Just curious how they would compare to each other in performance. The 38 would be in a snubby and the 9mm is in a small Kahr automatic. Either is the right size. Thanks.

Boy with some of the great self defense bullets available that's a hard choice. I'm a revolver kind of guy so I carry the 38 snubby in a pocket in the front pocket of my jeans and that's my choice. I do believe a revolver is simpler to use and safer to carry hot, but that's just me.

I shoot my Rossi 357 snubby using 38 specials..no +Ps and the recoil is so very and mild & light.
Then, I pick up my wife's Lady Smith in 9mm,fire it and it feel like the 9 kicks a lot more,has much more muzzle climb is actually harder for me to control than a stainless steel snub nose revolver that weighs 26oz.If I had to choose between these 2 calibers and the 2 guns in my household, my choice would be the snubby any day. The snub nose is also more concealable for me.Now, the wife has no problem with the Lady Smith in her holstered fanny pack.

When I could not decide, I got one of each. My lady friend got her CCW and I fitted her out with an S&W Model 36 .38 Special with a 2-inch barrel. I prefer a revolver as a carry gun. All the best...
Gil

Boy with some of the great self defense bullets available that's a hard choice. I'm a revolver kind of guy so I carry the 38 snubby in a pocket in the front pocket of my jeans and that's my choice. I do believe a revolver is simpler to use and safer to carry hot, but that's just me.


I agree completely. I too prefer the revolver from a reliability standpoint -- you just pull it out of your pocket and squeeze......

I also chose the poscket 38's as my small weapon of choise. I have 3 a M-36, a M-60 in 38 Special and a Charter Arms Under Cover. I shoot either the 125 grain +P Renington load or the 158 grain +P LSWCHP.

in the cal. you gave as choice ,,id agree with the snubby.. my 9m sig is as dependable as i could ask for ,,but no way im strapping it on every day.. i have no experience with the small pocket 9 mils out..
now if you want to go[ .380 hornets nest]and real easy carry id make a recommendation..:)but thats not what you ask..
uncle jerky ,,i wish id read your post before i bought my rossi 357..
i guess the plus p is what did mine in.. but they told me i was good to go with plus p 38 ammo..i really liked that gun.. i may end up with the taurus yet as i still do..i really like my 9mm sig but would rather have an revolver i can pocket carry ..so im thinking of trading used for used at one of the gun shops or shows etc...we ll see..good luck ruger..

I've never shot either, so you all are one up on me. I have two revolvers, a 22 and a 45 Colt. What I am looking for is a medium caliber that isn't as expensive to shoot for plinking but has enough thump for other uses as well. I don't have a CC license but have thought about getting one. I looked at a Kahr 9mm a few months ago that was small and felt good in my hand. Don't know how the recoil is. Either one I think would be a more practical choice than my 45 for a nightstand gun or one to carry in the truck or back pocket.

in the cal. you gave as choice ,,id agree with the snubby.. my 9m sig is as dependable as i could ask for ,,but no way im strapping it on every day.. i have no experience with the small pocket 9 mils out..
now if you want to go[ .380 hornets nest]and real easy carry id make a ecommendation..:)but thats not what you ask..
uncle jerky ,,i wish id read your post before i bought my rossi 357..
i guess the plus p is what did mine in.. but they told me i was good to go with plus p 38 ammo..i really liked that gun.. i may end up with the taurus yet as i still do..i really like my 9mm sig but would rather have an revolver i can pocket carry ..so im thinking of trading used for used at one of the gun shops or shows etc...we ll see..good luck ruger..

The Rossi 357 snubby is rated for +p 38 ammo,but I just choose not to shoot it out of a 357. I mean, I could shoot 357s instead and standard 38s.

Those little guns are a handful with magnum loads. My M60 is anyway. It's shootable but it's not really fun. I just changed out my Crimson Trace grip for a Hogue monogrip to see if that tames it a bit.

I carry 135gr 38 +p gold dots in it.

I'm shooting a Taurus Ultra-light. It's rated for plus P's and it's fun to shoot. If I were looking for a plinking gun though I'd sure want something with a little longer barrel and adjustable sights.

You might look at the new Ruger SP 101 in 32 Federal magnum with the three inch barrel or the 38 special with the 4 inch barrel. Both of those are very accurate and pretty inexpensive to load, especially with cast bullets. These are fairly light and small enough for a carry gun with an inside the pants holster and have plenty of power for a defense gun.

