Best .38 low power/recoil for a LCR for my wife

[gmh1013]

She is 65 and has arthritis in her hands and im looking for standard pressure .38
without much recoil.
I was using 110 gr Winchester silvertips....which is the lowest recoil I could find but is their any make thats less than the WST's?
She loves the LCR grips and weight....I like it too but had to give it to her.
I carry a Walther PPK 380 now since she stole it from me.

 

[rcmodel]

148 grain mid-range match wadcutter.

It don't get any softer then that and still cut 3/8" holes in BG's.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/23...38-special-148-grain-lead-wadcutter-box-of-50

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/54...-grain-target-master-lead-wadcutter-box-of-50

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/29...per-match-38-special-148-grain-lead-wadcutter

rc

 

[David E]

Ditto the 148 grain Target Wadcutter.

If that's still too much, then it's time for a Kel-Tec .32 pocket auto.

 

[Certaindeaf]

What they said. It'll still whap stuff good too.

 

[BCRider]

Lighter bullets give a noticably sharper snap to the recoil. Going bigger and slower will ease the recoil while still giving the bullet a decent impact power. But to get a 158gn bullet load which she can tolerate likely means you'll want to reload them yourself. I'm thinking something like a 158gn SWC or very stubby RNFP style sent out at around 650 to 700 fps. At those velocities theres not much point in trying to use hollow points. Just go for a big flat front end meplate shape.

If she's really sensitive then the target wadcutter rounds already mentioned are the best option. A little slow for most folks tastes for defensive shooting but they'll still hurt and change most BG's ideas of where to be at the time.

 

[fatcpa]

My wife shoots 110 gr reduced recoil Federal Hydrashock's pretty well out of her LCR. She is also recoil sensitive.

 

[Stainz]

The early replies were right - 148 gr LWC. Mild recoil, but big hole. Zero Ammo reloads it reasonably. Last summer, a locally owned big outdoors store had them for <$8/50 - a deal - even for a reloader, like me. My wife loved them - never missed the SPC targets from 10-15yd - from my 642. She 'tolerates' +P 158gr LHPSWC's - but only in her house gun, a 2" 10. She hated my 642 - even with my 125gr JHP homebrew plinkers - the 148gr LWC's are mild target loads and she liked them. Now she wants them in her 2" 10!

Stainz

 

[SFsc616171]

Hi there! I agree with the 148 grain wadcutter (lead soda can) as a good load for recoil-sensitive hands. I also agree that the 158 grain bullet weight, is what most .38 Special caliber handguns are 'factory-zeroed' by the manufacturers. The solution? 158 grain semiwadcutters - NOT the plus P hollow point design ones, just the flat nose ones. Brands like Bitterroot Valley, Ultramax, Magtech, and Fiocchi make them. They will work, too.

Try this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWakgnKs6wk

 

[kludge]

Trade it for a SP101?

 

[gmh1013]

I have a 2 inch SP101 and the trigger pull is to much for her
Thats why we got the LCR....easy trigger double action

 

[VA27]

148 grain mid-range match wadcutter.

It don't get any softer then that and still cut 3/8" holes in BG's.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/23...38-special-148-grain-lead-wadcutter-box-of-50

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/54...-grain-target-master-lead-wadcutter-box-of-50

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/29...per-match-38-special-148-grain-lead-wadcutter

rc

This^. It's what I use when I run out of +P LHPSW.

 

[Ralph G. Briscoe]

The recoil of a model 36 was too much for my wife. Got her a 632 and made up some .32 h and r mag loads...she loves it. Problem is, so do I.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree a 148gr WC is probably your best bet.

 

[maclords]

http://www.mastercast.net/ftp.mastercast.net/Remanufactured_Ammo_Retail_Sales.html

I've heard said the 100 grain wadcutters from master cast are about as light as it gets. I vaguely remember hearing it's 2.9 grains of w231 in it. I think penn bullets sells a 100 grain wadcutter. I have not experienced the ammo myself.

 

[harmon rabb]

ruger should make a LCR in 327mag. 32h&r mags would be nice and light in such a gun, and you'd get 6 shots.

 

[pete950]

The 148 wadcutter is great defense load.
JG sales has the Remmington at a blow out sale right now for under $15.00 a box you can stock up.

 

[gilfo]

Why not have her practice with wadcutters, or maybe cowboy loads. Get a low recoil hollowpoint for SD. If she ever needs to use the gun in SD I don't think she will care about the recoil of 5 spent rounds. That is what I do, I too hate recoil.

 

[Wishoot]

Why not have her practice with wadcutters, or maybe cowboy loads. Get a low recoil hollowpoint for SD. If she ever needs to use the gun in SD I don't think she will care about the recoil of 5 spent rounds. That is what I do, I too hate recoil.

Cowboy loads are a great idea for practice. Bought a bunch of reloads from Georgia Arms and recoil is next to nothing in my LCR.

 

[BCRider]

I don't suppose a slightly bigger and heavier gun is an option? The best way to reduce recoil is to use a heavier gun.

I'm thinking something like a 3 or 4 inch barrel S&W K frame gun of some sort.

 

[kludge]

I have a 2 inch SP101 and the trigger pull is to much for her
Thats why we got the LCR....easy trigger double action

Trigger job. My SP101 pulls almost a nice as my Model 19 with target trigger/hammer.

The LCR does have a nice trigger though.

 

[spotch]

Remington makes some UMC "target" ammo that's pretty soft, though not as soft as mastercast I guess.

 

[wnycollector]

+1 on the mastercast 100gr wadcutter recommendation. I started my wife out on those in a M36 years ago. She has since graduated to a 2 3/4" Ruger security six loaded with fiocchi 148gr .357 jhp's.

 

[frankmako]

148 gr wad cutter is the way to go. you can load your own and that way you can find the best load for her.

 

[ironhead7544]

There are some 125 gr lead cowboy 38 Special loads available. These a loaded very light. Use the Silvertips for carry and the lead for practice.

 

[bikerdoc]

PMC makes a 132 gr FMJ my wife likes, If you reload the mome brew could be interesting