Alternative to .38 Special Recoil

[Autonomous]

Turmeric was mentioned. It is not a miracle cure, but my wife can tell in a day or two if she misses taking it. Buy bulk, cheaper than capsules.

 

[SWFan27]

A 38spl does not have much more recoil than a 22LR, at least to me. I do not know the OP's physical condition or how much effect recoil has on his accuracy. But sometimes I believe my 10 shot Model 617 revolver is the deadliest handgun I own. It may only be a 22LR, but this is something I could shoot, and accurately, most likely even on my deathbed.

It will last for generations and is pleasure to shoot. I got my 617 about a year ago this month. It always goes to the range with me, and I put hundreds of rounds through it weekly on average. It is one of the best and wisest firearm purchases that I have ever made, and it has improved my shooting skills incredibly. And the ammunition is cheap enough to practice at the range all day long.

 

[Tabby Lynn]

Recently, I decided that I would go back to revolvers for concealed carry. After a shooting session, I decided that due to hand issues the .38 Special recoil was too much for me. I’ve been thinking of alternatives to the .38 Special. I had a S&W 940 but dumped it fairly quickly do to extraction issues. I’m also concerned about bullet pull/separation in the 9mm. How does the recoil of .32 H&R Magnum compare to .38 Special in a J frame revolver? What early model S&W revolvers were chambered in.32 H&R Magnum? Were there any all steel models? All steel/metal hammer less models?

For someone that is sensitive to recoil of the 38 special in a J frame try moving up to a K frame, Model 19 4 1/4 shooting 38 ammo has a relatively light recoil compared to the J frame.

 

[.38SuperMan]

I have developed the same aversion to recoil as I age. A 32 revolver is now my favorite if I want to shoot a lot of centerfire. The Buffalo Bore 32 H&R Magnum 100g HP load has slightly more energy than a 38 Special 158g SWCHP +P (the "FBI Load" to some) and they kick the same in similar guns. It's what I put in my carry revolvers (I have 2, a 432 and a 632) but it's too expensive to shoot much of.

Everything else in 32 H&R is lighter to much lighter recoil, as is anything in 32 Long (except maybe the Buffalo Bore loads - I haven't tried any of those.) Some of it you can shoot all day with no pain, even in the smaller J frame guns (think Detective Special size, if you're not into S&Ws.)

If you reload, you will love working with 32 revolvers - bullets are cheaper, powder goes farther, and you can tune a load to match the fixed sights of your favorite gun if you want to. But commercial 32 ammo is not as cheap or as varied as 38 Special, so if you're not a reloader I'd search around for more comfortable loads in 38. My favorite 38-shooter is a 3 inch S&W 65-3, which is pretty comparable to your Speed Six. (I really miss my 6 inch Security Six - one of the few guns I have really regretted letting go of over my 60 years of buying and selling.) With target-level wadcutters it too can be nice to shoot most of the day.

I have no 32 H&R experience but completely agree with your assessment of 32 Long. I too have hand and wrist arthritis and just can’t tolerate hard recoil. I traded a friend a model 37 for a mint 1953 Colt Cobra 32 cal and reload for it and absolutely love shooting it. I can shoot 100 of my loads with no pain. I like it so much I picked up a mint Smith J frame 2” and a 1951 Smith I frame 2”. I can shoot the J frame all day but get a little discomfort with the I frame at about 50 rounds.

I reload and have tuned my 38 specials for comfort. The right bullet and powder make a substantial difference. I never realized how much the specific powder played in recoil with a given weight of bullet.

In 38spl, per Accurate factory recommendations, I’m using #2 powder with a 158 gr hard cast polymer coated. That can be a flat nose, SWC or whatever. I tried several powders including Bullseye, HP38 / 231 and a few others and #2 has substantially less recoil in my loads and I shot them all side by side. I’ve found I can shoot as many as 100 of my 38’s and still not be in pain.

As an alternative, last week I picked up a 32 cal L W Seecamp auto. It’s tiny, I mean really tiny and weighs about 14 ounces. It’s so small I can cover it completely with my hand. It has a 2” barrel and carry’s 6+1. Quality is outstanding and is double action only. The catch is it will only work with certain hollow points due to being able to get them in the tiny magazine but that’s no problem.

