.38 Special or .357 for EDC

[KenTheHunter]

A .357 brings significantly more power to the table, and therefore increases the chance of one hit resolving the problem. However, the key word here is “hit”. IF you can reliably Hit with a .357 then go for it. If however you have trouble, esp getting off a second accurate shot then you’re better served with something YOU can shoot better. A hit with a .22 is more effective than a miss with a .44.

I like Buffalo Bore 38spl 158 SWCHP in 357’s. In 38 specials I like 125 JHP Buffalo Bore. I’ve got a few semi autos, but as I get older, wheel guns are my primary carry.

 

[sniper]

It is a personal thing.
It has been documented over the years that Civilian and Law Enforcement, and maybe even Military rounds hit the target about 20% when in deadly situations. So...I believe that Bill Jordan was correct.
Probably why the Military emphasizes higher mazine capacity, among other reasons, and "younger" persons preach large capacity and multiple magazines, because that's the way they have been trained. Nothing wrong with that!
Being a very average man, as I age, I find that even my go-to and IPSC load, of which I have fired many hundreds, to be somewhat "spicy". .38 Spl. +P is capable enough for me, and Speer's 357 magnum 135 gr. Short barrel load is a goodness, but are like Unicorns. However, I do have some of each put by, but realize that as I approach 90, another solution may become necessary. But, that's life!

 

[KenTheHunter]

I'm the middle of the road. 38spl +p...

Something to be said about that because you can recover from recoil faster. Using a piddling load like a ..36 cap and ball didn’t phase Wild Bill, none !

 

[Mark IV]

Somewhat off original topic, but...Twenty years ago I would have agreed that even a five-shot revolver is adequate for personal defense (as opposed to police duty or police off-duty) use. The stats have shifted over the years. The probability of having to deal with a pack of feral humans, as opposed to one or two of them, is much higher than it was back in the day. I still carry a round gun on occasion but my usual EDC now (to the point I own two of them) is a Springfield EMP (9mm frame compact 9mm) and two spare magazines. It carries well, shoots well, fits my hand beautifully, does not beat up my arthritic hands and, if push comes to show, throws more lead faster than a round gun.

Though I still tote my trusty Airweight about 95% of the time, I tend to agree with this reasoning. But, while admitedly, ANYthing can happen ANYwhere, I tend to frequent relatively safe, busy areas, and only during daylight hours. But anytime I stray from this routine, I'll haul a G48.

 

[Mark IV]

Back on topic, here's my view on 38 vs. 357 for EDC.
Hostage rescue teams use flash-bangs for a good reason. it's because they seriously disorient those exposed to them.
A 9mm or 38 is fairly loud, but not insanely so. A 357 is on another level entirely. If I light off a 357 round a foot in front of my face, I have very little confidence in ability to function safely and effectively through multiple follow up shots. And practicing firing 357's without hearing protection ain't an option.
I'm sticking with 38 and 9mm

 

[walkin' trails]

There was some discussion and possibility misconceptions about .357 Magnum over penetration in law enforcement since probably the 70s, and I recall it being an alleged concern up thru the mid 90s. Some entities such as the Border Patrol issued .357 Magnum duty ammo, and others had it “available” for use in rural areas or where over penetration was a concern. I later carried Winchester Silvertip magnums in the .357 version of the Model 60 and fired even hotter loads to see how they handled. No .357 Magnum, and a lot of +ps are not fun to shoot out of J frames. Out of a short barrel, while the extra 200 or so fps surely can’t be a bad thing in terms of terminal performance, it’s hard on the shooter. Yet shot placement is still key over anything else, so .38 wadcutters probably have an advantage over a blistering .357 Magnum. Anyway, I don’t know that a light, fast, brutally recoiling and parachute flair .357 load is necessarily going to penetrate deeper or over penetrate than a slower .38 round nose or SWC.

 

[Joezilla]

One of my goals in a lethal confrontation is to hurt the bad guy and not myself. Touching off a 35,000 + psi short barreled handgun in a confined space will hurt ME.

Any time you can put your handgun cartridge in a rifle and gain 500+ feet per second you no longer have a handgun cartridge. You have a carbine cartridge.

All of that unharnessed power in a handgun goes into a (literally) blinding flash and a mind numbing, ear damaging concussion.

How is that going to help your ability to survive the fight?

