the .38 is just wussy loaded in the USA. You can go ahead and use +P+ 9mm in the revolver without a worry. For a snubby, I'd use the 100 gr corbon, it's 1300 fps and 400 ft lbs, and it will actually expand in animals, while the .38 snub lhp and jhp loads will not. Flesh and blood being flesh and blood, I have a low opinion of them (and snubbie revolvers in general) as defensive tools, if you have to actually hit somebody with a bullet. for bluffing and missing, they do just fine.