Loading the mag is a little tedious and racking the slide (mag must be in the gun) is a bit hard but manageable. Recoil isn’t punishing but has a snap but not a slap like larger calibers. It’s a true get off me gun and has no sights but this is designed for up close and personal and that’s my intended use not 25 yard bullseye shooting. And today I start carrying it daily.

 

[Dave Lively]

I wish I could give this more than one thumbs up. If you purely want a revolver for fun, then knock your socks off, that's why I like them too. But if it's serious business we're talking about, a P365 would fill the OP's bill better than anything on the planet. And if ultra concealability is not required, I find the Glock 48 to be pretty much perfection, in terms of size, controllability, and ergos.

The OP is already shooting 38s through a 4" Colt Trooper and 2.75 inch Ruger. It doesn't sound like size and weight is an issue. If he did decide to switch to a semiauto something larger like a S&W 380 EZ would be a better choice. As the name implies it is specifically designed to be easy to shoot. If arthritis is making recoil seem much worse than it did in the past it is probably affecting grip strength as well. Small 9mm guns need to be held firmly to be reliable. Its harder to rack the slide too. Much as I like my P365 it is not a gun I would recommend to someone with hand problems.

If the OP feels more comfortable with a revolver I still think looking for a lower recoiling 38 Special round is his best choice.

 

[walkin' trails]

OP - I’m going to guess that time or possibly injuries have gotten the best of your hands if a Colt Trooper or Ruger won’t soak up the recoil of most .38 Specials, I’m not sure what else will. I don’t have any experience with the .32 family (though recently purchased a Rohm in .32 S&W Long that won’t be a shooter). I do have experience with handgun grips. Can’t tell you what might work. You’ll have to go looking yourself.

.22 LR or WMR might be your answer, and with the right ammo, might be plenty effective for self defense. .22s are also cheap and versatile. I have a 43c and if it shows that it finally works after two trips back to warranty, will be stoked with Federal Punch.

If recoil’s not cause by a physical issue, there are training drills such as the “ball and dummy,” which can help overcome recoil-related accuracy concerns. Anyway, good luck with your efforts.

 

[justwippet2006]

I have a pretty good case of arthritis in my right hand and I slowly changed my carry choices to revolvers and pistols with less recoil. I have a couple .32s (H&R mag and a .327 Fed). They are very soft shooters but the ammo is a bit spendy and adds up pretty quickly if you shoot a lot. Just stay from the .327 Fed in a light revolver!
I got a 351c and it's super light and disappears in an IWB holster - BUT - the trigger pull is around 12+ pounds. It's dropped a bit after lots of range trips and a ton of dry firing (don't forget the snap caps) but it'll definitely work the joints in your trigger finger. If I had to do it again I'd get the 351PD for the single action.
My current favorite carries are the Sig P365-380 with a 407K (green for the astigmatism, of course) and the Bodyguard 2.0. The sig has basically no recoil and holds 10 or 12 rounds.

 

[MajorD]

I am fairly young with hands in pretty good shape, and about 50 wadcutters is what I can handle in an alloy frame J before my hands say stop.
You can’t beat physics- to reduce recoil you need lighter loads a heavier gun or both.
Finding a steel frame 32 would be ideal compromise but then ammo cost and availability are an issue. If you want to shoot a 32 and become proficient there is only one answer reload.
Find some 32 S&W ( short case approx 85 gr bullet at around 650 FPS - or reloaded equivalent) and that should be a good practice round

 

[Jhawk412]

To young and/or healthy hands, recoil doesn’t matter all that much. At 73, I can’t shoot wadcutters out of a 686. And the argument that you won’t notice recoil in a gunfight is really bogus. Everyone agrees, I think, that regular practice is important to maintain your skill level. You won’t do that if it gives you a lot of pain every time you pull the trigger. So we’re talking about a gun you can carry comfortably and regularly practice with, too.

I’ve tried quite a few different handguns and recommend a 380 acp that uses a locked breech. (Blow back guns like the Walther 380s actually have more recoil than 38s.) I carry regularly a S&W 380EZ, an Sig P365-380 and an sig P238. All of these sport a Crimson Trace laser because my close vision can’t find the sights all that well anymore. I put the Glock 42 away because the slide is considerably harder to rack than those I mentioned.

