Kitchen gun: .38 spl. vs .44 spl.

Millie

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This thread was suggested to me, so here goes:

Thoughts on a .38 spl vs. .44 spl as my kitchen revolver?

It's not going to be used as a range gun, except for keeping up practice. It's just to be able to nail a sneaky robber who makes it into that side of the house and I've left my carry gun in the other room.

I'll take any and all info!
Thanks again.
 
All things .38spcl will cost significantly less than .44 spcl

.44spcl is “better” at killing things; however, not a single person on this planet will volunteer to be shot by a .38spcl
 
It is roughly like comparing 9mm to .45ACP. Except, like Tim said, cost. Cheapest .44 special I’ve found is around $22-25 per 50 rounds. And that’s just for range and plinking ammo.

So, if you wanted an extremely fun range gun, then Jd recommend the .44 special. But for “social work” the. I’d stick to a nice .38/.357


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Most .44 Specials are fired in .44 Mag guns. Problem with that is they are bigger and heavier guns. The few specific .44 Special chambered DA guns are the discontinued Rossi .44 SPL and Taurus's 431/441 guns. Both are K framed sized, steel and 5 shooters. Smith made the 696 on the slightly larger L frame and 396 Bodyguard and NG. All of those are also 5 shooters. Charter Arms has been making the Bulldog .44 Special since 67' I believe and mine was made in 69'. These are a lighter aluminum 5 shot framed guns which will have more recoil then the steel guns. (also had a Taurus 431 3" fix sighted gun). Notice the 5 shooters are on a more carryable medium frame. For 6 shots will need a frame the size of the .44 Magnum hence most in this class are Magnums. One exception to this Smith 69 which is a 5 shot L frame in .44 Magnum. Course there are also guns chambered in .44 SPL in single action, derringers and single shots but those generally are not self defense guns. Most medium framed .38 caliber guns will give you 6 shots but their are a few by Taurus and Smith 7 shooters. On the larger .44 Mag frames you can also get up to 8 rds of .38/.357.

For me the cost of ammo is the same as .38 Special since I cast my own bullets in both calibers. However, .44 Special ammo is going to be harder to find in stores and less options along with higher costs. For a larger caliber but with lower cost of ammo you may want to look at the .45 ACP revolvers. Only a few out there but for a kitchen gun worth it. They are the Smith/Colt 1917, Smith 1955/25, 625 and 325NG: Taurus Tracker and Charter Arms Pitbull. My kitchen gun is a Smith 58 .41 Magnum loaded with a 205 gr SWC at 900 fps, not recommended due to cost of ammo and cult following of gun :D

CD
 
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.38 for all the reasons above plus though I have never shot a .44 special I am thinking the .38 may be easier to handle. If I am wrong I am sure I will be slapped down fairly quickly and I will deserve it. ;)
 
You need to get to the range and shoot different guns so youre not buying more guns that you arent comfortable with
Either one of those calibers will work for your intended use, but make sure you ENJOY the gun. It's comfortable, youre accurate with it, youre not scared of shooting it etc
 
Why buy another gun just to keep in the kitchen?
You don't know where you will be during a home invasion.
You have already spent considerable time and money becoming proficient with your carry gun.
Carry the pistol you've been training with around the house, out back when you're gardening, etc.
 
Also, dont get so hung up on calibers, like where you'll base your next revolver on if its a 38 or 44.
Just go shoot and whatever feels the best is what you need to go with.
Everyone is different with differing opinions, what is good/comfortable (I keep using this because youve made mention of not liking to shoot the first gun you bought) for me is different from someone else, which is different from you, which is different from the next person and so on.

JUST
GO
SHOOT
 
My wife shoots the .38 quite well so we have one stashed in the kitchen, the bathrooms, bedrooms, living room...