Flat point .38 Specials will get the job done nicely thank you.

When I carry my 642, it is loaded with .38 wadcutters. They will get the job done.

Joe

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

… but I do find revolvers easier to get along with on a daily basis. I’m just not sure that I’d actually gain anything from transitioning to .357.

Parsing, it seems like I might be underestimating .38 Special, but I’m far from an expert or even experienced. Is this a move to make?

For EDC in an urban environment a 38 Special is the best choice.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Bill Jordan said the 38 Special was the most powerful round the average man-i.e. most of us-could hope to master.

I’m in agreement with that.

 

[62fuelie]

For a long time there was an outstanding "Happy Medium" load available; the Remington .357 magnum MEDIUM VELOCITY SJHP. This load gave a significant boost to the velocity of the projectile while avoiding much of the flash and blast of the full power magnums. The impact comparisons using a ballistic pendulum and either ballistic gelatin or Duxseal show great impact and larger temporary cavity that .38 +p loadings.

 

[Dhawk46]

Any .38 spl is easier to shoot accurately, and get quick follow up shots without blowing the shooters ear drums out in a confined area.

 

[rwsmith]

.... The probability of having to deal with a pack of feral humans, as opposed to one or two of them, is much higher than it was back in the day...

That is part of my thinking. I have been beset upon by 8 to10 attackers. This was long ago, I wasn't armed, but they were. My friend and I managed to evade (albeit with some injury) by going down a street that wasn't on their turf. They ran across a guy we knew in the park down the road, ruptured him, cut his ear halfway off and put him in the hospital. He later showed us the scars. If I had been armed there would have been a lot more trouble.

 

[Shibadog]

I carry a J or small 9 because they’re easy to carry, easy to conceal, and have adequate power. If I’m toting a full size handgun though it’s going to pack a LOT more power than a nine or .38

 

[seabright60]

A .357 brings significantly more power to the table, and therefore increases the chance of one hit resolving the problem. However, the key word here is “hit”. IF you can reliably Hit with a .357 then go for it. If however you have trouble, esp getting off a second accurate shot then you’re better served with something YOU can shoot better. A hit with a .22 is more effective than a miss with a .44.

Can't argue with your assessment, I just feel like if peo

I'm a die hard 357 magnum guy, there are some 38 special loads that I do trust but if I'm only carrying 5 or 6 rounds I want the best performance I can get. A 38 J frame is good for pocket carry and a good back up gun but for an EDC revolver I want 357 myself.

Accuracy is very important, In my experience finding the right grips that fit your hand is key to controlling the 357. As for flash and blast that can be powder and load dependent. My last range trip I shot a cylinder of the Federal 38+p FBI load, it had way more flash than my full power 357 hand loads, 13.5 grains Accurate #9 with a 158 grain SWC. Newer defense rounds especially will have flash suppressed powders. Let's not forget having a 357 really opens up your options, even if you find full power magnums aren't the best idea there's always the lighter 357s like the Golden Saber and Gold Dot Short Barrel and the hot 38+p loads from Underwood and Buffalo Bore. These loads will have better performance than your run of the mill 38+p and at least get you into 9mm territory. Any time someone asks about a 38 revolver my advice is go 357, even if you only plan on carrying and shooting 38s it doubles your ammo options and you'd at least be able to use 357 in a pinch. I love the 38 special but as part of the whole 38/357 package, I don't own any 38 only revolvers anymore.

I think you're on the right track, a 3 inch K frame is a very good carry magnum. I don't have a K frame but I do have a few of the Ruger Six series revolvers which are the same size, they even fit the same holsters. IMO a 3 inch 6 shot medium frame 357 is the perfect carry magnum. Small enough to conceal yet big enough to control full power 357s, the 3 inch is no harder to carry than a snub and it has enough barrel to get the 357 up to speed. Here's a review I did of my Speed Six and explaining in detail why I think "combat magnums" are the perfect 357s for ccw. If you enjoy it like and subscribe please!

I carry an m and p 340 j frame full with 5 rounds of speer gold dot 357 158 grain , small powerful and so comfy i never go anywhere without it . Edc means everday,everywhere imo, idk if im safe at 2am in a bad neighborhood or in danger at 2 pm going to my own mailbox, that's the point of carrying, the bad guys don't warn you.