Help with ammo selection for recoil sensitive wife

[photoman]

Don't want to take everyone too far off topic, but I don't shoot with straight arms, and even at 250lbs I'm somewhat of a recoil weenie from far too many rounds of trap. I believe the easiest way to shoot a revolver is with both elbows bent and to the side, and they act as shock absorbers -- transmitting LESS to the shoulder. Miculek advocates this as well. See this video
Jerry Miculek - Stance | MyOutdoorTV.com

The only problem with that plan is that, nine times out of ten, a person under stress will crouch, fully extend their arms and focus on the target. Most of us mere mortals are not as cool under fire as Cooper was.

 

[Az Rick]

I agree w/some other posters,...Grips.
Shoot light stuff and build up slowly, lots of rounds, hundreds.
She'll lose her sensitivity and be out shooting us all.
Little guns are harder to master. get her a 4in. K frame too, get her shooting that one and then transition to the j frame

Shoot, shoot and shoot some more.


Best, Rick

 

[paragon1]

LG-305/405 Crimson Trace grips are the best at absorbing recoil on the airweights. They are pricey, but completely change the feel of an airweight.

Hogue is a couple of months away from introducing a grip for the centennials that will have the same, or better recoil absorption than the 305's, without having to buy a lasergrip.

 

[blujax01]

Is she well trained and practiced with malfunction drills?

Which has exactly what to do with recoil?

To answer your question, she puts about 400 rounds a month downrange and is as familiar with clearing a jam as the next guy, yes.

If you refer to the "auto's vs revolvers for CC" argument, that is a different thread.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The 642 is an excellent personal defense handgun given certain conditions!


1. Large rubber grips are a must for beginners.


2. Standard pressure ammo only until the shooter is used to the recoil of the lightweight 642. That includes carry ammo too! ABSOLUTELY NO BUFFALO BORE STANDARD PRESSURE AMMO! It may be standard pressure but it is +P recoil! Standard pressure, 110gr ammo like the Federal load you mentioned has very little recoil and is a better option even though it doesn't perform as well in testing when compared to heavier/faster ammo.


3. 1000 dry fires as soon as possible. This will smooth up the action quite a bit and make trigger control much easier.


4. The Apex spring kit is a good option if you are handy enough to install it or can afford to have a gunsmith install it. This will do wonders for trigger control (especially when combined with the 1000 dry fires). I use the main and rebound springs from the kit and leave the stock firing pin and firing pin spring in the gun.


5. Practice firing at distances less than seven yards. Anything beyond that will likely frustrate the beginning Airweight shooter.


6. Use silhouette targets at the range. Airweights are fighting guns, not target guns! Trying to shoot small bullseye groups with an Airweight is not the mission of this handgun (although you might find it most rewarding later on).


7. A good pocket holster is a must for your new 642. It's like peanut butter and jelly! They just go together so well.

That there is some very good advice. I was going to say the same about Buffalo Bore ammo but it has already been explained well.

One of my sons does not like recoil but he wants to carry an Airweight which means he needs to practice with an Airweight. I bought him a set of Pachmayr Gripper Grips which are large and cover the backstrap for use at the range. He carries them in his range bag to make practice more comfortable.

Another good suggestion from Joni is a heavier revolver for practice, I do that. I now carry a M442 and also have a M640 I sometimes carry that I can also use for practice. I really like to shoot but like said, 100+ rounds through an Airweight is not a pleasant undertaking. I can easily shoot 100 or more rounds through the 23oz all Steel M640 and to finish up I shoot 15 to 20 rounds of my carry ammo through my 15oz M442 carry revolver. That works very well for me and it might work for your wife too.

I know, I know, I'm not telling you to buy an additional $700 revolver just for practice. But, you can probably find a well used M60 in .38 Special for a good price. Most buyers don't want the .38 Special M60, they want the .357 Magnum M60 so the price is usually much lower on the .38 Special model.

Just a few more ideas to consider.

 

[Stu1205]

Thanks for this post.

I just came here to post the same question.
My wife wanted me to leave her one of my guns when I travel.
So, off to the range we went for several shooting lessons.
I brought some J Frame and K Frame revolvers for her to try.
She settled on the 442 as the K Frames were too heavy for her to hold, and she liked the 442 better than the 640 or 60 because it too was lighter.
I read all your recommendations about ammo.
I have 110gr Silvertips in it now, but would the 125gr nyclad or the 148gr wadcutters have less recoil?

Stu

 

[Packard]

From my experience not only is the pressure important to recoil, but also the bullet weight.

A light bullet will have less perceived recoil than a heavy one.

So a standard loading with a light bullet would be my recommendation.

Glaser Safety Slugs are available in 80 gr., standard .38. I think I would give that a try.

Chuck Hawkes gives it a thumbs up.

 

[steamloco76]

The new Hornady 110 grain FXT Critical Defense standard pressure load is a pleasure to shoot from lightweight snubbies.

It also prints very close to point of aim from my 642 and my wife's Taurus Ultra Lite. Low muzzle flash is another plus.

We both shoot 148 grain wadcutters for most practice with the little revolvers then a few rounds of full power ammo.

 

[photoman]

Which has exactly what to do with recoil?

To answer your question, she puts about 400 rounds a month downrange and is as familiar with clearing a jam as the next guy, yes.

If you refer to the "auto's vs revolvers for CC" argument, that is a different thread.

Good to hear that. Being able to quickly clear a jammed semi-auto is very important, often overlooked and hardly ever practiced.

I bring up the point because many women will select a semi-auto for reduced felt recoil but not properly train with the gun selected.

 

[Austerity]

Thanks for all the input. We went with Nyclads (from LG Outdoors, thanks for the recommendation). She shoots them fine and they perform nearly identically to the "canned heat" we have 2000rnds of from Georgia Arms.

I didn't pick the gun for her. We tried tons, she has shot tons of mine, and handles the 66 the best. We decided she just couldn't do a semi auto. Slide racking, sling shotting, magazine release, loading magazines, malfunction drills, etc...was just too much for her.

She preferred a revolver. She said she wouldn't carry it if it was light. I said if your going to get one, it needs a consistent and safe DAO with no hammer to snag for those of us with less training. She handled one as well as an LCR and she actually preferred the LCR, but I liked the Smith better and it was a few ounces heavier and had more of a proven track record than the LCR so we went with that. I didn't "pick" anything for her.

We also got the rubber grips that cover the backstrap from S&W. Huge improvement.

 

[blujax01]

T
...I didn't pick the gun for her.

...She preferred a revolver.
...She said she wouldn't carry it if it was light.
...she actually preferred the LCR
...but I liked the Smith better
...so we went with that.

...I didn't "pick" anything for her.

Aaand, I'm out.