I am continuing to carry my 4-inch Smith & Wesson Model 19-3 as much as possible. You may recall that I made the commitment to carry this particular handgun as much as possible for the next year. Familiarity and continued use makes the handling of a particular gun second nature, cutting valuable milliseconds off of pistol presentation, sight alignment and the proper trigger press. And I took on this project in the continued effort to make myself the best handgunner that I can possibly become.
One connected project was selecting the best ammunition for my use in personal defense as well as taking various varmints and critters that I encounter in the rural setting where I hang my hat. After experimenting with various .38 Spl./.357 Mag. loads from mainstream manufacturers, I have settled one one from Underwood Ammo. Specifically, it is the .38 Spl. +P load that utilizes a 158-grain SWC lead hollow point that features a gas check and a polymer coating.
This particular Underwood .38 load is reported to generate 1,160 fps from a 4-inch barrel. And that, my friends, is about what the old .38 Spl. Heavy Duty ammo provided in the days before the .357 Mag. was introduced. It is a hot .38 Spl. load, but not quite as hot as the current magnum loadings that will eventually cause problems in a medium-frame revolver. More importantly, I find it quite accurate in my Smith & Wesson.
It is critically important that a defensive ammo first be very reliable and the Underwood load passed that test. Secondly, it should shoot to point of aim but, since my gun has adjustable sights I gave this load points for shooting nice tight groups at 25 yards. From a rest, it delivers 2 inches, or slightly less, and those results are quite uniform from shooting session to shooting session. So it appears that my ammo search is over.
My ongoing project has also revealed that my choice of appendix carry was a wise one. Since our hands are nearly always at or near the front of our body, they are also a bit closer to the defensive handgun. The results are that I find that my pistol presentation is just a bit faster from this position. In addition, with a bit of practice, the handgun is also accessible for a support-hand draw, should my shooting hand be injured or otherwise occupied, an important consideration. And this carry position presents no more challenges than any other carry method on or about the waist; you simply work out what kind of covering garment will suffice.
The real key to finding your personal defense gun is to first get good professional training in marksmanship, gun handling and safety, then, based upon that training, begin to experiment with guns, ammo and carry methods until you find what works for you. Several readers have said that they would be engaging in their own personal challenge and I would like to hear how that is working out for you.
