammo sorted by number of offerings and 38sp is 3rd behind 9mm and 45 ACP, and ahead of 40 S&W, 10mm, and the 357 and 44 magnums (44sp is 11th). A good bit of that is for snubbies, but even for outdoor applications Buffalo Bore, Underwood and others have lots of options, and virtually all available right now. I certainly don't have any trouble finding what I need, at least ordering it anyway. I can't speak for shops that have dusty old boxes of it sitting around. I'd say they maybe don't know what to stock. I think the 38sp is alive and well, just not spoken of as often as the others. People just shoot it.
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Post by kevshell on Jul 14, 2024 22:15:25 GMT -5
What discussion of rounds of character is complete without the mention of 32 H&R. (Or any 32)
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