Mickey Rat
Member
I'm 64 and have hand loaded since about 1975. I've developed serious arthritis in my hands and reload softball loads to suit me. I shoot 22LR, 9mm (Hi-Power), 44 SPL (200 gr @ 750 FPS in S&W 8 3/8 Model 29 and 45ACP (Colt 1917) rotating between the 44 & 45 weekly. I shoot weekly with 4 friends. I need to carry light weight handguns due to wearing shorts & Tee shirts most days. I've got no butt, so any weight causes constant pulling down my pants. Belts don't help & suspenders are a pain. I carried a 10.5 ounce S&W 317 8 shot 22LR stubby for years. I just upgraded to a 10.5 ounce S&W 351PD 7 shot 22MAG. I tried to go with a 10.5 ounce S&W 337 5 shot 38SPL but even with oversized grips (even ERGO Delta) and Hornady 90 grain FTX Critical Defense it hurts too much to practice. I even tried Liberty 50 grain HP & Ruger ARC 60 grain. Both are painfull and waaaaay too low below point of aim. I've been reading up on 38 Wadcutter loads and may try them. Back in the day when Hi-Vel pioneered light for caliber high speed hollow points I carried 148 grain hollow base wadcutters loaded backwards & hot. Lots of people did. Factory wadcutters were also popular. I sometimes went with a factory 200 grain RNL (they tumbled on contact). Any suggestions.