I can buy 32 ammo locally if I want to whip out the American Express but these guys are loco on pricing. I keep a few boxes on hand for letting newbies shoot as it really is an enjoyable cartridge. Both of mine are over 100 years old, a Smith and a Colt, and both of them are currently at the gunsmith getting a facelift. I have considered getting the dies to reload the caliber as, once again, it is really a fun gun to shoot.
Wife wants J frame Smith w/X,X,X. Which one??
- Thread starter Tallbald
- Start date
- Status
I am also a 642 carrier and believe a 158gr LSWC at ~800fps is plenty. No need for +P. I think the Underwood rounds are 850fps LSWCHP.
I'm inclined to agree. I can't see where +p loads in a .38 S&W Special would make much difference in a 2 inch barrel.
Last edited:
jad0110
Member
As others have said, felt recoil in these little light guns varies WIDELY from person to person.
For me, +P 158 grain in my 642 isn't too bad. It thwacks my metacarpal a little, but it doesn't sting too bad. Standard pressure loads are firm, and light wadcutters are fairly pleasant. I also don't mind shooting .44 Mag from a 3" 629 wearing wood boot grips, if that tells you anything. I'm fine with the stock boot grips on my 642. I always thought putting ginormous Hogues on these guns didn't make the most sense for me, as doing so would eliminate it for pocket carry. And for belt carry I prefer K and L Frames anyway. I've gotten the point I can run and shoot the little gun pretty well. Wonderfully smooth trigger once it got broken in. As for the LCR, to be honest I've not been impressed with their triggers. Yes, they are lighter. But the return is mushy and most have had grittier pulls than my 642.
My sister has a S&W bodyguard .38. With +P she says the recoil is "tolerable", and being that she is a natural shot she can keep most of her shots on a playing card at 10 yards.
On the other hand, my wife cannot STAND the recoil of my 642, even my 148 wadcutter loads (3.2 gr W231). At the indoor range, on the first shot she shook her head in aggravation. She flinched so bad on the second shot she put a hole in the ceiling above the target hanger
. She hasn't shot the gun since.
My mom had an LCR .38 for a while. Again, even with light loads it was too painful. She now as a S&W M&P9 Shield that she absolutely loves to carry and shoot.
For me, +P 158 grain in my 642 isn't too bad. It thwacks my metacarpal a little, but it doesn't sting too bad. Standard pressure loads are firm, and light wadcutters are fairly pleasant. I also don't mind shooting .44 Mag from a 3" 629 wearing wood boot grips, if that tells you anything. I'm fine with the stock boot grips on my 642. I always thought putting ginormous Hogues on these guns didn't make the most sense for me, as doing so would eliminate it for pocket carry. And for belt carry I prefer K and L Frames anyway. I've gotten the point I can run and shoot the little gun pretty well. Wonderfully smooth trigger once it got broken in. As for the LCR, to be honest I've not been impressed with their triggers. Yes, they are lighter. But the return is mushy and most have had grittier pulls than my 642.
My sister has a S&W bodyguard .38. With +P she says the recoil is "tolerable", and being that she is a natural shot she can keep most of her shots on a playing card at 10 yards.
On the other hand, my wife cannot STAND the recoil of my 642, even my 148 wadcutter loads (3.2 gr W231). At the indoor range, on the first shot she shook her head in aggravation. She flinched so bad on the second shot she put a hole in the ceiling above the target hanger
. She hasn't shot the gun since.My mom had an LCR .38 for a while. Again, even with light loads it was too painful. She now as a S&W M&P9 Shield that she absolutely loves to carry and shoot.
Screwball
Member
When I was looking to move to 9mm, I really considered the LCR. My father has a .357 version (9mm is built on the same frame, not the lighter .38 frame), and you can feel a big difference in weight between it and my 642.
For me, the big thing that kept me with the 642 was the trigger (agree with the above description). I've been shooting that J-frame for years, so I have a lot more training invested in the S&W. If I made the switch to the LCR... new gun and holsters are the main upfront monetary costs, but having to get to the same skill point that I'm at with the S&W is a bigger investment. Doable, but prefer not to.
With the weight, it wasn't worth it to get another DAO revolver... so I invested in the conversion cylinder. The only way I would have gone with the Ruger was if they put out a 9mm LCRx, as I would be gaining some capability (SA) in the transition.
Just curious as to your wife's background in shooting and defense training. It seems gun counter guys and a lot of men force women who are new to guns into a snubbie. But they are more difficult to shoot accurately than say a larger wheel gun or pistol. My wife can run a Glock all day long but she can't get passed the trigger of her J frame her dad gave her. Just throwing it out there. I carry her J frame sometimes now and she carries a Glock 42.
- Status
