Lowest recoil self defense .38 special ammo

[cookekdjr]

I admit it, when it comes to alloy 38/357's, I am a recoil wuss. Don't mind shooting .44 and .357 mags out of steel guns. I could even handle .45 LC's out of a titanium snubbie with a spungy grip (I didn't like it, but I could handle it).
But like I said, I'm still a wuss with the 38/357 snubbies. What have you found to be very low recoil self defense ammo for, say, a S&W 37?
Your experience is much appreciated.
Thanks,

David

 

[Indifferent]

The Reloads from a local gun range worked fine for me, thats what made me want to get a J frame.

I'm no target shooter, but I was able to put at 30' 5 shots in 5"
And at 15' 5 shots in 3"
First time using the J, 50 rounds total

 

[Photoman]

If you find yourself recoil sensitive with the Airweight J frames, consider using Federal Gold Match 148 wadcutters. Very soft shooting and will do an ok job if you do your part.

You might want to try the Winchester Silvertip, the non +P version.

 

[Meeteetse]

Try and find some non +P .38 special in 110 gr. Any of the non +P is easier to shoot and the lighter bullet cuts down the recoil. Works for me. The wadcutter suggestion is also a good one.

 

[Cosmoline]

In my experience it is best to ditch the alloy revolvers and get a steel one. A Colt DS or S&W 36 are about the smallest I would get to fire .38 Special out of. For .357 Mag the SP101/K frame magnum size is the smallest. Rather than getting weaker ammo, get a proper weight revolver.

That said, the lightest load I would be willing to use in SD would be .38 Special wadcutter. But remember while it has good penetration it has very little power.

 

[Shade00]

cookekdjr, I went through a similar problem recently. I got my wife a Model 37, and I must say, even I found the recoil painful when firing 130gr FMJ standard pressure Remingtons. After much discussion with Old Fuff, I tried some .38 special wadcutters. The 148gr wadcutters give almost NO recoil in an Airweight. Until I can convince her to get a steel gun, my wife will be shooting and eventually carrying .38 wadcutters.

Some would say that's foolish - but the fact is, a .38 special wadcutter has incredible penetration, and it's going to make a nice little hole - as always, shot placement is key, so my wife's just going to be spending more time shooting. I'm not going to go test a bunch of different ammo - plain and simple, most .38 special HPs are not going to expand out of a snub, and FMJ offers nothing over the wadcutter. So I'm comfortable letting her carry it. For now.

 

[cookekdjr]

Thanks for the replies, folks. I am now leaning towards the wadcutter idea. I had a Taurus Titanium .38 snubby (j-frame clone) that I loved but killed my hand. I had a similar experience with a 642. I replaced it with a 431PD, the alloy .32 H&R j-frame. The recoil was fine but I could not shoot it well it all (everyone else shot it fine, go figure).
Anyway, I just bought one of the hammer-bobbed S&W 37-2's. Pre-lock, pre-magnum framed. Needed a new pocket gun after selling the 431.
I will probably buy some Georgia Arms wadcutters for it, and look into some 110gr silvertip or silver-tip like ammo.
Thanks again,

David

 

[footlong]

I carry wadcutters in my Chief Special. I killed an 80 lb doe with them a few
years back. I was in the woods moving my ladder stand. She was in my path
about 15 yds away. It was a doe day. I drew my little 36 and fired once. She
hit the ground but was still alive. The second wadcutter went in her neck.
The wadcutter had the stopping power from that 2" barrel. Like the others
before me said. The most important is shot placement. Just to let all know,
its legal to hunt deer with ANY centerfire ctg in a handgun where I live. If
I purposely hunt with a handgun its either with a Model 29 or a Python.

 

[cookekdjr]

footlong,
what kind of wadcutters do you carry?
thanks,

David

 

[Shade00]

I believe most all wadcutters you find are going to be similar. Most are 148gr and will travel in the low 700-fps. I shoot Sellier & Bellot (S&B) because they are the cheapest I can find. I can only find them locally at gun shows.