Yeah, you're right about the .38. When I carried mine, I never felt inadequately armed as to caliber. For me it was more about round count. My wife's G19 has 15+1 rounds to her 642's 5. And although she doesn't really practice tactical reloads with the Glock, she can swap magazines with acceptable dexterity and speed. But she never really practices reloading her revolver with her speedloader because she doesn't really like to shoot it much. She only carries it as a primary choice because it fits into her clothing/carry paradigm more easily that does her Glock. But she actually enjoys shooting her Glock.BobCat wrote:agreed... but the .38 is not to be despised either. For quite a few years the S&W Model 10 .38 Special was a standard police sidearm. Not arguing it is optimal, just that it is still formidable.
The important thing is she carries. Well... not exactly... the important thing is she is aware and accepting enough of the realities of life that she carries. My wife has a .38 Model 60, she can certainly shoot it, but she feels the odds of her needing it with her are small enough that she does not carry it. The old "it isn't the odds, it is the stakes" doesn't sway the outcome.
Truth be told, I don't practice reloads with my M&P 340 either. Reloading a 5 shot revolver is too slow to be of much practical value. I do carry at least one speedloader when I carry the 340, but that is really more of a convenient way to carry extra cartridges than it is a practical means of reloading. I can reload by individual cartridge about as fast as I can with the speedloader. All of this is why I elected to buy a lightweight revolver in .357 rather than .38 Special. I figure that the increase in power somewhat offsets the lack of additional cartridges on tap, and to be honest, I'm kind of banking on not having to ever shoot more than 2 or 3 rounds anyway. That might be unrealistic, but I don't think it is.