Lead Slanger

The .38's recoil in the .357 will be even better than in the .38 LCR. That extra 4 ounces makes a difference.

VINCENT1

i would never buy a 38 special. not when a 357 is available. to me its like buying a truck without the bed. you can drive it but ou cant use ti to its full potential. the only 38 speciali will ever intentionally set out to own is the one my grandfather gave to my father. that being said, if someone was to give me one, i wouldnt say no, but i wouldnt go out of my way for it either. i reload 38 spec, i shoot 38 spec. and i stock 38 spec. mostly because of the cost compared to 357, but with thousands of rounds of it already, i sure wont be buying any for a long long time

Lewis128

I think it would be more like a truck with 2-wheel drive.

They look the same and drive the same on the highway. You can even help your buddy move, but it falls short on icy roads, heavy towing or off road.

VINCENT1

very good point. i also wouldnt own one of those.

Lone Star

I think of the .38 Plus P as being a girl with two boobs, just smaller ones.
She can still be very pretty and very responsive, and the boobs will probably stay pert longer before they sag. She can also go braless under more clothes than "bigger" chicks can. Don't write her off!

The guy who shot the golf ball was not using a 135 grain load. That is, I think, unique to a Speer Plus P JHP round that the NYPD has found to be very effective in shootings. It has been used mainly in snub off-duty guns. They shoot people, not golf balls.

What he had in that Winchester White Box ammo is the equivalent to the old GI .38 load that the USAF found to be so ineffective during the Viet war. Bullet weight is a nominal 130 grains, and it is a full jacketed bullet. It is probably the worst possible load for the .38 Special. A modern Plus P .38 bullet would have done a better job of getting his ball down the green.

Not only is bullet construction very different, there is about 200 FPS difference in velocity.

As for the guy who smirked that I might not want a very light .357 due to heavy recoil, what was he trying to prove, other than beating his chest? I SAID in my post that I think that most people have difficulty with very light .357's.

I am now in my 60's, and find that recoil affects me more than it once did. I also do not have the opportunity to shoot nearly as much as I did. But even at 25, I found the snub S&W M-19 a handful with full loads. I'd have rather fired the .44 Magnum M-29 that I also owned, and shot very effectively. I could get hits with the short M-19 well enough to use it effectivey, but much preferred that model with a four-inch barrel. It wasn't long before I sold the 2.5-inch barrelled one as being too much of a good thing. Had I had better grips, it'd have fared better. The small wooden service grips transmitted a lot of jolt to the hand. I couldn't find good replacement stocks.

My primary house guns are .357's, but are loaded with Plus P .38 ammo. The blast of a .357 Magnum indoors is something that your ears may find to be damaging. I speak from the standpoint of someone who was present when someone shot a badger in a USAF dining hall with a .45 auto. I also heard a .45 go off in an office building. That was as loud as I want to hear indoors, and my ears rang for awhile.

Outdoors, especially if one may have to shoot into a vehicle, the .357 comes into its own, and it's certainly a better round if you may have to shoot a large animal. I just think a light pocket gun isn't the best platform for that cartridge.

If someone else has actually shot such a gun and likes it, fine. But if someone has to ask if a light .357 is a good idea, I tend to think he may find it to be a bit much.

weblance

I may never fire .357s in my LCR, other than just as a novelty, or, after trying them at the range, it might be the load I use for defense, with the .38s for practice. I wont know until I actually get to fire the weapon. I certainly dont consider the .38 a round that wont get the job done, its MORE than capable IMO. Hot .38s might be better for control and shot placement, better so than .357s, but I still want the .357

Specs

Let's not forget that we are talking about the KLCR which is stainless steel and is 4 oz heavier. The 357 also has Hogue Tamer grip, and is really not bad at all in 357 mag.I use Speer 38 spec 158 gr +p tmj as my training round and carry 357 mag for sd. I am 68 years old and arthritic and I still find the 357 fun to shoot and not too painful for several wheels.

Sometimes I will load the KLCR with 38 spec hp for my wife if we both need to carry, I will carry my LC9. The point is that for a few ozs and a few $$ you get 2 guns and much more strength and shootability.

JimB120

Then that's what you should get. It's your money.

I got the .38 for a pocket pistol because it's lighter and I wouldn't shoot .357s anyway, and cost me less of my money.

GUNSNGOLD

how are follow up shots with full power loads?

CJS1945

I have the .357 and have found it to be perfect for concealed carry, i sometimes forget that i am carrying it. The only complaint i can think of is it would be nice to have a hammer like the SP-101 for single action shooting while target shooting, but it's no big thing because it was bought strictly for personal protection. Heave .357 rounds are real handful though, most people will choose the lower recoil and sound of +P 38 spl.

fungun

An LCR is on my shopping list and I'll definitely get the 357, and will mainly shoot 38s out of it for home protection (good combination of ample stopping power without over penetration of the toothpick walls). But want the option to use 357 as a light and capable security tool in the woods against angry critters of either the 2 or 4 legged varieties, no grizzlies in my area so 357 will do the job just fine.

JERGENSEN

I never could understand why someone would buy a .38special instead of a .357 magnum. Even if they never planned to load w/ 357, why not have the option.

t conroy

I have the sp 101 3 1/16th" barrell and shoot 38s at the range then finish off with a few 357 mags. If Im carrying it will be 357 h0rnaday critical defense hollow pionts with polymer filled tips.get the 357, you will shoot them even if it is just for fun.

GUNSNGOLD

ikar

Given a choice I'd take the .357 if for no other reason, the ejector rod is a bit longer and the chance of not ejecting the empties all the way is decreased greatly.