Lightest recoiling 38 special factory loading suggestions please?

[rockquarry]

This is all subjective - different felt recoil to different shooters and the gun size and weight certainly has something to do with it. In a J-frame, and I shoot these often (only one Airweight), I can see little difference in felt recoil between 148 gr. wadcutter handloads (factory equivalent) or standard pressure 158 gr. cast SWCs (factory equivalent). No +P. To me, everything kicks pretty well in any snubnose J-frame, but you become accustomed to it with practice. Lighter bullets will have slightly less recoil; some shooters may see a marked difference, but many will feel only a slight difference in recoil, if they notice anything at all between light and heavy bullets.

Last week I was shooting .38 Special ammo in a Colt .357 Model with a 6" barrel. The difference between the 148 WC ammo and standard pressure 158 SWC was negligible.

Many good comments on this thread, but like so many others that involve ammo choices, what works for one is a dismal performer for another. I'd try several factory ammos and/or good handloads before making a choice. I'm always interested in accuracy as a major factor, but other factors are also important. To me, the best load would provide fine accuracy and tolerable recoil (defined as recoil that doesn't cause undue fatigue in one range session). That would be my ideal ammo, but may not be for others.

You limit yourself a great deal when light recoil is the only consideration, especially so when the alleged "advantage" may be insignificant.

 

[Eagle1*]

awesome awesome info gents. Just what I was looking for..

 

[johngalt]

Federal Gold Match 148gr wadcutter (GM38A)

 

[tops]

.38 Short Colt can be shot in a .38 Special gun. Larry

 

[Data]

Perhaps, Smith should drop the chambered .357 models all together and start producing the +P-rated .38 model(s) again. Juiced loadings are out, and standard pressure loadings are all the rage these days. Hence, the Wadcutter. I would hope that Smith has taken note of the latest trend and start producing the 342 PD again. While I love my magnum-chambered Scandium / Ti J frame(s) I do think it's a bit overkill for sure. As for a mild load for your snub, I think the .38 Special 148gr. Wadcutter is the way to go.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Looking for suggestions and decent opinions from you fellow 38 special shooters.

My suggestion is a Model 10 four inch 38 Special.

 

[Doug M.]

If the wadcutter cannot be found, I wouid go with a standard velocity SWC. Decent shape, not too hot. Far better than the round nose for serious purposes. It is what I load most of the time in my M66.

 

[john17427]

This is probably some of the lightest factory 38 out there. Magtech 148gr wadcutter.

Range/Training .38 Special, 148 gr, Lead Wadcutter (LDWC) 709 fps, 50 Rd/20 Cs | Liberty Shooting Sports | Spring | 77388

 

[LVSteve]

There used to be a Winchester 130gr FMJ load that was pretty tame.f

 

[DWalt]

.38 Short Colt can be shot in a .38 Special gun. Larry

If you can find any, the .38 SC would be about the mildest factory load that can be used in a .38 Special revolver. If you handload using the lightest cast bullets available you could probably make up some real pipsqueaks in .38 SC cases. On the other end, .38 SC cases can easily be handlioaded to 9mm performance levels. It is a versatile cartridge that deserves to be more popular than it is. Its heritage goes back to the Black Powder days. It shines when used in .38 snubby revolvers as the short cases extract completely with the short extractor rods they have.

 

[Grayfox]

Federal makes a 110gr Hydra-Shok low recoil defensive load. A lady I used to know liked these in her S&W 442. She shot them very well and had no problems with recoil in that light gun.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Several companies offer loads for Cowboy Action Shooting. In .38 Special that might include a 125-grain bullet at powder puff levels for punching holes in paper or ringing a metal target.

.38 Special was developed from the original .38 Colt, offered in standard and .38 Long Colt. Either one can be fired in a .38 Special revolver (or .357 magnum) for those wanting a light load.

 

[oddshooter]

LAX does remanufactured ammo. Their 38 gets about 700fps.
I bought several thousand rounds from them 4 or 5 years ago at $.18 a round.

LAX Ammunition Reman 38 SPL 158 GR RNFP 250 Rounds W/Free Ammo Can | Lax Ammunition

uses X-Treme copper bullets.
at $93.13 for 250 or $.37 each. Backorder available.

Not target ammo, but inexpensive and low recoil.


Prescut

 

[rockquarry]

Yesterday I fired some cast 160 gr. SWC loads loaded to standard pressure with Bullseye powder, about 825-850 fps from a 4" revolver and 750-775 fps from a 2" airweight J-frame. I was using the J-frame yesterday.

I also fired some wadcutter target loads using an H&G #50 design, 148 grs. loaded with 2.8 grs. Bullseye powder. Muzzle velocity was probably just under 700 fps. No real difference in recoil between the two loads, at least for me.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

The 130 grain FMJ .38 Special is essentially equivalent to GI M41 which was for use in aluminum frame revolvers the military used for aircrews…some even had aluminum cylinders which could not hold up to standard .38 Specials so the M41 was specified. The aluminum cylinder guns were withdrawn and most were destroyed but the Pentagon kept buying the M41 ammo.

 

[silverstateS&W]

38 SPL-Short 125GR LRN - Magtech
buy 2 boxes of this ammo on line and give it a try.
it is lighter than wadcutters and works fine.
I have used it for many training events with new/lady shooters and have advance to wadcutters afterwards.
Larry -former S&W rep

 

[pharmer]

I like this stuff a lot. I have shot .357mag in my 640-1, shooting this ammo in a 642 is not half as unpleasant. Joe