
"The Versatile .38 Special,
A Perfect "Only" Handgun, for the Non-Enthusiast" 

By C.E. Harris Rev. 9-10-93

Knowledgeable shooters, who are not handgun enthusiasts, frequently ask
me what ONE handgun they should buy for home defense and sport.  They
would never use a handgun for big game hunting, but would carry it as a
companion on fishing, camping or hunting trips, use it for semi-formal
target shooting, and would depend on it, if ever needed, for home defense. 
They don't want a "collection" of handguns, but only one which will serve
their needs.

The basic requirements are safety, reliability, durability, accuracy, and
modest cost of gun and ammunition.  Also important is suitability for use by
the "female significant other", having small hands, without much strength in
them ("Honey, can you open this for me?").  These parameters haven't
changed since Smith & Wesson first introduced its famed Military and Police
Model in 1903.  Julian S. Hatcher said, in the Textbook of Pistols and
Revolvers (1935), "Were it necessary for the average shooter to own and
use but one revolver, it should be a .38 Special."   This is just as true
today.  Even the late Elmer Keith, who generally favored large guns and
powerful loads, in his book Sixguns (1955), described the .38 Special, (when
loaded with the semi-wadcutter bullet he made famous) as "the best to be
had for hunting small game with the sixgun," this is high praise indeed from
Keith.

The .38 Special still makes sense, because, with today's loads, it's better
than ever.  Guns and ammunition are relatively inexpensive and available
everywhere.  It is probably the most accurate revolver load ever
developed.  Ten-shot groups fired from accuracy test barrels in factory
acceptance are frequently 1-1/2" or less at 50 yards.  Quality .38
revolvers frequently produce groups this size at 25 yards.  Factory loads
for the .38 Special include 95-gr. to 158-gr. JHP, and 148-gr. wadcutters
through 200-gr. solid lead bullets, standard velocity, +P, multi-ball loads
and shotshells, which provide greater variety than for any other handgun
cartridge.

The energy of the .38 Special is not as impressive as the .357 Magnum, with
which it is often compared.  It is the minimum cartridge deemed generally
suitable for police or military use and is also the most powerful round also
suitable for small, light-frame, pocket revolvers.  Although a .22 rimfire is
often chosen as the outdoorsman's kit gun, I have gone back to the .38
Special for this purpose, because it is more effective and my trips afield
are short, so few rounds are needed.  The great variety of .38 Special
ammunition provides more flexibility.  

When afield I generally carry a shotload (for snakes) first-up, with the
rest in the cylinder being wadcutters.  An extra speedloader of the same
mix is kept in a jacket pocket or day pack and, perhaps, another of 158-gr.
+P.  If I plan any plinking, I'll pack an extra box of wadcutters.

The non-enthusiast seeking his "one handgun" should select a police-type,
double-action .38 Special with adjustable sights and 4" barrel.  If small
size is essential, consider a 3" barrel, but don't get less than a that,
because you'll lose significant energy and hitting ability due to the
reduced sight radius with a shorter, 2" barrel.  Also acceptable is a .357
Magnum revolver of these specifications, because a .357 can use any .38
Special ammunition.  Being designed for the more powerful magnum load, it is
more durably constructed, and better suited for frequent use with .38
Special +P  loads.  It also provides the option of additional power, by using
magnum ammunition, when needed.

Midrange target wadcutters feature a 148-gr. cylindrical solid lead bullet
at about 720 f.p.s. from a 4" revolver, and are ideal for most field shooting. 
 They are highly accurate, give a good knockdown blow on small game, and
don't destroy much edible meat.  Modern wound ballistic tests indicate that
the lowly wadcutter is actually more effective than the old 158-gr. round-
nosed solid which was the standard police load for many years. 

For energy, a .38 wadcutter compares to the .38 Long Colt, or .38 S&W, with
about 170 ft.-lbs.  The full wadcutter passes the "woodchuck test", despite
its low energy.  They are the safest choice for defense use in "airweight"
or alloy-frame guns which cannot handle +P loads.  The novice should use
only wadcutters until able to hold the black of the Standard American
pistol target.

After developing some skill, experiment with occasional use of +P loads, in
guns suitable for them, to become accustomed to their additional recoil.  +P
loads are not for casual shooting, but should be reserved for large
varmints or defense use when more power is needed.  The .38 Special +P is
entirely adequate for home defense; represents the upper limit of power
the average person can handle, and should only be used in steel frame guns,
and never in the light alloy ones.

