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.38 Spl vs +P for HD in lightweight snubs

2K views 17 replies 8 participants last post by  drymag 
#1 ·
Speer Gold Dots and Hornady Critical Defense (have both), .38 Spl standard or +P:

Everything considered, for use by a small, older female, which do you think is better inside a home with a lightweight S&W .38 Spl Bodyguard (polymer frame with laser, not the old Bodyguard) and 642?

Increased power vs increased recoil, noise, muzzle blast inside a room?

I've had Speer Gold Dots +P's loaded in the little Bodyguard for some time, but I'm rethinking this, considering I'm older now and hand strength is probably less. I have no idea what a gunshot inside a room would be like, but from what I've read it's rather unsettling. Or is there even that much difference between the two pressures in the lightweight snubbies?

Standard or +P for a grandmom? I've shot both in the past, but only outdoors.

While we're at it, preference for Gold Dots or Critical Defense?

I also have a few heavier revolvers but I keep them put away. Am I nuts to use the little guns? I don't usually carry, but sometimes I do take one in the car with me if I'm traveling some distance.

Your thoughts and advice are appreciated, thanks.
 
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#2 ·
I'm thinking if I'm angry enough to shoot at someone the O'l adrenaline will be flowing so much I wouldn't notice the report. This is one of those deals where the best round, or pistol for that matter is the one she can accurately shoot. It may be a pain but I think a little range time is in order.
 
#3 ·
Either .38 Specials or Plus P's will get the job done fine. I suggest you use the one you're comfortable practicing with because neither is effective if you miss. Both bullets are high quality as well. I am a Gold Dot guy mostly because I've used them for years in .357 Magnum and .45. But the Hornaday's have great reviews, are less expensive and are much easier to find lately.
 
#4 · (Edited)
Thank you, Firpo, for your reply.

Actually, I don't think the emotion would be anger for me. This would be a scenario such as an intruder breaking down my door. (Disabled hubby and I had a scare that turned out harmless one time, and I didn't feel anger. It was a combo of fear and just "You're not going to do this." Granted, this was with him to protect me.) Goodness, I would never think of shooting someone because I was angry with them, but that's probably not what you meant. Home defense.

I understand that any unpleasantness of recoil or noise wouldn't be the issue. But many experts say that flash and noise can be disorienting inside a room and/or in the dark, and that affects performance. I guess I'm asking if the disorienting factor (if there is one) is not worth having the more powerful round. Or if it makes that much difference.

I've shot these (and larger rounds) in the past and was pretty decent with them, but not recently. Practice time is always good, I agree.



Edit:
JWD, I hadn't seen your reply when I posted; thanks. I have shot far more standard pressure .38's but have shot some +P's too. Also more Speers than Hornady. If I understand you correctly, the additional noise and flash indoors wouldn't likely be a significant factor? I've always shot outdoors. Again, thanks.

Editing again to add: Last week I found a great price on 50-round boxes of the Speer Gold Dots at SGAmmo, so I ordered several boxes in both pressures. I've not been able to find them locally in some time. SG's price for 50 rounds wasn't much more than what I'd paid for 20 rounds in the past. Getting a new supply is largely what prompted this thread.
 
#5 ·
The bodyguard will smart. I have the sw 442 w/ rubber grips so not sure if the 442 and 642 feels the same. If they do feel the same, then the s&w 642 w/ rubber grips will do fine. The 442 design allows the grip to more thunk than snap your palm. The +p is just a bigger thunk than the 442 but nothing like a bodyguard's snap
 
#6 ·
These are both potent rounds. While there are some tame .38 Special loads out there, the SD stuff is full power. You fire a either in a confined area in the dark and you'll be blind and deaf for a bit. Especially from a short barreled revolver.
 
#7 ·
I would use the bodygaurd in the car but in your home I would use the bigger revolver. No need to use the small handgun in your house.

Both of your ammo selections are very good. You will not need +p ammo.

If you ever need to fire a gun in your house it will be very loud. In time of extreme stress you won't notice it much. After everything is under control you will notice 50% or better hearing loss. It will come back in an hour or so.
 
#8 ·
If you are outside and shoot the 38 special in a sw442 1 7/8" barrel, your hearing will normally return after awhile and the +p will take a bit longer and hurts more. I can't say how much your hearing will be degraded, if any. But indoors, pain and possibly loss of hearing. I keep a set of amplified hearing pro by my gun. I grab the hearing pro before the gun. Like an emt going to an injury scene, gloves before you actually get to the patient, not afterwards because it won't happen. The amplified shooters ears will give you super hearing as well. Even a pre-shot in house will put your hearing at an advantage it the intruder is in the general area and they will not hear as well. Have a strobe fob activated light in the hall way will give you an advantage as well.
 
#9 ·
Thanks, all you guys; very helpful. I think I'll take your advice and change the +P's I currently have loaded to the standard pressure ones.

I had begun to rethink using +P's indoors, especially after I found the good price on the Gold Dots. I bought more standard pressure than +P when I ordered them. My thinking was, "Do I really want to shoot +P's inside in the dark?", but I wanted to hear better informed opinions before I changed.

I've always used muffs when I've shot anything other than 22's, so no idea of the noise especially indoors. If I don't need to use +P's, I won't. And maybe I need to put the muffs in a handier spot. Those amplified ones sound very interesting, too.

I also have another 4" .38 Spl on order, and I know that would be a better choice anyway. I just tend to keep my larger handguns "put up" so they'll stay pristine for the kids and grandkids someday. Maybe I'll convince myself to load up the 67 when I get it. I don't feel unsafe, but still.

Again, many thanks to y'all for your help.

If you like Gold Dots, you might want to check out those at SG. I only looked at the .38's but they probably have the others as well. Learned about them on a forum, of all places. :)
 
#10 ·
If it's for a small frame older female, I'd give a look at .38 Special Wadcutter target ammo. They're mild on the gun and the shooter. This stuff cuts a .35 caliber round hole out of whatever it hits, and shouldn't over penetrate if used for defense. I've read a few articles lately about this and several recommend using it for defensive ammo.
 
#12 ·
cec2, you are correct in that in no way was I suggesting going out and shooting people because they made me mad. What I was trying to say was that for me, if someone broke into my home which to me is an act of aggression and in doing so would be threatening the life and safety of my wife, a woman I love more than life itself I would be VERY angry.

Let's just leave it at that.
 
#14 ·
cec2, you are correct in that in no way was I suggesting going out and shooting people because they made me mad. What I was trying to say was that for me, if someone broke into my home which to me is an act of aggression and in doing so would be threatening the life and safety of my wife, a woman I love more than life itself I would be VERY angry.

Let's just leave it at that.
I didn't think you meant it like that and hope I didn't come across that way. I'm strange sometimes; what makes some people mad doesn't make me, and vice versa.

The night of the false scare, we were both calmer than you'd think, although he was about to get huffy, but I was having different emotions. Actually, I was feeling very protective, not that he needed it despite his disability. That night was like the keystone cops in some ways; I'll have to tell the full story someday. Briefly, like Barney, I managed to find one loose cartridge for my daddy's old .38, but he somehow loaded the ancient double-barrel that weighs about 100 pounds with only the use of one arm, and headed to the door with the shotgun and his cane. How he did it so fast is a mystery. Needless to say, we changed our lackadaisical ways re home security. Looking back, it's funny now.
 
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