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Joined: May 2008
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
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My wife shoots 158gr jacketed semi wadcutters very well in a 4" barrel Model 15 S&W. These are light recoiling commercial (MBI from Lucky Gunner) reloads at around 760fps. I let her try some +P defensive loads and accuracy went downhill fast, two cylinders was all she wanted of them.
How good a defense load would the semi wadcutters be? Is there a low recoiling commercial defense load that would be considerably better?
Last edited by 43Shooter; 10/01/16.
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Joined: Feb 2009
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I wouldn't want to catch 5 rounds of that load. If she is comfortable and accurate with it then use it.
Buy once, cry once.
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Joined: Apr 2008
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2008
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Hornandy makes a 90 grain lite. I don't know anything about it, other then they claim it to be low recoil.
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,884
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,884 |
My wife shoots 158gr jacketed semi wadcutters very well in a 4" barrel Model 15 S&W. ... I'd stick with what she's already doing well with. Minimal recoil, blast and flash. Cheap to practice.
abusus non tollit usum
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Joined: Sep 2014
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2014
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The load she is using is a lot better than what the police used for a long time.
Parents who say they have good kids..Usually don't!
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Joined: Jan 2011
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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The Hornady Critical Defense Lite loads and the Federal low recoil loads are both designed for PD in light handguns. Accuracy with both in my Ruger LCRX has been excellent and I prefer them to hot loads.
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Joined: Nov 2003
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 67,667 |
140 grain Speer JHP over 8 grains of Blue Dot works well in a 4 inch .38 Special.
Sam......
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,262
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2013
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My wife shoots 158gr jacketed semi wadcutters very well in a 4" barrel Model 15 S&W. ... I'd stick with what she's already doing well with. Minimal recoil, blast and flash. Cheap to practice. Ditto Plenty of power for defense. Good wound channel and penetration for human aggressors. Confidence is needed.
Gun Shows are almost as comical as boat ramps in the Spring.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 162
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 162 |
In the .38 Special where the velocity may or may not open up a jacketed hollow point, I like lead bullets. I reload and my favorite load consists of a 148 grain Hensley & Gibbs wadcutter bullet running around 900 fps. It is very accurate and the recoil is very manageable. I would have no problem using it for defense.
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Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,456 |
My wife shoots 158gr jacketed semi wadcutters very well in a 4" barrel Model 15 S&W. These are light recoiling commercial (MBI from Lucky Gunner) reloads at around 760fps. I let her try some +P defensive loads and accuracy went downhill fast, two cylinders was all she wanted of them.
How good a defense load would the semi wadcutters be? Is there a low recoiling commercial defense load that would be considerably better? Absolutely. Bufallo Bore makes a couple of them.
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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The foundation for old age is good memories.
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,805
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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3 grains of Clays pushing a 148 grain wadcutter (not semi-wadcutter) is easy enough to shoot in J frames, and works great on small game. I am sure it would serve her purpose fine. Out of a Model 15, I don't think she would even notice them. Low recoil, and MOJR (Minute of Jack Rabbit). I don't know the velocity of these but Hodgdens data shows 2.5 grains (as a max) at 836 FPS. I have had zero issues in shooting a BUNCH of the 3 grain load. You can get roughly 2,300 rounds of loaded 38 ammo from a single pound of Clays. That is a LOT of practice on the cheap!
THE CHAIR IS AGAINST THE WALL. The Tikka T3 in .308 Winchester is the Glock 19 of the rifle world. The website is up and running!www.lostriverammocompany.com
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Joined: Mar 2014
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2014
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I'd suggest some handloads with 110 gr. bullets and fast burning powder. If it's penetration you want, try the Barnes 110 gr. bullet with 4.1-4.6 grs. of Ramshot ZIP. Speer lists their 110 gr. HP with 7 grs. of 700-X for 1208 fps from a 6 inch gun. E
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Aug 2013
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What grips does she use ? I cannot fir any S&W revolver with factory grips. How about WCs. Low recoil and they are better stoppers than they are credited for. The "experts" always recommend no reloads for legal reasons.
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,658
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,658 |
148 gr plated wadcutters and 3.2 gr of Titegroup in the wife's 640. Buffalo Bore and Double Tap make a similar load.
'Four legs good, two legs baaaad." ---------------------------------------------- "Jimmy, some of it's magic, Some of it's tragic, But I had a good life all the way." (Jimmy Buffett)
SotG
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 918
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Used to handgun hunt bunnies with 3 gr of bullseye behind the 148 WC. That is the classic target load for the 38.
No fear, no doubt, all in, balls out.
"America"
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Joined: Nov 2005
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Let me add to the 148 wadcutter parade. Nice clean fullcaliber holes in what they hit.
Bangflop! another skinning job due to .260 and proper shot placement.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2002
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WC ain't my favorite if you should feel the need to reload in a hurry.
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Thanks to all for the info. She read this and says thanks too. She's going to stay with the 158 jacketed semiwadcutters. Says she's used to shooting them; wants to use what she practices with, can handle them DA and believes she can hit what she's shooting at more than once if she has to.
blackhawknj, The grips are the S&W wood target grips.
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