38 SPL carry opinions or recommendations.

[BearBiologist]

My carry gun is in fact a Glock.View attachment 38224

I recently switched to Sig P-365 (9+1) over the G-43. I also preferred the 38 and 49 S & W's for revolvers.

 

[Buckeye!]

856 UL loaded with Federal 130gr HST
158gr LSWC in strip loader
My most carried revolver

LCR 357 loaded with Federal 38spl +P 125gr SJHP ..

642 .. loaded with 147gr LWC

 

[Watertender]

I was talking to a friend of mine who is a retired commercial reloader. He literally loaded millions of rounds of ammo for military, police and private use. He used to make a special reload for use in killing animals that had been hit by vehicles.

The round he loaded for that purpose was a .38 Special 148gr wadcutter with the bullet reversed in the cartridge. He used to donate them to the departments and they worked well.

I hit a deer one time in a residential area on the way home from work in the middle of the night. It was kicking and thrashing around. The homeowner whose house it was hit in front of wanted it taken to a veterinarian. She called 911 to report the problem and told them what she wanted. The officer who came to the scene decided to shoot the deer but was not a hunter and had never shot any living thing. The officer was squeamish and tried shooting it without looking. The issued weapon was a Glock 9mm. Almost an entire magazine was emptied without putting the deer out of misery. I didn't criticize the officer at the scene but I was not impressed by the demonstration of marksmanship...

 

[Pál_K]

He used to make a special reload for use in killing animals that had been hit by vehicles.

The round he loaded for that purpose was a .38 Special 148gr wadcutter with the bullet reversed in the cartridge.

That's weird, because a 148gr .38Spl wadcutter looks pretty much the same reversed or not

The officer who came to the scene decided to shoot the deer but was not a hunter and had never shot any living thing. The officer was squeamish and tried shooting it without looking. The issued weapon was a Glock 9mm. Almost an entire magazine was emptied without putting the deer out of misery. ...

He needs a different job.

 

[dhains1963]

Lcr 158 gr 357mag for carry, outside shooting. Glock 19 hst lawman bedside 17 round magazine.

 

[dhains1963]

Glock has tlr-1 hl removable light for night shooting as well as trooper trueglo night sights.

 

[JackBull]

LCR 357 with 38 special hard cast wad cutters from Underwood. Easy on me, easy on the gun, hard on the goblin.

 

[dhains1963]

LCR 357 with 38 special hard cast wad cutters from Underwood. Easy on me, easy on the gun, hard on the goblin.

Expansion is horrible with that round as is over penetration.
Federal HST 130gr +P 38 special.
Expansion over .700 and 13.0 penetration, as opposed to .350 expansion and around 20.0 penetration with the Underwood round.
References on lucky gunner 38 special / 357mag ballistics.

 

[dhains1963]

Expansion is horrible with that round as is over penetration.
Federal HST 130gr +P 38 special.
Expansion over .700 and 13.0 penetration, as opposed to .350 expansion and around 20.0 penetration with the Underwood round.
References on lucky gunner 38 special / 357mag ballistics.

They also give 2 and four inch barrel testing for every round listed.

 

[Mobuck]

"The round he loaded for that purpose was a .38 Special 148gr wadcutter with the bullet reversed in the cartridge. He used to donate them to the departments and they worked well."
I was the appointed 'Village Constable' of the 12 house (and one wild west type bar) town where I worked for 25 years. As such and being in a remote area of the county, I got tagged to dispatch road struck deer so a Deputy didn't have to drive 40 miles to do the job. I carried a 9mm loaded with 124 grain Gold Dot ammo which handled the task effectively.
There was a plus side of this onerous task: word got out that it would be very unfortunate if anyone caused the Constable to fire his weapon.

 

[Watertender]

"The round he loaded for that purpose was a .38 Special 148gr wadcutter with the bullet reversed in the cartridge. He used to donate them to the departments and they worked well."
I was the appointed 'Village Constable' of the 12 house (and one wild west type bar) town where I worked for 25 years. As such and being in a remote area of the county, I got tagged to dispatch road struck deer so a Deputy didn't have to drive 40 miles to do the job. I carried a 9mm loaded with 124 grain Gold Dot ammo which handled the task effectively.
There was a plus side of this onerous task: word got out that it would be very unfortunate if anyone caused the Constable to fire his weapon.

I don't like to see an animal suffer and road hit deer are very common around here. There are many contributing factors. Less hunters and mild weather have made the deer population literally explode.

