.38sp question

Gun, shooting and equipment discussions unrelated to CHL issues

Moderator: carlson1


Topic author
stash
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 4
Posts: 850
Joined: Wed Jun 07, 2006 9:04 am
Location: Woodcreek

.38sp question

#1

Post by stash »

My wife is getting real serious about getting her CHL and I would like to take her out and shoot a little bit with my 642. It has been years (like 40 or so) since she last shot a gun and at that it was a rifle when her daddy was in the Border Patrol. I have lined up an NRA instructor to teach her gun safety and such but she would like to go out first and take a couple shoots to just get the feel of shooting. I need a recommendation on a really weak (as in recoil) 38sp load for her.

Also, as an aside, she wears glasses and I was wondering about those eye protection glasses you can buy at Lowe's that they sell when using a chain saw or whatever. This would be something that she could wear over her regular eye glasses that she need to wear to see.

By the was I say 642 because my .40's and .45's would probably be to much initially for her.

Thanks
TSRA
NRA
TFC
USMC 1961-1966

Rex B
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 2
Posts: 3615
Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2006 3:30 pm
Location: DFW

Re: .38sp question

#2

Post by Rex B »

Target wadcutter rounds should be low recoil.
Also look for Cowboy loads.

Both should be easy to find in that caiber.

Beyond that, for getting acquainted, you might look into wax loads, primer-only.
Easy to make at home.

There are also practice ammo with plastic bullets, if you can find them.
-----------
“Sometimes there is no alternative to uncertainty except to await the arrival of more and better data.” C. Wunsch
User avatar

MoJo
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 4899
Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2004 6:10 pm
Location: Vidor, Tx
Contact:

Re: .38sp question

#3

Post by MoJo »

If your .45 is a full size steel framed 1911 I think it woould be a better choice in both recoil and accuracy. The lightweight and short sight radius of the 642 will make shooting unpleasant for a novice shooter even with light loads.

If you have a .22 handgun that will be the best for starting a new shooter. If you don't have a .22 maybe you could borrow one or - - - NEW GUN!!!! :thumbs2:
"To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
Texas and Louisiana CHL Instructor, NRA Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Personal Protection and Refuse To Be A Victim Instructor

Rex B
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 2
Posts: 3615
Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2006 3:30 pm
Location: DFW

Re: .38sp question

#4

Post by Rex B »

Good point. Start her with a .22. Almost any .22 would do to start, then move to the revolver.
If you have a heavier .38 revolver, say 4" barrel all steel, that would be a good transition.
-----------
“Sometimes there is no alternative to uncertainty except to await the arrival of more and better data.” C. Wunsch

Topic author
stash
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 4
Posts: 850
Joined: Wed Jun 07, 2006 9:04 am
Location: Woodcreek

Re: .38sp question

#5

Post by stash »

Thanks for the good info fellows. I wondered about the 642 even with light loads. No 22 and the 45's are Glocks. I do have a G19 that is a nib late model gen3. I know there have been problems with some of them. I will have to see if it works and if it does, maybe that will be a better option. Thanks again.
TSRA
NRA
TFC
USMC 1961-1966

JustMe
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 397
Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2012 9:23 pm

Re: .38sp question

#6

Post by JustMe »

Don't automatically assume that she wants a revolver. But whatever SHE choses--it needs to fit her hand and be what she is comfortable with.
Mary Ellis
TX CHL Instructor NRA Instuctor--Basic Pistol,Basic Rifle, Basic Shotgun, RTBAV,Home Firearm Safety,Personal Protection in the Home, Personal Protection outside the Home. ,RSO, CRSO,TP&&W Hunter Ed Instructor
User avatar

TexasGal
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 2
Posts: 1701
Joined: Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:37 am
Location: Fort Worth, TX

Re: .38sp question

#7

Post by TexasGal »

I have a 642. No matter what rounds you use, your full size .45 will be easier for her if she can grip it properly. Many women don't have a large enough hand for a glock. I love my 642, but it is one mean little gun to shoot. I enjoy a 9mm or .45 in a bigger gun any day of the week. The 642 could also give her a flinch she would have to work to overcome.
Use a heavier grain ammo on the larger guns. You could also see what is available to rent at the range. A .22 would be a good choice as others have said.

If you guys are in the Ft Worth area, I would not mind meeting you at a range and she could try my XDm 9 and my stainless medium frame .38 revolver. Both are fun to shoot. Any excuse to go to the range works for me. :biggrinjester:
The Only Bodyguard I Can Afford is Me
Texas LTC Instructor Cert
NRA Life Member

Heartland Patriot

Re: .38sp question

#8

Post by Heartland Patriot »

TexasGal wrote:I have a 642. No matter what rounds you use, your full size .45 will be easier for her if she can grip it properly. Many women don't have a large enough hand for a glock. I love my 642, but it is one mean little gun to shoot. I enjoy a 9mm or .45 in a bigger gun any day of the week. The 642 could also give her a flinch she would have to work to overcome.
Use a heavier grain ammo on the larger guns. You could also see what is available to rent at the range. A .22 would be a good choice as others have said.

