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Difference between .38 and .38 Special P? Look Enigma!
Hifructose
Member Posts: 308
I remember there being a few gun nuts on this site from a thread a long time ago and I was hoping one of them could answer my question. I am by no means a gun fanatic, but in a year or so I think I might buy one of these http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=5720&return=Y
maybe with a longer barrel, I'm not sure. I have shot handguns of almost every caliber and type (not make) when I was younger, but most of this occurred over one weekend and I wouldn't say I'm very experienced. It's a revolver, so it's simpler, safer and easier for a beginner. Not to mention it's double-action only with no hammer so that seems a little safer. It seems like everything I need and nothing I don't for emergency situations (thinking animals more than people) and for taking into the wilderness with me.
So anyways, it seems even more perfect because I was thinking I could get used to it and much more experienced using the factory .38 Special P rounds, and then after a lot of practice; if I was in the woods and stuff I could use the Magnum rounds and it would save me from having to buy two guns. So yeah my basic question is; exactly how much more kick does a special p round have than a normal .38 and how does it compare to the .357 magnum rounds? This is a really heavy gun so I figure that will absorb a lot of the kick. Again, I'm no gun fanatic but this is not a decision I took lightly so I've been doing some research.
I am six feet even and only weigh about 145 lbs. I am probably stronger than most people realize, though. I spent a few years doing an extremely rigorous weight lifting routine. I used to be about a half of a foot shorter and weigh about 25 lbs more with almost no body fat. I also have very strong hands from playing bass all day and I guess from typing so much. I know I should probably just go to a range and see for myself, but there aren't any that close and I probably won't buy one for a while so I was hoping maybe I could get my curiosity satisfied. And no worries, I am all about taking saftey courses and being well practiced with it just for the sake of safety.
Hey here's a fun fact: lions and tigers and all those big cats we are so scared are only successful in catching their pray about 25 percent of the time, while the mountain lions we have here in North America are over 80 percent successful. They are also a lot more likely to attack people.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Comments
Many people do not like revolvers because of the way they are somewhat slower than an automatic pistol. However I am a sucker for revolvers. They are extremly durable and very rigid (meaning...if you have a lifetime warranty on it, chances are you will b e dead of old age before anything happens to it).
Depends on what you are going to use it for when it comes to the barrel size. If you're looking for home defense or target practicing I would go for a 4 inch barrel (longer than the one in the picture). A 4 inch barrel provides a more accurate trajectory and a longer accurate range than a snub nose revolver.
The nickel plated gun is nice. Even though I have a blued pistol i dont like the darker colors.
The maker, Ruger used to be rather bad in terms of making firearms. They were noted to break. However in the mid 90's they changed their manufacturing aims and right now they are literally one of the best revolver manufacturers world wide (first, being Smith and Wesson)
If you're going to fire that in the woods, I would recommend buying 38 rounds (there are no rounds that are 38 and 38 special....there one in the same in terms of ammunition). .38 rounds are evry inexpensive compared to .357 rounds.
Yes, a 38 round can fit into a .357 revolver just fine (police use 38 rounds when target practicing...saves on cost) but a .357 round cannot fit into a 38 revolver.
If you wanna put a .357 round in your postol check the feel and the kick, then go for it....just be aware they are a tad bit more expensive than .38s
Also, go to a pawn shop when buying rounds. They have "target practice" rounds which are considerably cheaper than normal rounds. There's not much difference between the two (only difference is, they refilled the cartridges and have them specially refitted....recycled rounds if you will).
If I were you, go with a snub nose. There compact enough to fit in a backpack if you go hiking and compact enough for home defense and good enough for range target practice from 1 yrd to 100 yrds accurately.
In the police academy we trained with Reuger .357s then we practiced on Glock's 19s then M-16s. From experience, the Reuger .357 was a dream to handle and to fire. I think you should buy it.
Here are mine:
This is for law enforcement only. I bought one because i got my kneecap bashed in when I was on duty (I was 20 years old) and now I am considered forever a retired police officer....grand huh
Bad accuracy but fun little gun
My favorite pistol
Hope this helps!
People who have to create conspiracy and hate threads to further a cause lacks in intellectual comprehension of diversity.
I do not mean to offend anyone with this but damn... guns... what the hell... I dont know the statics or anything about how much guns save more then kill.. but lately I have been going thru American history yar by year from when I was born to present and wow... there is always a mass killer each year more on some.. . I just dont think that guns do any good.. they really make me sick(I am not one of those pansy kids that runs away from it... I have had my own paintball guns, and even a bb gun for a bit) but I see no need for guns... flame me all you want and bring up the constituion but no person really needs a gun anymore... by no means am I talking about the military but what the he** do civilains need them for... sorry...
hey en1gma, and whoever started thread(sry bad memory)
Ive shot this a 1836 colt naval revolver. name whats so special about it.
98% of the teenage population does or has tried smoking pot. If you''re one of the 2% who hasn''t, copy & paste this in your signature.
