When I was young, “stopping power” was much discussed, whether for the game fields or the streets. Times change, theories change, and ammunition for the smaller caliber guns has become more effective – though of course, those improvements also improve the effectiveness of more powerful firearms.
As a young cop in the times when I was mandated to carry a revolver on patrol, my choice was either .357 Magnum with 125 grain jacketed hollow point bullets rated for 583 foot-pounds of energy per shot, or my Smith & Wesson 1955 Target revolver in .45 ACP, its barrel cut to four inches. There were brief periods when I carried the .41 Magnum S&W Model 58 and even briefer when I packed a .44 Magnum…but never did I wear the “anemic” .38 Special on patrol. I did carry a snub-nose .38 for backup and, in the early days, wore one on my own time because, hey, I wasn’t likely to really need it when I wasn’t driving a patrol car, right?
Improved ammunition changed things, particularly the “FBI Load” of the 1970s introduced by Winchester, an all-lead 158 grain .38 Special semi-wadcutter bullet at 850-900 feet per second velocity. It actually expanded – particularly the soft lead Remington version –and it soon developed the reputation of hitting like a GI .45 hardball round.
I got to know and become friends with Edmundo Mireles, the hero agent who finished the epic April 11, 1986 Miami shootout that left him and several other agents wounded and two of them dead. Ed, firing one-hand only because a .223 rifle bullet had shattered his left arm, killed both of the cop-killers with Federal brand FBI issue 158 grain lead hollow point .38 Special rounds from his Smith & Wesson Model 686.
I have known Brent Wheat for a long time and Roy Huntington, longer. These veteran street cops have an excellent discussion on the .38 Special at the GUNS magazine YouTube channel, here:
Back in the 1980’s American Handgunner printed a blurb about a S&W study (probably the S&W Academy) that showed once the recoil/power level went above .38 Spl (would include 9 mm), both accuracy and speed of fire got worse. Decades as an instructor validates that. Where you put the bullet, and sufficient penetration, has always been more important than a lot of other qualities people get all excited about.
The revolver itself has a lot going for it. All the springs are at rest unless you’re actually firing it. There’s no magazine related issues and it’ll function with anything you can fit in the chambers. Probably the safest handgun to use, especially if one is new to firearms. Does take a bit more practice to learn. The one downside is practice ammo cost. A quick check shows practice ammo around $26-$27 for 50. Buying a case can knock that down to around $22, but it’s a big hit up front. OTOH, prices rarely go down.
Right around the 23-24 minute mark they make an important point: tactics and training are more important than what you might happen to be carrying. A .38 and spare ammo is what I’m usually carrying these days unless I’m going out of my usual local travels.
“….once the recoil/power level went above .38 Spl (would include 9 mm), both accuracy and speed of fire got worse…”
Yes, the real world numbers reflect this dynamic. For example, the NYPD Firearm Discharge Reports, back when the 38 Special round was standard, indicated an average of about 2 to 3 rounds fired, per officer, per incident. Studying the NYPD statistics gave rise to the concept of the “Rule of three”. IOW, that a typical defensive exchange of gunfire involved “three shots fired in less than three seconds at a range of 3 meters or less.”
However, once the NYPD switched to 9mm, the average round count increased toward 5 or 6 rounds, per officer, per incident with some officers (occasionally) doing “Mag Dumps” that did not produce even one hit on the criminal aggressor. It is easier to “spray and pray” with a semi-auto than with a revolver! 🙂
The simple fact is that shot placement is far more important than the “Power Factor”, or bullet design, of the round being used. It may be trite, but it is simply true that a 22 LR bullet through the heart will be far more effective than a hot-loaded 10mm bullet that only manages to blow off the thumb of the aggressor.
I keep a good old S&W Model 10 (38 Special) as my “bedroom gun”. I know that it will work when I call upon it and I don’t have to worry about a jam because the magazine spring “took a set” from being compressed for months or years on end. Plus, using a revolver will not evoke anti-gun hysteria, and a political prosecution, such as might arise if I use a dreaded “Assault Weapon” instead.
My brother killed two criminals in different shootouts using the above ammo, one with the 158gr jacketed hollow point and the other with the lead hollow point.
When I started carrying regularly, it was a CZ-75B Compact. A great little carry gun not too small but small enough to carry. Then I moved up to a Beretta 92FS. Very easy to shoot but not very concealable without a long flannel shirt. Quite obvious in 80+ degree heat even of it didn’t print. Then I tried a Colt 2″ King Cobra loaded with SV 90 grain .38Spcl +P and never looked back. Unless I am on church security or range officer duty wearing the Beretta or a 1911, it’s the Colt that easily hides under a T-shirt. I can’t imagine myself getting into any kind of trouble that only John Wick could resolve so a loaded wheel gun with a couple of speed strips in the watch pocket of my jeans keeps me comfortable and confident just about anywhere.
Just remember to train. I have a class with Marty at SAF later this year to remove any training scars I may have picked up along the way, amd really looking forward to it.
I always figured .38 Spl+P and 9mm Luger were pretty much the same stopping power. I find snubnose revolvers really easy to conceal. For self-defense, we are supposed to only fire double-action, but I love to cock the hammer back once in a while at the range. Single-action trigger pulls are so beautiful.
These days I shoot more 38 Special than anything else. My K frames are loaded with Buffalo Bore LHP +P. My J frames are loaded with Federal 110 gr Hydra-Shok, not because of any great terminal effect, but because the light recoil allows me to fire 5 rounds one handed without shifting my grip.
I like .38 Special 148 grain wadcutters in my .357 Ruger Police-Service Six, in my old Galco Speedmaster. Ballistol and a piece of “Chore Boy” copper scrubbing pad help keep the cylinder build up to a minimum. Old school, sure, but at 69 I’m now an old man too.