Light .38 special loads for a weak person

[Stefan A]

Yeah, kind of an odd subject line... Anyway, for some dumb reason, my 77 year old mother with MS was sold a S&W 642 with a 1.8" barrel in .38 special. She bought it a few years ago and has not shot it. She wants to shoot it and has this idea that she will carry it for self defense. I kinda doubt she will actually carry it, but she definitely wants to go to a range. She likes to talk big . She has shot a tiny .22 revolver with acceptable results. So, I would like to make some really low recoil rounds for her if that is possible with such a small and light gun. I have 231, titegroup, and acc. #5. I have some 158g SWC and some 158 lead RN. Any suggestions?

Stefan

 

[Y-T71]

.38spl is the only cartridge I've found a use for Titegroup; not a fan of the powder but for this specific use it's a good one for me.

I use a Lee 125gr RNFP, PC'd over 3.4gr Titegroup.

It's a pretty sweet shooter out of my 642 (and Ruger Security Six FWIW)

Low recoil and gave me an unexpected idea of the kind of accuracy that little 1⅞" barrel is capable of.

I realize that I'm using a 125gr vs your stated 158 but I think Titegroup will be a good place to start.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

3 grains of bullseye would a easy load for her. With 158 grain bullets. I load them at 3.3 for myself.

 

[drband]

You should be able to develop powderpuff loads with 231. Starting load should be plenty and you can download it further to an acceptable level for your mom. Even a weak load will exit a revolver barrel.

 

[JmacD]

Never loaded the above mentioned, but Hodgdon lists 3.2 -3.8 titegroup as their range with oal of 1.475.

 

[Soonerpesek]

You should be able to develop powderpuff loads with 231. Starting load should be plenty and you can download it further to an acceptable level for your mom. Even a weak load will exit a revolver barrel.

Agree..............other than maybe being a tad dirty, 231 doesn't mind if you download it..............

 

[Y-T71]

You should be able to develop powderpuff loads with 231. Starting load should be plenty and you can download it further to an acceptable level for your mom. Even a weak load will exit a revolver barrel.

If I wouldn't have been gifted my single lb of Titegroup, 231 would have been my 1st choice.

 

[drband]

If I wouldn't have been gifted my single lb of Titegroup, 231 would have been my 1st choice.

I’ve never used Titegroup— I have used W231, a lot!

 

[Y-T71]

I’ve never used Titegroup— I have used W231, a lot!

Same here.

231 was the 1st powder I started with and it's still a favorite.

 

[gwpercle]

Lyman 50th shows :
38 Special - 3.3 grs. Titegroup with a cast lead 158 gr. SWC @ 895 fps

The SWC design will make a better defensive bullet than a RN .
You can also use a 140 gr, , 148 gr. or 150 gr. cast lead WC or SWC with the same load of 3.3 grs. Titegroup for defensive type loads with less recoil .

My J-frame stays loaded with cast wadcutters and Bullseye , but Titegroup would also do the job.
My Grandmother kept a J-frame in her purse , wrapped in a blue bandana ...
When she removed it from her purse it just looked liked a large folded-up hanky !
The old Lady was tough and smart ... we didn't give her no lip either !
Gary

 

[Blue68f100]

Just load some up at min suggested load that you have the powder and bullet combo for..

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

If you really want powder puff loads for a 38 special, get you some 38 Long Colt brass (or trim down some 38 Special to the appropriate length) and use the minimum loads listed on Hodgdon. I would go with the 125 grain cast loads for less recoil at about 630 fps. This is about the lightest load I’ve ever shot from a Taurus 85 Ultralite. You can move up from there as she feels comfortable.

Edit: you can actually just seat your bullet in 38 Special brass at 38 Long Colt overall length if you can crimp your particular bullet at that depth.

 

[fxvr5]

If you really want to load light stuff, I suggest this;

38 Short Colt brass: https://www.starlinebrass.com/38-short-colt-brass

These bullets (105 grain); https://summersenterprisesllc.com/product/hi-tek-38-105gr-358-500-ct-box/ Other companies make them, too.

Titegroup: 2.4 grains.

Load them to 1.055" OAL

They shoot around 700 fps from a 4" barrel, and have about 1/2 the recoil of a 38 Wadcutter.

She'll love you for it.

 

[Docendo Discimus]

Yeah, kind of an odd subject line... Anyway, for some dumb reason, my 77 year old mother with MS was sold a S&W 642 with a 1.8" barrel in .38 special. She bought it a few years ago and has not shot it. She wants to shoot it and has this idea that she will carry it for self defense. I kinda doubt she will actually carry it, but she definitely wants to go to a range. She likes to talk big . She has shot a tiny .22 revolver with acceptable results. So, I would like to make some really low recoil rounds for her if that is possible with such a small and light gun. I have 231, titegroup, and acc. #5. I have some 158g SWC and some 158 lead RN. Any suggestions?

