snub for wife

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johnnylaw53

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Wife came home from the range a few days ago and said she is thinking of moving to a snub for her off duty her beloved p-32 began giving her problems which is the same thing that happen to mine several years ago when I went back to a snub for off duty. She have shot the 642 some but complaint she can't hit anything with it. We talked and she admitted she may have always been trying to fight the kick of the small snub. I show her the 637 and 642 power-port pro that was in this year "Concealed Hundguns" magazine. I have never thought about ported weapons but does anyone think this snub would kick a little less?

Be Safe
 
Have her try the 642 with reduced loads. If you don't reload, buy some "cowboy loads." She may find that she really likes the 642 after all.

One less-powerful direct hit is a lot better than one barn-burner miss.
Likewise, five less-powerful direct hits are much better than five misses!
Maybe with some calm loads, she will like it, use it more, then be able to move up to more powerful ammo, a bit at a time.

I don't believe porting would help much, but that's just my opinion.
I think more importantly than porting would be shooting the loads that work best for both the gun AND the shooter --- what may be a perfect load for you may not be for her and vice-versa.

If you are pushing +P's out of the 642, I can imagine that would be quite a recoil as opposed to regular 38's.

I once had an SP-101. It was a great gun, however, the 642 is much lighter, therefore better for concealment.
 
<$0.02

i have found that even in higher pressure calibers like .44M and .357M, that the hotter the loading the more porting seems to actually do something for recoil/muzzle flip. do not take this to mean that a very hot .44M loading will hop less than a mild .44M or .44 special through the same iron.

going to even hotter loads to benefit from porting her snubbie would be counter productive....perhaps a "K" frame snubbie or above ruger suggestion instead?

gunnie
 
Potential issue with ported defense guns is that they spray a blast of hot gasses to the side. Of course the gap in the cylinder does this too.

Point being that the gas blast can cause burns if you're forced to use the gun in close quarters -- up close to your body.

I have a couple ported handguns -- 357/38. The port mostly helps with muzzle flip. They don't "reduce recoil" to any significant degree.

The nice thing about 357/38 is that you have a lot of options with ammo. You can go light bullets in a 38 to heavy loads in a .357 with lots of in-between options.

If the gun fits her hand, and she can get a decent grip on it, the "solution" is to practice until she gets accustomed to the recoil.

This assumes she has the grip strength to manage the gun.
 
I was wondering if it might actually "seem" like as much recoil even though less of it would actually be felt, as more of it would be gases blasting back toward the shooter.

If not really LOUDER, I would think it would seem louder - especially in an enclosed place (like a narrow hallway with a ceramic tile floor and no hearing protection as it is an emergency).

What did you say?
 
I'm afraid the best answer might be the worst answer: a heavier snub like the Ruger SP101 that Quoheleth suggested will dampen recoil alright but it carries a heavy penalty, weighing well over a half pound more than a Smith Airweight J-frame. Inspector's advice-using reduced loads, also brings a major drawback to the table in terms of sacrificing power for control. But, like Inspector, I would accept this compromise in the interest of shot placement vs a missed shot.

If weight and configuration are not priorities (and they usually are) but a low-recoiling snub is, the obvious answer incorporates both of the aforementioned "solutions": a Ruger SP101 shooting "cowboy" loads! :)
 
Yes maybe a little more weight will help, went to a SP101 for my wife and the weight is not that overwhelming. As for porting the muzzle flip is reduced but the straight back recoil remains.
 
I guess it would depend on where she carries her off duty as to whether or not she got an SP101; does she carry waistband, if so then go for it.

Does she use her off duty as her backup on duty? If that's the case and she's carrying it on an ankle maybe in that situation then the SP is maybe a little too big.

Changing the uncle mikes boot grips out for some hogue bantams on the 642 like are on the m&p 340 will help with the recoil because they fit the hand a little better. So would a set of crimson trace laser grips that have a rubber back strap overmold (LG-405).
 
A heavier snub is an answer but that sometimes becomes a pain.

A small caliber snub is possible:

32 HR Mag
22 Mag

--- horrors, horrors, stopping power - wah, wah - but carrying the gun and getting a round into the attacker is more important.

Same vein - a less recoil 38 load - wad cutters, cowboy or the like. Same argument.
 
in reference to the post above..... she's carrying a p-32 right now so the .32 acp doesn't give her any whims about stopping power; a j-frame in .32 might not be a bad idea.
 
