Mrs. CJ wants a home defense & carry option for herself.

[Michele]

Originally Posted by dgg9

I can't answer that question. I can say, with reasonable provability, that .38 SPc is a marginal round, ballistically. I can also say, again measurably, that for most people, a snubbie is not easy to shoot fast and well. I can also show, via Force on Force, that you will be VERY unlikely to reload anything, much leass a revolver, in any kind of out-in-the-open gunfight. Add that last sentence to the .38's marginal stopping power and low capacity, and you have some information.

Yet those who say that the fraction of gunfights where all this matters is relatively small are perfectly correct.

I will say this: if you don't enjoy shooting it, you probably won't, or you'll shoot it far less than a gun you do enjoy shooting. Since practice and training matter far more than gear (once the gear reaches an aceptable minimum, which the snubbie certainly does), you should pick the gun you're willing to shoot more. Then carry that.

You know something, your right. I can't shoot that .38 fast. The trigger is tough, its double action, so sometimes I cheat to make the trigger more manageable. First shot is dead on then the rest well........not dead on.
I enjoy shooting the .9mm more, its sooooo much easier on the hand and shoots rapidly. Dare I say its a fun gun for me.
I just always trusted the .38. I don't know why. Maybe I should just carry the .9mm. Its just for some reason, i'm not as accurate with the .9mm. I guess I should practice practice practice!

[Michele]

Originally Posted by dgg9

There's waiting and there's waiting. Yes, you can't use deadly force (for the most part -- permit me to simplify) until it is used against you. BUT you can certainly develop the situational awareness to know what is happening, to force your potential assailant to declare his intentions through action, and to manage the event to buy yourself more time and distance.



Distance doesn't really matter wrt ballistics here. The more telling factor is that you will likely NOT have the time to take a relaxed, posed stance and make gun-range shots. You should be moving, and under the tempo of events, you're not going to get perfect COM shots. Heck, in a retention battle, you may have to shoot at any target you can.



If you can't handle it now, you won't handle it then. Never assume you'll do better when the balloon goes up.

POINTS TAKEN AND APPRECIATED!
So now I have some thinking to do.

[dgg9]

Originally Posted by Michele

Its just for some reason, i'm not as accurate with the .9mm. I guess I should practice practice practice!

Training first, then practice. Otherwise, you may be firing off rounds at the range, but not improving.

[dgg9]

Originally Posted by Michele

You know something, your right. I can't shoot that .38 fast. The trigger is tough, its double action, so sometimes I cheat to make the trigger more manageable. First shot is dead on then the rest well........not dead on.

And I'm sure you know full well that you'd have no time to thumb back the hammer to single action mode in a real self defense event. And, quite possibly, you'll be shooting one handed. If you can't shoot double action, one handed, with reasonable speed and accuracy, it's the wrong gun for you to carry.

[dgg9]

Originally Posted by Michele

Its just for some reason, i'm not as accurate with the .9mm.

I'm guessing you're more accurate with the .38 in single action mode than the 9mm, but less accurate with the .38 in double action mode.

Another way of saying this is that for 95+% of all shooters, trigger control is THE limiting factor in everything shooting related. The snubbie trigger is not easy to shoot well, which is why it's not necessarily a beginner's gun.

[Michele]

Originally Posted by dgg9

And I'm sure you know full well that you'd have no time to thumb back the hammer to single action mode in a real self defense event. And, quite possibly, you'll be shooting one handed. If you can't shoot double action, one handed, with reasonable speed and accuracy, it's the wrong gun for you to carry.

Good analogy. I'm starting to think that myself. Speed and accuracy, I don't think i'll ever get there even with tremendous effort.
As far as the hammer, its okay on the range but not in a real life situation. One handed? I don't think that will ever be possible for me.
Sometimes I think I should just carry a whistle too.

[reverserboy]

Do you think a .38 is puny? Or do you think a .38 is a good choice for a woman?

A .38 is better than just pepper spray OR better than a small .22 or .25. I'm just not a .38 fan. If a .38 is the most gun you can shoot well,stick with it. Whatever you use for defense you need to be able to hit with it & be able to do follow up shots. One shot stops happen more on TV than in real life.

A .357 in a similar sized gun will hit with more energy & have better penetration & more reliable expansion. To get good velocity out of the short barrel don't look to the big mainstream ammo makers. Some of the best .357 loads are from Buffalobore & Double tap. Such a weapon will not be overly fun to shoot.

As far as auto pistols.....There are small 9mm & .40 cal guns that will carry well. For a little more size & weight you can get a carryable .45 like a Glock 30. Once again the 2 above mentioned ammo companies have some great loads for the calibers discussed. I really like Doubletap's offerings in .45 & 10mm & they had some interesting stuff in 9mm & .40.

Some people like Corbon......I'm not overly impressed with their stuff.

The holster you choose will be very important. Avoid junk holsters. If you go with belt carry you'll need a good quality belt.

[dgg9]

Originally Posted by Michele

As far as the hammer, its okay on the range but not in a real life situation.

If it's not ok for real life, one could argue that it is NOT ok on the range either, the range being the place you're "programming" your responses. Don't program bad habits.

One handed? I don't think that will ever be possible for me.

I can almost guarantee you are 100% wrong about that. You'd be amazed what a little of the proper instruction can do. I've seen very petite women at pistol classes shooting Glocks and 1911s, and shooting as well as anyone else.

[WhiteWolf]

Wow, how did a thread about Mrs. CJ wanting a carry piece turn into lets beat up Michelle and what she thinks of guns?

For that matter, why do the same lame points keep getting put into every single thread here? I'm getting a little tired of hearing the "handguns are puny" argument. Earth is puny compared to the sun, but its what we have!

I am a huge snub fan and found my sp101 more accurate than I ever expected. Everyone can postulate whatever theory they want and look at whatever "ballistics" data they choose, but it generally comes back to some comparison of a 9mm +p+ round and a low to medium end .38 or .357. These are not good valid comparisons.

What i want to ask is we allow for some difference in opinion esp. when it comes to firearms and their effectiveness. We all carry what we feel is the most "effective" piece we can handle. Can't we just give our opinion and not always have to tear down someone on every thread?

As for the thread, I think Mrs. CJ should get a snub sp101 in 357 and shoot 38's out of it. It’s fun and carrying it will be like working out all day

[Michele]

Most men like a larger gun. Most women do not, not for carry anyway.
I was definitely comfortable using a larger gun. Much much less recoil.
Unfortunately for me I have a .38 snubby and a .9mm sub compact, which is a nice manageable gun for a small one.
I just couldn't conceal a large gun. And truth be told i'm kind of afraid of a larger caliber. They seem just too masculine for me.