My ma is getting old(70) she has a Ruger SP101 357 magnum. Can't handle magnum or +p38. Whats the best standard 38 for a snubby gun?I'm thinkinking 110gr Win Silver tips? Her hands are weak.
my wife carries standard 148 grain Winchester Wad Cutters in her Model 10. She is a sure shot, and she carry's the revolver.
Done........... right there!
�Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.�
my wife carries standard 148 grain Winchester Wad Cutters in her Model 10. She is a sure shot, and she carry's the revolver.
If these are target wadcutters, you are likely not going to get adequate penetration to reliably reach vitals. I'd have her switch to the BB, hard cast lead, full wadcutter load for carry. Its hardness and slightly increased oomph make it a better penetrator/stopper, and she likely won't mind the slightly increased recoil.
Years ago before all the new technology bullets hit the market,a hollow based 148 gr wadcutter, loaded backwards with Bullseye pushing it was considered a prime defense load and many carried them for such. True that there are many bullets on the market that MAY be better, but that load is sure as heck not going to bounce off anyone for lack of penetration. Encountering a hopped up druggy high on meth,even a full load in a .357 has been known to not put them down fast .
Another load would be a 125 gr jacketed hollow point.
If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
Years ago before all the new technology bullets hit the market,a hollow based 148 gr wadcutter, loaded backwards with Bullseye pushing it was considered a prime defense load and many carried them for such. True that there are many bullets on the market that MAY be better, but that load is sure as heck not going to bounce off anyone for lack of penetration. Encountering a hopped up druggy high on meth,even a full load in a .357 has been known to not put them down fast .
Another load would be a 125 gr jacketed hollow point.
Yeah, I'm familiar with the old standby of a backward target wadcutter. Also, many used to recommend standard target wadcutters for recoil sensitive women. There are many much better options today, though.
I also recall some actual studies of the effectiveness of a backwards target wadcutter, and it wasn't impressive. Rarely was there even much deformity, let alone expansion.
Chicago, New York , FBI and others spent a lot of time and money on this same issue. For 2" to 4" barrels. They came up with the 158gr. Soft Lead SWCHP as the best. They tested everything. They did go to the +P version later. But in this case the standard pressure load would work the best. It still may not expand, but it still is a good option with the restraints mentioned by the OP. I did a lot of research on this subject for my mother. She did well with her S&W Model 10-5 4" pencil barrel using these loads.
PS: Muzzle blast (especially in low light conditions) affect older people more. Their rods and cones do not work well. Follow up shots are important in this power range. The best advise is to let her practice as much as she can.
Gun Shows are almost as comical as boat ramps in the Spring.
My folks have a couple K-frame S&W's with Buffalo Bore standard velocity full wadcutters in the cylinder and the same companies 158 gr. soft standard velocity SWC-HP in speed strips for the reload.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
My ma is getting old(70) she has a Ruger SP101 357 magnum. Can't handle magnum or +p38. Whats the best standard 38 for a snubby gun?I'm thinkinking 110gr Win Silver tips? Her hands are weak.
First off, 70 is not "old."
Second, the kind of azzhole who would behave in a threatening manner to your mother would probably find something else to do if she started lighting him up with any kind of .38 special load.
Expansion was actually pretty good with the reversed target wadcutters in this test, but is negatively correlated with penetration to the point of concern.
OP stated no + P. Still even if it was only half that penetration it , it would put a severe hurt on an attacker. Personally I don't see a problem with 8-12" penetration. Probably not good for a gut shot, but would enter the lungs and heart area.
A lot of these discussions have occured in the past here. What it boils down to is that the person carrying should only use what they can effectively handle. I don't consider a 38 SP or 22 rf a good defense round, but if that is all the OP's mother can handle, it will have to do
If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
Expansion was actually pretty good with the reversed target wadcutters in this test, but is negatively correlated with penetration to the point of concern.
That's an example of penetration hindered to the point of concern? Slow them down a hair for pressure reduction to std 38's, and they have a reputation for working pretty well out of a hide-out rig for many decades. I see no problem here.
