Range Report: Buffalo Bore "Lower Recoil" .38

[doc540]

Took the wife to shoot the snubs for the first time last week, and the Speer Gold Dot 135 gr +P ammo bit her hand a little and caused her to flinch.

So, I ordered two boxes of Buffalo Bore, Standard Pressure, Short Barrel, Low Flash, Hvy .38 Special (non +P), 158 gr Soft Lead SWC-HC's.

They're advertised to "Generate much less recoil than our +P 38SPL ammo".

For anyone looking for a round with less recoil than +P's, please note what I obviously missed in the ad, the word "our".

Looks to be very accurate, shoots well, most likely great personal defense ammo, but do not be confused.

It's recoil is no less than Speer Gold Dot 135 gr +P ammo.

It might have less recoil than Buffalo Bore's other +P .38 ammo, but it is NO "low recoil" ammo.

Like a trooper, MrsDoc shot 40 rounds of the Buffalo Bore ammo and another 20+ rounds of Speer Gold Dot's. The Hogue Bantam rubber grips helped her shoot the Smith M36, and she even did better with the Colt DS with Jim Badger boot grips.

But she still managed to knock off the scab on her thumb from her first trip to the range.

I'm not criticizing Buffalo Bore ammo in any way, just trying to give others a head's up if they're looking for lower than +P ammo. Next I'm ordering 100 gr wadcutters from MasterCast so the Mrs can get comfortable with her snub.

 

[cocojo]

doc, I told you on the Colt forum that the non +P Buffalo Boar ammo is not low recoil and that's what batters guns to death. The pressure may be lower but the gun is still hammered to hell and recoil is high. Try the loads I recommened from ammunition to go. I take it she didn't like them? Start her off with the light wadcutters and work her way up to what ever she feels is the most she can handle then stop. Try that Gold Dot 125 standard pressure52733 LE load or some standard pressure nyclads 125's if you can locate some. Fiocci makes a standard pressure 125 loaded with xtp bullets, so does hornaday or just have her shoot full wadcutters.

 

[Old Fuff]

The Old Fuff feels for Mrs. Doc's, as he has encountered this problem before. Rather then abuse the poor lady's hand let it heal up before shooting again. In the meantime consider the purchase of a revolver chambered in .32 S&W Long.

Oh I know, some folks will throw up their hands, as they don't think an attacker can be stopped with anything short of a .357 Magnum fitted into a snubby made out of styrofoam. Not so, they've been looking at jelly blocks too long, and besides the best of the magic bullets isn't worth zip if it isn't placed right, and this is hard to do when you're flinching all of the time.

If you (or she) is interested I'll point you in the direction of some "makes & models of interest."

 

[DAdams]

OF Good Counsel

Oh I know, some folks will throw up their hands, as they don't think an attacker can be stopped with anything short of a .357 Magnum fitted into a snubby made out of styrofoam. Not so, they've been looking at jelly blocks too long,

What do you think the percentage recoil reduction is in a .32?

Is it sufficiently less hence being able to use a styrofoam snubby or should one consider a steel model?

 

[doc540]

Lesson learned and cost me less than $50.

Just ordered 500 rnds of 100 gn wadcutters from Master Cast (which is exactly what I was looking for from the getgo).

Thanks for everyone's input.

btw: she'll be ready for the range again by next week

 

[cocojo]

doc, If she is going to use full wadcutters for self defense purposes, don't use reloads. Buy a couple of boxes of Remington factory wadcutters and let her use them. I don't use reloads for defense because of "liability and reliability" reasons. Factory ammuniton is cheap insurance. Others may not agree, but why take the chance for $50.00 bucks for a couple of boxes.

 

[doc540]

thanks

she's only going to use the wadcutters to punch paper and get comfortable with the snub

she'll gradually step up to some hotter loads down the road a piece

 

[ravencon]

In the meantime consider the purchase of a revolver chambered in .32 S&W Long.

That is good advice but I almost never see .32 revolvers for sale in gun stores. Perhaps demand is low and stores don't buy them, take them in trade or even sell them on consignment. Too bad, as Old Fuff suggests they are a good choice for those who are unable or unwilling to handle more recoil.

 

[rcmodel]

Heres another tip if you have an older S&W 36 with the full-size checkered "cheese-grater" cylinder latch on it.

Get a spare thumb-piece and belt sand all the sharp checkering & knife edges off of it.

And get her a pair of shooting gloves.

My wife tends to shoot snubbys much better when she isn't bleeding out the first thumb joint!

rcmodel

 

[Old Fuff]

Too bad, as Old Fuff suggests they are a good choice for those who are unable or unwilling to handle more recoil.

The Old Fuff never lets a lack of local suppliers limit his horizon. There are a lot of opportunities out there for those that are willing to look.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=104051469

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=103257414

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=103485619

These are all from a single seller who has an Old Fuff five-star rating. They are very good outfit to do business with. The two Smith & Wesson are like new or close to it, and represent the kind of quality construction that is no longer with us. The Colt has some mileage on it but will still do what’s required.

 

[doc540]

"Get a spare thumb-piece and belt sand all the sharp checkering & knife edges off of it."

Thanks, but the thumb-piece didn't bite her. It was the sharp edge of the checkered, rosewood, Jim Badger grips.

The new Hogue Bantam grip helped but the recoil was strong enough to reopen her thumb. It's just a little surface scrape and will be healed enough to shoot the wadcutters next week.

She a tough cookie and was bearing down yesterday and shooting multiple +P's in semi-rapid fire. There's something kind of frightening about a intentional female grouping COM.

 

[KiltedClaymore]

wow, i personaly am not brave enough to fire Buffalo Bore ammo in a snubbie. +P or not, their ammo kicks too hard for me to shoot 40 rounds in a row.

 

[1KPerDay]

I feel for your lady... those BB loads hurt me plenty out of a smith model 37, and I'm a big strong fat dude, not a delicate flower.

 

[Guillermo]

Of course Old Fuff is right (isn't he always).

The S&W 32 long is easy to shoot and easy for her to hone her skills.

A hit with a 32 S&W long beats the heck out of a miss with a "357 Magnum fitted into a snubby made out of styrofoam."

Know that ammo availability is limited. In my area almost nobody carries it so I have to shop online.

Not a big issue but you do have to plan ahead. (or "roll your own")