The Ubiquitous .38 Snub Nosed Revolver

If there ever was a handgun more recommended for self defense to beginning shooters, and especially to women that a short barreled, .38 Special, five shot revolver, I have no idea what it would be. Internet blogs and gun magazines alike routinely recommend this as a first (if not last) self defense handgun. The clerks in most big box stores selling firearms are almost universal in this recommendation to women. Most of those giving this advice are well meaning and believe they have sound reasons for their recommendations, but I would contend they are often very wrong. To understand why they make these recommendations lets take a look at the thinking.

1. People giving that advice believe revolvers are inherantly easier to learn to operate and clean, and further, they are safer and more reliable than semi automatic pistols.
2. Recognizing that revolvers are bulkier than semi automatics and more difficult to conceal they gravitate to recommending the smallest revolvers of a caliber they think sufficient, or nearly sufficient for self defense.

Interestingly, I agree with their reasoning, as far as it goes. The problem is that reasoning does not go far enough. Let us deal with each flaw one at a time.

First, the .38 special fired out of a short barrel is a very poor stopper. Even when J. Edgar Hoover ran the FBI they at least were issued .38 specials with 3 inch barrels to improve the stopping power somewhat.

Here is where actual experience is important. I have been shot on three separate occasions with snub nosed .38 special revolvers. On one of those occasions I was hit in the lower torso with three rounds fired by two people. On another I took a single "through and through" hit that impacted a rib and slid along the contour of the rib. On another I took a single round through the side of my jaw that broke my jaw on one side, knocked out two upper teeth on the other side and exited my cheek.

In none of those situations was I immediately stopped, and in two situations I was able to effectively return fire stopping their action. In the other situation I was able to wrest the firearm away from the assailant and render him unconscious long enough for additional help to arrive.

Granted, in all three cases I needed a hospital emergency room and a hospital bed along with a lot of medical help, but in only one case was I incapacitated and not until several minutes after the two shooters had been effectively dealt with and an ambulance was on its way. In short, the chosen ammunition and firearms had failed the shooters miserably in all three situations.

This is one of the reasons I believe that people that have not shot at people or been shot by people should not be giving advice on what calibers to use for self defense. The gun magazine writers who have been there in personal defense or close quarters combat almost unanimously have radically different opinions than those who have not. If I ever am wounded again, which I seriously hope never happens, I would prefer it be a .32 or a .38 out of a short barreled revolver.

Thus, I cannot recommend a snub nosed .38 as a serious defensive weapon. In a four inch or longer barrel it becomes a much more serious weapon, but that sort of defeats the idea of a small concealed weapon.

Second, while revolvers are easier to operate, the most recommended J frame size are difficult for most people to learn to fire accurately and, for many, the recoil near impossible to master.

Moving up in size to a S&W K frame, as in a model 19 or 66 in stainless doesn't really help in the shorter barrel for effectiveness, but has advantages in the four inch or greater barrel stoked with .38s, especially the +P .38s, but that only worsens the issue of size and concealability. It does however correct the recoil problems of the smaller J frame revolvers and their Taurus, Rossi, and Charter Arms clones. A size compromise might be the Ruger SP 101, but it is still too large and too heavy for most people to carry actively and daily concealed.

Note: Some people might wonder why I am discussing revolvers chambered for .357 magnum, but they work very well with .38 specials and they help tame recoil. My only issue is a concealability issue because of increased size, and that the barrel needs to be at least 4 inches in length.

Conclusion:

Physically strong and highly experienced shooters may find some advantages in the small frame short barrel .38 special revolvers. For most people, and especially beginning shooters, it is a horrible choice.