It is a 642-1

[Nevada Ed]

Finally got to go out with the other half of the family and my wife Joyce to do a little shooting.

The "New" used Airweight did have a lazer grip on it but it
still had the metal back strap exposed. Not a good thing.

A 158 Lswc at a power factor of 94 was ok, when this same
bullet with Bullseye at a 103 PF was shot, she stated that it had
some pretty heavy recoil.

I chose not to let her shoot the 125gr at 104 or the 140 at 117 PF and no way the 158 +p at 130 PF !!
However I did let her husband shot them.............

The little 110gr XTP at only 97 power factor was ok, so I had
something to work with.

Chris really loved the little 125 LRN at 600 fps and a PF of only
75 out of the light 15 oz. revolver. These will be here practice
load unless we find a 110gr that shoots to POA and that she
fells comfortable with.

95% of all the paper targets were "Safe" yesterday..........
even a 10 x 5 inch yellow squach made it through eighteen
shots or so on top of a stand at 16 feet with Rem. factory 148wc's .

Grip, sight adjustment, trigger squeeze etc. all need a little work..............

A few Hornady 90gr were shot but only five............
we will practice a lot more before using the light SD loads.

I will be loading a 148 at 700fps and PF of 103 along with
two powders with a 110 XTP at 910 fps with 202 ME and a PF of
only 100 for my M49........... to see how they group and feel
recoil wise. If they pass my inspection they will be passed on to Chris to try.

I hope the 642 will work our for her..........
otherwise we may have to move up to a K frame weight frame
since the 135 GD has a power factor of 116, that she would
have to grow into. Her husband Todd mentioned that she might
want to get a CL, so a 2-3" barrel is in line, I would think.

Back to the loading table.

 

[forestswin]

Finally got to go out with the other half of the family and my wife Joyce to do a little shooting.
.................

I chose not to let her shoot the 125gr at 104 or the 140 at 117 PF and no way the 158 +p at 130 PF !!


Okay - just to be sure I got this right - that "her" is your wife? right????

However I did let her husband shot them.............

so her husband is you???

you get to shoot all the time - what's up with that

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Ed,
Just a hint, most people don't talk in terms of power factor and many don't know how to convert PF into velocity and energy. It might be better if you use velocity and energy numbers instead of power factor.

 

[Scott E White]

From the way I read, Joyce is the OP's wife, and Chris is the newer shooter (probably Daughter or an in-law).

I went through this same process with my wife, about 15 years ago. She already had her CCW, but owned/shot only her 36-?, that a store clerk told her was the perfect choice. My bride also owned the original box (48 cartridges remaining) of 158 gr. FMC the same salesman assured her was the ideal self-defense load.

Took a lot of time with the 17-6 before she felt comfortable with my 3" 65-5, 148 gr. SWC loaded to +/- 700 FPS. Still a work in progress, with no immediate plans for the return of a 36.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Ok I will clear a few things up.....
Joyce is my wife and Chris is my D in Law with a husband named Todd.

Bullet weight + vel with program equals power factor........
I some times do the fps and ft/lbs thing in my post but the PF thing will do both if you know how it works.

I work with bullet weight, fps, powder grs and gun weight as well as the PF thing that will get you in the ball park but there is nothing like putting the weapon in your hand and firing a few rounds to get the full picture of what is going to happen.

Lets just say that any load less than a 125gr Nyclad out of the 15 oz. revolver works in the recoil department, right now. A better grip would help but that is their call......
Chris really likes the idea of the laser but that is another can of worms.

If it comes down to the Winchester 110gr silver tip, I might have a talk with everyone about what I think about her choice in her SD weapon.
Chris did shoot the 3" 9mm that same day and thought a 124gr at 950 fps was fun to shoot.
What's another 165 fps ?

Will sit back and see how it plays out............
later.

 

[rwsmith]

Great way to have fun...

Shooting is great fun whether shared or solo. I'm glad you didn't try to scare people and turn them off from shooting.

When I first started shooting snubs I couldn't hit a target at 5 yards. I thought that if I couldn't hit an attacker at the range, I could frighten them to death.

I always take a mixed bag of loads to the range. I don't get to go that often so I when I am there I make it worthwhile.

 

[MichiganScott]

If recoil is an issue in a shorty .38, the swaged hollow base wadcutter is an excellent choice. It's far from what I carry (158gr +P SWCHP), but it would be preferable to a loaded down, light for caliber JHP that probably would not expand or penetrate.

In this case, I think I'd schedule some range sessions with cat sneeze loads and slowly work up over many additional trips to something approaching a self defense load.

 

[old&slow]

Personally I think recoil is something you have to work into and build up to.
Take a 12 ga. and shoot a 100 rounds of sporting clays. That's a lot of recoil for a newbie to deal with . But , I see old guys doing it every weekend.
I've seen too many videos of some brain dead individual that gives a little girl or new shooter a large caliber firearm and thinks it funny when it kicks the **** out of them..
Start off slow and work your way into it.. You're doing it the right way..