Ballistically they are fairly similar, with an edge going to 9mm in its +P and +P+ incarnations. But the .38 comes in revolvers, while the 9mm comes mainly in autos. So the question you are really asking is whether we prefer an auto or a revolver.

I strongly prefer autos for defense, and no longer even own any revolvers. However, revolvers are perfectly adequate for defense, and many very skilled shooters prefer them. .38 and 9mm have both been working fine for years, so long as good HP ammo is used.

Whichever one you shoot best.

I shoot revolvers the best but I been shooting them for 45 plus years. I just bought my first bottom feeder about two years ago and I like it a bunch. I carry a auto in my front pocket every waking hour. When I go out I got a revolver on my hip.

I certainly hope I never need them but do like lots of rounds. My M&P9 carries 17+1 and I can get 17 more in it quicker than a blink. My Taurus 605 snubbie only carries 5 .38's or .357's and takes forever to reload. I happen to shoot both pretty good so that's not an issue.

The best one however is the one you have with you.

Baldy I thought your first revolver was an orginal Colt Dragoon.
It is what you handle the best.

I agree... 9mm vs .38 = auto vs. revolver...

The reliability issue formerly associated w/ autos is almost dead. Slight Edge to Revolver...

Most "defensive" 9mm autos chamber 7-19 rounds, vs 5-6 for the .38. Definate edge to auto...

Concealability? Revolvers tend to be shorter, but autos are slimmer. Edge goes to autos here also, since thickness lends more to concealability.

I'd choose the 9mm... if I have to. But with the new .45 autos... WHT?

lol
Jeff

I would have to select 38 special. I prefer a 9mm, but looking at it from a different point of view: In the unfortunate event you I ever have to use a weapon in self defense, that lawyers have a field day with semi-autos. It seems like it is much easier to defend (in court) with a revolver than a semi-auto. And for that reason, my carry gun is a Ruger SP101 filled with 38's.

Originally Posted by Wizard1500

In the unfortunate event you I ever have to use a weapon in self defense, that lawyers have a field day with semi-autos.

That's totally inaccurate. Please cite a single case where a lawyer had a "field day" with the simple fact that the defender used an auto.

Autos are the choice of practically every police department in America, every US federal law enforcement agency, the entire US military, and are recommended by every serious instructor in the country (including Mas Ayoob, who is the one usually cited in silly statements like this). A DA or tort lawyer wouldn't have a leg to stand on if he attacked an auto-toting defender in an otherwise justifiable shooting, and would come out looking like an idiot.

If I ever have to shoot someone on the streets of America, I hope the prosecution tries to say I am a bloodthirsty fiend for carrying a Glock. I won't need my own attorney, Mas Ayoob, or the ghost of Jeff Cooper to make him look like a fool. I'll do it myself by asking him what kind of guns the court security personnel are carrying.

Upgrade to a .38+p and cobon's is just dandy for me. Just something about the 9 mili-mili's that I just don't cotton to. Perhaps it's from when those idiot's that be, dropped the .45 (1911 a-1) for the Beretta. Bad idea and choice. Just my opinion.

Originally Posted by Wizard1500

I would have to select 38 special. I prefer a 9mm, but looking at it from a different point of view: In the unfortunate event you I ever have to use a weapon in self defense, that lawyers have a field day with semi-autos. It seems like it is much easier to defend (in court) with a revolver than a semi-auto. And for that reason, my carry gun is a Ruger SP101 filled with 38's.

Hey Mr Wizard welcome to the site. I'll agree that it might look better that you use a revolver if they were trying to make you look like a gun nut like most of us here. And I do believe that there are semi-auto's that the lefty lawyers would have a field day with like the FN 5.7.. I own one of these but I don't carry it to be on the safe side. I use to carry a glock 26 with a 33 round mag as a backup. I think that could hurt you also. What lawyer would not love to wave up high for the jury to see a little plastic gun with this big bad 33 round magazine. I don't think it would be an issue here in Texas but in Hartford CT I can garrentee you it will from spending three days in what they call GUN Court up there. I was doing case study work last February. Yes they have a court that is named Gun Court due to the volume of gun cases up there. I don't even think they have had a case with a revolver in a long time. I do believe you are safe to use 90% of the semi-auto's on the market today but use what you feel safe with and again welcome to the site.

Sorry for going off topic. I would rather have the 9mm because if I use the 38 that means I had to go for my back up.

Mr. Barham, if in fact you are a moderator, and you choose to attack my statment in such a harsh manner, then this is not the forum for me. You are correct in that Mr. Ayoob is the source that I site for my statement (silly as you may think it is). I still choose to carry a revolver, because it is in fact my choice, given to me by the state of FL.

Also, if you are in Afghanistan as your sig states, I wish you all the best and a safe return to your home.

Thanks for the stay on this interesting forum.

Wizard1500: Sir; this site is too good for you to let [1] person get under your skin. Sir; opinion are what they are. I enjoyed [didn't vote] your thinking.
"Mike Barham"; opinions are his:
Do I agree with either? Doesn't matter!
I do enjoy the different thoughts/thinking. "Provocations" of thought; bring the best from each of us. Keep thinking.

Originally Posted by Wizard1500

Mr. Barham, if in fact you are a moderator, and you choose to attack my statment in such a harsh manner, then this is not the forum for me. You are correct in that Mr. Ayoob is the source that I site for my statement (silly as you may think it is). I still choose to carry a revolver, because it is in fact my choice, given to me by the state of FL.

