38 spec shorts

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Doc Holliday 1950

New member
Can I use 38 Special Short - 125 gr LRN by Magtech, Muzzle Velocity 686 & Muzzle energy 130, in my wife's LCR 357? This is for us who are very recoil sensitive or arthritic. Wife had a terrible experience with a Taurus Ultra- lite Titanium 38 spec. Killed her hands. I need help on this.
Thanks,
Doc
 
Hmm, I didn't know "special" had a "short" variant but I'm no expert. Even if it functions, that doesn't sound like a viable SD load though. Have you tried the Hornaday Critical Defense Lite load (90 grain) with her? If she can't shoot that from the LCR, I'd suggest a heavier gun.
 
Sure.
Accuracy may be a bit less from having a lot of freebore.
You might run into problems chambering the longer rounds after shooting a lot of the short rounds, but a good scrubbing will fix that.
It wont harm the gun, just extra fouling and sometimes lead will build up in the freebore area, enough to make the longer cartridges tight.
 
Bought a box of Federal 110 grain Hydra-shok & Box of Hornady 90 grain 38 specials. Just keeping ALL my options open for my wife.
I think the problem is also the grips. They are CT Laser grips and they are not very forgiving. Thanks guys.
Doc
 
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No! but maybe I can find out if Hogue makes a sleeve for the LCR that will not interfere with the laser activation button and that will help mitigate the recoil.
 
Slim,
I've been avoiding that thought for awhile. I know that you're correct. I think I'm obsessing over this too much. Just have
To take her to the range & see what
happens.
 
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I just picked up some Remington .38 special 148gr. target wadcutters from Gander Mountain. these are light loaded rounds and should be fine for recoil shy persons.
 
With respect--If a .38 Spl load in a .357 Mag revolver is hurting her hands--maybe a different caliber and gun? Or if you reload your own ammo, maybe you could make a custom load for her?
 
Doc, I see no problem with the Magtech load in your LCR.Just remember,watch watch what you feed your LCR.Because if you don't,they are known to seriously bite the closest hand! Good Luck, Skeets:D
 
Have you tried the Hornaday Critical Defense Lite load (90 grain) with her?
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I'll be the third person to recommend checking these out. It sounds like you did so I'll be curious to know how it does for her.

They are CT Laser grips and they are not very forgiving.
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When you said you had the laser grips, it was a eureka moment. Aside from an unusually sweet stock trigger, a big part of what makes the LCR so nice to shoot is the combination of .38 special power levels and those cushy stock grips. "Downgrading" to stock grips should do at least as much for her as downgrading the ammo.
 
Yes. I had that same moment. Felt stupid as a stump for not thinking of it.
Thanks for not saying the obvious. On my other 357 Rossi 2" I had same grips and never felt it because it weighed 26 ozs. and no plastic. Makes a heck of a difference.
Doc
 
Try some Cowboy loads. I shoot them in my LCR. Very tame on the hands. I get them as reloads at 95 grains. Would love to find a manufacturer of them, if anybody knows of one.
 
Just ordered the 38 shorts. MV 686 & ME 130 and Magtech's 38 Special - 158 gr FMC FN. MV of 755 and ME of 200.
This should do the trick for wife's LCR with laser grips.(I hope). If not the laser goes and I get her the Hogue Tamer grips.
Thanks everyone for all the help and suggestions in all my recent posts. I think i'm going to be postless for a wile.
Doc
 
I grabbed a box of these from Midway when they had free shipping a couple of weeks ago. Finally got to the range today to shoot a few. I only shoot 10 of them from the LCR357 but I can say that recoil is MUCH less than the Magtech 158gr round. I put 3 of the shorts and 2 of the "longs" in the same cylinder and it was like pop, pop, pop, POW, POW. I didn't shoot enough to do any accuracy testing. I'd say this would be a great round for recoil averse shooters. Probably too expensive and too smokey for me to use a lot of it, but I'm glad I tried it. I might keep the rest on hand for when I take new or occasional shooters with me.
 
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