Best non +P defense load for a 4" revolver

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30-06

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My wife tried 158 LHPSW +P loads in her Model 15, 38 Special S&W and doesn't want anything to do with them or any other +P load. She can handle 147 gr. target wadcutters fine shooting double action and can keep six in the center of a silhouette target at 15 feet. Any recommendations for a good low recoil self defense load for a 4" barrel or should she stick with the wadcutters. Thanks.
 
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bufflo bore makes non +p low flash S.D. ammo I have some .38 swc hp bufflo bore non
+P for my wifes 38 lots of reference on these online
good luck
 
The best round I know of is Hornady 125 gr JHP XTP. Available at ammo to go. Another round that is real light on recoil is Federals Nyclad 125 HP. This was referred to as the "chiefs load". It was used a lot in the S&W model 36. But this round is hard to find. Federal makes linited runs of this ammo. So stock up when you find it. I have a S&W model 36 and I use this round. Its a standard pressure round.
Here is the part number for the Federal round P38MA. This is the lightest recoil defense round I have used. Buffalo Bore makes a standard pressure 158gr LSWCHP but the recoil is about like a regular +P round.
Good luck,
Howard
 
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Your choice of the wadcutter is a good one by its self. I like the flat faced wadcutters but I bump mine up just a little on speed to get around 850fps from a 4" barrel. They have the same recoil as the regular 158gr roundnose rounds.

If you get a chance try some of the S&B 158gr round nose loads. They are not listed as plus p loads but they are some romper stomper dudes. I do wish it would occur to S&B to load these with at least a semi wadcutter bullet. They would really have something.

They was a story on the justice Files or some other program like that where the wife shot the husband with two wadcutter loads and both bullets went right on through. Needless to say he croaked. I think it takes a whole lot less power to do the job than most folks think.

Sounds like your wife does just fine with what she is using now.
 
Try some Hornady standard velocity 110gr critical defense loads if you insist on non +P and they're readily available from Cabellas. I've swapped the 127gr +P Federal Hydra-shoks that I've put in my M67 Smith for the last 15 years for 130gr +P Winchester PDX1's. I've shot them and they don't seem to recoil much at all but everyone has a different tolerance for recoil. In a 4" barrel just about any HP ammo you can get in .38 spl works as good as the .38 gets.
 
Use the wadcutters until ammunitiontogo has the above mentioned 125gr soft-lead Nyclad "chiefs" load in stock (which they do from time to time). Another +1 on the Nyclad; easy-peasy in a 4", and just what you're asking for.
 
Federal Personal Defense 110gr. Any HP that functions and shoots well should be GTG if she shoots it well. The latest greatest death blossom exploding nuke round is worthless if she misses. Shot placement above all else.
 
There's nothing wrong with wadcutters. Little sledgehammers, they are. (they don't really need to expand) Especially if you can find some that aren't loaded down too far -- maybe 800 fps.
 
30-06 ...She can handle 147 gr. target wadcutters fine shooting double action and can keep six in the center of a silhouette target at 15 feet...
Click to expand...

Sounds like you have the load already. If she is comfortable with it and can handle it, why mess with success?

I keep wadcutters in my M36 and K frames. Some are factory and some are hard cast and loaded to 900 fps.
 
If a 38 Special is intolerable I suggest a 22 auto. Better to be armed with a 22 that one is proficient with than any gun you are afraid to shoot and I doubt that she will find any 38 load that she will like. The bullet mass is the main ingredient in recoil, so even a slow 38 will have some small amount of kick and it sounds like she wants no kick.
 
If you have the bucks to spend see if you can locate one of the S&W model 30s or 31s in 32 long. They are listed on GB all the time.

I have a 31 with a 4" barrel and a model 30 with a 3" barrel and they are very soft shooting guns. Since my guns are newer and stronger than the old break open guns I load my ammo to around 850fps in them. They are pussy cats to shoot. They should be better than the 22 suggested above.
 
At close range the 148-grain mid-range .38 Special cartridge is a better defense load then prople give it credit for. What does the trick is the full-wadcutter bullet that cuts a wicked full diameter hole, and does not depend on expansion. It is also unlikely to over penetrate in situations or environments that could make this an issue.

If your wife is confortable and competent with the cartridge I would stick with it. It will produce a far better primary wound channel then any .22 rimfire.
 
Another source of lighter kicking loads might be some of the Cowboy Action loads that are loaded with bullets weighing around 130 grains.

For while I was loading lead 115gr 9mm bullets in 38 cases and shooting them from a 38 snub. They were just about like the 32s I mentioned a couple of post back.
 
Best non+P defense load

Thanks to all for the info. Since some of you recommend staying with the wadcutters I'll stick with them. She shoots them well and doesn't want any recoil. I've got to think they'll be more effective than a smaller caliber and I've got plenty of them.
 
Wadcutters at target velocity are pathetic for defense. Fine for target practice. Think 600 fps. :barf:

125 Nyclads are proven.

110 Critical defense looks promising.
 
The first proven defense round in a 38 special is the 158gr LSWCHP +P either by Remington or Winchester. Also Buffalo Bore makes a good round too. LSWCHP is a proven man stopper. FBI used it for years until they transition to 9mm semi-autos. But this round has moderate recoil and for some shooters like your wife maybe too much.

The second proven defense round I mentioned is the Federal Nyclad 125 gr round. This load was used by law enforcement in their backup S&W model 36 and Colt detectives for years. Its accurate and expands well at low velocities. Again recoil is a lot less than the other round.

I would get her the Nyclads for defense and then stick to the wadcutters for target practice.
Good luck,
Howard
 
Wadcutters at target velocity are pathetic for defense.
Click to expand...

At point-blank to about 50 feet I woud dispute that, especially out of a 4-inch or longer barrel. Because of the full-diameter/sharp shouldered bullet they cut through tissue, and are not dependent on expansion or high velocity. Some folks are far to influenced by secondary (temporary) channels in jelly. If the lady can place her bullets where she intends to she'll do fine.
 
The only thing I don't like about wadcutters is they are hard to load from a speedloader. So maybe load up with wadcutters and carry some 125 Nyclads for a reload. (or don't worry about a reload)
 
wadcutters are outstanding. Something about the hard leading edge and flat front.

In addition...hollowpoints do not reliably expand at such low velocities.

It is also important to remember that human bodies are not jelly. The liver is dense...the stomach usually an airspace. What I am attempting to convey is that it is unpredictable in there.

Ballistics gel is great stuff...but with limitations.

bullet placement is key. I am very pleased that she is shooting something that she can shoot well.
 
I would say use the wadcutters for practice. Then load up with the Buffalo bore standard pressure 158 gr SWCHPGC for carry. She will never notice the difference if she has to fire in self defense.
 
The Nyclads are :barf:
I will tell you from experiance the Nyclads on humans are not good out of a 4 inch gun, stick with the wadcutter!
If you load 4.5 to 4.8 of Unique will work good for her.
 
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