Thanks a lot for the advice and info. I think a revolver would be better for the woods, dropping it in the dirt and who knows what, and probably safer for me (I don't want to forget the one in the chamber that I've heard so much about). I would probably be doing most of my practice at a range, even though the biggest reason for getting it would be for the woods. I can see where you got that, it was kind of ambiguous. I think maybe a range would be safer (I'm big on the saftey here).
It's good to know I can just use normal .38's instead of factory Special P's only. As far as the reloads; I have heard bad things about reloads but in a gun this sturdy and simple I doubt it would matter much (hehe again what do I know?) I had read some things about 38 Special P's having more kick but maybe it is hardly noticeable and as long as I hold on tight I don't remember shooting other guns enough to compare it so it's not like I would notice. Either way, now I know I can just get normal .38s and learn on those.
Thanks much!
I guess I really shouldn't get into this. I mean I really don't want to turn this into "THE DEBATE". Lol I am one of those pansy kids you are talking about (well maybe not that bad), but guns do make me very nervous. Even if I have one I don't want to ever forget exactly what they are capable of and feel too comfortable with one.
Pretty much everything you said makes me want to bring up points, but I'm not sure I want to start this debate. I mean I don't care if you guys want to debate it on my thread, and if it's ok with the moderators.
I will say this though. Exactly what am I supposed to do if I'm attacked by a mountain lion? What if there is a rabbid dog in my neighborhood. I mean it is highly advisable to stay indoors and call the professionals but what if it is walking off to other parts of the neighborhood where there are people who don't know it's there yet. What if my sister is just getting home and she has had her cell phone off how will i tell her to stay inside?
I used to shoot my neighbor's .24 Beretta all the time. Those are fun to shoot.
By the way, what is a traveling Kansas City priest/ store manager doing with handguns?
"Whoever controls the media controls the mind..-'Jim Morrison"
"When decorum is repression, the only dignity free men have is to speak out." ~Abbie Hoffman
I was a police officer from 1995-1997. Dropped outta college and applied in a county in Florida. After an entrance/civil examination (math, writing, memory questions) I passed to the interview stage.
The interview stage consisted of:
Receiving my own personal investigator who interviewed me then spent the next two months conducting various background checks on a local, state, federal, and national level.
Then an interview with my possible future peers (Police Officers from SGT to Deputy)
Then a three hour psychological examination including an interview with a clinical psychiatrist.
After that, an Interview with a Polygraph examiner plus a 30 minute polygraph examination
Then an interview with the Major of my county division
Then an interview with a Medical Doctor plus a physical examination
Finally, an interview with the Chief of Police.
After that, I was formally sworned in. Then I spent 6 months at the Police Academy where we pretty much took intense notes, had physical training (running your arse off and learning street fighting/Karate) every Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 am to 12 pm, and firearms safety and training. At the end of every week we were given a written examination based on our classroom time, a physical examination based on our physical training (running the mile under a certain time, sparring, etc), and various handguns and automatic rifles training. Any score under an 80 percent was considered a failure.
If we recieved a 79% more than three times, then we were permanently expelled from the Police Academy.
After we become certified, they held a service for us where (embarassingly) my mother had to sign for my firearm because I was too young to technically conceal one.
After I pass the examination, then I had to take and pass a 3 hour examination with the State of Florida. If you fail the exam, then you need to wait 3 months to retake it, thus throwing eevrything you worked on for the last 9 months down the drain.
After I became a full fledge Police Officer I spent only a year and a half in the force before I had to retire due to an injury.
After I left the force, I went back to college and inevitabally received my Master's of Divinity 5 years later.
lol sooooooooo
technically I was
a Police Officer/Priest/Game Manager
People who have to create conspiracy and hate threads to further a cause lacks in intellectual comprehension of diversity.
no one's flaming you (if they do Ill delete it as it is not proper to do so)
You have your set core of beliefs and I have mine.
But at least we can come together and respect each other's decisions no matter how much they differ from each other
People who have to create conspiracy and hate threads to further a cause lacks in intellectual comprehension of diversity.
What gun should I use to shoot someone in the face with?
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"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
-- Ken Olson, chairman of Digital Equipment Corp, 1977
en1mga ur one hell of a guy.....
but the sad thing is ur story is bringing up a sad sad thought with me.
this guy who used to be a friend of mine. Who is possible the most reckless person i have ever met is going to be a cop in my town. i will shoot myself the day he becomes one....(or buy a bigger gun).
he has the shortest fuse i have ever have seen, if anyone even has a kerry edwards bumper sticker he threatens them with physical force.............
he drives 75 miles an hour in his own apartment parking lot. and He doesnt even have a dashboard mirrior in his car, so he cant look behind without giving up all forwards site.
He applied for the US army, but after 6 months they kicked him out for "pyschological reasons"
and now my seriously messed up town is trusting him with a gun.........
canada is looking like a very good option.
i am waiting for him to kill someone or get charged with police bruitality.....
