[jmt1271]

I got my wife a 642 for Christmas. It will be her first daily carry gun. She has fired my Kimber Custom CDP and Ultra CDP as well as several of my Glocks. I think she may have fired one of the 642's I have owned as well, but not sure. As soon as she gets her 642 we will be doing a lot of shooting to get her proficient. I am wondering which round would be the lightest recoiling to get her started. Dont want any bad habits started by going too much too soon. Are there any reduced recoil loads in .38?

[Bear41mag]

light .38 full wadcutter target loads, if you reload you can replicate them using 2.8 gr bullseye and speer or hornady hollow based wadcutters.

[dewidmt]

I'm with Bear41 on this...start out with the 148gr wadcutters, then the FMJ 130gr loads from Federal, then you can move up to hotter loads in 110gr, 125gr and 158gr. Whatever level she gets to, that can be her SD load....

[wnycollector]

my wife doesnt mind shooting a S&W 638 loaded with mastercast 148 Gr TCJ/DEWC. They load it hot for a wadcutter (825fps)...but it is reasonable in the recoil dept!

[dbarale]

Another vote for .38 wadcutters. They account for 80% of my wife's shooting and it's what I use when introducing a new shooter to centerfire.
Some people like 'em for SD too because of the bullet design.
Edit: Sellier & Bellot is usually pretty affordable and midly loaded.

[jameslovesjammie]

I loaded up some REALLY light loads for my wife to start shooting out of my 686. A 125 gr lead round nose bullet with 2.5 grains of bullseye. I would imagine it's only exiting the barrel at about 600 fps. After shooting them, I realized that I really liked this low recoiling load! I shoot it all the time and it is the load I use to teach any new shooter. Recoil is between a .22 LR and .22 magnum.

[ADKWOODSMAN]

I'm also with Bear41.

[Cougfan2]

+1 for Bear41. A good manageable load to start with.

[jfh]

And another one for the target wadcutter. The reload variants are good, too. Set a goal, like a variant on the 5x5x5--say five shots (or whatever) at five yards, and start with a group in which all five shots land on an 8" or bigger paper plate. Set no time limit; concentrate on grip, stance, and the proper sight picture. Don't even think about speed or simulated urgency.

If she can't do it, then move the target closer. Once she starts getting all five on the target confidently, then start encouraging groups. Eventually, do a variant on the 5x5x5--say five shots in fifteen seconds at five yards into a five inch group.

IOW, "successive approximations" are the name of the game, and confidence-building is paramount.

When she is totally acclimated to shooting the 642, with the wadcutters, then try some of the 110-gr. standard pressure 110-gr. PD ammo. While she is developing these appropriate skills, work on her grip--see the Jerry Miculek videos on grip. And so on...

One last caveat: You either know now, or will know shortly, if the marital dynamics are such that you shouldn't be the one teaching her. If you aren't, bow out and get a friend, hire an instructor, or whatever--but don't do it if there's tension in the relationship.

[wuchak]

148 gr wadcutter ( I usually load the hollow based variety) are scary accurate for what is essentially a small barrel flying through the air.

You might also consider 158gr SWC since the sights on the 642 are regulated for 158gr bullets. It will move the point of impact closer to point of aim. It will still be off a little with the lower power target load but not as much as the 148's.

[wcwhitey]

I will add to the wadcutters. And just in case she does not progress past that recoil level there are worse things to carry in the snubby. 158 RNL would be one of them. Wadcutters are not a top choice in self defense ammo, but they will do. JMHO Bill

[jaydubya]

Mastercast sells a 100gr swaged wadcutter load that is cheap and gentle. It's so gentle it almost sounds like primer only! Check www.mastercast.com.
Cordially, Jack

[Starter52]

148 gr. WC is a great choice. Here's an alternative:

For a super-light load, one that even a 7-yr-old can handle, try the Speer plastic .38 target bullets and cases. Midway USA sell them, as does other retailers.

This load fires a .38 wadcutter hard plastic bullet at airgun velocity. It will smash over a soda can at 25 ft. and has zero recoil. Accuracy is not bad once you learn where the gun shoots.

I've used thousands of these Speer rounds to train very young shooters to fire "real" revolvers. The kids love them. Your wife can probably handle the lead wadcutter rounds OK, but the Speers are a neat round.

[19-3Ben]

The lightest loads I have found for me are the Remington UMC 130gr.FMJ-RN

[MarshallDodge]

My thoughts are pretty close to the rest. I am not sure on what is available from the factory because I reload. My wife shoots everything from light wadcutter loads to factory loaded +P hollowpoints. The latter she shoots just a couple, enough to feel the difference because most of the time she is shooting semi wadcutters.

My recipe is 3.0 Clays behind a 158 grain lead SWC. It cuts nice round holes in a paper target.

Also, if you get the chance to shoot by yourselves, try letting her shoot a couple shoots without hearing protection. It may surprise her but it's better to surprise her now than when the poop hit's the propeller.