Ammo for .38 S&W Titanium Airweight? (Merged)

dcb188 · May 16th, 2008, 12:56 PM

I now carry a .357 but used to carry the .38 S&W Titanium Airweight, cannot think of the model number.
Will that take Plus P easily?
What in your opinion is the best round for it re defense?

crzy4guns · May 16th, 2008, 01:07 PM

Being that your revolver is made from titanium, it should handle any +P load out there. The current .38 special +P load in vogue is the Speer 135 grain Gold Dot JHP "short barrel " brand. In .357 magnum, any 125 grain JHP round from Federal, Remington or Speer.

dcb188 · May 16th, 2008, 01:10 PM

Thanks. I don't have it anymore but want to get another one. It is one of those things where we sell a gun only to miss it later on.
Do you happen to know the model on that gun?

dcb188 · May 16th, 2008, 01:13 PM

I now carry a .357 but also want to go back to a gun I used to have, the S&W Titanium Airweight .38
I think a .38 is adequate for defense. Not real powerful but powerful enough for defense. (I am not so sure about lesser calibers)
I would like to hear what you think. Is a .38 enough for defense?

HowardCohodas · May 16th, 2008, 01:19 PM

You might find this insteresting reading. Terminal ballistics as viewed in a morgue

Kerbouchard · May 16th, 2008, 01:21 PM

Here's a few links on the .38's effectiveness from some of the other question's in the past...

.38 Special, Was There a Conspiracy?
.38+p ????
Anybody Happy With Plain Old 38 Special Standard Pressure?
357 MAGNUM or 38SPL for my new EDC Snub Revolver??? Help me out!!!
Why did you choose the caliber that you use?
Personal Defense Ammo

dcb188 · May 16th, 2008, 01:24 PM

Hmmm. Does say that he sees the victims of quite a few .38s and compares the velocity etc to not that much different than a .357 but prefers the .45. Nowhere does he disparage the .38 though. Is this what you get out of it, too, Howard? And by the way, nice talking with you again....

50 caliber is a great idea. Thanks.

Maybe the horse is beaten but I ain't laid a hand on it :) First ever question about ammo, because I have no idea of what is good and what isn't re ammo.

pogo2 · May 16th, 2008, 03:12 PM

I think the .38 special can be very useful for defense, and I have a couple of them which I sometimes use. I currently load them with the fairly new Speer 135 grain Gold Dot +P ammo, which has a muzzle velocity of about 860 fps from a snubby barrel, and 225 ft-lbs of energy. Speer says they designed this specifically for short barrel revolvers.

Superhouse 15 · May 16th, 2008, 03:30 PM

IIRC it is stamped .38 S&W Spl +P. My ex has mine

but I think it was marked for +P on the barrel. She carried 129gr +P Hydra Shoks in it as issued by her former LEO agency.

MattLarson · May 16th, 2008, 03:36 PM

Above a certain minimum power threshold - which IMHO the .38 definitely makes - it's more about shot placement and repeat shot placement than caliber.

Unless it's got wheels and being towed behind a jeep (or mounted on an armored vehicle), nothing is guaranteed to be a first-shot fight ender. It's all about shot placement, and placing additional shots until the threat is stopped.

Matt

May 16th, 2008, 12:56 PM	#1
dcb188 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mid-Cape Cod, Mass. Posts: 862	Ammo for .38 S&W Titanium Airweight? (Merged) I now carry a .357 but used to carry the .38 S&W Titanium Airweight, cannot think of the model number. Will that take Plus P easily? What in your opinion is the best round for it re defense? __________________ Surrounded and outnumbered, Marine Col Lewis Puller: "Good! We finally got 'em where we want 'em!" (Korea, 1950) __________________________________ Right is Wrong and Wrong is Right. __________________________________ Socrates : "Knowledge is knowing that we know nothing".

May 16th, 2008, 01:07 PM	#2
crzy4guns Distinguished Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,290	Being that your revolver is made from titanium, it should handle any +P load out there. The current .38 special +P load in vogue is the Speer 135 grain Gold Dot JHP "short barrel " brand. In .357 magnum, any 125 grain JHP round from Federal, Remington or Speer. __________________ How can you tell when a politician is lying? When his lips move!

