I'm thinking of getting a .38 special revolver for my wife, does it have sufficient stopping power?

Question

it's mainly for a home defense gun

we're looking at a rossi 5-shot model, which seems to fit her hand the best compared to others.

Answer 1

YES......38 Special caliber is a great gun for your wife to use as a home defense weapon. Many of the women in my combat shooting classes prefer to use a 38 Special rather than a 9mm or something larger. Loaded with Hollow points it can easy hold it's own in a defense posture and it is a comfortable yet capable caliber for a woman to shoot accurately and easily. You can shoot 38 Special reloaded wad-cutters for inexpensive practice, and save your factory loaded hollow points for actual use at home. I don't think you can go wrong here with your choice. Take her to a few Gun shops and let her handle a few different models and makes if you don't have a particular handgun in mind. The Smith & Wesson Model 36's and the Colt Detective Specials are both excellent handguns that you should be able to find used but in great condition for less money than a new gun.

Good Luck with whatever you should decide on....

NOTE* I would recommend you pass on the Rossi, as they aren't a very dependable handgun for self defense. Look at the Smith & Wesson 5 Shot Model 36 or the 6 shot Colt DS, that I suggested earlier......This is a "get what you pay for" situation. Not one you want to cut corners to save a few dollars.....

Answer 2

I have a fair amount of practical experience with the .38 special. It's a great caliber that gets a bad wrap these days. I've seen a guy kill a black bear with a .38 special. But pick a better gun than a Rossi. Charter arms makes a gun in the same price range that is, in my opinion, vastly superior. Really, if at all possible, take JD's advice and find a Smith or a Colt. Then get some training for everyone in the house.

Answer 3

The Rossi is pretty much a piece of junk. There are many better choices out there. Before buying a Rossi, you ought to look at the used gun market. Almost any other gun that you might choose would be better than a Rossi. Take a look at some of the snub nose Taurus guns. I think you are correct in choosing a .38 Special revolver as opposed to a semi-auto. The revolver is almost fool proof where the semi-autos can present some problems. In the hands of a person who is going to get in a lot of practice, you can't beat the semi-auto but for a someone who will not be taking it to the range with any degree of regularity, the revolver is best.

Answer 4

JD's answer is spot on. Those modding it down, don't get it.

A .38 is a good choice. I strongly recommend going with a Smith and Wesson revolver. Frankly, I'd even go with a .357 Magnum Smith and Wesson revolver, and then load it with .38 special rounds. The Rossi... I wouldn't trust my life to it...

You can also get grips for the revolvers to make them better fit your wife's hands. There are several that have rubberized grips that make managing the recoil much easier.

Then get a defensive hand gun training class. The more she practices the more comfortable she'll be. The next thin you know she'll want another firearm, and a few more others, and... well she'll shoot better than you before you know it. =)

Good luck!!!

Answer 5

.38s are weak weapons. I'd suggest a .40 automatic. Yes there are reliability issues with automatics and they are more complex to clean but the .40 is the best combo of stopping power with light kick out there. They only kick a little more than a .38 does but have a whole lot more stopping power. Easy to carry and conceal if needed.

The .357 probably has more kick than she wants. A .44 special with a 5 shot is easy to carry, fairly accurate if you get the right model and the kick isn't as bad as a magnum's. Probably about what you see with a .40, a bit more than a .38 but most ladies could handle it. The .44 special though has some wicked knock down power but lacks the penetration you see with a .44 or .357 mag. Only downside is the ammo is expensive and sometimes hard to find.

Answer 6

As my old hero, the late Bill Jordan used to say, "The only cartridge to kill more men than the .38 SPL is the .22 rimfire."

Your wife will do fine with a .38 SPL snubby. I'm no great fan of Rossi revolvers, but it it fits her hand and tickles her fancy, go for it!

Doc

Answer 7

The .38 special revolver has a long history as the primary weapon for all police departments in the United States, 100's of thousands police officers have entrusted their safety to this weapon in it's 50+ years of service. Your wife will be well armed with the proper training.

Answer 8

Get more for your $$$$$$$ and buy a 357 magnum because you can also shoot 38 caliber ammo in it.* You get two (2)* handguns for the price of one (1)*. It is a proven man stopper.* No one should buy anything less than a 357 Magnum for self defense.* I prefer the Smith & Wesson or Colt with a 4" barrel.*

Answer 9

Uh yeah, it's a good enough cal. Also try looking at the .38 (maybe other cal. available too) S&W lady smith! Just got one for my wife and she loves it b/c it fits comfratbly, and most importantly she sais it's cute lol.

PS. Everyone don't forget law enforcment has carred the .38 for years before converting and it's saved there butts more than once.

Answer 10

Yes, it does. The main thing to remember is that a gun is just a tool, it is no good to a person, unless they get proficient in the use of it. You cannot expect to get good with just one or two sessions at the range.