380 Low Recoil Ammo

hearrean

hearrean

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I just purchased a S & W 380 Bodyguard (which hasn't come in yet) & I'm trying to get some suggestions on very low recoil ammo to buy. This will also be a handgun likely used by my wife (who has never fired a gun), so I'd like to find the right ammo so she won't get discouraged when she tries it. And since the gun is also fairly small, I'd expect it to have fairly significant recoil anyway, so anything I can do to reduce that somewhat would be great. Any suggestions from anyone? Thanks,,,

Ken
 
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I think that you'll find fmj 'range' ammo to be the most likely to meet your needs.

The high priced, gee whiz ammo will be snappier.

These small 380's are snappier than lots of folks anticipate.

This is due to their small size and light weigh.

Ammo has to be loaded hot enough to cycle the action, which limits how 'low recoil' you can get. There is no such 'floor' for revolver ammo.

A bg 380 would not be my choice for a new shooter: you'd do better with a 22.

Just my opinion , of course.
 
As an instructor who deals with beginners, I'd say she would be falling into the "cute little gun" trap if she tries to learn on the Bodyguard.
A blowback .380 pocket gun kicks more than a regular size 9mm.
And if you try to load down the ammo, the gun won't function.
An M&P .22 makes a much "happier" gun to learn on.
 
Three months ago my wife, who is 54 years old and 4'10", decided she wanted to go through the CCW class with me. I bought her a Ruger LCP. Now she has her permit and she can hit center mass every time at 25 feet. It can be done.

Post script; First time at the range I had her shoot a 1911, a 5906, an SD9VE, a 380 Thunder and a friend's LCP. She chose the LCP.
 
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hearrean said:
...This will also be a handgun likely used by my wife (who has never fired a gun),
Click to expand...

Why do people do this to new shooters? :confused: Give them a tiny little lightweight pistol as their "introduction" to shooting.

Why not let them start on a full sized pistol where it is much easier to control and felt recoil isn't nearly so bad due to the increased weight. THEN......after the new shooter isn't a new shooter and they have some confidence, start migrating them to the smaller pistol.
 
Is recoil an issue with 380? Even with mouse guns with beginners? Wouldn't a little practice overcome recoil anticipation and target reacquisition? its not a 44 mag. Thank you, Rick
 
arizona98tj said:
Why do people do this to new shooters? :confused: Give them a tiny little lightweight pistol as their "introduction" to shooting.

Why not let them start on a full sized pistol where it is much easier to control and felt recoil isn't nearly so bad due to the increased weight. THEN......after the new shooter isn't a new shooter and they have some confidence, start migrating them to the smaller pistol.
Click to expand...

I don't get it either. It's like putting a V8 in a go cart. Start small and work bigger.

The mouse gun craze is getting old. Get a J frame. ;)
 
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No, it is not a .44 Magnum, but honestly I prefer any of my .45 ACP handguns over shooting my .380 LCP. Actually I do not mind my Mod 29 as much as the LCP. For such little things, the super compact .380's hurt my wrist. Remember they are small and quite light and it seems to magnify the perceived recoil. (A larger framed and heavier .380 does not present the recoil issues that the tiny ones do.)
Several have made a good suggestion - try a .22 first to get the feel of shooting without developing a dislike after the first shot.
Two weeks ago at the pistol range a friend had his live-in meet us there to shoot a new gun he bought her (LCP). First shot, she handed it back and said "No, not for me." Not even a thank you.
 
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My wife is VERY........

My wife is very sensitive to blast and recoil. She shoots target .38s out of my L frame 686 like gangbusters. I hoping I can get her to move a little upward to where she could handle a semi automatic, which she is kinda afraid of.
 
To the OP,

You asked for opinions on low recoil ammo for the BG380 and instead you got scolded for your choice of firearms as well as advised to get 5 different guns and teach her on either a (1) M&P22, (2) S&W .22 revolver (3) J-frame .38 (4) 686 357Magnum or (5) Unspecified 9mm.

Welcome to the Smith and Wesson Forum.:rolleyes:

Federal makes the ammunition you seek.

Federal Premium Ammunition - Handgun

For practice, if you can find any Freedom Munitions, my customers say that has a very manageable recoil. Blazer is also a good choice.
 
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My EDC is a G42. It has been one of the softest shooting 380 pistols that I have owned. I usually carry with Winchester ranger ammo. Recently I found this.
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Local guy here manufactures quality ammo. It is a 67gr copper HP. I have used some of his other ammo for quite some time. He manufactures the projectile and loads the ammo at his facility. I have seen the gelatin tests that he has performed and his 380 ammo is very effective. I will see if I can get a pic of the block. The recoil is very manageable and it has been some of the best ammo that I have used. Have also used his 9mm, 40, and 45.
 
OKFC05 said:
As an instructor who deals with beginners, I'd say she would be falling into the "cute little gun" trap if she tries to learn on the Bodyguard.
A blowback .380 pocket gun kicks more than a regular size 9mm.
Click to expand...

I was told it was not a blowback design. Forgot what the other type is called. :)
 
blujax01 said:
To the OP,

You asked for opinions on low recoil ammo for the BG380 and instead you got scolded for your choice of firearms as well as advised to get 5 different guns and teach her on either a (1) M&P22, (2) S&W .22 revolver (3) J-frame .38 (4) 686 357Magnum or (5) Unspecified 9mm.

Welcome to the Smith and Wesson Forum.:rolleyes:

Federal makes the ammunition you seek.

Federal Premium Ammunition - Handgun

For practice, if you can find any Freedom Munitions, my customers say that has a very manageable recoil. Blazer is also a good choice.
Click to expand...

So we're not supposed to tell the truth?:rolleyes: Or just blow smoke somewhere and everything will just be fine.:rolleyes:

You and I both know that to hand a pocket 380 to a first time woman shooter is to much.

If a person can't handle the truth, they shouldn't ask for help on an open forum. And we shouldn't be ridiculed for telling the truth and sharing our experience with someone that obviously doesn't know better.

You yourself have made the same recommendations here a time or two.;)
 
I woukdn't blame the 380 ammo as much as the gun used to shoot it. I have an LCP. Can't shoot it more than a few rounds without my finger hurting to the point I don't want to shoot it any more. I put the same ammo in my Sig P238 and I can shoot it all day. The Sig weighs a few more ounces and has a much better trigger and that makes the difference.
 
Kanewpadle said:
So we're not supposed to tell the truth?:rolleyes: Or just blow smoke somewhere and everything will just be fine.:rolleyes:

You and I both know that to hand a pocket 380 to a first time woman shooter is to much.

If a person can't handle the truth, they shouldn't ask for help on an open forum. And we shouldn't be ridiculed for telling the truth and sharing our experience with someone that obviously doesn't know better.

You yourself have made the same recommendations here a time or two.;)
Click to expand...

I may have made a specific firearm recommendation when the question was: "What gun should my wife try first", but never have I said: "Hey, New Guy Who Joined Yesterday Asking About Specific Ammo - You are a clueless dolt. Toss that junker and start over with any of five different choices. Oh, and waste a bunch of money on a training .22 that you will later be told by the very same people who talked you into buying it in the first place that it is useless for self defense." Rather impolite, no?

I sell guns and ammo. I also have friends and neighbors who are newbies. When a customer comes in, or a friend asks, and has already purchased their first gun, the very last thing I want to do is belittle them for their choice. So, the answer is that there are thousands of folks who have successfully learn to fire smaller caliber and smaller frame sized guns. And when asked how to help make that happen, well...:cool:
 
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hearrean said:
I just purchased a S & W 380 Bodyguard (which hasn't come in yet) & I'm trying to get some suggestions on very low recoil ammo to buy. This will also be a handgun likely used by my wife (who has never fired a gun), so I'd like to find the right ammo so she won't get discouraged when she tries it. And since the gun is also fairly small, I'd expect it to have fairly significant recoil anyway, so anything I can do to reduce that somewhat would be great. Any suggestions from anyone? Thanks,,,

Ken
Click to expand...

Well, if we can get the posting police to lay off, let's review your question.
It left the impression you bought this 12.3 oz .380 for yourself. Is that true? Then it was not bought for your wife specifically.
You likely will have your wife, who has never fired a gun, try it, but suppose it will kick and discourage her? Yes, it most likely will.
You want to reduce the recoil significantly with lighter ammo? With a revolver, this is easy to do. However, my experience with loading .380 for 16oz and 20 oz .380 semiautos is that the gun stops working with a significantly lighter load. It is more likely to stop working in the hands of a beginner who can't hold it firmly.
Any suggestions from anyone? Yes, I respectfully suggest your beloved wife's first experience with firing a gun be a pleasant one that allows her to succeed and find shooting a positive experience. My experience with teaching beginners for decades is that money spent on a .22 (NOT meant for a self defense gun) is never wasted, as she will learn, and you will have a gun to practice with that does not break your budget and hand. After she learns to shoot, she can try defense guns to see what she prefers. Best wishes.
 
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OKFC05 said:
Well, if we can get the posting police to lay off, let's review your question.
...
Click to expand...

Hoo Boy,

I'm trying to get some suggestions on very low recoil ammo to buy.
This will also be a handgun likely used by my wife (who has never fired a gun), so I'd like to find the right ammo ...
Any suggestions from anyone?

RIF
 
blujax01 said:
So, the answer is that there are thousands of folks who have successfully learn to fire smaller caliber and smaller frame sized guns. And when asked how to help make that happen, well...:cool:
Click to expand...

Of these thousands though, how many started on these small, snappy, heavy trigger pocket guns?

The truth is that the .380 bodyguard is not an ideal firearm to teach a new shooter with, plain and simple. Can it be done? Sure, if the person is really committed to it, but that may not be the case with a person who has never shot before.

OP, I am assuming that this is not your first or only pistol, correct? Do you currently have other firearms that might be better to start her out on?
 
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