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You are here: Home / Archives for .38 Special

.38 Special

Revolvers: The Joe Friday Gun

Among the first police procedural dramas was Dragnet. Dragnet and Joe Friday were down to earth and presented the facts well. As a child, I enjoyed the series very much. Dragnet still has much to recommend. Professionalism and results are valued. Later, many of the prima donnas and flawed characters in TV shows were less interesting. Few would have lasted a minute in any agency I worked for. [Read more…] about Revolvers: The Joe Friday Gun


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March 24, 2020

Filed Under: Holsters, Reviews, Revolvers, Smith and Wesson Tagged With: .38 Special, double action revolvers, handloads, lead hollow point, Matt’s Bullets, Remington lead SWC HP, Revolvers, Smith and Wesson, snub nose, Super Police ammunition

Colt Python — The World’s Finest Revolver

One thing I have learned is that as things get older, they get meaner—and sometimes age brings respect. The Colt Python and I were each born in the 1950s. I am too young to remember the 1950s, but I find it interesting that such an advanced revolver was introduced over 60 years ago in 1955. [Read more…] about Colt Python — The World’s Finest Revolver


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January 9, 2020

Filed Under: Colt, Pistols, Reviews Tagged With: .357 Magnum, .38 Special, Colt, Concealed Carry, double action revolvers, Galco, handloads, Home Defense, Hornady, hunting, personal defense, Python, Revolvers, Target Shooting, XTP

Gun Test: Taurus 692 Multi-Caliber Revolver

The newest Taurus revolver is among the most interesting and innovative the company has manufactured. The Taurus 692 is a double action revolver with a swing out cylinder. There is a single-action option, useful in a field and trail revolver. This handgun features a seven-shot cylinder, giving the relatively compact Taurus .357 Magnum an advantage over traditional six-shot revolvers. [Read more…] about Gun Test: Taurus 692 Multi-Caliber Revolver


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December 24, 2019

Filed Under: Pistols, Reviews, Revolvers, Taurus Tagged With: .357 Magnum, .38 Special, 9mm Luger, double action revolvers, handloads, Home Defense, hunting, personal defense, Revolvers, Target Shooting, Taurus

Taurus Model 856: Long Live the .38 Snubnose

Snubnose revolvers are viable options when deciding what type of self-defense firearm to purchase. Easy to use, easy to conceal, and no empties lying on the floor afterward. The Taurus Model 856 is a newer snubby with a capacity of six rounds, versus the typical 5 rounds of the Model 85. [Read more…] about Taurus Model 856: Long Live the .38 Snubnose


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December 19, 2019

Filed Under: Pistols, Reviews, Taurus Tagged With: .38 Special, Concealed Carry, Revolvers, Snubnose, Taurus

Handguns: Size Matters — More can be More

When choosing a handgun, the analogy to a vehicle—something most of us use every day—is useful. We all understand the term “dead weight.” That is the weight of the bed or truck (or the support structure in architecture), but that’s not what we are looking at today—when unloaded. Live weight is the truck loaded. The handgun, ammo, holster, and spare gun load add up quickly in live weight. Sticks of copy and reams of paper have been slugged during this discussion and we now offer bytes by the millions. The thing is, while there must be room for personal choice, there is a bottom line for performance and quality. If you like a small car you can easily drive in the city that’s fine. But you cannot pick up a dining room set with it. [Read more…] about Handguns: Size Matters — More can be More


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November 29, 2019

Filed Under: Glock, Pistols, Revolvers, Self Defense, Smith and Wesson Tagged With: .38 Special, 9mm Luger, Citadel, Commander Model, Concealed Carry, CZ, CZ P10 C, Glock, Government Model, Guncrafter, Model 60, Officers Model, Revolvers, self-loading pistols, SIG P220, SIG Sauer Ammunition, Smith and Wesson

Smith and Wesson Versus Colt — Old Iron at its Best

When Samuel Colt invented the revolver as we know it, he turned the handgun world on its nose. Most handguns were horse pistols or pocket guns similar in design to rifles, they were simply shorter. The Colt revolver had to be designed to stabilize the firing hand to allow thumb cocking and to present the sights for proper aiming. Either way, this article details Old Iron at its best! [Read more…] about Smith and Wesson Versus Colt — Old Iron at its Best


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October 16, 2019

Filed Under: Colt, Pistols, Revolvers, Smith and Wesson Tagged With: .357 Magnum, .38 Special, .45 Colt, Colt, double action, Home Defense, hunting, personal defense, Revolvers, Smith and Wesson

Taurus 856 and 857 Versus S&W J Frame Revolvers

At the 2018 SHOT show, among the more interesting revolvers was the Taurus 856 revolver. The 856 is based upon the proven and immensely popular Taurus 85, a small-frame revolver that holds five .38 Special cartridges. The 856 is a version of the Model 85 with a six-shot cylinder. It is quite an engineering feat to design such a revolver. [Read more…] about Taurus 856 and 857 Versus S&W J Frame Revolvers


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September 27, 2019

Filed Under: Pistols, Reviews, Taurus Tagged With: .38 Special, 856, Blackhawk, Concealed Carry, Galco, Home Defense, personal defense, pocket holsters, Revolvers, Taurus, Winchester

A Great Home Defender: The .38 Special

A time proven axiom is that if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. This applies to the .38 Special revolver as a home defender. I have trained many shooters over the years to use the double action revolver well, and most, if not all have chosen a .38 Special as the baseline caliber. [Read more…] about A Great Home Defender: The .38 Special


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August 16, 2019

Filed Under: Ammunition, Reviews Tagged With: .38 Special, Concealed Carry, Federal Cartridge Company, Federal HST, Galco, Home Defense, personal defense, Ruger, Smith and Wesson, Taurus

Review: Smith and Wesson L Frame Revolver

As a young shooter, I began firing centerfire revolvers using a Smith and Wesson K frame. I later owned several N frame .357 Magnum revolvers and the K frame Combat Magnum .357 Magnum. I handloaded my own ammunition and learned a great deal about marksmanship and handguns with the Smith and Wesson. [Read more…] about Review: Smith and Wesson L Frame Revolver


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February 21, 2019

Filed Under: Reviews, Revolvers, Smith and Wesson Tagged With: .357 Magnum, .38 Special, Galco, Remington, Revolvers, Smith and Wesson, Wheelgun

A Case for the Modern Revolver

Contrary to what you may see in a lot of the popular firearms media these days, the revolver as a self-defense tool is not dead. In fact, there are quite a few options available these days for those seeking a revolver for home defense, concealed carry or recreational shooting. But why would you choose a revolver when there are so many semi-automatic pistols available these days? Well, let me explain why you should consider one. [Read more…] about A Case for the Modern Revolver

May 14, 2018

Filed Under: Revolvers Tagged With: .357 Magnum, .38 Special, revolver, Smith and Wesson

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