Ammo for 642 or drop back to 22LR!

[NYlakesider]

Not really sure where to put this it seems appropriate for Ammo or Concealed Carry and also Lounge. Here is the post, mods move it if I guessed wrong.

Was at the local indoor range with my carry gun (Ruger LCR .38) another fellow (about 55YO) that I recognized from my small town came in and he had a Smith 642. He liked the gun but has arthritis type problems and asked what I was carrying for ammo.

I told him Rem 125+P and he said wow that really kills my hand to use that ammo. I said yes it’s quite stiff! He then asked me what none +p HP ammo should he get that would “do the job” but not aggravate his medical condition.

I said maybe you out to consider going to a heavier gun as that will help but I really cannot tell you what ammo to use as I use +P and you said that’s too nasty to your hand. He then said he was thinking of getting a Ruger LCR in 22LR as that would not kick much and just about double his ammo available in the cylinder.

At that point I really did not know what to say and said I will ask on the gun forum I’m on.

What say you on what none +P HP ammo would you recommend for his light weight gun?
Also any comments on him going to a 22LR because of his hands.? (I suppose its better than nothing!)

 

[OKFC05]

148gr WC .38 Spl should be bearable if he has the strength to use the 642 at all. Beats .22 any way you figure it.
Putting a larger j frame grip on the 642 could also spread the recoil and reduce the sensation.

 

[dusty3030]

Practice with the gun he has with light target load 148gr HBWC and just use the plus P defense load for God forbid he ever have to use it.

 

[mgriffin]

I use the Gold Dot .38 Special +P 135gr (short barrel). Not really much more stiff than the .38 ammo I practice with. I'm 63 but don't have problems with arthritis.

 

[GeoJelly]

Not to bash Ruger at all, but being an owner of an LCR-22, I also think the gent would be better off with lighter loads in his 642. I really like the LCR-22, but with the quality of priming in .22 ammo nowadays, I would not trust it, or any .22, for home and self-defense.

 

[silverstateS&W]

642

magtech also makes a little known
38short load that is like a 38S&W load
38 CBC SPL SHORT 125 gr lead is what's on the label.
this is a wonderful load for women to start shooting with and then move up to 148 wc.
No,it's not $10 a box at walmart, but we're looking at specialized problems and solutions .
Best regards
Larry in Reno

 

[NYlakesider]

Thanks for the quick answers.

From what he says its the recoil that bothers him not the trigger pull.

The wad cutters should be a good solution for him. I'm not too keen on the .22 but as stated if necessary better than nothing!

 

[Arik]

135gr GTHPSB +P. They are +p but it doesn't fell any different to me

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[Mister X]

Federal and Hornady both make "low recoil" defense ammunition. He might try those. I think there might be a standard pressure gold-dot short barrel and Federal Nyclad are always come highly recommend. Any standard pressure .38 special round would likely be fine and would be infinitely better than a .22

My mother is in her 70's(with pretty weak hands) and uses them in her airweight J-frame. She doesn't practice much and when she does, it's never more than a few cylinders at most before she has had enough. Someone suggested she get a .22 because that would allow her to practice more and shoot better. She asked me about it and I told her to stick with the .38 special. The reason being is because civilian self-defense scenarios almost always takes place at extremely close distances. Probably even more so with older individuals due slowed reaction times, less visual acuity and mental awareness. At point blank range, just about anybody should be able to handle a .38 special and in a defense situation, you would want an adequately powerful round. A standard pressure .38 special is adequate IMO whereas a .22, although better than nothing, really is not. My moms plan in the event of a home invasion is to lock herself in her bedroom and get in her walk in closet with door closed and call 911. Anybody that gained access would be 3 feet away at most. She sometimes carries(in her purse), especially when traveling. She is mostly concerned with protecting herself against potential muggers, car-jacking attempts or some kind of physical assault rather than thinking she is going to get in an some kind of across the street gunfight with gang members. I pointed these things out to her and she agreed it made sense to say with the .38 special.

 

[Fox4506]

I also agree with the wadcutters and maybe a larger grip. Wadcutters are very light recoiling my 642. I have Pachmayr Diamond Pro grips on mine also and it makes +P pleasant to shoot...fills my hand much better and points quicker too.

Fox

 

[CATI1835]

Perhaps he should look at some version of .32. I have a Ruger LCR in .327 Federal Magnum but it will shoot almost all varieties of .32

Recoil in this gun with .32 S&W Long wadcutters is no worse than a .22LR to me. Even my wife, who is very recoil sensitive has no problem with it.

 

[petepeterson]

My initial two thoughts were:

Some type of .32

and

Heavier revolver

 

[StakeOut]

During the past year I've fired several thousand rounds of CCI mini mags,CCI Tactical,CCI Stingers and some CCI standard velocity without a single failure to fire using a Ruger SR22 and an S&W 15-22.

Firing blue box Federal Champion I experience a few failures to feed in the SR22.

IMO the SR22 is a great fun very low recoil gun at the range and loaded with 10 Stingers it's often my carry gun in the pocket of my shorts during the hot Texas weather when the uniform of the day is T-shirt,shorts and sandals.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I've got a Ruger LCR in .22WMR that I've been known to carry . . .

 

[Mister X]

A heavier gun would likely be helpful for him at the range, but the additional weight might be problematic for carry.

 

[Ballistic147]

magtech also makes a little known
38short load that is like a 38S&W load
38 CBC SPL SHORT 125 gr lead is what's on the label.
this is a wonderful load for women to start shooting with and then move up to 148 wc.
No,it's not $10 a box at walmart, but we're looking at specialized problems and solutions .
Best regards
Larry in Reno

Our LGS carries these and sells a ton of them to women. My wife has an LCR and these are very tame in it. No, not 22LR tame but still light. Shot out of a 686 it's real close to the recoil of a 22LR. I believe he gets $25 per box.

 

[NYlakesider]

Again thanks to all that answered. Got some good info and I will pass it on!

 

[ContinentalOp]

I'm a fan of Federal 125gr Nyclads. It's what I carried before I got used to +P ammo. However, it can be hard to find. Sometimes it seems like it's been discontinued.

Another option might be Winchester's 130gr Defend JHP. It's a standard pressure load that's supposed to offer reduced recoil in airweight snubs. I've never tried it. While I wouldn't base a decision solely on gel results, it seems to perform adequately in the videos I've seen. I don't know what it's current availability is like. It's been a while since I've looked for it, but I don't recall having any success.

Hornady has some lighter standard pressure loads available, but I'm not that familiar with their product line.

If all else fails, 148gr WC can be a good low-recoil option, preferably hardcast.

I'll also add that Buffalo Bore offers some loads advertised as "low recoil," but I think that's compared to their hot loads. Buffalo Bore standard pressure loads shoot like +P to me. Probably not a good idea for someone who's recoil sensitive.

 

[JK-linux]

Since ammo was already covered, as well as other brands of guns... perhaps he might try a S&W 640 loaded with some of the aforementioned lighter loads? It should work just like his 642, and it definitely takes the edge off. Add to that some "cushy" grips and he might be in business!

 

[elm_creek_smith]

Did you consider the light bullet Hornady Critical Defense loads in .38 Spl?
Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Ammunition :: Handgun :: Choose by Caliber :: 38 Special :: 38 Special 90 gr FTX® Critical Defense® LITE
Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Ammunition :: Handgun :: Choose by Caliber :: 38 Special :: 38 Special 110 gr FTX® Critical Defense®

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