Is there a low recoil .38 Special SD round?

[wnr700]

My wife about ready to inch up the caliber ladder.

I plan to start walking her down shooting Cowboy loads from my Model 581 and Model 19 to the Model 649.

Ideally the goal is for her to purse carry the 649.

Are there any suitable moderate/low recoil .38 Special SD ammo reccomendations for a jFrame?

 

[computeruser]

Some recommend 148gr wadcutters for the uber-recoil sensitive.

 

[Old cop]

Another good choice, if you can find it, is the Federal Nyclad 125 grain HP standard pressure load. They were made specifically for the short barrel .38.

 

[photoman]

Federal Nyclad 125gr HP.
Winchester 110gr Silvertip.
Federal 110gr Hydra-Shok.
Hornady 110gr Critical Defense.
Remington 110gr Semi-Jacket HP.

Of the one's listed, I recommend the Federal Nyclad and the Federal H-S. Both are very accurate bullets in my Airweights and have reduced recoil and flash.

 

[JayDubya]

Check Mastercast's 100gr WC www.mastercast.net . It is almost like shooting .22. It will penetrate because it is a wadcutter, but I would not consider it to be a defense cartridge. It is a familiarization cartridge. Very little recoil or blast in my S&W 637 Airweight. Almost embarrassing to shoot at my range. I fired off 500 of them as a test and was very satisfied with the product -- except for its .22-like performance. I now shoot Mastercast's 148gr WCs by the thousands. They are reloads, so you can save a bundle by sending your spent brass in exchange. I can get about 2,000 .38sp and 9x19 spent brass cases into a ten buck USPS Priority Mail box. Any other way I know of costs twice as much.

Cordially, Jack

 

[Smith357]

148 wadcutters would be my recommendation.

Wicked Wadcutters?

 

[ContinentalOp]

I carry Nyclads in my 642.

 

[one eye joe]

I carry Nyclads in my 642.

DITTO..............

 

[pete950]

Another + on the wad cutters!!!

 

[sbcman]

Another good choice, if you can find it, is the Federal Nyclad 125 grain HP standard pressure load. They were made specifically for the short barrel .38.

Yep- very easy in the recoil compartment and not too bad of a performer.

 

[Frailer]

At 10 yards my wife always hits within an inch of her point of aim with 148 grain wadcutters. That's more than I can say about me with Speer GD +Ps.

Maybe I should switch.

 

[photoman]

At 10 yards my wife always hits within an inch of her point of aim with 148 grain wadcutters. That's more than I can say about me with Speer GD +Ps.

Maybe I should switch.

There is something to be said for shot placement.

 

[G.T. Smith]

I shot some 158 grain Magtech standard pressure LRN in my M37 and they didn't have very much recoil at all, and were fairly accurate for someone who had never shot a snub nose .38 before. My wife didn't mind them at all and it was the first time I have ever seen her shoot anything bigger than a .22 revolver.
Peacx,
gordon

 

[wnr700]

Update: recent shooting session

I took my SIL shooting yesterday, as my wife was under the weather.

I suspect SIL has a Model 19 at home from her and her husbands description.

She was heading back home the next day, so I put her on the fast track, no time for .22 and the like.

Handling the Model 581, and Model 19 was really tough for her small hands. Reaching the trigger was tough. Could it have been the Pachmyer grips?

Shooting in DA was impossible. Shooting about 40 rounds in SA was a struggle, but I could see her confidence building and she was comfortable.

For someone her physical size, and mental makeup (this is passive lady and who suffers from anxiety issues in stressful situations) she was a trooper!

Recoil wasn't an issue. Noise wasn't the shock she/I expected. Even a guy touching off .40 cal next to us didn't bother her much.

Ammunition was .38 Special cobbled togeather from assorted brands and grains, with even a few +P thrown in...

Within the first cylinder, she took great instruction in my limited experience of stance, and grip and was safely launching projectiles at the paper... 10 to 15 feet.

At the very end she shot few rounds out of the 649 Jframe. A little complaining, but nothing offensive, but given the choices nothing she wanted to do again.

She certainly handled the size weight of the Jframe.

Clearly she needs to look at other home defense handgun options, but she toughed it out and was proud of her target.

Once home... My jealous wife fumed that SIL shot more accurately with a bigger caliber her first time at the range. So it was nice to see her competitive desire to move up, with confidence that if SIL can do it... anybody can.

I'm really thinking with practice, slowly stepping up in load, and possibly a better grip on my 649 (I think they are the stock boot grip), my wife could handle my Jframe or Glock 26 class 9mm.

I don't see a mouse for the spouse

I'm learning its a mistake to underestimate the ladies in my life.

 

[moxie]

Most wadcutter rounds are underpowered for self defense. Try the Remington Golden Saber 125 gr. BJHP. Relatively mild, but packs a serious punch. Very accurate in my snubbie.

 

[vytoland]

i use 148gr DEWC (double end wadcutters) 760fps or 825fps in my S&W model 649. they are accurate with managable recoil and will get the job done as a self defense cartridge.

mastercast has them at a reasonable price.......................

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