The other viable option as mentioned above is a revolver in 22 magnum or 22lr. These are not blow-you-away self defense rounds but I think they take the fight out of anyone coming at you. I’ve bought two S&W 351Cs recently. My trail hiking daughter claimed one. Another family member needing really discreet carry “borrowed” the second one. I’m quite happy with my P365-380 or the 380EZ. So much so I sold all my wheelguns except for the 22s. The revolvers in 22 lr I’m keeping in reserve in case the 380s become too much for me to handle.

One last thought. Some of these fringe calibers in my opinion are not viable options. .327, .32 or 30 super carry have a relatively high per round cost. Not very many people can afford that much practice time with that cost.

Good luck finding the gun that’s right for you.

 

[HARLEY0]

Recently, I decided that I would go back to revolvers for concealed carry. After a shooting session, I decided that due to hand issues the .38 Special recoil was too much for me. I’ve been thinking of alternatives to the .38 Special. I had a S&W 940 but dumped it fairly quickly do to extraction issues. I’m also concerned about bullet pull/separation in the 9mm. How does the recoil of .32 H&R Magnum compare to .38 Special in a J frame revolver? What early model S&W revolvers were chambered in.32 H&R Magnum? Were there any all steel models? All steel/metal hammer less models?

concerned about bullet pull/separation in the 9mm?? What? Buy a Glock either in 9mm or .380!

 

[HARLEY0]

Before you buy a new gun try some 148 grain wadcutters. They really do have less recoil and 38 ammo is less expensive and easier to find than 32. If you are currently shooting an alloy frame 38 and can carry the extra weight a steel frame gun like a model 60 would help too.

Just make sure you buy wadcutters designed for target shooting, not hardcast wadcutters from Buffalo Bore or similar companies designed for self defense. The hard cast ones are typically stout loads that will recoil just as much or more than other 38 ammo.

I have never shot a 32 revolver but physics says they will recoil less than 38 Special in similar guns. If you want a new steel frame gun in 32 S&W doesn't make one. But Ruger chambers their SP-101 in 327 Federal which will also shoot 32 H&R. I prefer S&W but its not like Rugers are bad guns.

Buy a Ruger! I have had very bad experience with S & W!

 

[.38SuperMan]

Like mentioned above if you’re a reloaded a nice 32 J frame M30-1 or M31 square butt J frame would be a good option.

I have a couple of hundred Hornady 85 gr XTP’s but doubt you’d get any expsnsion at the velocities of a 32 long. You can buy 95-100gr RN and full wadcutters. I don’t remember the weight but see bulk bullets and factory loads available.

One advantage to a 32 J frame vs a 38 other than recoil is capacity. The 32 carries 6 rounds.

Pictured are my Colt Cobra from 1953, 6 rounds and J frame Smith M30-1.

 

[JFthunder]

Then there is always…380, ?

 

[Mike LaNier]

Hey, Otis, as an octogenarian with small hands and some other issues, I truly understand your search for lower-recoil, and everything the guys are saying about wadcutters, etc. is appropriate. Nonetheless, I've always liked .32 caliber guns for a variety of reasons, and carried my grandfather's 1903 Colt in .32 Auto for years (until my daughter begged for it). These days I pretty much carry a Charter Arms 5-shot stainless / alloy snubbie in .32 H&R Mag, which I find very shootable and manageable. I also have a Ruger single action in .327 Mag, which lets me shoot .32 revolver calibers from wimpy to Wow! and there are a number of guns in that caliber out there. I've had no problem getting ammo; we have at least two local stores that carry it, but like most factory stuff, it ain't cheap. Just a thought....

 

[sniper]

Recently, I decided that I would go back to revolvers for concealed carry. After a shooting session, I decided that due to hand issues the .38 Special recoil was too much for me. I’ve been thinking of alternatives to the .38 Special. I had a S&W 940 but dumped it fairly quickly do to extraction issues. I’m also concerned about bullet pull/separation in the 9mm. How does the recoil of .32 H&R Magnum compare to .38 Special in a J frame revolver? What early model S&W revolvers were chambered in.32 H&R Magnum? Were there any all steel models? All steel/metal hammer less models?

I have two things afflicting me that are not so good for someone who loves guns and shooting: I have a condition that makes me super sensitive to loud, sharp noises, (panic level) and I am recoil sensitive! One range trip, I was shooting my revolver with ~ .38 +p loads, and immediately after, shot my .22 rifle, and I flinched!
I KNEW my .22 didn't recoil much, and definitely wouldn't hurt! Good electronic ear muffs help, but not totally! Soooo...what to do?
Quit ??? Not hardly!

