Self-defense

Question
1.   Which is better for self-defense, semi-jacketed hollow points or jacketed hollow points (for .38 S&W Special)?
2.    Are there any good information resources for relatively new using and purchasing firearms?


Answer
Hi D.

I would need a lot more information before I could recommend a specific cartridge for self defense.

Who will the shooters be and how much experience do they have?
What type of threats or targets will be involved? Humans, animals, paper or steel targets, etc...
What distances will be involved? Indoors or outdoors, and in what weather?
Will the bullet need to pass through heavy clothing, walls, glass, metal, or any other material before striking the target?
What brand and model of firearm will be used?
Where do the shooters live? Are there any local laws on ammunition or firearm choice?
Can the shooters afford to purchase adequate ammunition for practice? How often will they practice?

There are many other variables as well which is why the choice of a specific firearm, caliber, or cartridge is really an opinion that changes with each person or circumstance.

In general I can tell you that one of my favorite cartridges for my personal self defense needs is a .357 Magnum with Winchester Super-X SilverTip hollow points. When I want to practice a lot then I often use the Winchester .38 special ammunition in jacketed or soft tip hollow point since these are cheaper and have similar performance to my defense load. The main thing is to get a similar bullet weight and powder charge so the firearm handles just like it will when you use the full power defense loads.  Here is a link to more on Winchester bullets:

http://www.winchester.com/PRODUCTS/catalog/components/handgunbullets.aspx

If you are new to firearms then I highly recommend taking a good basic firearms class. You can find classes on the NRA website at this link:

http://www.nrahq.org/education/training/find.asp

After the basic class then you can look for a good advanced class or a carry permit class. Then join a local gun club and go there at least once a month to practice. Subscribe to a few gun magazines and read everything you can. There are also some great videos out there - here is a site with many of them at fair prices:

http://www.gunvideo.com/

Hope this helps.  Good luck and stay safe!

Bob