I expected the primer 38 jocks to argue my points of course. I know you love your plane but there is no doubt that someone coming into the game will do nearly as well.
There are no noobs who can fight it well in a low furball. That takes time and practice and even when you think you've had enough to engage in a low furball for more than a minute or two, you'll find yourself in trouble quick if you don't extend.
There are much better planes for furballing is what I said.
As far as carrying one 1k bomb around looking for another GV to kill or finish of someones hanger, it's a very unstable way to fly a 38.
There are much more stable planes to use if your going to fly those types of missions. I don't care who you are, that plane becomes incredibly unstable having just one 1000 pounder left when in a turn especially a diving one.
The f6, 51,nik and F4U's all fly much more stable having just 1 1000 pounder.
BTW, yes it's true, I'm not very good at dog fighting in a 38. My main use for it is jabo. There I have experience and there is where I truely excel in a 38. It's something I can easily talk about and explain the do's and don'ts of the plane.