 

[otis24]

concerned about bullet pull/separation in the 9mm?? What? Buy a Glock either in 9mm or .380!

Only in a9mm revolver. That may be what was causing my S@W 940 to have issues.

 

[Beju]

Ruger has 3 heavier, but softer shooting, current production .32 caliber options relative to the 6/432UC models.

There are 2 versions of the SP101 in .327 Federal Magnum. Now, I wouldn't recommend .327 Federal Magnum for the recoil shy even in these steel revolvers. However, with factory rubber grips and weighing in at 27 oz for the 3" model (SKU 5784), and 29.5 oz for the 4.2" model (SKU 5773), they should be quite tolerable with .32 H&R, and extremely mild with .32 S&W Long. That being said, the out of the box DA trigger pulls on SP101s are reported to be between 12 and 14 lbs.

In snubs, there's the LCR .327 Federal Magnum (SKU 5452). It comes in at 17 oz since the metal part of the frame is steel just as in the .357 Magnum and 9mm variants of the LCR. The Hogue gel backstrap factory grip is pretty good at reducing felt recoil, and the polymer lower frame flex probably helps there too. Non-rimfire Ruger LCRs have nice out of the box triggers; my broken-in LCR 38's DA pull is 9.3 lbs.

 

[max503]

I'll tell you what: I've got an S&W Model 19 with the heavy-ier barrel. It was a safe queen but I decided to pull her out of mothballs.
That thing really tames the recoil of heavy 38 loads.

 

[wrangler5]

Ruger has 3 heavier, but softer shooting, current production .32 caliber options relative to the 6/432UC models.

< snip >

In snubs, there's the LCR .327 Federal Magnum (SKU 5452). It comes in at 17 oz since the metal part of the frame is steel just as in the .357 Magnum and 9mm variants of the LCR. The Hogue gel backstrap factory grip is pretty good at reducing felt recoil, and the polymer lower frame flex probably helps there too. Non-rimfire Ruger LCRs have nice out of the box triggers; my broken-in LCR 38's DA pull is 9.3 lbs.

The LCR is indeed a lovely little piece for 32 shooters. The top end 327 Federal loads I checked (100g HP, 8-9 years ago) were in low 357 Magnum territory in terms of energy, and kicked just as much. If you don't like 357 Magnum out of a steel J frame (I have fired 1 round, to say I've done it, and have sworn never to shoot another one) you won't like the hot 327 Federals out of an LCR either. The other 327 Fed Mag rounds I checked (Federal 85g Hydra Shoks) were slightly below the 32 H&R Mag 100g +P rounds from Buffalo Bore in energy, so slightly below 38 Special +P power, and in a longer case. Still not fun to shoot (and too expensive to shoot a lot of anyway)

But for lesser 32 H&R loads and all 32 Longs, the Ruger LCR is a very nice package with a great trigger out of the box.

The only reason I didn't keep my LCR was the Crimson Trace laser grip for it. My old eyes do a lot better with a red dot on the target than with iron sights on short barrels. The CT grips on my S&W 432 and 632 make a big difference in speed on target and confidence in accuracy. But the same style CT laser on the Ruger LCR has its laser hump in a place that smacks the base knuckle on my trigger finger with every shot. The hotter the load, the harder the smack, but even moderate loads were uncomfortable to shoot with the laser grip. Keep that in mind if you're thinking about an LCR and are a fan of the CT laser grip.

 

[Tabby Lynn]

The OP is already shooting 38s through a 4" Colt Trooper and 2.75 inch Ruger. It doesn't sound like size and weight is an issue. If he did decide to switch to a semiauto something larger like a S&W 380 EZ would be a better choice. As the name implies it is specifically designed to be easy to shoot. If arthritis is making recoil seem much worse than it did in the past it is probably affecting grip strength as well. Small 9mm guns need to be held firmly to be reliable. Its harder to rack the slide too. Much as I like my P365 it is not a gun I would recommend to someone with hand problems.

If the OP feels more comfortable with a revolver I still think looking for a lower recoiling 38 Special round is his best choice.

A word of caution. Do not use anything but factory ammo in a firearm that you are going to carry. Handloads become a big issue if and by chance you find yourself in a court of law defending yourself.