My little 38 snubby is a wonderful little pocket gun, but for plinking I take my Rossi 22 or the Taurus 41 mag Tracker loaded with cast at around 850 fps. Both with adjustable sights and both accurate as the dickens. I can load the 41 down to 39 special velocities and plink all day for near the cost of a 22 with my cast bullets. You can do the same with the 38. I cast Lee's tumble lube wadcutters for it and shoot it for penny's a round.

As you can see I'm a revolver guy. Nothing wrong with a semi, but when I had my S&W 4013 Tactical I never found all the brass I shot. It would always throw some where they just disappeared. I really hated that for a plinking gun. A nice little double action revolver is so easy to just dump a cylinder full of empties out in your hand to stick back in your pocket or a bag.

Sir,

I have one of each of the guns that you are considering, an older model Smith mod 38, and the PM9 Kahr. I'd recommend either of these as a well advised, light hide out carry companion, that would serve you well in its intended role. I do have a few observations of these guns that may be of use.

I've had the smith the longest, and it is worn mostly on the ankle, where the holster combination hides the gun well, and its lightest is a real attribute. I carry this gun in this fashion more than any other, and actually refer to it as the "american express card", because I don't leave home without it. The advantages of the gun are its simplicity, reliabilty, and it will withstand moderate amounts of neglect and still function, in terms of dust or any other contraband that makes its way into the holster. Additionally, I carry a heavy lead swchp +p, and have developed a degree of confidence in these rounds, feeling that they will penetrate as well or better than any of the smaller defense rounds. Its disadvantages are that its not as accuratte as the Kahr, capacity is 2 rounds less, that spare ammo can be difficult to carry, and that it does not follow up as well in terms of reacquiring the front sight for fast shooting of rounds 2-5.

The Kahr is a very easy to conceal on the belt, and if is a natural for strong side hip carry under a untucked shirt of any design. Mine rides in a 1911 Galco silouette (sp?) holster, and it fits in there beautifully. It shoots very straight, and is actually more accuratte than my Glock 19. This gun can be particular about which loads it likes, mine is very found of 147 hydra's, and 115 remington standard JHPs. The corbon +p's give this gun a very significant muzzle jump, but with standard velocity rounds its not bad, at all. Additional mags in the pocket are no problem, and fit in there without any measure of discomfort. The disadvantages of this gun is that normally a hip carried piece can be larger, if a jacket is worn, and with a jacket I won't consider it, and strap on a commander length 1911. Additionally, the slide is so small that I have a hard time getting a grip on it to charge the piece, so immediatte action is nearly impossible, but luckily have not had a malfunction to date. Another disadvantage is that it has a fairly long trigger reset, that will have to be mastered if the engagement is fast and requires more than one round.

I like both of mine, and exercise both regularly. I tend to carry the smith more, as it is so convenient, but shoot the Kahr a great deal more as it is likley the harder gun of the two to master.

Hope that this was helpful, my best to you Sir.

Steve

I've never shot either, so you all are one up on me. I have two revolvers, a 22 and a 45 Colt. What I am looking for is a medium caliber that isn't as expensive to shoot for plinking but has enough thump for other uses as well. I don't have a CC license but have thought about getting one. I looked at a Kahr 9mm a few months ago that was small and felt good in my hand. Don't know how the recoil is. Either one I think would be a more practical choice than my 45 for a nightstand gun or one to carry in the truck or back pocket.


I've had my CCW to where i could carry a semi auto or a revolver. persomnally I prefer a revolver. most of the time I slip my S&W 696 in my pocket when I carry. It's simple to use and reliable. The only time you would need a semi auto is for the capacity for more Ammo if you get into a situation such as a riot where you's need it. I prefer to avoid those types of situations by keeping aware of my surrondings.

There are a lotof good revolvers out there and some of them have been recommended here. go to your local range that rents guns and try different ones out and see which one you like.

The 9mm will give higher velocity with most loads. The CorBon 115 load goes 1260 from my Glock 26. Most 38 loads are much less. You could split the difference and get a 9mm revolver. Harder to find but better performance from the ammo. Taurus was advertising a short cylinder 9mm 5 shot but I havent seen any in the flesh.

Hello, I carry a S&W 637. It's a +p rated 38spl. It shoots to point of aim with most ammo I've tried. It hides well in a pocket after I changed to real wood grips,Seems to slip in and out easier. Don't have much experience with autos other than 1911's. See ya, Bill

Typically a 9mm will push bullets of the same weight a bit faster than a .38 -- but you can fire heavier bullets with the .38, and with the excellent +P loads today I really don't feel there's much difference. I think it really comes down to what you prefer -- revolver or auto. In a pocket piece, I prefer the snubbie -- but I've got a darned nice S&W 6906 that rides on my belt a lot.