.38 special recoil question

[mountain_man]

I am looking at buying a 500 round lot of ammo from georgia arms and have a question about recoil. They have 3 loads that I am looking at.

125 grain lead flat point at 750 fps

158 grain lead flat point at 750 fps

158 lead swc at 775 fps

All are supposed to be standard pressure. That said which will have the least felt recoil, and which would shoot closest to point of aim in a fixed sight revolver.

 

[rcmodel]

The 125 grain will have the least recoil.

The 158 SWC will probably shoot closest to the sights, as it is closest to the original 158 grain RN .38 Spl. Factory load fixed sight guns were regulated with.

rc

 

[beag_nut]

EXACTLY what rc said.

 

[mountain_man]

How close in recoil will the 158's @ 775 be to the 125's @ 750? The only reason that I am wondering is I would like the load to shoot close to poa but the same ammo may be shared with a more recoil sensitive shooter.

 

[SeanSw]

What will you be firing them out of? All the above loads are very light. The difference between 125gr and 158gr will be small or negligible in most guns at those velocities. I also suggest 158 because it is standard for the caliber and more likely to help you "tune in" to your gun. There are very light 90gr loads for defense if the above don't allow you to practice but I would not begin there.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The 125 grain will have the least recoil.

The 158 SWC will probably shoot closest to the sights, as it is closest to the original 158 grain RN .38 Spl. Factory load fixed sight guns were regulated with.

rc

There is your answer...

 

[beag_nut]

There are several easy-to-use recoil calculators on the web. Here's one of them:

http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp

I don't think you will discover any "equivalent" loads which will feel the same and shoot to the same POA, when you are comparing different bullet weights.

 

[Artym]

POA will be different for different guns. Some Rugers will be regulated for a 6 oclock hold with 158 gr bullet and will shoot higher than POA. Others may be at POA with the 158. Before buying a lot of the stuff, try out some standard velocity 158 gr. ammo at a range. If the sights are fixed, this could matter to you.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

Some good general information has already been put forth. I'll add that in our Ruger LCR .38 the difference in recoil between a 125 gr. bullet and a 158 gr. bullet running the same velocity is astounding in my hands and in the hands of my small Wife. Perceived recoil is highly personal and can very between individuals with different guns very much. We both found that the 158 grain shoot closest to POA with a snubbie but that difference is a matter of insignificance at the ranges we shoot a snubbie at which is between 3 and 10 yards.

VooDoo

 

[buck460XVR]

The 125 gr load is probably using a working pressure of 10,00 CUP to propel the bullet downrange while the 158 SWC is probably running close to 12,000 CUP. Max pressures for both are around 16,000. IOWs, recoil should be fairly mild.

 

[mountain_man]

They will be shot out of a 4 inch model 10 mostly and some from a 638. Not worried about the model 10 or the 638 personally, but I know that there will be one recoil sensitive shooter that is going to shoot the 638 a little.

 

[Bezoar]

full size model 10 you say, well um lets see. you reall should only notice a little noise and muzzle lift.

 

[bannockburn]

Recoil out of the Model 10 should be relatively mild; a little more so with the aluminum framed Model 638. Maybe try some lighter target loads, like 148 gr. wadcutters, if recoil is a concern initially.

 

[xXxplosive]

What recoil...?

158gr. ........right on target.

 

[lowercase]

I'd go for either of the two 158-grain loads.

They should be POA and gentle-shooting out of a fixed sight 4" Model 10.

 

[leo96150]

I bought a thousand of Georgia Arms 158gn RNFP to shoot in Cowboy action shooting when I started. Shot them out of a 4 5/8 inch Ruger New Vaquero one handed. They had very little recoil at all. You will like them.

 

[Frank44]

Either of the 158gr. loads shood be very close to POA and quite mild out of a Model 10. The 638 will have more noticeable recoil but manageable. I would try the 125gr. load first in the 638.

 

[golden]

125 is an easy shooting round

Mountain Man,

I have been using the 125 grain load in several of my revolvers and really like it as a range load. The recoil is mild, not quit down there with the 148 grain wadcutters, but less that the 158 grain ammo.

The point of impact is close enough that I do not notice the difference in my fixed sight guns.

I recommend it and will buy more.

Jim

 

[WestKentucky]

Comparing recoil between the rounds is pretty simple qualifiably, quantifiable is not so easy. Take bullet weight and multiply by velocity, compare your numbers. It will be close to that ratio however noise and flash play into what recoil you feel.

 

[PistolPete45]

There should not be any problem with those loads in a 10 . I like the 158 myself but it is just an opinion ..