Best and safest .357 home defense round

[tmark]

I no longer shoot my revolver at the range. I want to keep it for home defense. I live in a development with many homes
around me. I don't want my rounds to exit the walls of my house into that of another.

Would you recommend the Glaser Safety Slug for home defense? What other similar rounds are out there?

I reside in the state of Maryland.

[Art]

I no longer shoot my revolver at the range. I want to keep it for home defense. I live in a development with many homes
around me. I don't want my rounds to exit the walls of my house into that of another.

Would you recommend the Glaser Safety Slug for home defense? What other similar rounds are out there?

I reside in the state of Maryland.

For your concerns the Safety slug is probably a good choice. There are two issues. It probably won't shoot to your sights, and it's darn expensive. You might want to make one last trip to the range with a few rounds make sure you're on target and to make any adjustments. The stuff is not cheap but since its going to be you "nightstand gun" you won't need to shoot any after the range trip if you choose to make it.

A P.S. This stuff is almost impossible to find even though it is still supposed to be in production. I've even seen it on auction sites....good luck.

[Allen]

+P 38 special HP.

My 2 cents.

[S.A. Boggs]

Snake shot.
Sam

[Art]

Allen is correct, a reliable .38 Special Hollow Point is the way to go.

Like Allen suggests a person in your situation should avoid Magnum loads like the plague. The most effective round out of a .357 Magnum, and possibly the most effective out of any handgun is one of the .125 gr. semi jacketed hollow point preferably the Remington or Federal versions. They generally don't ovepenetrate the target (bad guy) either. However, those are really wicked in terms of buck and blast. Shoot them inside once and you may need hearing aids after and especially since you're not going to be practicing, again, Allen is right; in your situation I RECOMMEND STAYING AWAY FROM THOSE or any magnum load for that matter.

Now, the problem with .38 Special has always been finding a hollow point bullet that will expand reliably at under 1,000 fps. Winchester solved that problem, at least for 4" barrel guns with the lead 158 gr. semi wadcutter hollow points. They expand reliably and have a proven track record in many, many fights. The fly in the ointment with these loads is lack of expansion in barrel lengths under 4". I personally prefer the Remington version if I can find it because it has the biggest hollow cavity and the softest lead. If you have a 'snubby" there have been some options that actually work. One of the best is the Speer Gold Dot 135 gr. "Short Barrel" load. By all accounts it actually works at snubby velocities but can be hard to find. Several other companies make equivalent loads.

S.A. Boggs recommended bird shot. When I worked for the "gubmint" I knew an old boy who had that as an option for the first two shots in his home defense revolver. After the first two, though he went "full Jamaican," hollow point, hollow point, hollow point, hollow point.

My devalued $.02 worth and as usual your mileage may vary.

[Johnny P]

As Allen suggested, a good .38 Special load. All the power and flash of a .357 load just isn't needed, and in your home will shoot to the same POA even if you had time to get the right sight picture.

[bruce]

Take a look at Ammo to Go https://www.ammunitiontogo.com/index.php/cName/pistol-ammo-357-magnum You can compare penetration, velocity and expansion for loads you wish to consider. Glaser safety slug was a good idea, but it is no longer produced. Basically a very light for caliber JHP will be a good choice. This will limit penetration. A good .38 Special load would be a very good choice. HTH. Sincerely. bruce.

[S.A. Boggs]

Allen is correct, a reliable .38 Special Hollow Point is the way to go.

Like Allen suggests a person in your situation should avoid Magnum loads like the plague. The most effective round out of a .357 Magnum, and possibly the most effective out of any handgun is one of the .125 gr. semi jacketed hollow point preferably the Remington or Federal versions. They generally don't ovepenetrate the target (bad guy) either. However, those are really wicked in terms of buck and blast. Shoot them inside once and you may need hearing aids after and especially since you're not going to be practicing, again, Allen is right; in your situation I RECOMMEND STAYING AWAY FROM THOSE or any magnum load for that matter.

Now, the problem with .38 Special has always been finding a hollow point bullet that will expand reliably at under 1,000 fps. Winchester solved that problem, at least for 4" barrel guns with the lead 158 gr. semi wadcutter hollow points. They expand reliably and have a proven track record in many, many fights. The fly in the ointment with these loads is lack of expansion in barrel lengths under 4". I personally prefer the Remington version if I can find it because it has the biggest hollow cavity and the softest lead. If you have a 'snubby" there have been some options that actually work. One of the best is the Speer Gold Dot 135 gr. "Short Barrel" load. By all accounts it actually works at snubby velocities but can be hard to find. Several other companies make equivalent loads.

S.A. Boggs recommended bird shot. When I worked for the "gubmint" I knew an old boy who had that as an option for the first two shots in his home defense revolver. After the first two, though he went "full Jamaican," hollow point, hollow point, hollow point, hollow point.

