advice for light-kicking commercial .38 spl load

[afrederick]

I gave my dad a 2.25" Ruger SP101 in .357 for Christmas. The .357 ammo was too violent for him so I told him to buy some .38 spl. He came back from the store with steel cased blazer 158gr round nose lead. The gun still kicks too much for his taste. Who makes a lighter-kicking commercial load for this gun?

Thanks.

 

[rcmodel]

148 grain mid-range match.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/19...48-grain-lead-hollow-base-wadcutter-box-of-50

125 grain Cowboy Action loads.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/31...25-grain-lead-round-nose-flat-point-box-of-50

It don't get no lighter then those two.

rc

 

[MrBorland]

Privi Partizan 158gr lead round nose is the softest shooting .38spl factory ammo I've run across.

148gr wadcutters are very mild, too.

If you want lighter than that, look for some .38 Long Colt. Or even lighter, .38 Short Colt.

 

[Jlr2267]

I gave my dad a 2.25" Ruger SP101 in .357 for Christmas.

Good son, you are!

 

[Kymasabe]

.38 Special Short

Magtech makes a .38 special short,
I usually buy mine from Sportsmans Guide, it's item # 85435
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/...-short-125-grain-lrn-50-rounds.aspx?a=289669\
125 grain and only 130 ft. lbs. of muzzle energy
The LRN round he was shooting has closer to 200 ft. lbs and .357 mag is usually 500 ft. lbs and up.
Try the short, it's a nice mild .38 round.

 

[Jim Watson]

130 gr plated econoball at cheapmart is pretty mild.
If you can find any in the Panic 0f 2013

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Magtech makes a .38 special short,
I usually buy mine from Sportsmans Guide, it's item # 85435
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/...-short-125-grain-lrn-50-rounds.aspx?a=289669\
125 grain and only 130 ft. lbs. of muzzle energy
The LRN round he was shooting has closer to 200 ft. lbs and .357 mag is usually 500 ft. lbs and up.
Try the short, it's a nice mild .38 round.

I never heard of a .38 Special round being called a "short". What would make you call any .38 Special a "short" round?

 

[Kymasabe]

I call it a short because the manufacturer calls it a short.
The box says .38 spl short right on it and when you see them, they're not kidding, they're shorter than a standard .38 special round, case is shorter.
I'm not making this up as I go, order a box from Sportsman Guide and see for yourself, I posted the part number if anyone wants to give them a try.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Leave it to a company from Brazil to change the name of an American cartridge that's over 100 years old!

Really? It says short on the box? wow

 

[Stress_Test]

This stuff:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/29...nition-38-special-130-grain-full-metal-jacket


I've found it at Wal-mart. Shot it from my LCR. Very low recoil, has some flash sometimes though. Look at the ft-lbf energy numbers; that's getting down close to .22 mag. If your dad has no health issues then this stuff should be no problemo out of an SP101. If he STILL doesn't like it, I'd say it's more a mental block (time for some .22 LR practice!)

 

[S&Wfan]

148gn flatnose lead wadcutter is both accurate AND soft kicking! A pure pleasure to shoot!

It's even SOFTER when I handload 'em.

BTW, I suspect he's holding the revolver way to low on the backstrap. ALWAYS grip a handgun as high as possible on the horn of the backstrap. This will get the hand as high to the bore axis as possible and greatly reduce both muzzle flip and felt recoil . . . since the gun is being pushed virtually straight back towards the full length of the arm to shoulder!

Here's a photo of someone who doesn't know how to hold a revolver. Then again, the actor is from Piers Morgan's country of England, and he simply doesn't understand to grip it high! I wish someone could take this actor out and teach him how to shoot. If he ever touched off a full-house .357 Magnum load in that big, heavy Colt Python, even the heft and barrel length wouldn't save him from a nasty sting in the hand and wrist holding it like this! . . .

http://collider.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Walking-Dead-02-poster.jpg