My mom got her first gun....

[repubconserv]

So for Christmas this morning, one of the presents to me from my mom was a box of 38 spl... I knew something was up, she knows the calibers I have and probably wouldn't be THAT far off from either 12 ga, 308 or 22lr...

So then she opens her "present", a S&W 637 38spl. an awesome gun, but a little too light and a little too powerful IMHO. She said the guy at the gun shop talked her in to 38 . Oh well, at least she finally got a gun, and hopefully she'll practice shooting it... I know I will

Well to the question: 357 can fire 38 spl, is 38spl compatible with another caliber, such as 38 long colt... I just want to get a smaller load to start her shooting. 38 special out of that little revolver seems like a little too much her first time shooting it

[pyromensch]

38 spl wadcutters, light target load, don't think 38 long colt would work, besides it would be too expensive. i bought my mother a charter arms 38, 20 yrs ago, used 158gr semi wadcutters, took her to the range, she did a good job at 7yds. make sure she has grips that help absorb the recoil, and feel good.

[JST00]

It will probably be too much at first until she learns how to grip it properly and maybe get a little more strength in her hands. My wife hates my little .38 but I like it. If you know someone that reloads you could have them dumb down some loads for her.

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[r3dn3ck]

.38 almost doesn't have recoil. .357's have plenty. Any ol wadcutter, semi-wadcutter or RNL bullets will do just fine for a beginner.

[Blademan21]

Wad cutters are great for practice until your Mother gets confident at 7 yrds. Wouldn't practice any further as new shooters get discouraged if they can't at first shoot out the ten-x. In addition,start out with Bullseye targets. Easier to develop a good sight pattern. Congrats to the new shooter.

[ChopperX]

My first gun period was my grandma's S&W Model 13 .357. First I shot .38 Special Wadcutters and then I started to shoot FMJ. What you should do is when she is confident with the wad cutters mix the wadcutter with FMJ in the cylinder. Then she can feel the difference.

[therealnickb]

Just get the lightest bullets you can find in 38sp target ammo.

[scarville]

Personally, I think that a snubbie is not a good gun for a first time shooter. I am sometimes of the opinion that gun store clerks who sell them to first time gun owners deserve to be horsewhipped.

That said...

The parent case for the 38 spl was the 38 long colt but I am not sure it will chamber in a 38 spl. Maybe you can start her out with some standard pressure wadcutter or cowboy action loads. If possible, put the targets close to start with -- 8 to 10 feet. Few things build confidence like like actually hitting something.

Also remember that most fixed sight 38's are calibrated for a 158 gr bullet at around 800 to 900 fps. Light bullets will generally hit lower.

[repubconserv]

It will probably be too much at first until she learns how to grip it properly and maybe get a little more strength in her hands. My wife hates my little .38 but I like it. If you know someone that reloads you could have them dumb down some loads for her.

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I plan on personally "dumbing" down some loads for her, and I will also be reloading some SD ammo... and muchos plinking ammo for myself

Personally, I think that a snubbie is not a good gun for a first time shooter. I am sometimes of the opinion that gun store clerks who sell them to first time gun owners deserve to be horsewhipped.

That said...

The parent case for the 38 spl was the 38 long colt but I am not sure it will chamber in a 38 spl. Maybe you can start her out with some standard pressure wadcutter or cowboy action loads. If possible, put the targets close to start with -- 8 to 10 feet. Few things build confidence like like actually hitting something.

Also remember that most fixed sight 38's are calibrated for a 158 gr bullet at around 800 to 900 fps. Light bullets will generally hit lower.

My thoughts exactly on snubbies... I have only ever shot one 3 times... I guess I will learn to love it though. I am going to see if I can borrow my cousins 22 revolver (my grandpa's old revolver), and have her run through a few hundred rounds with that

[den888]

Congrats!

.38 special (even standard pressure) are pretty stout (recoil wise) out of an S&W airweight revolver. I have a 442 and have shot a 642 with non +p and +p and the +p rounds are a handful, to say the least.

[Ubermcoupe]

Indeed the snap from a .38 snub is nothing to scoff at. Plenty for any beginner, IMO (But not too much )

Im all about using WC & SWC for target practice with .38s/.357s.

Congrats!

[Air]

148 Grain Wadcutters behind 3 grains of Unique or Bullseye shoots like a 22. Good practice round.