My devalued $.02 worth and as usual your mileage may vary.
The reason for the snake shot is being woke up at 0 dark 30. Another thought is 148 grain wadcutter, low nose and recoil. Shot placement is the key, not so much as power. Kneeling position is preferred as to standing... smaller target and not being where the perp thinks you are.
Sam

[Oyaji]

Buffalo Bore's Standard Pressure Short Barrel Low Flash Heavy .38 Special round featuring 150g Hard Cast Wad Cutter - (850 fps/M.E. 241 ft. lbs.)

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=111

[Vern Humphrey]

Let me be an iconoclast. Handguns are bad choices for home defense! They are hard to shoot under good conditions. In semi-darkness, with your knees knocking and your teeth chattering, an intruder may think, "I can take that gun away from him.)

But in semi-darkness, with your knees knocking and your teeth chattering, and a shotgun in your hands an intruder will think, "I better stand real still. That thing might go off."

[Oyaji]

Let me be an iconoclast. Handguns are bad choices for home defense! They are hard to shoot under good conditions. In semi-darkness, with your knees knocking and your teeth chattering, an intruder may think, "I can take that gun away from him.)

But in semi-darkness, with your knees knocking and your teeth chattering, and a shotgun in your hands an intruder will think, "I better stand real still. That thing might go off."

Agreed. In actuality, I do think that a short barreled 12ga pump shotgun loaded with #4 buck is a much better choice given the situation the OP describes. Might also want to consider the 1 3/4" mini-shells offered by Aguila and others manufacturers.

[tmark]

All great comments with many options. Thanks!

[barretcreek]

I'll swing the opposite direction. A Pepperblaster or a Taser; if legal. No hesitation to use it and less blowback afterwards.

Grew up in MD and know the politics.

[Art]

I'll swing the opposite direction. A Pepperblaster or a Taser; if legal. No hesitation to use it and less blowback afterwards.

Grew up in MD and know the politics.

Here is a pretty darn good little tutorial from Masaad Ayoub on the advantages (and a few limitations) op chemical incapacitants like pepper spray. One thing he mentions that I know to be true. Some people when you spray them will become even more dangerous if they can get to you. Bullets aren't magic and neither is this stuff. I had a partner when I was working up in New York City who is still one of my best friends. I worked a case with him that was not quite finished before I moved back to Texas. Well the time came for him to make the arrest and he took a lady FBI Agent with him. The "perp" was eating in a restaurant, my old partner who I'll call "Bob" walked up to him flipped out his badge and credentials and was promptly "Maced" by the bad guy. Well "Bob" couldn't see, and was in great pain but the bad guy wasn't in a spot he could move quickly so "Bob" charged the follow, grabbed him by the collar and belt and threw him through the plate glass window in front of the restaurant. He and the lady agent then handcuffed the "perp."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v+pWUq-OEYpiI

I think I have this you tube info correct but for some reason my 'puter doesn't want to show you tube on this site so let me know if it works. If it doesn't I'll try again or you can just look up Massad Ayoub and pepper spray on you tube.

[Former Cav]

go here
https://gunmagwarehouse.com/blog/that-classic-old-fbi-38-special-load/

[RED]

Agreed. In actuality, I do think that a short barreled 12ga pump shotgun loaded with #4 buck is a much better choice given the situation the OP describes. Might also want to consider the 1 3/4" mini-shells offered by Aguila and others manufacturers.

For inside the house close up #8 birdshot will kill instantly in body mass and blinded by a headshot.

[Former Cav]

I have #4 buck for the mossy 930spx and I've test fired it with that and a variety of slugs ranging in 1000 to 1400 FPS.
the 1400's will almost detach your retina's !

[Oyaji]

I have #4 buck for the mossy 930spx and I've test fired it with that and a variety of slugs ranging in 1000 to 1400 FPS.
the 1400's will almost detach your retina's !

I've got a Mossberg 930 SPX fitted with OR3GUN internals that I really like however, I don't rely on it for self-defense being a semi-auto. The Remington 870 and Maverick pumps I have located throughout the premises fill that role.

[Former Cav]

Agreed. In actuality, I do think that a short barreled 12ga pump shotgun loaded with #4 buck is a much better choice given the situation the OP describes. Might also want to consider the 1 3/4" mini-shells offered by Aguila and others manufacturers.

might want to reconsider those mini shells. Read here
https://gatdaily.com/articles/musings-on-the-perfect-mini-shell/

[Oyaji]

might want to reconsider those mini shells. Read here
https://gatdaily.com/articles/musings-on-the-perfect-mini-shell/

I have considered them and personally, I wouldn't use them for self-defense for the exact same reasons outlined in the article you linked to.