The incident with the officer not being able to properly dispatch the deer I hit was not one of the best nights of my life. I made it known to others in the law enforcement community and this officer was not with the department much longer afterward.

I am sure you handled it much better than what I saw.

 

[Old1215]

I was talking to a friend of mine who is a retired commercial reloader. He literally loaded millions of rounds of ammo for military, police and private use. He used to make a special reload for use in killing animals that had been hit by vehicles.

The round he loaded for that purpose was a .38 Special 148gr wadcutter with the bullet reversed in the cartridge. He used to donate them to the departments and they worked well.

I hit a deer one time in a residential area on the way home from work in the middle of the night. It was kicking and thrashing around. The homeowner whose house it was hit in front of wanted it taken to a veterinarian. She called 911 to report the problem and told them what she wanted. The officer who came to the scene decided to shoot the deer but was not a hunter and had never shot any living thing. The officer was squeamish and tried shooting it without looking. The issued weapon was a Glock 9mm. Almost an entire magazine was emptied without putting the deer out of misery. I didn't criticize the officer at the scene but I was not impressed by the demonstration of marksmanship...

I saw a sherif deputy miss a deer in a ditch with a shot gun from 5 ft away. Luckily I had my 10/22 in the truck and ended its suffering quickly. Said deputy was not happy but all I got was a stern verbal thrashing. Small town. Everybody knows everybody.

 

[Paul B]

A dog got hut by a car in front of the apartment building I was living im when I lived in North Las Vegas NV. My wife said something was happening outside so I went out to se what was what. Cop cop was beaying the injured gog over the head with his night stick so I asked why don't you just shoot the dog and be done with it? His answer, "Because's there's way too much paperwork involve when I fire my weapon." I said 'll get my gun and do it for you. Told me he'd put me in jail. I went back home, came back with my .22 and put the dog down. By this time there was a small crowd and when the cop said he would arrest me for discharging a firearm within city limits the crown let him know he'd best not be doing so. They were letting me know they'd testify on my behalf if he busted me. His decision was to report that someone unknown had dispatched the dog before he arrived on the scene and that there were no witnesses. I got off lucky that time.
Paul B.

 

[Buckeye!]

Expansion is horrible with that round as is over penetration.
Federal HST 130gr +P 38 special.
Expansion over .700 and 13.0 penetration, as opposed to .350 expansion and around 20.0 penetration with the Underwood round.
References on lucky gunner 38 special / 357mag ballistics.

I think the Federal 130gr +P HST is now discontinued… which is a bummer

 

[dhains1963]

Those were the micro 38spl +p and are available (Midway and others online have them).

 

[JohnL]

Not A Ruger but this old Colt Cobra handles well in either hand. I shoot with both. Buffalo Bore make a soft lead, hollow point, low flash, 158 grain cartridge they recommend for these older guns. 854 fps MV, 256 ME out of a 2 inch barrel. https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=110. I carry in a pocket holster.

 

[crstrode]

My LCR with the bantam grip.
Lighter than the 442, and a similar footprint.
Sights are easily changed on the LCR.
Mine has the XS green dot.
My LCR has a better trigger than my 442 did.
Better sights than my 442.
No brainer for me....
View attachment 38156

Ditto the Hogue Bantam. Not sticky does not print.

Been carrying one on an LCR 38 in a pocket holster for a decade or more.

 

[Fox Mike]

My SP 101 is fine with 38sp. It hits what you point it at and is relatively easy to carry (little heavy). I would however stay away from the 357 side as it is BRUTAL recoil wise.

 

[JackBull]

Expansion is horrible with that round as is over penetration.
Federal HST 130gr +P 38 special.
Expansion over .700 and 13.0 penetration, as opposed to .350 expansion and around 20.0 penetration with the Underwood round.
References on lucky gunner 38 special / 357mag ballistics.

Not interested in expansion, not guaranteed from a snub anyway. +P not needed with the wad cutter.

 

[kmoore]

In a department were everyone carried a 12 ga with 00 buck and slugs. As instructors I (we) taught use the dam shotgun and quit missing with the handguns. Why, approaching close to a wounded big game animal is not the best advice. Many walked up near their legs because they didn't know better. Many who fired their handguns at the head missed. Some just shot at the body.
Much easier with the shotgun not to miss from 10-15 feet away. And no jacketed bullets ricocheting too wherever.