What's the point of buying a .38 revolver?

[1 Patriot-of-many]

When you can buy a .357 and shoot .38 if you want??? Doesn't make sense to me.
Are the .38's more slim or something?

[1 Patriot-of-many]

I'm looking at their .357 revolvers, like the lifetime warranty and inexpensive for new.

[Sidartha]

Because they don't have to handle the pressures of a full .357 load the frame can be slightly smaller and lighter. Important considerations if one is looking to concealed carry.

[1 Patriot-of-many]

Gotcha. thanks. Don't think I would carry a revolver for personal defense, but to each his own. That makes sense.

[AKTexas]

I'm looking at their .357 revolvers, like the lifetime warranty and inexpensive for new.

I had one,used quite often.Quite accurate in my hands.My ex wife qualified with it,I let her keep it when we split.

[cciota]

My wife has a S&W 686P with a 6 inch barrel. She loves it but it is too big for her to carry. She shoots it better than I do. So she has a S&W 442 Airweight she carrys in her purse when she goes out.

[mriddick]

If you want an airweight revolver one in 38 is generally $200-300 cheaper (quality being equal). I just bought a 642 for $300 new, a comparable 357 would of ran me $525. I really didn't need a 357 so the 642 does all I need.

[blobman]

whered you get a 642 for 300 new?

[El Laton Caliente]

A light weight snub nose with a softer gas check 158 gain hollow point over 4 grains of bullseye is a great carry weapon.

[O.S.O.K.]

38 Special is a great caliber.

The reasons to buy a 38 instead of a .357 Mag:

1) 38 Special will be more accurate out of a 38 Special chambered gun - generally
2) 38 Speical revolvers can be less expensive than magnum revolvers
3) There are lots of good used 38's for sale for less
4) As mentioned already, they can be lighter and smaller

Isn't this cool?



You can't get one of these in 357 Mag - only 38 Special

[1 Patriot-of-many]

No adjustable sights...... :P

[1 Patriot-of-many]

A light weight snub nose with a softer gas check 158 gain hollow point over 4 grains of bullseye is a great carry weapon.

Yeah but I'd rather have quantity.... with the speed loaders you're f'ed if you miss the first time around. There's a reason all the LEO's have auto's now. Okay besides most of em can't hit anything but innocents drinking cola in their rooms......

[Richard Simmons]

Similar to what others have posted but I'll throw in my $.02 anyway.

Particularly with older wheelguns you couldn't get a .357 in as small a package as you could a .357 so if you wanted a Colt or S&W snubby you went with a J frame in a S&W or a Detective Special, Agent, Cobra, etc in a Colt.


Now days you can get about anything in .357 as far as size goes anyway, in the same package as a .38 Special so except for some loss of accuracy, probably not enough to matter when you're talking at a belly gun, and extra recoil, which might put you back to shooting .38 Special, there really is no reason to choose a .38 over a .357.

Also .38 Special ammo, even in the SDF loads tends to run a little cheaper than .357, plus a good +P, .38 Special load like the "Treasury Load" 158gr SWCHP does a pretty good job without the extra recoil and flash of a magnum round

That being said I prefer my .357 models to have at least 4" if not 6" barrels as I feel you don't really get the ballistic advantage the .357 offers until you get to 6" or longer. The 4" barrel, IMHO is a compromise in the magnum chambering.

If I could only have one revolver I'd probably opt for a .357, regardless of barrel length but since I can, I opt for both.

[Flinter]

I carry a S&W 638 on a daily basis. 5 rounds of 38 special....typically Gold Dots.

I've never felt undergunned. I'm not a cop, I'm not a hero.

If I ever need to use it, I plan to pump 5 in his chest and run like hell.

[raxar]

Isn't this cool?



You can't get one of these in 357 Mag - only 38 Special

their grip is too small for my ape paws, but I'll take an M&P any day

[Tx Dogblaster]

S&W Titanium with a concealed hammer is a perfect pistol for women's purses etc that have the "pistol compartment" that allows the gun to be fired in side the purse. No hammer to hang up or slide to get caught on anything. Load it up with some good +P rounds and have no worries. My wife carried a Rossi .38 with a 2" bbl for years. I couldn't get her to carry anything else. That poor gun has been beat to hell and back but we KNOW it will fire without a doubt in a time of need. She finally fell in love with a G36 and carries that religiously now... Go figure...

[coppertales]

snake shot nicely......chris3

Besides, I shoot 38 99 percent of the time anyway. I have 5 30 cal cans full of 28 under the bench......chris3

[insider]

Nobody ever raped a .38!

[l921428x]

I'm looking at their .357 revolvers, like the lifetime warranty and inexpensive for new.

I have one of their .38 spec. revolvers, never had a problem. Do not remember the model # but it is a 5 shot with a 2" bbl.

[El Laton Caliente]

Yeah but I'd rather have quantity.... with the speed loaders you're f'ed if you miss the first time around. There's a reason all the LEO's have auto's now. Okay besides most of em can't hit anything but innocents drinking cola in their rooms......

If I miss the first time I have four or five more... ;^)

Remember the old FBI stat that most gun fights occur at 7 feet with 1.7 rounds fired.

That said one of my favorites is my CZ82 which is 12 rounds of about a standard .38... and I no longer own a .38 or .357...