Also, if you are in Afghanistan as your sig states, I wish you all the best and a safe return to your home.

Thanks for the stay on this interesting forum.

I hope you reconsider and stay on the forum. I will agree that a moderator should have more interpersonal skills and not be so harsh but you will find many nice people on this forum and with that said we need people like you to stay.
Mike Please do not take that as an attack on you I hope you look at it as constructive criticism. You bring a lot of good knowledge to the forum and in the past I have taken your harshness as a venting tool for where you are right now. If you want to vent my PM is always open to you.

If I came across as harsh, I apologize. However, I am a graduate of Massad Ayoob's LFI school, and had the pleasure of dining with him several times during the course. Mas never, ever said that carrying a normal auto would harm your defense in Problem Two. He was, in fact, carrying an auto himself when I took his course (a SIG P226), as was everyone else at the table. The class was heavily weighted toward autos, including a bunch of custom 1911s, and Mas never told anyone that they should reconsider their choice of weapons.

I have no issues with folks who prefer revolvers. I think everyone should carry what they like best. But lets not try to justify our personal choices by claiming as fact things that are simply untrue, or based on false assumptions. That just leads new shooters to make poor choices based on erroneous information.

Thank you for your good wishes. I appreciate it very much.

Well put. Mike do you think a court say in Texas might take issue if I used my FN 5.7 to defend myself away from my home. I would still not trust CT but Texas seems to be for the good guy lately. I know how you feel about the gun but am I being to overly careful not to use it????

that was some apology. However,he wont be back, i already talked to him.
he will probably tell everyone he knows over on GT to stay away too.

Originally Posted by spacedoggy

Well put. Mike do you think a court say in Texas might take issue if I used my FN 5.7 to defend myself away from my home. I would still not trust CT but Texas seems to be for the good guy lately. I know how you feel about the gun but am I being to overly careful not to use it????

I'm from CT, too, and I agree with you on that horrid state.

I'm no lawyer, so this is worth what you paid for it, but:

I think you could justify the FiveseveN in court, but it would be more difficult than with something more conventional like a Glock or SIG.

Can you find police departments that issue it? That will help. You could probably even introduce as evidence that department's reasoning for choosing that gun, as long as you knew it beforehand.

Why do you carry it? Not to zap through body armor (which would likely be brought up), but perhaps because the light recoil allows you to shoot more accurately, thus making it safer for bystanders? You like the low penetration compared to the typical 9mm and .45, and wanted to keep innocent people safe by not having bullets coming out the bad guy's back? Say that in court - assuming it is the truth.

The FiveseveN is a politically controversial gun, and that might hurt you in court. It might be almost like shooting a bad guy with a Class III weapon, which has been done and successfully defended in court. Mas wrote about one or two such cases where he was involved with the defense. He did say that the defense was tougher than if a more conventional weapon had been used, however.

Originally Posted by Mike Barham

If I came across as harsh, I apologize.

I thought you attacked his opinon, not him. You sounded like you always do. A bit scholastic in your approach, but not necessarily launching a personal attack. It's kinda like listening to someone on a debate team.

You've done the same to others, including Spacedoggy in the past. Spacedoggy seems to understand it is a question of differing opinions, not a devaluing of the other person.



Just my nosy opinon.

WM

Originally Posted by mmasteve

which is better for personal defense and why?

Neither!!

20 or so years ago, a local BG was shot 3 times with a 38. He beat the snot of of the Cop that shot him!!


I traded my 38 for a 44 special. I traded my 9mm for a 10mm. My wife traded her 380 for a 357mag. My wife and I don't carry our mouse guns (25's/32's) anymore unless it's the only weapon we can conceal.

These days, if the BG is hyped up on drugs, a small caliber may just make him angrier.


Bigger rounds will do more damage, they have a better chance of putting down the BG even if he is angrier.

As always, just my opinion.

Originally Posted by Rick H

Neither!!

20 or so years ago, a local BG was shot 3 times with a 38. He beat the snot of of the Cop that shot him!!


I traded my 38 for a 44 special. I traded my 9mm for a 10mm. My wife traded her 380 for a 357mag. My wife and I don't carry our mouse guns (25's/32's) anymore unless it's the only weapon we can conceal.

These days, if the BG is hyped up on drugs, a small caliber may just make him angrier.


Bigger rounds will do more damage, they have a better chance of putting down the BG even if he is angrier.

As always, just my opinion.

I'll just point out that defense ammo, in all calibers, has improved dramatically in the last decade or so. The margins between calibers are narrower than they've ever been, certainly much more so than twenty years ago.

Anyway, many people can't shoot magnums and 10mms nearly as well as .38s and 9mms, and a hit with one of the latter beats the hell out of a miss with the former. Heck, I have pretty considerable shooting experience, and would choose a good 9mm over a .357/.44 Special/10mm any day.

if i ever(god forbid) run into a BG the size of larry allen that was on dallas offensive line and could bench press 800lbs. i would not want to have anything under a .45

on the matter of court security check out this moron trying to take a leos weapon http://www.metacafe.com/watch/468187...ficers_weapon/

Originally Posted by stormbringerr

on the matter of court security check out this moron trying to take a leos weapon http://www.metacafe.com/watch/468187...ficers_weapon/

FYI Got the Sorry your item was removed from metacafe I wonder if you can download those and I've seen people hear put you tube videos on here without a link?

I think bazoka should be added to the selection.