If you guys are in the Ft Worth area, I would not mind meeting you at a range and she could try my XDm 9 and my stainless medium frame .38 revolver. Both are fun to shoot. Any excuse to go to the range works for me. :biggrinjester:
I like the line in your signature: The only bodyguard I can afford is me. :thumbs2:

glbedd53
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 929
Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2010 5:05 pm

Re: .38sp question

#9

Post by glbedd53 »

642 probably has good grips on it already but my mother in laws old Mod 36 square butt cut her old dried up hand pretty bad til I put some Hogues on it.

flechero
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 3486
Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2007 5:04 pm
Location: Central Texas

Re: .38sp question

#10

Post by flechero »

My wife MUCH preferred my 1911 (.45acp) to the other options... it's not a snappy round and the recoil is more of a "push" back. The 1911 also has a narrow frame since it's a single stack... fit her small hands better as well. She hated the jframe, .380 and 9mm. She took my 1911 to the CHL class and had no trouble.
User avatar

TexGalRK
Junior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 42
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2011 8:37 am

Re: .38sp question

#11

Post by TexGalRK »

I used my husbands .40 when I first learned to shoot, but realized it was not for me. It was too large(a Taurus 24/7 OSS, too "much" for me to handle at first. The first one "I" owned was a .38(rossi) and it was just fine until I got used to shooting and realized I'd like to "move up," though its still fun to shoot it. I then got my 9mm and absolutely love it! (also a taurus 24/7) I have a 380(bersa) and .22(walther) which are fun and I occasinally fire our .45 but prefer my 9mm's(I also have a slim 9)
So, I guess what I am saying is, let her choose. Start off with lower caliber, varying makes/models(rent guns at the range) and let her see what feels right to her. No one can tell better than her what she will like and will fit her best! Lots of luck in your/her quest... HAVE FUN!
:fire
RK~
:txflag:

fannypacker
Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 185
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2009 2:15 pm
Location: Plano, TX

Re: .38sp question

#12

Post by fannypacker »

Prescriscion glasses are safe to shoot with. No need for safety glasses.

JMPJr
Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 75
Joined: Sat Jan 21, 2012 9:42 pm

Re: .38sp question

#13

Post by JMPJr »

Stash, I'm sure you're picking up that most people will advise against the 642 to re-introduce her to shooting.

I'm in Austin and would be happy to meet at the South Red's off 290 to let y'all shoot some other options.

I have a Walther 22 that I always use when at the range with folks new to the sport, women or otherwise. A person would be hard pressed to find something with lower recoil that still maintains a modern appearance. I also like the model to introduce the various different controls found on a firearm (trigger, magazine release, safety, sights, etc). I also have larger-frame revolvers that would be better to shoot any low recoil .38sp if you wanted her to shoot a revolver in addition to a semi-auto pistol.

I'm sure you remember that if you qualify for your CHL with a revolver, you are only licensed to carry a revolver. If you qualify with a semi-auto, you are licensed to carry either semi-auto or revolver (or both!). While a .22 isn't a large enough caliber to qualify, your g19 could come in perfectly there once she works up to it; I always say ease in though and would recommend starting with a .22 and seeing how that goes first.

While I concur with fannypacker re: prescription glasses being sufficient eye protection, every step you can take to make her feel more comfortable will be worth it. If that means industrial strength safety glasses over hers, I say go for it. You might want to tell her if you think the extra glasses are overkill (but not if she wants them!), that way she could make her own decision once she gets out there and be comfortable if she decides to take them off.

Let me know if you'd like to meet up. Weekends don't work for me, but I have some flexibility M-F.
User avatar

TexasGal
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 2
Posts: 1701
Joined: Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:37 am
Location: Fort Worth, TX

Re: .38sp question

#14

Post by TexasGal »

I wear prescription eyeglasses and they do provide a measure of safety from debris coming from the front, but if a buddy next to you has a casing that flies in from the side, it can enter between the glasses and your eyes. Yikes! So I wear these safety glasses that go over mine and cover the sides too. They are not pretty, but they are a very good safety measure. When I qualified for my instructor's license, the guy's gun on my left flew one casing after another into the side of my head while I was shooting. It was nice to be able to keep shooting and ignore them knowing they could not get behind my glasses. I happen to like the yellow tint, but you can get them in grey and clear too. They have good optical clarity compared to many of the others out there and they are cheap.

http://www.amazon.com/Escort-Safety-Gla ... y_hi_img_c
The Only Bodyguard I Can Afford is Me
Texas LTC Instructor Cert
NRA Life Member

Topic author
stash
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 4
Posts: 850
Joined: Wed Jun 07, 2006 9:04 am
Location: Woodcreek

Re: .38sp question

#15

Post by stash »

The main reason I was trying to get her shooting before the NRA class was that the NRA instructor said it would be probably good if she brought a gun with her for the class. He did say that he would have 2-3 guns that he would bring to the class for her to shoot. So maybe we will just take this route and let her shoot whatever he brings.

I appreciate all the good info from you all and TexasGal and JMP Jr thanks for the offers. I live south of Austin so pretty far from Dallas. Pretty close to Red's on 290. As a matter of fact took my last renewal there. This NRA instructor is also a CHL instructor and he only lives a couple miles from me so my next renewal in Oct. will be real convenient for me. My wife will take her CHL class from him also if she decides she can shoot. Hope she can because right know she is pretty hot about getting her CHL.
TSRA
NRA
TFC
USMC 1961-1966
Post Reply

Return to “General Gun, Shooting & Equipment Discussion”