Lightest 38-Special Load Possible?

[snubbiefan]

We all know that cemeteries have lots of people in them that have been killed plum-dead with a 32, and a 22 for that matter. Most of you likely know that Teddy Roosevelt standardized the 32 Long (New Police) in NYC when he was Mayor, but I suppose most of the bad guys were not packing much else either.

Our psyche has changed...not the ability of the bullet that will kill. I don't think the human body is anymore durable now than it was when Teddy was Mayor of New York.

Some people like to walk around with a howitzer in their pants knowing they may be able to shoot thru car doors and windshields, but in reality....would likely run and hide if a gun-fight broke out. As far as my wife....I think she would pull the trigger on somebody a lot sooner than I would. A jury would likely lean more in her direction if she were not wearing a tactical vest, or packing a 44-Magnum at the time of the SD shooting.

Some of you have suggested that for her safety....she needs to learn to shoot a manly caliber. Nonsense....she needs to shoot something she can hit with and is not afraid to shoot. Jellybean has the same notion that I do. I may eventually work her up to a 38-special, but for now....if an empty beer can attacks her from 25-feet on in....it is going to have a butt load of 32-Longs in it before it gets to her.

I don't know if BG will take the time to size-up the weapon, scrutinize it for barrel-length, caliber, or the number of rounds it may hold. I do think that if BG sees the potential victim has the gun and looks good and d*** ready to use it......he may reconsider. If he is actually that skilled.....nothing short of a FA AK47 would be in order and you're out of luck at that point anyway.

 

[Tam 3]

Back to "little and light": W.Dresser in the "Handloading" NRA book shows a load with .75 gr. of BE and a 146 gr. Hensley & Gibbs N. 50BB out of a 2 inch Chiefs Special for 12.3 ft.-lbs of ME. Not to be used in a longer barreled pistol because of bore-sticking issues. In an Airweight, the lady might start there and work up for training purposes only, of course.

You could certainly make a pound of powder last.

Regards,

Tam 3

 

[Broker50]

My late wife was 5'8" & 125 lbs, with small hands, but long slender fingers. So, trigger reach & grip were not a problem. Recoil was not a problem either, her problem was the noise. She could handle my 629 6" with full power 44 mag loads, & 158 gr +P in her model 60 just fine, as long as I put ear plugs & muffs both on her. She said it didn't "kick" nearly as much when the noise was cut back. Maybe your wife is kinda' the same? Anyway, I used to load 2.4 gr Bullseye & 148 gr HBWC in 38 Spl. It's hard to imagine a softer shooting load than that, extremely accurate, too. I still wouldn't want to be shot with it, especially multiple times, in nearly the same spot!

 

[snubbiefan]

Thanks for the brilliant input Tam. I was very interested in your suggestion.....for about as long as it took to read it. This started out as a realistic thread not a comic-book.

No Regards,

Snubbiefan

 

[Jellybean]

PhilOhio, snubbiefan apparantly has a grasp on reality so there is no reason to respond to your post. I've been in enough peeing matches with highly trained experts to last me a lifetime, so have a nice day.

 

[snubbiefan]

Okay folks....I own the thread and I agree that we all need to stop throwing the bread at each other in a food fight. I officially "bury the hatchet" with anybody that I have offended and I suggest we all do the same. The moderator can't be too far away here. Lets all behave....me included.

Thanks!

 

[PhilOhio]

Snubbiefan, neither you nor I "own" any thread here. I guess the site owner is stuck with them all. Nobody should be "offended" by the exchange of differing points of view. I'm not. That's what forums are for. And for that, moderators' intervention is not required.

But sooner or later, the anonymity of Internet forums tempts a certain type of person to not "behave", as you put it. It starts with the use of inflammatory terms or phrases directed at an individual, like "bashing", "grasp on reality", "peeing matches", etc., as above. And when the party dishing it out has been spot lighted and called on it, a common response is the righteous declaration that victory has been achieved, so nothing more needs to be said. Which is what should have happened in the first place.

So kindly do not suggest that "all" should "behave" when almost all did, and only one party did not. Forums run smoothly as long as there is zero toleration of those who initiate mud slinging contests aimed at specific participants, either subtle or heavy handed, which is what we had here.