May 16th, 2008, 01:10 PM	#3
dcb188 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mid-Cape Cod, Mass. Posts: 862	Thanks. I don't have it anymore but want to get another one. It is one of those things where we sell a gun only to miss it later on. Do you happen to know the model on that gun? __________________ Surrounded and outnumbered, Marine Col Lewis Puller: "Good! We finally got 'em where we want 'em!" (Korea, 1950) __________________________________ Right is Wrong and Wrong is Right. __________________________________ Socrates : "Knowledge is knowing that we know nothing".

May 16th, 2008, 01:13 PM	#4
dcb188 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mid-Cape Cod, Mass. Posts: 862	.38 I now carry a .357 but also want to go back to a gun I used to have, the S&W Titanium Airweight .38 I think a .38 is adequate for defense. Not real powerful but powerful enough for defense. (I am not so sure about lesser calibers) I would like to hear what you think. Is a .38 enough for defense? __________________ Surrounded and outnumbered, Marine Col Lewis Puller: "Good! We finally got 'em where we want 'em!" (Korea, 1950) __________________________________ Right is Wrong and Wrong is Right. __________________________________ Socrates : "Knowledge is knowing that we know nothing".

May 16th, 2008, 01:19 PM	#5
HowardCohodas Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canton, OH Posts: 559	You might find this insteresting reading. Terminal ballistics as viewed in a morgue __________________ Howard *I carry a gun because I can't carry a cop!!* EDC Primary: M&P 45fs with Crimson Trace LaserGrip plus a 14-round spare mag in a SmartCarry holster - http://MP-Pistol.com/ EDC BUG: LCP with Crimson Trace LG-431 - http://LCPforum.com/

May 16th, 2008, 01:21 PM	#6
Kerbouchard VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 2,519	Here's a few links on the .38's effectiveness from some of the other question's in the past... .38 Special, Was There a Conspiracy? .38+p ???? Anybody Happy With Plain Old 38 Special Standard Pressure? 357 MAGNUM or 38SPL for my new EDC Snub Revolver??? Help me out!!! Why did you choose the caliber that you use? Personal Defense Ammo __________________ Money can be lost or stolen, health and strength may fail, but what you have committed to your mind is yours forever. http://miscmusings.townhall.com/ Who is John Galt? Last edited by Kerbouchard; May 16th, 2008 at 04:14 PM.

May 16th, 2008, 01:24 PM	#7
dcb188 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mid-Cape Cod, Mass. Posts: 862	Hmmm. Does say that he sees the victims of quite a few .38s and compares the velocity etc to not that much different than a .357 but prefers the .45. Nowhere does he disparage the .38 though. Is this what you get out of it, too, Howard? And by the way, nice talking with you again.... 50 caliber is a great idea. Thanks. Maybe the horse is beaten but I ain't laid a hand on it :) First ever question about ammo, because I have no idea of what is good and what isn't re ammo. __________________ Surrounded and outnumbered, Marine Col Lewis Puller: "Good! We finally got 'em where we want 'em!" (Korea, 1950) __________________________________ Right is Wrong and Wrong is Right. __________________________________ Socrates : "Knowledge is knowing that we know nothing".

May 16th, 2008, 03:12 PM	#8
pogo2 Distinguished Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,980	.38 ammo suggestions I think the .38 special can be very useful for defense, and I have a couple of them which I sometimes use. I currently load them with the fairly new Speer 135 grain Gold Dot +P ammo, which has a muzzle velocity of about 860 fps from a snubby barrel, and 225 ft-lbs of energy. Speer says they designed this specifically for short barrel revolvers. __________________ Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the Peoples' Liberty's Teeth." - George Washington

May 16th, 2008, 03:30 PM	#9
Superhouse 15 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 833	Airlight Ti IIRC it is stamped .38 S&W Spl +P. My ex has mine but I think it was marked for +P on the barrel. She carried 129gr +P Hydra Shoks in it as issued by her former LEO agency.

May 16th, 2008, 03:36 PM	#10
MattLarson Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,378	Above a certain minimum power threshold - which IMHO the .38 definitely makes - it's more about shot placement and repeat shot placement than caliber. Unless it's got wheels and being towed behind a jeep (or mounted on an armored vehicle), nothing is guaranteed to be a first-shot fight ender. It's all about shot placement, and placing additional shots until the threat is stopped. Matt __________________ Hope is not a plan.

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