Alternative to .38 Special Recoil

Revolver Guy did a review of a 9mm wheelgun that seemed to be one answer. I'm going to read it again, to be sure I understood it properly. It seems to me if someone was needing a lesser recoil gun, that might be viable with the standard 115 gr. 9mm load.
 
mod29 said:
Try some 148-gr wadcutters. Very pleasant to shoot and they're supposed to be pretty effective for defensive use.
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I can tell you from experience this is the way to go! I remember having some Fiocchi 38 wadcutters that felt like shooting a 22, that was out of a 357 but I'm sure it'd make shooting a light weight 38 much more pleasant. I have light handload with a 158 grain SWC, very fun to shoot but not nearly as fun as light loaded wadcutters. They work great for defense too, good all in one load for the 38.
 
I train extensively with both. .32 Mag and .38 Special. .32 is like .22 LR combined with reliability. It's a really good cartridge if a fella decides that he is a good enough shot to let go of the traditional and effective calibers.
 
URIT said:
.32 ammo is not cheap. At over 50 cents a round it tends to keep paper punching and steel ringing limited. Buying a .32 can be expensive.

If you are going to carry a firearm in defense of self or others, you'll be so pumped with adrenaline when you need to use your weapon you won't notice the recoil.
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Maybe not - but accurate follow-up shots are still an issue.
 
If 38s are starting to bother you, then I would go down to a 22LR (not kidding). It is far, far better than nothing.
A Ruger LCR 22 holds 8 rounds.
 
otis24 said:
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?
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I have an SP101 3” in .327 Federal, and regularly carry a 642. It’s not an apples to apples comparison, as the Ruger is steel, and is larger than the 642. In short, the Ruger with “normal” loads in 32 H&R is a pussycat compared to the 642. Recoil and muzzle blast are both non-issues. In higher velocity “magnum” loadings, recoil and blast will of course increase, but it’s not unpleasant. Full house .327 Federal are a different story, but I bought this gun for my wife, and just don’t use the .327 loads. Blast and recoil are intimidating for her.

In short, I like the Ruger, using H&R loads, and recoil wise, it is a meaningful reduction compared to my 642.
 
SWFan27 said:
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.
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For me, .38 spcl in an alloy J frame (642) is not even remotely similar to 22LR recoil. But I’m not very manly. . .
 
TaxPhd said:
In short, I like the Ruger, using H&R loads, and recoil wise, it is a meaningful reduction compared to my 642.
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And you can reduce recoil still more with 32 S&W Long which are very accurate in my LCRx and still meet the FBI penetration standard consistently.
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brians356 said:
And you can reduce recoil still more with 32 S&W Long which are very accurate in my LCRx and still meet the FBI penetration standard consistently.
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The versatility of a .327 chambered revolver is great. Run anything from mouse fart .32 S&W to screaming .327 Federals. There’s something for everyone.

One other thing I like about my SP101 (and the Smith ultra carry) is that they're six rounds in a nominally J frame sized gun.
 
I've told the story many times here about the arthritis in my wife's hands. Her cure was a 2" Model 30 in .32Long. She could shoot it very well and it didn't bother her hands at all. Ain't no powerhouse. But if you do your part, it'll get the job done. ;)
 
Thanks for all of the input. As some have said, .32 ammo can be hard to find and expensive. I don’t need that. I did try an Sig P365. Recently purchased a new one and traded it off. 9mm recoil in the Sig was still a little much. And I would concur that Pachmayr grips are excellent grips. I have Pachmayr Gripper Pro grips (open back) on my K frame. I used to hate the looks of the Pachmayr Compaq grips but wouldn’t have anything else on a J frame now.

I think my best option for concealed carry is a .380 or a metal framed 9mm. I picked up a Glock 42 for pocket carry and am still considering a S&W 351C. I’ve gone back to my Hi Power as a primary CC option. I may eventually pick up a more compact metal framed 9mm as well.

My son has his vintage 1969 Model 10 pencil barrel and has started a gun collection of his own. I’m selling off the other couple of revolvers and sticking with 9mm.
 
otis24 said:
Thanks for all of the input. As some have said, .32 ammo can be hard to find and expensive.
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It's only 32 H&R Mag that's hard to find and (relatively) expensive.

I find plenty of 32 S&W Long online, and for $0.62 per round the S&B 100-gr RN that I carry because of terminal performance and superb accuracy. Any 38 Special load considered premium defense ammo often costs twice as much. I have to drop all the way down to white-box Magtech 38 Sp +P 125 SJSP to find an equivalent price. The cheapest Gold Dot is $0.80 per round, cheapest Critical Defense is $1.12 per round, Hydra-Shock $1.35. Yes there is cheap plinking ammo in 38 Special as well.

The idea here was to find lower recoil alternative to 38 Special. I found it, and many revolvers in 32 cal are 6-shooters in the same size frame as 38 5-shots.

www.luckygunner.com

32 Long Ammo | Bulk .32 S&W Ammunition For Sale Cheap

32 long ammo for sale that's in stock at Lucky Gunner Ammo - today! Featuring cheap .32 S&W ammunition and bulk .32 s&w long ammo.
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i would urge you to try Magtech 38 short load #38G a 125 gr at 686fps..
It is NOT 38 S&W.

this will allow you to shoot and enjoy and put the bigger loads in for defensive loads which you will hopefully never need to use, dont gripe about the cost of the ammo its specialty ammo , not 9mm115gr.
much easier than selling the gun and buying another
Larry
 
silverstateS&W said:
i would urge you to try Magtech 38 short load #38G a 125 gr at 686fps..
It is NOT 38 S&W.
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"38 Short" is 38 S&W Short. It's also properly referred to as 9×20mmR, .38 Colt NP (New Police), or .38/200. The larger 38 cartridges are 38 Long Colt, and 38 Special.

Magtech refers to their 38G product as 38 Spl Short (Special Short).
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The issue with wadcutters is lack of expansion. Even hollow point bullets penetrate through parts of the body, but with a wadcutter there is no expansion at all, and you are relying on a hope that you hit bone or that you won't over penetrate. The possibility of loading wadcutters at a very low velocity is obvious, but that presents a new set of underpenetrating issues. I don't know anyone who carries different ammo for different days of the week depending on the weather and guessing what people may be wearing. Shooting gel means very little if not done correctly, and even when it is done correctly, there are a lot of variables that still come into play. Shooting water jugs, wet phone books, and similar media is fun, but that is about the end of it.
 
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