Yes, it's going to happen, because people are people and there are always a few...

So let's see whether this one has in fact been laid to rest. That will tell us what intent was or is.

 

[Jellybean]

snubbiefan, Unless I read it wrong, Tam 3 gave information I posted back in #15 and I didn't see anything malicious in their post, only an earnest suggestion.

No crust here, just saying.

 

[khclark]

Any chance she'll use an all-steel J-frame?

 

[snubbiefan]

Ditto #46.

 

[snubbiefan]

kh....I think I have all that I need out of this thread. Thanks for the suggestion. The weapon is intended for personal carry and the alloy frame means a lot to her in terms of weight.

 

[Tam 3]

Missed Jellybean's post at #15.

Sorry for the rehash.

Regards,

Tam 3

 

[snubbiefan]

Tam....I took your post to be a jab that I should be loading BB's if my wife could not shoot something serious, which of course would be a silly suggestion. I understand now....no hard feelings on this end and I hope you don't harbor any for my snap-back.

Folks....this thread has gone deep enough with plenty of suggestions and good ideas, for which I am appreciative.

I have all that I need and if it continues to drift on over to the island of used-up and deceased threads...that's fine with me.

Thanks to all!

 

[EricInAZ]

Seems silly and counterproductive to speculate on what's right for the lady. Light loads won't do an effective job at stopping any BG intent on doing harm. Heavy loads will be shunned.

Meanwhile, everyone offers suggestions.

How about getting her into the forum & let her speak for herself? MrsSnubbiefan should be able to articulate HER preferences quite adequately.

Maybe the suggestion of pepperspray isn't all that out of line, after all?

Many years ago, I took my wife to select a pack & frame for backpacking. I got so busy telling the store clerk what I wanted for her, & he me about what she needs, that we both forgot she was even in the room.

After all the discussion, she spoke up and told us that she wanted a different one all together - after all SHE was going to carry it & it was her decision to select what fit her the best.

 

[David LaPell]

The first gun my wife ever shot was my Model 10 .38 and she loved it. It might not so much be the gun, but if you make sure it has a very comfortable set of grips like Hogue rubber or Pachmayr which might not look great but work well. As far as light loads, one of the ones that I use is a 158 grain SWC behind 3.8 grains of Winchester 231. Very, very little recoil and easy to shoot.

 

[Jellybean]

Pepperspray? Now that is funny. Anyone that suggests pepperspray for defensive use obviously knows nothing about the stuff. Or, as in the case of the companies that make it and advertise it as such, don't know much about defense against attacks.

 

[Tam 3]

I hope that the suggestions for the ultra-light loads purpose was to accustom her to the gun, then to gradually upgrade the charge to something reasonable, and, perhaps something better than reasonable.

My bride has zero interest in this subject, but all 5'5" of her handles a round butted Model 37, 3 inch with "white handles" (that cost more than the gun 28 years ago) just fine.

Regards,

Tam 3

 

[Smith357]

If she is already shooting a .32 S&W why not just get a nice vintage I frame in .32 S&W it will be smaller and lighter than the .327 mag. Trying to craft mouse fart loads for a .38 can be dangerous.

 

[PPC'r]

If the gun is being carried for self defense, one should use factory ammo. Practice with reloads and carry factory. A fairly good round to carry in .38 spl. would be any mid range 148gr wadcutter round. To mimmick that round in a reload, I use 3.1 grs. of 231 under a 148 gr HBWC. This should be quite managable and soft shooting in that airweight.

 

[David LaPell]

Pepperspray? Now that is funny. Anyone that suggests pepperspray for defensive use obviously knows nothing about the stuff. Or, as in the case of the companies that make it and advertise it as such, don't know much about defense against attacks.

+1 on that. I can tell you that I have been sitting home and am awaiting surgery from an injury caused by an inmate that was pepper sprayed, three times. He wasn't drunk, he wasn't high, just mad. Last year I peppered a guy about 6' 2 twice and it took 45 seconds or so to kick in. Luckily we could wrestle him into his cell. I have seen it fail miserably on several occasions. Not to mention that here in NY what they sell you commercially is by law a watered down LEO's carry. No thanks, I'll stick to my .38 or .357's on the street and won't recommend pepper to anyone in case of real defense.