Low recoil ammo for a 642

[otis24]

I've concealed carried for a while. Ammo choice has never been a problem, as I have carried 3" K frames and my last J frame was a 640-1. Recoil was not an issue. I just sold the 640 and purchased a 642. This is the first air weight I have ever owned. It took a lot of years to get me to accept something that was not made of solid American steel. That said, the 642 is a dream to carry, not so much to shoot.

I'm getting a little bit of arthritis in my shooting hand. The first rounds that I put through the revolver where Winchester Silvertip 125(?) grain in 38 +p. Very stout for me after being used to the solid feeling 640. I may get rid of the stock grips and get the pachmayr compac professional that wrap completely around the grip. I liked them on the 640.

Will a lighter weight bullet, perhaps a 110 grain, be less recoil? I would still like to stick with +p ammo.

 

[byteheed]

I've got a 442 which is the blue version of the 642. Recoil is stout for sure. You're going to have to step down from +p ammunition to standard pressure .38 special to reduce that felt recoil.

These are up-close weapons and at such close range, in my opinion, +p isn't necessary. Of course, your situation may vary.

 

[otis24]

What standard pressure ammo is a good choice for self-defense?

 

[Steve in Vermont]

Either Federal 125 gr Nyclad HP or, if you can't find them, Hornady Critical Defense 110 gr FTX. I've shot both in my old M36 and they are very accurate and easy to shoot.

 

[Rob1109]

I've concealed carried for a while. Ammo choice has never been a problem, as I have carried 3" K frames and my last J frame was a 640-1. Recoil was not an issue. I just sold the 640 and purchased a 642. This is the first air weight I have ever owned. It took a lot of years to get me to accept something that was not made of solid American steel. That said, the 642 is a dream to carry, not so much to shoot.

I'm getting a little bit of arthritis in my shooting hand. The first rounds that I put through the revolver where Winchester Silvertip 125(?) grain in 38 +p. Very stout for me after being used to the solid feeling 640. I may get rid of the stock grips and get the pachmayr compac professional that wrap completely around the grip. I liked them on the 640.

Will a lighter weight bullet, perhaps a 110 grain, be less recoil? I would still like to stick with +p ammo.

On both my 642 and LCR I use 130gr. FMJ for range and Speer GD Short Barrel +P for carry. Since there is no comfortable load (IMHO) I use a fingerless motorcycle glove (WalMart) which have a padded palm at the range. I'll worry about the other situation if I have to use the Speer. Also, on another site there is a thread about "flame burning" of the top strap at just behind the forcing cone when using light-for-caliber bullets, i.e. <125gr. The author has the creds, so I listen. I don't use 110gr. anything. The 642 is a really great weapon, as is the LCR, which is more comfortable to shoot. I would not part with either. They're just not fun to shoot if you're used to shooting 50+ rounds at a time. Best.

I fould the comments by a retired gunsmith that explains flame burning properly. He explains it much better:

http://rugerforum.net/reloading/17219-why-do-only-lighter-bullets-cause-flame-cutting.html

 

[byteheed]

I've been shooting Federal's 110gr Hydrashock in my 442 and it's not too bad to shoot.

 

[bpeddicord]

Since most hollowpoint ammo won't expand at the low velocities from the 1 7/8 inch barrels, I've decided on carrying standard velocity 158 lead SWC ammo. It has a good shoulder and should cut a clean hole through tissue and bone. Chuck Taylor who writes in Combat Handguns and other magazines also recommends the SWC load for short barrels. Most of the 158 SWC ammo I have shot in my airweights shoot to point of aim in the little guns. It still barks a bit but with a little practice, your hand will toughen up.

 

[Buford57]

I have also found the Nyclads comfortable. I've been using the +P Critical Defense loads for carry, but have been meaning to see how standard velocity 158 gr loads print in my 642.

 

[Rob1109]

Since most hollowpoint ammo won't expand at the low velocities from the 1 7/8 inch barrels, I've decided on carrying standard velocity 158 lead SWC ammo. It has a good shoulder and should cut a clean hole through tissue and bone. Chuck Taylor who writes in Combat Handguns and other magazines also recommends the SWC load for short barrels. Most of the 158 SWC ammo I have shot in my airweights shoot to point of aim in the little guns. It still barks a bit but with a little practice, your hand will toughen up.

