Low Recoil .38 SPL Options?

[tinygnat219]

What's a good low recoil .38 SPL round? My wife is extremely recoil sensitive and I want her to get a nice round that won't thump her wrists too badly.

She would be firing it out of a .38 SPL Revolver, S&W J-Frame Model 60 with a 3 Inch Barrel and a Hogue Monogrip.

Any tips? PLEASE nothing +P either.

Thanks!

 

[Black_Talon]

There's a good thread about this that's going on right now. Look here.

 

[Bill_G]

wadcutters are about the most pleasant to shoot. its thats still too much....you need to think about another caliber for her.

 

[Gordon]

And those mid range wadcutters are among the best snubby self defense loads in terminal ballistics.

 

[PointOneSeven]

You might be able to find some cowboy action loads in the exotic/expensive ammo section at you local gun shop. They are super tame.

 

[cdrt]

Have to agree on the Cowboy loads. I tried some the other day in my K38 and they're even weaker than my standard 2.7 BE load with the 148 HBWC.

Navy Vet & SWIFT Boat OIC

 

[Soybomb]

Try Winchester's X38SMRP, the 148gr super-x wadcutter for defense.

 

[10MMGary]

In my S&W model 19-3 (six inch barrel) Sellier & Bellot 148gr DEWCs are like squib loads as far as recoil goes. My wife shoots 100 of them at a session through a snub nosed Colt Cobra lightweight with no problem. Not sure on the price in today's market but we bought bulk for $5.47 per 50 delivered 2 or 3 years back and still shooting them.

 

[theNoid]

Now I am not familiar with nor have I shot them but I see you can get the Ten-X brand 38spcl loads from 105 or 130 grain in 50-count boxes from Cabella`s pretty darn cheap it seems me. Just a thought...

Chuck

 

[Sox]

I had the same problem back when I had a a 642PD. I looked high and low for a mildly recoiling practice round and the 3 best were:
125gr JSP Winchester winclean at about 700FPS if I reall,
UMC 130Gr FMJ
3-D 100Gr Wadcutter at about 675FPS

These were all tolerable to shoot even in my 11oz. 342. With the J frames I noticed each 5 oz. of weight makes a perceptible difference in the recoil. The 3" with decent grips and one of the above loads will be sweet, goodluck. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Jkwas]

My wife carries a Mod 36. She practices with Georgia Arms LSWC or their Cowboy loads. Very good quality and reasonably priced. She carries the Federal 110 gn Low Recoil Hydrashock standard pressure. They have similar characteristics and shoot to point of aim. The Sellier and Bellot 158gn FMJ is a good practice load as well, but I find their 148gn wadcutters prone to tumbling out of both our snubs.

 

[1 LT MPC]

Ditto what Soybomb said. I also use the 150 gr BuffBore wad but it has a smidge more recoil--not much though.

 

[vanfunk]

The 130 grain FMJ "ball" loads from Winchester and Remington-UMC are very mild. My 10 year old niece has no difficulty firing these out of a Smith & Wesson model 60.

HTH,
vanfunk

 

[Plink]

I recommend Federal 125gr. Nyclads. Ammoman.com still has some. They shoot gently and seem to be pretty effective. My mom uses them in her CCW and she has weak, arthritic wrists.

 

[Sistema1927]

Also, the 122 grain flat nose "cowboy" loadings are nice and mild, even more so than the old stand-by 148 grain wadcutter.