[Pinto]

We've made the choice of a Taurus 627 as a house gun, primarily for my wife's use. This comes from my SO's interest in a revolver larger than a .22lr (a "snake gun" that she's proficient with) following experience with a .38 at handgun classes. She won't touch my autoloaders and likes the feel, weight and grip size of the Taurus.

She's an experienced long gunner (410 & 20 ga. shotguns), so knows gun action and recoil. But, she is a slight lady (under 100 lb) and I don't want her overwhelmed with .357mag or even stronger .38 loads before she has a chance to become familiar and comfortable with the 627.

What loads would you recommend to start out with and what progression to a reliable self-defense load would you suggest? She eventually would like to be able to reliably shoot .357mag HP, but wants to be proficient and comfortable in each load stepping up to that.

Thanks in advance.

 

[drummin_man627]

This is the advice given to me by an LE training officer. "Start with the lightest shooting .38 Specials you can find. Become very familiar with the front sight. Start at close range, then when you're happy with the results, move up, move out".
I hear him say it all the time, even though he's in New Jersey, and I moved to Florida.

 

[Pinto]

Good advice, and a path we plan on taking.

What are the "lightest" beginning .38 loads out there, and, in your experience, is there a preference for one ammunition mfr over another in the revolver?

 

[drummin_man627]

First of all....I'm Not an Expert. I've done a lot of on-line research and about the best I can do is give you a few pointers.
Where do I start? #1. No wadcutters or LRN (for me) they foul the bbl more than Jacketed projectiles. #2. Lighter projectiles seem to recoil less. #3 Avoid "hot" loads, at least to start.
Try Winchester White Box. They're easily available and not too expensive. Wal-Mart has them in a "Value Pack", 100 rounds for about $39.
Midway has their page set-up to give a lot of information. I use it a lot.
Pick an ammo, click. When the page for that selection opens, you'll see "Technical Specifications And Use". Click on it. It will generally give you Muzzle Velocity (M.V.), and Muzzle Energy (M.E.) Go for one of the lighter loads.
Here is their page for .38 special. Click here: http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/browse?TabID=3&Categoryid=7509&categorystring=653***691***
Have fun.

 

[Pinto]

Thanks for the info, drummin - that more like the feedback I'm looking for. From experience, whenever I've purchased a new automatic, I've gone and bought a couple hundred rounds from each mfr of the caliber in every load and configuration, just to find out what the gun likes best (or, more important, what the gun hates). I was hoping to avoid that and have someone tell me a revolver doesn't care !?!?

 

[Steelheart]

With a steel framed (I'm assuming its steel as you didn't say that its a Titanium gun) standard pressure 38 specials (like what drummin_man627 mentioned) should be just fine. WWB, American Eagle by Federal or Remington should all be just fine.

Once she is comfortable with those you can try a box of 38 special +P. The +P denotes a higher level of pressure, giving you (usually as it depends on the load) a higher velocity and more recoil. But this also gives more power onto the target.

Up from there would be the medium velocity 357 magnum loads. There isn't a great load selection in these but heres a few that I know of: Winchester WWB 110gr JHP, Remington 125gr Golden Saber, Corbon DPX (this one is not cheap, this is a defensive load) and possibly Speer's Short Barrel Gold Dot.

Steelheart

 

[Pinto]

Thanks guys for the information. Plenty to get started and now the fun part is putting it to use. I'll let you know how it goes.

Now, to shop for some Tucker leather to carry it in .......

 

[MakeMyDay]

I use CCI Blazer 125 gr FMJ on the range. It is an easy shoot and I think about $12 for 50 rnds.

 

[Pinto]

Thanks MMD - I think that's what I'll start with. Like CCI ammo and 125gr seems about right.

 

[NYPD]

.
Try Winchester White Box. They're easily available and not too expensive. Wal-Mart has them in a "Value Pack", 100 rounds for about $39.

Wow...does anyone else think that price is high? I saw the 100 pack in Wal-Mart today for $25

 

[clarence40]

Yes, that is high. In Georgia the WWB is going for $39 for a box of 250, but it is some dirty ammo. I prefer to stick with the Blazer Brass.

 

[Ace]

Has anybody tried the "cowboy" loads for .38? I've seen manufactureres advertising them now and that would probably be a good starting point for practice ammo since they load that style as light as possible, and some times they are less expensive since they are lighter bullets and less powder.