The used gun market is now flooded with high-quality, second-hand .38
Special revolvers, because many police departments have switched to semi-
automatic pistols.  Used .38 police and .357 service revolvers which have
been well maintained, sell for about half the price of a new gun. They are a
great buy, when in sound mechanical condition.  I would look for an S&W Model
15 Combat Masterpiece, Model 19 Combat Magnum, Ruger Security Six, Colt
Trooper or Python.

Also acceptable are the fixed-sight service guns of the same makes, such
as the S&W Model 10 (.38 Special) or 13 (.357 Mag.)  Military and Police 
models, the Ruger Speed Six, or Colt Official Police.  If needing a smaller 
revolver for a female, look at the Ruger SP101, the S&W Model 36 or Model 60 
Chief's Special, with 3" heavy barrel.  The Model 36 with 3" heavy barrel and
adjustable sights is ideal for a kit gun.   The S&W Model 10 or 13 heavy
barrel, 3", round butt revolvers are popular with female law enforcement
officers and are still ideal for that purpose.

The .38 Special is the most handloaded cartridge of all and is extremely
easy to reload.  Only a few basic loads: such as mid-range target
wadcutters, standard velocity lead wadcutter or semi-wadcutter field
loads, +P lead hollowpoint, JHP varmint or law enforcement loads, and
shotshells handle all uses for a .38 revolver.   I'll discuss each of these
loads briefly, and provide loading recommendations based on my experience.
The best powders for loading the .38 Special are fast-burning pistol or
shotshell powders, such as Hercules Bullseye, Red Dot, or Green Dot, Olin
W-W231, Hodgdon HP38, IMR's SR7625 or 700-X.  If you only own  one handgun,
there is no need to buy "pistol powder" to reload for it.  You may already
have a suitable shotshell powder for reloading skeet, trap or upland bird
loads.  These light charges are very economical, burn cleanly and leave
little residue in the gun.  Hercules Unique is useful for service velocity
and +P loads, but may not burn completely, except in full charges.  The
muzzle of a revolver should always be elevated when ejecting fired cases,
so that any unburned powder particles fall out with the empties, rather
than under the extractor, or between the crane and frame, which could tie
up the gun.  Smart revolver shooters always carry a toothbrush in their kit
for cleaning under the extractor.

Mid-range target wadcutters are most accurate when assembled using
swaged, hollowbased bullets of the same type used in factory loads.  
Factory velocities are approximated with hollowbased wadcutters at 1.18-
1.20" overall cartridge length, using 2.7-3.0 grs. of Bullseye, Green Dot,
Red Dot or 700-X; or 3.0-3.3 grs. of W-W231 or SR7625.  These charges must
not be exceeded with hollow-based bullets.  With solid-based bullets at this
overall length, may be increased 0.2 grain.

The occasional shooter will be well served with factory lead bullets, but
casting your own is cheaper if you shoot more than a few hundred rounds a
year.   I would suggest the novice buying only one mould for his .38 get a
full wadcutter, such as the Lyman #358495, RCBS 38-148WC, or Lee TL358-
148WC.  It can be used either for target velocities or full loads, if you
stay below +P.  If as-cast diameter doesn't exceed .359", bullets may be
cast of any available soft scrap alloy, tumble lubed in Lee Liquid Alox and
shot unsized, using the charges indicated.

Standard velocity lead service loads for the .38 Special feature a 158-gr.
bullet at 750-800 f.p.s. from a 4" barrel.  Although semi-wadcutters like the
Lyman #358477, RCBS 38-150KT, or Lee TL358-158-SWC are most commonly
used, I prefer solid-based, full-wadcutter bullets for my field loads.  They
are more effective on game than semi-wadcutters and maintain their
accuracy as long as you limit velocity to about 850 +/- 30 f.p.s.

To positively identify full-power wadcutter loads, I seat the bullet out,
crimping in the top lubrication groove, rather than using the crimp groove
intended for flush-seating mid-range loads.   Full-charges for solid-based
wadcutter bullets at 1.31" overall cartridge length are 3.5-4.0 grs. of
Bullseye, Red Dot, Green Dot, or 700-X; 3.8-4.2 grs. of W-W231, HP38 or SR-
7625; or 4.5-5.0 grs. of Unique.  

You may safely substitute a 150-158-gr. semi-wadcutter such the Lyman
#358477 or RCBS 38-150KT with these charges, seating to the crimping
groove provided, at 1.46-1.50" overall cartridge length, depending upon the
chosen bullet.  When using semi-wadcutters, the starting loads listed
approximate the velocities of standard factory loads, whereas the
maximums split the difference between standard and +P, or about 850 f.p.s.,
a useful general-purpose level.


Full-power .38 Special JHP loads are somewhat specialized and are intended
for large varmints or defense.
