I recently bought a Model 15 no dash and a Model 28-2. can some of you all more experienced (I am pretty much an ammo rookie) folks give me a recommendation for very light recoil .38 special factory ammo to shoot in these guns. My wife and I are going to shoot it. Also do you think that would be too much "gun" for my 9 year old grandson to shoot? I'm thinking the N frame may be too large for his hands but I wondering about the K frame. He is just starting out in shooting.

thanks for your advice,

Harrydale

148gr target wadcutters are the traditional light target .38 Special cartridge.

You can get them from various sources, including Precision Delta Ammunition - Products

The age at which a youngster can start to learn to shoot depends on the individual AND the quality of the adult supervision. I start them on a BB rifle, then BB pistol, then .22 rifle.

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Science plus Art

thanks for the good info and advice OKFCO5. We are kinda' on the same page, he has shot a BB and is showing interest in shooting a 22.

130 gr. WW white box and similar weights from both Federal and Remington are also good low recoil options.

Age discussions about teaching new shooters aside, if your grandson can wrap his hand around the pistol, he can shoot it from the bench. Just be careful that he keeps his body parts away from the cylinder gap.

The Model 28 is a relatively heavy gun and it's weight alone will mitigate recoil. With target wadcutters, it will be almost like shooting a .22 LR. My petite 4'11" wife chose one for her first handgun. She shoots +P .38's with aplomb and the occasional cylinder load of heavy .357's. You may find that you need after market grips for the wife to be comfortable.

Harrydale,
I would think a .22 might be more appropriate for an average 9 year old and it would be safer to start with a rifle than a pistol. I think a .38 handgun might be too much for the average 9 year old. On the other hand I have seen a very mature 9 year old over 5 foot tall and 125 pounds that would probably be able to work up to a .38. A .38 handgun would be too much for my 10 year old. Here are a couple of examples, although extreme, that might help make my point. I was channel surfing last night and ran across alligator hunters. One of them was unable to use his rifle and had to revert to a handgun. They were very concerned because they preferred a rifle (.22 cal.) to a pistol because it was much safer (less likely to shoot your partner, a hole in the boat, or yourself) while wrestling an alligator. While you wont be wrestling your 9 year old they can get distracted more easily than an adult and the length of the rifle barrel adds a layer of safety to the situation. Another very sad, although extreme, example is an 8 year old boy who accidently shot himself with an Uzi machine gun while supervised by his dad and a police chief. Below is a link to that story. You can YouTube a number of videos of more petite people shooting handguns that recoil up and hit them in the head. I apologize if I seem overly opinionated or safety conscious on this matter.

Father of Christopher Bizilj, who Died Firing an Uzi, Was Urged to Let Son Use Less Powerful Gun - ABC News

John