Stefan

I went down this road a couple years ago with the same revolver and settled on a start charge of 231 with a lead 158gr RNFP.
A hogue grip makes a HUGE difference, it keeps the frame from hammering into your palm. The original grip isn't cushioned at all.
Hogue part #60020

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

If you really want to load light stuff, I suggest this;

38 Short Colt brass: https://www.starlinebrass.com/38-short-colt-brass

These bullets (105 grain); https://summersenterprisesllc.com/product/hi-tek-38-105gr-358-500-ct-box/ Other companies make them, too.

Titegroup: 2.4 grains.

Load them to 1.055" OAL

They shoot around 700 fps from a 4" barrel, and have about 1/2 the recoil of a 38 Wadcutter.

She'll love you for it.

Summers enterprises coated do well with titegroup. I had leading issues with SNS casting's coated. I buy all my coated cast from Donny Summers. Great guy to talk to also.

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

If you really want to load light stuff, I suggest this;

38 Short Colt brass: https://www.starlinebrass.com/38-short-colt-brass

These bullets (105 grain); https://summersenterprisesllc.com/product/hi-tek-38-105gr-358-500-ct-box/ Other companies make them, too.

Titegroup: 2.4 grains.

Load them to 1.055" OAL

They shoot around 700 fps from a 4" barrel, and have about 1/2 the recoil of a 38 Wadcutter.

She'll love you for it.

I’ve loaded those too, and they are quite mild. In my experience though, the Long Colts are a little less snappy, but have about the same velocity. The absolute lightest I’ve loaded was with a 93 gr LRN bullet. They are super mild in both Short and Long. I don’t think you could seat them deep enough in 38 Special brass though.

 

[fxvr5]

Here's the lightest load I know of, from Matts Bullets.

https://www.mattsbullets.com/75-grain-wadcutter-359.html

That 75 grain bullet and 2.0 grains of bullseye is amazing. And it's loaded in 38 Special cases. Load it flush, like a wadcutter.

 

[Riomouse911]

As the guys said above, light bullets over a light charge of Titegroup will make soft-kicking .38 rounds for your relative.

I like 125 gr truncated cone bullets myself at about 800 FPS for light .38 loads, only because they are a lot easier to insert into a .38 chamber than a WC bullet for older or beginning shooters to practice with.

WC rounds would be a better choice for self defense though.

Good luck finding a load she can handle.

Stay safe.

 

[AJC1]

Tightgroup is the perfect powder for this. I've loaded from 2.8 to 3.8 and in a revolver they all shoot good. My buddy across the street I loded for is now passed but he liked 3.0 grains behind my cast 154 noe. His Gun was a Smith with a snub nose.. I also recommend red dot at 3.4 grains as supper soft shooting.

 

[murf]

I would suggest using lead bullets only here. jacketed bullets may stick in the barrel at low velocity.

luck,

murf

 

[Varminterror]

For my mother-in-law to use in both her Ruger LCR and her Taurus 85, I load 93grn Meister LRN’s over 4.0grn Bullseye. Not as light as it COULD be loaded, but it’s plenty light.

 

[Shivahasagun]

If you really want to load light stuff, I suggest this;

38 Short Colt brass: https://www.starlinebrass.com/38-short-colt-brass

These bullets (105 grain); https://summersenterprisesllc.com/product/hi-tek-38-105gr-358-500-ct-box/ Other companies make them, too.

Titegroup: 2.4 grains.

Load them to 1.055" OAL

They shoot around 700 fps from a 4" barrel, and have about 1/2 the recoil of a 38 Wadcutter.

She'll love you for it.

A .327 LCR snub 6-shooter (and loaded with .32 S&W Long ammo) would be perfect for her. Much easier trigger than a J frame.

But, that's what she has. Yes, .32 Colt Short cases would be great.

I was loading them long with 158 gr bullets and 2.7 gr Titegroup to about 725 fps. (Excessive pressure for a .38 spl., I used a .357 3-inch gun) and more recoil than she wants) but now I have 140 gr bullets I'm going to load to a standard OAL with 2.2 gr of Titegroup. Those should be under even .38 SC pressure. Not sure what velocity I'll get but hoping over 600 fps.

 

[Cliff6]

Here's the lightest load I know of, from Matts Bullets.
https://www.mattsbullets.com/75-grain-wadcutter-359.html
That 75 grain bullet and 2.0 grains of bullseye is amazing. And it's loaded in 38 Special cases. Load it flush, like a wadcutter.

I agree. I load Matts 75 gr DEWC using 5 gr Unique. Lyman reloading manual #45 says you can load 3.0 to 5.0 gr Unique with this wadcutter.
I load these for my fiancé with arthritis in her hand. The 2.0 gr load of Bullseye might even be a lighter load, but I haven't tried it as I have no Bullseye powder.

Cliff

 

[lightman]

A starting load of 231 with either one of your available bullets should produce an accurate load with mild recoil. Like a few others suggested, maybe consider changing the factory grips for an after market pair.

 

[Bill M.]

For light loads in .38 Special I would want some 125 grain Berry's plated bullets. I am currently using Tightgroup to push them.