I don't know if I would want to run with an SP-101 strapped to my ankle!

I guess you might be able to, I never tried it!

You could always wear an ankle weight on the other ankle to "even" the weight!:scrutiny:

HOWEVER, will the SP be flopping around to the point where it eventually falls out of the ankle holster? I don't know, I never ankled one. I have ankled lighter pistols -- a LOT lighter.
 
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I don't like ported guns for SD. If you have to shoot from a retention position (something that we practiced in my old agency), then the gas is blasted into your face. Not good.
 
Thanks guys, I also thought of the ruger sp 101 but the weight kept me from suggesting it myself normally she carry it in her handbag make for that. She seldom make arrest by her self anymore so she don't wear it as a back up she a dective now and when they file a case and get a warrant the dective take anohter dective with them along with a 2 man warrant unit to help with the arrest, since I'm in charge of the warrant section I don't think any of my people want to let thier captain wife get hurt, althought some of them have told me it will be a good ideal not to ever piss her off at home since she tend to get mean. I don't know I never seen that side of her so the weapon will be just off duty. Since i posted I have read some on porting and it does seem the negitve out weight any positve about it like been mention balst noise in tight area. We going to use some wad cutters to began with and if it cool with her she may fine a 442 under the tree this year, as she does seem to like dark weapons. thank you all again.

Be safe
 
Avoid ported handguns!!!



She probably already knows this . . . but might not be practicing it.

A firm and high grip on a snubbie, with rubber grips will take the sting out pretty darn well.

Two suggestions for a BUG . . .

Get her TWO S&W used J-frames . . . one a steel frame and the other the complementary aluminum framed (Airweight) version.

Let her do all her confidence building shooting and plinking with the steel one, and then carry the Airweight.

Practice with 148 grain wadcutters and carry 158 grain LSWC-HP rounds . . . BOTH in .38 special.

I guarantee you she won't feel a thing when she shoots her BUG in self defense!!!

Good luck!


BTW, my wife's CCW gun is a Model 37 Airweight with a 3" barrel. If that length will work, I guarantee you she'd love a 3" J-frame . . . and shoot it exceedingly well too!
 
I carry the model 432 S&W .32mag for backup,I use the H&R 85 grain jacketed Hollow point ammo. It's highter velocity offers a flat Trajectory And the light bullet weight results in low recoil.It offers .38 energy levels and 6 shoots were the.38 in this size only 5. Weight is 13.5 oz Great for concealment and for social encounter with evil ones in our society.
 
Just an update on my post. We had a gun show this weekend and I took the wife so she could look at several modles and I see what she might like. she seems to like the Tauras but remember when she was going thur the regional police acadamy they had to furnish thier own weapons and money was tight so she got a Tauras and the range master really gave her hell about it. It turn out great since she went back to the shop she picked it up at and the guy just got a s&w mod. 10 which she was able to get it still the weapon that rest on her night stand. The Tauras she like was the mod 85 but she remember that range master any thougts on this? she also like the S&W 637 but felt it might be a little too light.

Be safe
 
Two words: grip and load.
The stock grips on the little Smiths are tough to get a handle on, making them harder to shoot. I would try a larger grip on on, like a Hogue wraparound or something.
Second, start with 148gr HBWC loads. If she can hit with that, it is still a pretty effective SD load. Then she can move up to standard pressure HP. My advice is avoid the Remington Golden Saber in .38spc. I shot them once in my 642 and it was like a photographer's flash going off. The Speer short barrel loads are much nicer.
 
My pick would be the SP-101, but yes it is heavy for a 5-shot snub.

Maybe a 2" Mdl 10 S&W if you are going to stay with .38Spl.
 
(sigh) . . . Johnny,

Get her a S&W an sleep well at night. I'd take a good, used S&W any day over a new Taurus. So would most folks who are experienced handgunners.

My main CCW revolver is an Airweight Model 37 from 1971. My steel framed J frame is a Model 36 from '64.

My wife's CCW revolver is another Airweight Model 37 from '71, but with a 3" barrel.

These guns will outlast us, are totally reliable and very accurate. They are built to last and their used prices command top dollar, year after year as they continue to be worth more on the used market.

T.
 
My wife chose a 642 for concealed carry. I reload, so she practices with lighter loads and uses a shooting glove with gel insert. She carries +p and if she has to use it, God forbid, I doubt she will notice the recoil.
 
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