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Thread: Reason to buy 38 special?

  1. #11
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    My reason for the choice was cost.

    I wanted an M&P 340. I ended up with a 442 Pro. It was on sale, plus at the time S&W had a $50 rebate for Mil and LEO. I think with the rebate it was just under $300 when I bought it. I could have bought 2 for the price of an M&P 340.

    It turns out I like it. Out of the box, the front sight needs help. Paint it easy, but the M&P 340 and the 340 PD give you pretty good front sight options.

    I have found I really like the moon clips for extraction. The trigger on mine was very smooth.

    Because I would have likely been using the same short barrel +Ps, I could not justify the more expensive option at the time. I still want the M&P.

  2. #12
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    The Ruger LCR in .357 is a good option, pretty good trigger and the option of shooting .357 or 38 Spc

  3. #13
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    Buy a .357 mag hammer less. Reliable and dependable. You are not going to use it under 3 feet.

  4. #14
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    good old j frame square butt loaded up with wad cutters enough said.

  5. #15
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    I chose to buy a 38 Airweight over 357 for a few reasons.

    1. Cost. They are cheaper.
    2. You aren't gaining a huge amount if performance going go 357s in a 2 inch barrel. It is more powerful but to me the extra recoil isn't worth it
    3. I can hit myself in the hand with a hammer for free if I want that light weight 357 experience.
    C co 1/30th Infantry Regiment
    3rd Brigade 3rd Infantry Division
    2002-2006
    OIF 1 and 3

    IraqGunz:
    No dude is going to get shot in the chest at 300 yards and look down and say "What is that, a 3 MOA group?"

  6. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by Uni-Vibe View Post
    .357 out of a snub gives you more blast, flash and kick for no big advantage.

    If it were me, I'd buy either, based on availability and price. If you get a .357, load her up with .38 ammo.
    This. Snubs rob 357 mag of most velocity.
    "What would a $2,000 Geissele Super Duty do that a $500 PSA door buster on Black Friday couldn't do?" - Stopsign32v

  7. #17
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    The 642/442 are significantly cheaper than say the 340pd / M&P 340. Like, ~$400s vs. $700-$800. Most people primarily shoot .38spc in these short barrel airweights anyway.

    I have a 642 and like it, that said I do sorta wish it was a 340pd instead in part because of the better sights, even lighter weight etc as well as the option to shoot .357. That said I'd still likely carry it with .38. Look at the ballistics chart on luckygunner.com out of the short 2" barrel the HST Micro .38 performs well even compared to most .357 rounds. https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/rev...llistics-test/

    In the larger frame/weight revolvers I would always get the .357/.38 over just a .38.

  8. #18
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    wrong thread, classic
    Last edited by Pappabear; 06-14-20 at 18:56.
    "Air Force / Policeman / Fireman / Man of God / Friend of mine / R.I.P. Steve Lamy"

  9. #19
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    I have a Taurus 605 for the same reason - something I can tuck into my shorts pocket before running to the local Stop 'n' Rob for a gallon of milk.

    I usually keep it fed with .38 +P's, which are still soften than .357's, but you don't wanna step in front of one.
    - Either you're part of the problem or you're part of the solution or you're just part of the landscape - Sam (Robert DeNiro) in, "Ronin" -

  10. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by hotrodder636 View Post
    I find myself shooting 38SPL out of my 357Magnums more than I shoot the magnums. Since I don’t use mine for carry, (686 and 627) they are for fun.
    This, and the 38's cost much less, so why buy the 357 when you get very little more out of a 2.5 inch barrel. I've been through this with both, sold the 357 (even though its a better gun technically) and rock the 38 in the summer.

    PB
    "Air Force / Policeman / Fireman / Man of God / Friend of mine / R.I.P. Steve Lamy"

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