Seniors and Recoil

[Hair Trigger]

On a recent review of 38spec. Hornady 90gr, a commenter jested that it was a way to turn a 38 into a 380. I've fired small 380's, and they're a handful. Meanwhile, another new review was excited about the new Lipsey S&W 32, being 13oz and holding 6 rounds.

As senior citizen and a Ruger LCR(13.5oz) owner, I don't think ending up with 380 ballistics using the 90gr.38sp. is a bad compromise. Certainly on par with the 32 or 380 guns.

In the review, what were they shooting the .38 Spl rounds from? That's going to determine how much like a .380 they feel like as much as what the bullet weight and powder load is.

Find me a .380 chambered pistol the size of a full size 1911 or N frame revolver and I'll show you a .380 that feels like .22LR. Most .380's are pocket size and may have been scaled up from a .32ACP pistol, so yeah they'll be a bit snappy. If something like that is what you want, find a serviceable Colt Model M in either caliber. Easy to shoot, easier to hide in a pocket, dead reliable.

Are you looking for something easy to shoot and easy to carry, for defensive use? For my purposes, I feel .32ACP is too small and .380 is just enough for close encounters. A small (like a M36 snubby) .38Spl revolver should be manageable and sufficient firepower.

When you say "senior" just how old do you mean? Do you have arthritis in your hands that make shooting painful or difficult to operate the gun? I'm 70 and have moderate rheumatoid arthritis in my hands as well as long-term nerve damage from carpal tunnel syndrome (had surgery for both hands 15 years ago). I still take my .41M's to the range and I carry a .40S&W semiauto or a .357M snubby for CC.

 

[Gamecock]

I shoot standard Remington 130 gr FMJ in my 642. Factory spec 800 fps. I find it FUN to shoot. So I don't think going down to 32 or 380 is necessary.

 

[Old Corp]

You guys are worrying me. Later this year I'll turn 68 and have long known I had some arthritis, an inherited malady. My hands really feel it after some hours using a chainsaw, recip saw, electric drills, jig saw, etc.
But - shooting the same .38's, .357's, .41's, .44's, .45's, etc. as all the years before only makes for a very small amount of discomfort - nothing comparable to using the tools mentioned.....

So - Am I gonna be all crippled up hand-wise when I reach the full maturity of some of y'all? Hope not

 

[dave1918a2]

I'm 79 and I shoot My .475 Linebaugh at least once a week weather permitting. I call it maintaining My Magnum Hand. Then I step down to 44's and 41's and 45ACP. I guess I'm lucky as I have no sign of arthritis in My hands or wrists and My eyes are ok as I sometimes hit a clay pigeon at 100 yds while making them dance pretty often.

 

[fiasconva]

Luckily as a senior I don't have the physical problems with arthritis, etc. But I have discovered that the longer between range visits the more recoil sensitive I become. If my visits are closer together the less recoil sensitive I seem to be.

 

[Doug M.]

In large part due to the recent shoulder break and surgery, I have started thinking out selling my Mossberg 590 w/Vang Comp treatment and all my 12 gauge ammo. The ARs and Marlin .357 lever gun are likely to do all I ever need.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

If one wants the lightest recoiling load in 38 Special, the 148 grain target wadcutter loads are as light as you can get.

Probably true, and also more likely to cut a useful wound channel than some others. However, even less recoil will rersult from a heavier gun. Even a steel J-frame will still fit in your pocket.

 

[chief38]

After carrying a Chief's Special loaded with 5 rounds of Buffalo Bore +P 158 Gr. LSWCHP for many years I began to dislike shooting the little J frame with stout loads for practice sessions. I try and shoot my EDC at least 8-10 times a year but it began to be a "chore" to do so and found myself practicing less and less - not good! For you younger guys, you will understand as you get older. That as well as many other reasons was why I switched over to my Sig P365 9mm as my EDC / CCW. While not a scientific statement I would say the perceivable recoil with SD carry ammo is about half! And..... the 9mm SD ammo I use is actually a better performer too. I can shoot hundreds of rounds a day with zero discomfort and it is very enjoyable to do so.

So has has been my solution to the recoil of SD rounds in a Chiefs' Special.

 

[M1A4ME]

I used to laugh at the idea of ported or compensated barrels. So what? Didn't need them.

I bought an M&P 1.0 PC 9MM with a ported 5" barrel/slide. Within the first 2 or 3 shots my mind is telling me something is different. I shoot some more and I realized the pistol isn't raising up nearly as far or kicking in my hand like I've come to expect when shooting 9MM 124 grain NATO ammo.

I've got a Shield pistol I put a .40 S&W slide on with a threaded .357 SIG barrel. I put a 9MM compensator on the end of the threaded barrel and you can't tell it's a .357 SIG. Does it recoil more than a 9MM? My wife says she can tell the difference, but it's not bad at all.

Getting your handgun ported, or buying/installing a threaded barrel and compensator is additional cost. More ported factory semi autos are coming out all the time.

Something I used to laugh at.

 

[rwsmith]

I've found that....

...I don't enjoy shooting full bore .357s quite as much as I used to. I think that one thing I need to do is shoot more of them. I'm getting older and I like shooting .38 wadcutters at target velocity, but you get used to the milder loads very easily and lose your feel for the stouter stuff more easily, also. So when I load up my next batch of .38s I'm going to include some whopper .357s.