Along that same line, Buffalo Bore makes a 150gr. Hard Cast full wad cutter at 850fps. Hard cast will not deform. Check their site. Designed for the .38.

 

[RandomMan]

The lowest recoil ammo will be 148-grain wadcutters of most makes. A nice little load, if you reload, is to take a 148-grain hollow base wadcutter and turn the bullet upside down (loading the hollow base out), I've heard this round affectionally called "the buttercup", because it shoots sweet and has great expansion even from short 1 7/8" snubs.

-Rob

 

[mc5aw]

+1 on the true wadcutter rounds. Nothing shoots lighter than a WC. You can shoot all day and not feel it.

 

[Hapworth]

Hornady Critical Defense 110 grain standard pressure. By my hand, easy shooting in a 442 -- and gets good results in ballistic tests.

 

[pete950]

Either the Buffalo Bore full wadcutter or a full hardcast wadcutter over 4.8 grains of Unique "if you reload" backed up by speedloaders or speed strips with the SWC load.

 

[riverrat38]

I think the BB 150 gr WC ammo is good, but it has the recoil of a plus P, not surprising due to the fact that it has the speed of a plus P for the same weight. I use it in steel snubs, but I use the Double Tap 148 gr hard cast WC in my M442. My 70 year old hands are definitely recoil sensitive. The Double Tap is about as stout as I want to shoot in my 442. The disadvantage with heavy, "slow", ammo in the 442 is that it shoots very high. My 442 shoots to point of aim with 125 gr plus P ammo. Shooting off of a rest, I get groups about 8 inches high at 25 yds with the WC ammo. Probably not a problem at typical SD range, but I like my guns to shoot to POA. The Speer SB would be a good choice if you can manage the recoil. It is about as stout as the BB 150 gr WC, and shoots much closer to POA.

rat

 

[MichiganScott]

On both my 642 and LCR I use 130gr. FMJ for range and Speer GD Short Barrel +P for carry. Since there is no comfortable load (IMHO) I use a fingerless motorcycle glove (WalMart) which have a padded palm at the range. I'll worry about the other situation if I have to use the Speer. Also, on another site there is a thread about "flame burning" of the top strap at just behind the forcing cone when using light-for-caliber bullets, i.e. <125gr. The author has the creds, so I listen. I don't use 110gr. anything. The 642 is a really great weapon, as is the LCR, which is more comfortable to shoot. I would not part with either. They're just not fun to shoot if you're used to shooting 50+ rounds at a time. Best.

You get flame cutting with any ammunition when using any revolvers. It is self limiting and dependent on volume of gas. I doubt anyone will every fire enough rounds in a 642 to matter.

That being said, I use 158gr. SWCHP +P in mine. It hits to point of aim but kicks. If the recoil really bothered me I'd switch to 148gr. wadcutters. The cheap 135 gr. FMJ is excellent practice ammo.

 

[ronnie gore]

lower recoil

i have two titanium 342 guns and they kick worse that the 642. i load some 110 and 125 bullets with a light powder charge for practice, and carry full power loads, if you have to use it for defence you will never notice the recoil or the blast, i know i have been there twice.
the 110 grain will have less recoil and more flash.

 

[Moonman]

+1 for 148 grain FULL Wadcutters.

 

[pete950]

Either the Buffalo Bore full wadcutter or a full hardcast wadcutter over 4.8 grains of Unique "if you reload" backed up by speedloaders or speed strips with the SWC load.

I wrote this last night when I was getting off duty, I carry the BB in steed snubs But its the Double taps in the airweights, its a hardcast full
wadcutter a 740 fps great accurate load.

 

[Rob1109]

Either the Buffalo Bore full wadcutter or a full hardcast wadcutter over 4.8 grains of Unique "if you reload" backed up by speedloaders or speed strips with the SWC load.

FYI: the Buffalo Bore hard cast 148/150gr. full wadcutter is made my Rim Rock Bullets.

 

[Doug M.]

I use wadcutters from Black Hills. Seem to work just fine. A standard velocity SWC, relatively hard cast, would also be a good choice. Any standard velocity/pressure load with the Barnes all copper bullet is also likely to be a good performer.