I have an old friend who has a stack of old rifles and shotguns piled up in a corner in each room. I asked him if any where loaded and he said "yup, but you have to figure out which one". :p:D
 
Unless you've extra play money, are out of debt, and retirement funds are where they need to be, keep your carry gun with you.
38 vs. 44? If a heavier gun works for you, I'd lean towards a 45ACP as @Combat Diver mentioned, or a 44mag and shoot Spl's out of it. The heavier frame will absorb more recoil as well. Find someone that has one and go warm it up.
The 41 mag is a great round, ballistically VERY close to a 10mm.
 
Most .44 Specials are fired in .44 Mag guns. Problem with that is they are bigger and heavier guns. The few specific .44 Special chambered DA guns are the discontinued Rossi .44 SPL and Taurus's 431/441 guns. Both are K framed sized, steel and 5 shooters. Smith made the 696 on the slightly larger L frame and 396 Bodyguard and NG. All of those are also 5 shooters. Charter Arms has been making the Bulldog .44 Special since 67' I believe and mine was made in 69'. These are a lighter aluminum 5 shot framed guns which will have more recoil then the steel guns. (also had a Taurus 431 3" fix sighted gun). Notice the 5 shooters are on a more carryable medium frame. For 6 shots will need a frame the size of the .44 Magnum hence most in this class are Magnums. One exception to this Smith 69 which is a 5 shot L frame in .44 Magnum. Course there are also guns chambered in .44 SPL in single action, derringers and single shots but those generally are not self defense guns. Most medium framed .38 caliber guns will give you 6 shots but their are a few by Taurus and Smith 7 shooters. On the larger .44 Mag frames you can also get up to 8 rds of .38/.357.

For me the cost of ammo is the same as .38 Special since I cast my own bullets in both calibers. However, .44 Special ammo is going to be harder to find in stores and less options along with higher costs. For a larger caliber but with lower cost of ammo you may want to look at the .45 ACP revolvers. Only a few out there but for a kitchen gun worth it. They are the Smith/Colt 1917, Smith 1955/25, 625 and 325NG: Taurus Tracker and Charter Arms Pitbull. My kitchen gun is a Smith 58 .41 Magnum loaded with a 205 gr SWC at 900 fps, not recommended due to cost of ammo and cult following of gun :D

CD

I get a little excited at the thought of a S&W 625 Performance Shop gun with some nice VZ grips on it. My Dad has an older Model 25 with a 6" barrel and it shoots like a dream. He's better with that than his finely tuned model 41.
 
Why buy another gun just to keep in the kitchen?
You don't know where you will be during a home invasion.
You have already spent considerable time and money becoming proficient with your carry gun.
Carry the pistol you've been training with around the house, out back when you're gardening, etc.

Good point here @Millie . You need a gun for EVERY room. :D
 
I have to echo what many others here have said. Why a gun just for the kitchen? I have at least one gun on me all the time. (Caution; do not show up at my door without prior notice, especially after dark). I also have other guns stashed strategically about the house that will serve to get me to my safe area in the event there is trouble.
 
My wife shoots the .38 quite well so we have one stashed in the kitchen, the bathrooms, bedrooms, living room...

I have an old friend who has a stack of old rifles and shotguns piled up in a corner in each room. I asked him if any where loaded and he said "yup, but you have to figure out which one". :p:D
I'm the same way,since my wife's weapon of choice is a revolver for the longest time any pawn shop I'd walk into that had a 200 or less 38 revolver I'd buy it,now there's a 38 revolver or two in every room of the house.
 
Nobody is going to suggest .41 as long as she’s casting about for a new caliber?

Have some .41 special brass, but have never loaded/shot it.
 
Don't you already have a 38spl? If so why keep another caliber in the stable (unless you want more)?

Get a 4" police trade in if you can find one.
I do have a .38, but it's not working out for me...though I'm giving it every benefit of the doubt. It's way too "lite" and it's painful to shoot. I need a heavier gun.
 