Edit NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHAT A 1836 colt naval revolver is and why its such a rare thing to shoot.
98% of the teenage population does or has tried smoking pot. If you''re one of the 2% who hasn''t, copy & paste this in your signature.
see this kid scares me... what he bloody monke loven he**... plus no offense( I really am not trying to make fun of you but I know it will sound like it) I think people that drop out of college shouldnt have guns... you smart enough to join the police enforcement but a majoirty of people that drop out of college(or dont even go) are ignorant crazy people.... they are the type that go a ll crazy and kill people... actally that not true educated people do to... see tahts why no one should have a gun.. lol...
He wont ever be a police officer. If he was released from the Army due to psychological reasons, he will be denied a job (no matter where he goes no matter how small the department is...every police department is now required to do a background check...and an army file will be part of it)
Also, if he were to ever recieve a certain number of speeding tickets, he wil not be allowed. If he's ever done ANY type of drug he wll be denied (including marijuana..and trust me...the polygraph machine will squeeze the truth out of him).
Also, a 3 hour psychological examination plus a one hour sesssion with a psychiatrist will dictate whether or not he will get in.
I would say he has about a .003% probablity of making it to the Police Academy much less graduating from it.
People who have to create conspiracy and hate threads to further a cause lacks in intellectual comprehension of diversity.
It was the first revolver that was patented by Sam Colt. His first revolver was created in 1831, but it wasn't patented until 1836.
He created the revolver after he learned of the slaughter of the Alamo and he created it in Patterson, New Jersey
People who have to create conspiracy and hate threads to further a cause lacks in intellectual comprehension of diversity.
He wont ever be a police officer. If he was released from the Army due to psychological reasons, he will be denied a job (no matter where he goes no matter how small the department is...every police department is now required to do a background check...and an army file will be part of it)
Also, if he were to ever recieve a certain number of speeding tickets, he wil not be allowed. If he's ever done ANY type of drug he wll be denied (including marijuana..and trust me...the polygraph machine will squeeze the truth out of him).
Also, a 3 hour psychological examination plus a one hour sesssion with a psychiatrist will dictate whether or not he will get in.
I would say he has about a .003% probablity of making it to the Police Academy much less graduating from it.
wrong, he got out of the army at the training phase.
and he hasnt got a speeding ticket yet........ that is what really pisses me off. why do good drivers(well normally good drivers) get tickets at least once every 3 or 4 years. adn he has been driving at least 30 miles over teh speed limit for 6 years. AND HE HASNT GOT A SINGLE GOD DAMN WARNING.
but if they kick you out of the army at training phase apparently it doesnt leave a scare as big as if u get in then get kicked out.
but he is already in the academy. the problem is he is smart.
he has the same fatal flaw my mother has no morals, decision making abilites, or redeeming human qualities. but he is such a genius that he can emulate then and get his way through the best pyschological exams.
i have seen my mother do this and if you wnat to know how insane she is read "mothers day" thread.
but he will make it due to this, and this has me scared cus he knows where i park, live, go to school. and he wouldnt be morally disinclined to give me tickets for no good reason, and then BS one later......
98% of the teenage population does or has tried smoking pot. If you''re one of the 2% who hasn''t, copy & paste this in your signature.
It was the first revolver that was patented by Sam Colt. His first revolver was created in 1831, but it wasn't patented until 1836.
thats not what is special about it. ti isnt a shell based revolver at all.
it doesnt have shells so u have to manually put in the gunpowder and the balls.
my grandpa had to order special gunpower just so he wouldnt melt the barrel off.
just like he ordered special shotgun shells for his 1830's belgium double barrel shot gun with a wire steel barrel.
the gunpowder then was weaker and accordingly old guns barrels are weaker. so u have to order special gunpowder and shells for a lot of guns from before 1880 even.
and i ahve shot all kinds of revolver, even a magnum.
however the best revolver ever made is the double action colt peacemaker, just because it has the perfect balance. its draw time, accuracy, muzzle velocity, and fire rate. are possible some of the best ever made on a revolver. just because the front end weighs enough to eliminate recoil.
98% of the teenage population does or has tried smoking pot. If you''re one of the 2% who hasn''t, copy & paste this in your signature.
hehe
Didnt say it was a cartridge based firearm
People who have to create conspiracy and hate threads to further a cause lacks in intellectual comprehension of diversity.
People need guns because people who like to do bad things need a deterrant.
98% of the teenage population does or has tried smoking pot. If you''re one of the 2% who hasn''t, copy & paste this in your signature.
I learned something new from your greatness
People who have to create conspiracy and hate threads to further a cause lacks in intellectual comprehension of diversity.
why not go over that.
Elephant gun is a double barrel 10 gauge shotgun. that would ensure no face is left......
98% of the teenage population does or has tried smoking pot. If you''re one of the 2% who hasn''t, copy & paste this in your signature.