RE: best 38 special load for defense.
According to the Marshall report which compiles reports of one shot stops, the 158 grain lead hollow point has the highest percentage of one shot stops with the 38 special. I think several companies load these. I know Winchester and federal do. This load is known as the FBI load. I use them in the +P version. Many gun writers also recomend the full wad cutters in snub nose revolers. These are effective but can hold some disadvantages if a legal case arises as they are known to lawers as Dum-Dums. Handloads of any kind can also cause legal problems as they like to bring up the fact that factory loads were not good enough for this Rambo charactor. These things don' t matter in a life or death case but its something to keep in mind. As of late prosicuters have been going after people who defend their home with a gun big time.