Most .44 Specials are fired in .44 Mag guns. Problem with that is they are bigger and heavier guns. The few specific .44 Special chambered DA guns are the discontinued Rossi .44 SPL and Taurus's 431/441 guns. Both are K framed sized, steel and 5 shooters. Smith made the 696 on the slightly larger L frame and 396 Bodyguard and NG. All of those are also 5 shooters. Charter Arms has been making the Bulldog .44 Special since 67' I believe and mine was made in 69'. These are a lighter aluminum 5 shot framed guns which will have more recoil then the steel guns. (also had a Taurus 431 3" fix sighted gun). Notice the 5 shooters are on a more carryable medium frame. For 6 shots will need a frame the size of the .44 Magnum hence most in this class are Magnums. One exception to this Smith 69 which is a 5 shot L frame in .44 Magnum. Course there are also guns chambered in .44 SPL in single action, derringers and single shots but those generally are not self defense guns. Most medium framed .38 caliber guns will give you 6 shots but their are a few by Taurus and Smith 7 shooters. On the larger .44 Mag frames you can also get up to 8 rds of .38/.357.

For me the cost of ammo is the same as .38 Special since I cast my own bullets in both calibers. However, .44 Special ammo is going to be harder to find in stores and less options along with higher costs. For a larger caliber but with lower cost of ammo you may want to look at the .45 ACP revolvers. Only a few out there but for a kitchen gun worth it. They are the Smith/Colt 1917, Smith 1955/25, 625 and 325NG: Taurus Tracker and Charter Arms Pitbull. My kitchen gun is a Smith 58 .41 Magnum loaded with a 205 gr SWC at 900 fps, not recommended due to cost of ammo and cult following of gun :D

CD
Wow, lots of great info there. I'm thinking 6 rounds and .38 might be how I go. Size and weight aren't really in this mix, because I won't be CC-ing this gun, it'll just be for another part of the house.
 
Unless you've extra play money, are out of debt, and retirement funds are where they need to be, keep your carry gun with you.
38 vs. 44? If a heavier gun works for you, I'd lean towards a 45ACP as @Combat Diver mentioned, or a 44mag and shoot Spl's out of it. The heavier frame will absorb more recoil as well. Find someone that has one and go warm it up.
The 41 mag is a great round, ballistically VERY close to a 10mm.
My carry gun is not this revolver I'm looking for. I carry my Sig p238 almost always, even in the house, but sometimes I get up in the middle of the night, and forget to take it with me...hence the "guns in other rooms" thing. I have the bathroom covered (.380 KelTec) and the revolver I hope to replace is in the kitchen if it isn't at the range trying to hurt me. Lol.
As to warming up some revolvers....I intend to do just that very soon! Can't wait! I'll shoot as many calibres as I can and see what works for me.
 
I have to echo what many others here have said. Why a gun just for the kitchen? I have at least one gun on me all the time. (Caution; do not show up at my door without prior notice, especially after dark). I also have other guns stashed strategically about the house that will serve to get me to my safe area in the event there is trouble.
I try to keep my gun on me all the time, just sometimes in the middle of the night all groggy, I might forget to take it along to the loo.... so I'm hoping to have something in each room, and the revolver is the kitchen gun. Lol.
 
I agree with the .38 spl for the reasons listed already -- frame size, ease of use, cost of ammo, etc.


Bite your tongue!! Buy, buy, buy!! How many rooms do you have?!?! :)
5 rooms...and 4 guns, 3 of which actually work. Lol. So obviously I need more guns, right? Thanks for helping me spend my money!
 
.38 for all the reasons above plus though I have never shot a .44 special I am thinking the .38 may be easier to handle. If I am wrong I am sure I will be slapped down fairly quickly and I will deserve it. ;)
Well, at this point I'm thinking .38, but until I try some others, I won't know.
And also, I don't think any gun could be harder to handle than my current revolver. (If I'm wrong, I'll find out eventually!) I love it, but it just hates me. If I find a nice big heavy revolver, in whatever calibre, and can shoot it without cursing, I'm going to try to get one!
 
