Give that they are the same price why would you buy one chambered in .38 spcl and not .357 mag??? .357 mag is going to give you more options. I don't get it.

No idea. I hadn't ever looked to see that they offer .38spc only.

One of these days I still need to get a wheel gun for myself.

If I had to venture a guess it would be due to recoil. Even though a lot of the time you can shoot the 38spcl in a 357mag gun.


But I would rather see someone have a 38 and be able to use it effectively (meaning willing to practice with it a lot) than have a 357 that they are scared to shoot due to recoil.

Just a thought. Of course the same argument could be made for the 38 super, the 327, the 9mm, the 380, etc.

The last firearm I owned in a 38spcl chambering was due to the person I got it from owing me money and offered the firearm in lieu of the cash. Not the first choice I would have made if buying it, but was not going to turn it down either, since the gun was worth more than what he owed.

'Cause it's a good deal? I understand buying the .357 and running .38's out of it if you don't want the recoil, but I've seen some pretty smoking deals on .38's. The +p loads aren't exactly shabby, either.

If I had to venture a guess it would be due to recoil. Even though a lot of the time you can shoot the 38spcl in a 357mag gun.



That's my point. If you get a 357mag gun you can shoot 38spcl or 38 +p as well.


I'm shopping for a couple of revolvers for CCW pieces for the wife and I.

'Cause it's a good deal? I understand buying the .357 and running .38's out of it if you don't want the recoil, but I've seen some pretty smoking deals on .38's. The +p loads aren't exactly shabby, either.

The one hitch is that not all .38's are rated for +p loads.

.38 special only means a shorter cylinder, which means a shorter revolver and less overall weight.

The one hitch is that not all .38's are rated for +p loads.

True. My point was that .38 is an acceptable round given that the price of the gun may be a really good deal. At some point you do get to where you're probably under-gunned, but I don't think .38 is below that threshold.

.38 special only means a shorter cylinder, which means a shorter revolver and less overall weight.

that is it.. A .38 only can be a very small light conceal gun.. lighter cylinder, frame, barrel.. Othr than that a 357 is a better way to go

Target revolvers. If you fire .38 spl ammo in a .357 mag, the bullet has a longer "jump" before it engages the forcing cone. That can cause some loss of accuracy.

Historical value. I saw a Smith and Wesson Military and Police with a 6" bbl made around 1907. It was chambered in .38 spl; of course, .357 mag wasn't even invented 'til 1935. This thing was beautiful, and had I had the spare $1000 the guy wanted for it, I would've walked out the door with it.

Training. Let's just say you don't want to put lots of use and abuse on your carry weapon, for whatever reason. Go out and buy the same thing, but chambered for .38 special, and beat the brakes off it. I'm not sure I even buy this last one, but someone out there has probably thought along those lines.

I bought an S&W Airweight/airlight in .38 instead of 357 due to weight/size and b/c I had NO intention of buying and shooting it EVER in .357 after shooting a friends hot/corbon loaded one. No thank you for my "shoot you and defend myself gun when I need to defend or protect". I shot a newly acquired .44 magnum the other day and it kicked much less than the hot .357. After emptying the .357 shot after shot until empty I flet like I had been hit in the hand with a bat. Not cool. Not a pussy, just not into that kind of abuse. :laughing:

I did buy a Taurus .357 for the office desk and load it with .38's so the girls could use it if need be and maybe the recoil not freak them out....

Cliff Notes:

Smaller
Don't want .357
Comfort to shoot

.38 special only means a shorter cylinder, which means a shorter revolver and less overall weight.

Yup, MIL just bought a .38 for carry & it's VERY compact. I gave her some cheap target loads for X-mas :laughing:

I think he might mean something like a SP01 or GP100, where the external dimensions are the same.
________
Vaporgenie vaporizer (http://www.vaporshop.com/vaporgenie-vaporizer.html)

For me, simply because the .38's are way smaller and easier to conceal/carry than the .357's.

weight, cost and size.
example would be the Charter Arms 38spl I picked up. 5 shot, +p rated aluminum framed. A 357 in Ti or Alloy would have cost me 2-3x as much.

But if they cost the same, its up to you.

Its smaller and ounces = pounds when carrying a weapon.
That and I love to shoot the guns I carry, WITH the ammo I plan on using. +P 38spl in a lightweight gun without big ass rubber poofy grips can get a little old by the end of the day. :laughing: I could imagine doing the same with a 357 gun would get old twice as fast.

But power wise the 357 makes it its bitch.

man im telling you guys, go try a taurus tracker .357. you'll shat bricks how well it shoots. everyone who has shot mine (wifes really) reacts the same......

"shit! this thing doesnt kick at all!"
or
"wow i dont remember .357s being this easy to shoot!"
or
"how much was this?"
or something of the affect.


ill buy more in different loads when i get a chance. best handgun i think i have bought so far :D

I have the 5 inch Tracker, I will agree. 125grain Winchester loads kick a bit...158 grain loads feel like a 38 special. Next to my friends snub-nose 38 special revolver, the Tracker feels like nothing.

:confused:

my .40 H&K kicks harder w/ blazer brass than the .357 and corbon defence loads.....

:confused:

my .40 H&K kicks harder w/ blazer brass than the .357 and corbon defence loads.....

once again, big poofy rubber grips = no recoil :flipoff2: That and its ported.
Unless you own the 2" barrel one.
I can't CCW a big poofy grip revolver

once again, big poofy rubber grips = no recoil :flipoff2: That and its ported.
Unless you own the 2" barrel one.
I can't CCW a big poofy grip revolver

its the 5 incher. the poofy-ness isnt that bad :D

its the 5 incher. the poofy-ness isnt that bad :D

but the porting sure as fuck makes a difference. :flipoff2: