Seniors and Recoil

[govt 380]

On a recent review of 38spec. Hornady 90gr, a commenter jested that it was a way to turn a 38 into a 380. I've fired small 380's, and they're a handful. Meanwhile, another new review was excited about the new Lipsey S&W 32, being 13oz and holding 6 rounds.

As senior citizen and a Ruger LCR(13.5oz) owner, I don't think ending up with 380 ballistics using the 90gr.38sp. is a bad compromise. Certainly on par with the 32 or 380 guns.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Recoil is measurable…but felt recoil depends on a number of factors…type of action…weight of the firearm…power of the round…shooting style…stance…grip or stock design, etc.

Every person and gun combination changes felt recoil. Basically…it comes down to the most powerful round and gun combination the shooter can safely handle, shoot and control. Add to that costs and practice time.

 

[geeollie]

You could also try 38 Short Colt.
Lost River Ammo ......whose owner is on this forum.....sells at least one load. They are probably more target tuned rather than self defense. But it is an option. They also make a 32 H&R wad cutter.

I have a .327 Federal Magnum, Ruger LCR. The 32 S&W Long wad cutters are very easy to shoot. And the 32 H&R in various loadings is very manageable. Just installed the yellow non-tritium XS sight on the LCR and have been using the newest version of Hammer Forge grips. It is a pretty nice pocket 6 shooter and an all day holster gun.

 

[StrawHat]

I am 70 and I still enjoy my 45 ACP revolvers with hardball equivalent ammunition. But, long guns are another story. With a replaced shoulder, torn rotator cuff and maybe arthritis in that shoulder, I find I need to tone down my long guns. My Winchester Model 12 is now a 20 gauge. My Winchester 1895, 405 WCF is shot with blackpowder equivalent loads. I can still handle the 6.5 Swede and the 22 Hornet! I have not needed to use the 50-70 but think I could handle that.

My elder brother and my eldest cousin have both traded in the 45 ACP 1911 for 9mms. Not sure what I would do if the ACP revolvers get to be too much? Probably drop down to target loads.

Kevin

 

[.38SuperMan]

I’m 76 and have arthritis in my hands and wrists. I carry a Ruger LCP380, Beretta 84 380, S&W 640 no dash on occasion but favor a new Colt Cobra 2” 38, sometimes a 3” King Cobra with 38’s and considering a 32 S&W Long in a Smith 30-1. I may even carry my Ruger LCP II 22 on occasion. It depends on how my hands and wrists are that day.

For practice I shoot my own reloads which are very mild. My goal is to be able to shoot 50 rounds or more with no pain and I’ve come up with the right combo for my situation.

I don’t carry magnums or +P, just normal pressure loads and like rubber grips and a gun with some mass to dampen recoil.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

My biggest problem is cocking single-action revolvers. My thumbs really don't like to make that move any longer. So far, my torn rotator cuff still allows me to shoot "heavy" kicking rifles. Not .416 Rigby heavy kicking - I sold that one - but .35 Whelen and even .45-70 Government. It's been a minute since I shot those rifles so when the weather gets warmer I'm going to find out if I'm still right!

I can fire my CS-45 just fine and all of my other pistols in whatever caliber and revolvers as well. No thumb cocking!

 

[Nevada Ed]

I am a firm beleiver that as one gets older...............

muscle tone and exercise, plays a BIG part on how recoil from a load and a gun, is... "Felt" .

As you were.

 

[alwslate]

90 gr .38 spl HPs out of a short barreled revolver are going to have very little penetration. You would be better off for SD with plain old 158 gr LRN ammo. Probably more felt recoil but if you ever have to fire your gun in SD you would not be concerned about the felt recoil of a couple of shots.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I am 70 and I still enjoy my 45 ACP revolvers with hardball equivalent ammunition.

Not sure what I would do if the ACP revolvers get to be too much? Probably drop down to target loads.

Kevin

Kevin that is why its important to get out to the range and see if our preferred EDC is still manageable.

A friend of mine our age realized that he could not manage his .380 ACP (it was a; I told you so moment) but he is managing a .38 Special snub with Match Wadcutters.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

... For practice I shoot my own reloads which are very mild. My goal is to be able to shoot 50 rounds or more with no pain and I’ve come up with the right combo for my situation.

I don’t carry magnums or +P, just normal pressure loads and like rubber grips and a gun with some mass to dampen recoil.

I shoot 50 of my own reloads in my 2 inch, 4 inch and my old 1911. I know some seniors who only shoot two, five or six rounds and call it a day. Of course I have friends who have not shot in 10, 15 and 20 years. But they think they are still 'Superman'.

Standard loads and rubber grips for me too.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I am a firm beleiver that as one gets older...............

muscle tone and exercise, plays a BIG part on how recoil from a load and a gun, is... "Felt" .

As you were.

The thing about aging is we all age differently. Not all of us have DNA like Jack LaLanne who passed at 96. Joe DiMaggio lived to be 84 which is not bad for someone smoking three packs a day of Chesterfield non filtered cigarettes. But Joe Jr died at only 57.

 

[tops]

Once upon a time I shot a .44M, 240 gr. bullet and 22 gr. of 2400. Now it's the same bullet but 9 grs. of Unique.
I still shoot a .357M, 158 gr. bullet and 15 gr. of 2400 but at 83 yr. old I don't know how much longer that will last.
I have also quit carrying 6 in. barrel guns. .357M with 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 in. and 44M with 3 or 4 in. I can't shoot good enough anymore to shoot at distance so I figure I just need something to get a bear off me. Larry

 

[Chuck Edwards]

I am a firm beleiver that as one gets older...............

muscle tone and exercise, plays a BIG part on how recoil from a load and a gun, is... "Felt" .

As you were.

The thing about aging is we all age differently. Not all of us have DNA like Jack LaLanne who passed at 96. Joe DiMaggio lived to be 84 which is not bad for someone smoking three packs a day of Chesterfield non filtered cigarettes. But Joe Jr died at only 57.

It's true that we all age differently and that genetics play a large part in that. Some folks develop arthritis or have work-related injuries that come back to haunt them as they get older. But if watching TV and sitting at a computer is all one does as one ages, recoil is going to become increasingly unmanageable. Keeping physically active and stressing your body in healthy ways can help keep the edge off of that recoil.

 

[Nomadmax]

There's drivers license old, and then there's old and decrepit. You have to be willing to put in the work, six days a week to be drivers license old. Or, coast and take what life delivers. Either way, you're gonna struggle. I prefer to struggle for one hour every day, not the other twenty three.

As for excuses? A crippled dog doesn't know he's crippled, so he does what all the other dogs do, to the amazement of others

 

[stansdds]

If one wants the lightest recoiling load in 38 Special, the 148 grain target wadcutter loads are as light as you can get.

 

[WR Moore]

Stephen Wenger's website it still up. He makes a good case for the 148 gr wadcutter load. He touts the superior wound channel over that of the RNFMJ generally used in .380. I can still handle +P.

 

[M29since14]

90 gr .38 spl HPs out of a short barreled revolver are going to have very little penetration. You would be better off for SD with plain old 158 gr LRN ammo. Probably more felt recoil but if you ever have to fire your gun in SD you would not be concerned about the felt recoil of a couple of shots.

That was what I thought when Remington brought out those things a long time ago. Someone gave me a box of them, but I never used them for anything except plinking.

I make .38 practice loads for my Chief’s and Centennial revolvers with Berry 125 gr. HPs and a light charge of 231 that go around 750 FPS. They’re not .22s by any means, but they are not something I can’t shoot as much as I want. I also have a .38 caliber 125 grain cast LFN bullet that works well in this type of ammo.

For practice ammo in the small guns, I find the lighter bullets make a lot of difference. I wouldn’t want to depend on anything lighter than 125 grain.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

As you extend your maturity-
You’ll probably want to go down caliber.
And lighter loads.
But you still need to choose heavier guns for that caliber.
Such as, 642 has fair recoil with 130 gr. Moved up to heavier 640, less apparent recoil.
And with the revolvers, move up to larger rubber grips.
Just switched my 642 from Boots to Compacs.
And the smaller calibers can be snappy in the lighter guns.
Bought a Ruger LCP Max, 380. It’s uncomfortable and difficult for me to accurately shoot. My perceived recoil with the 380 is about the same as my smallest 9mm, a Kahr. The Kahr has a little larger grip, but not much???
With either gun, Jack Rabbits at 50 yards give me the finger!
I yell - next time I’m bringing my Model 17!

 

[Doug M.]

90 gr .38 spl HPs out of a short barreled revolver are going to have very little penetration. You would be better off for SD with plain old 158 gr LRN ammo. Probably more felt recoil but if you ever have to fire your gun in SD you would not be concerned about the felt recoil of a couple of shots.

*
I suspect the 90 grain .38 is not optimal, but I am not volunteering to get shot. Due to my shoulder injury and surgery, I have been restricted to a G42 in a Myka pocket holster on the wrong side.
As for .38 RNL, not just no, but hell no. Its shape is so far from appropriate that I can't think of any way to describe it. These purpose for that round, IMHO, is to make empties for reloading. If recoil in a .38 is a concern, the best answer is the standard target wadcutter. Not a heap of muscle, but a far better shape and plenty controllable, and pretty likely to be POI/POA at a reasonable distance.

 

[gym cat]

I'm 79 and I shoot at an indoor range twice a week (it's my fix) and put around 200+ rds down range. I shoot my 1911 in 45acp --- I using a bullseye load of 200 gr. coated bullets and 3.6 of N310, just put lighter recoil springs so action works. Once a month I shoot full defensive loads in my carry gun. I do work out and do excersies for my shoulder. Once and awhile I use a shooting glove which does help with recoil also you might try and bend your elbows more to take up some recoil, I hear this works.
Keep shooting, I think you load try some 38 bullseye loads as they tend to used reduced loads. Do a search on
Bullseye.com. Have fun!!!!!!!