Also, dont get so hung up on calibers, like where you'll base your next revolver on if its a 38 or 44.
Just go shoot and whatever feels the best is what you need to go with.
Everyone is different with differing opinions, what is good/comfortable (I keep using this because youve made mention of not liking to shoot the first gun you bought) for me is different from someone else, which is different from you, which is different from the next person and so on.

JUST
GO
SHOOT
I plan to shoot whatever I can get my hands on. The thread was more of a way to get a discussion started. I'm certainly not getting stuck on the idea of a particular calibre, and we'll see what happens when I go shoot some different revolvers. Whatever I shoot best and with the least amount of bad words flying out of my mouth will be the winner, probably. Lol.
 
You need to get to the range and shoot different guns so youre not buying more guns that you arent comfortable with
Either one of those calibers will work for your intended use, but make sure you ENJOY the gun. It's comfortable, youre accurate with it, youre not scared of shooting it etc
Yeah, I was a big dummy when I bought the revolver, figuring if I can work all the parts and it fits my hand, it'll be good. This was well over a year ago, and I've learned a lot since then....mostly to not buy any gun without shooting it/one like it!! Lol. Lesson learned the hard way.
 
I have a 4" S&W .38 on top of the fridge and a 2.5" Taurus 431 in .44 special in the laundry room.Always have at least an LCP in my front pocket until I go to bed.
Hard to beat a .38 special for many uses.
 
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I have a 4" S&W .38 on top of the fridge and a 3.5" Taurus 431 in .44 special in the laundry room.Always have at least an LCP in my front pocket until I go to bed.
Hard to beat a .38 special for many uses.
I hope your Taurus isn't one of those "lite" ones...lol.
 
Sometimes it is necessary to shoot while cussing. Like "I'm going to shoot your ass."

Never hurts to practice both at the same time.[emoji41]

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Cursing like that is fine...lol...it's the cursing with pain I'm not liking so much when I shoot this gun.
 
I do have a .38, but it's not working out for me...though I'm giving it every benefit of the doubt. It's way too "lite" and it's painful to shoot. I need a heavier gun.
Try some "cowboy loads" in that lite. Cowboy loads are a bit tamer.

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Lesson learned the hard way.
I respectfuly disagree that this is "the hard way." It's the natural way.

You took classes, asked questions, looked into several, bought one you thought would suit, then, over time & with proctice, changed your mind about that one. What could be more natural than that?

Now, you're asking opinions, weighing them against your experience and perceived needs, and reaching for a solution with eyes and mind open. You also now understand that try-before-you-buy is usually an option and that it's smart to implement it if possible.

Furthermore, from what I've seen in many of your posts, you're doing this with a LOT less ego & fewer preconceived notions than most of us 'sperienced Profesh'nul Bois Who Know All About Shootin' Irons, So There! Which means you'll consider options that some of us would reject out of hand 'cause reasons, duh.

Keep on keepin' on and let us learn a little from you, too. :)
 
I respectfuly disagree that this is "the hard way." It's the natural way.

You took classes, asked questions, looked into several, bought one you thought would suit, then, over time & with proctice, changed your mind about that one. What could be more natural than that?

Now, you're asking opinions, weighing them against your experience and perceived needs, and reaching for a solution with eyes and mind open. You also now understand that try-before-you-buy is usually an option and that it's smart to implement it if possible.

Furthermore, from what I've seen in many of your posts, you're doing this with a LOT less ego & fewer preconceived notions than most of us 'sperienced Profesh'nul Bois Who Know All About Shootin' Irons, So There! Which means you'll consider options that some of us would reject out of hand 'cause reasons, duh.

Keep on keepin' on and let us learn a little from you, too. :)
You're giving me way too much credit! But thanks all the same.
Unfortunately, this revolver was bought before lessons, without having fired one, without asking questions here...this was awhile ago, so I didn't have any idea what I was doing, hadn't even fired a gun in decades. So yes, it was the hard way, for me. Now I get that you really do need to shoot the gun first....
I'll look at all the options I can get my mitts on, to avoid the lesson being repeated...lol.
 
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