38 Spec / 357 Mag ammo selection help...

[Gary O]

I bought my 21 year-old daughter a S&W Model 60; 3" barrel length for self defense. Could you folks help me choose practice ammo with low recoil and some self-defense full power stuff. Thanks.....<><

[kurac]

For practice try some 148gr Lead wadcuters Remington sells them as there match ammo and I believe it is made by a few others as well.

The full house .357 magnum loads will have a lot of muzzle blast and quite a kick from a short barreled model 60 so for protection I would go with some kind of reduced recoil load in .357 Magnum from Federal (Hydrashock) Remington (Golden Saber) or CCI (Gold Dot) those should be easy to find. The Remington match may be a little more difficult to locate.

[taloft]

These are just recommendations

I would only add that you probably want to train with whatever load you're going to carry for defense. No sense in getting startled by your own discharge when you're already rattled from an attack.

Federal Hydrashock is a good choice but, it's not cheap. However, neither is your daughter's life. I would also recommend a defensive hand gun course, unless you've already got the know how. They can teach her the best way to deal with a situation, the laws involved, and show her different kinds of carry items such as gun purses.

Edited: sorry I almost forgot, if the .357 loads cause too much havoc for her she can shoot .38+p out of it. Plenty of people have died from .38 cal. Shot placement is everything.

[caliar15]

Not sure about your daughter but you will not be shooting full load .357 out of a 3'' barrel more than once. .38 is more than enough to take down a bad guy, if you miss follow ups are way easier with the .38

[Senna]

+1 on wadcutters and 38 cal.

[Inoxmark]

+ 2 on wadcutters for training.

Good stuff for very fair price:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=44890999

[railroader]

http://www.outdoormarksman.com/index.php?cPath=65_1_13 Inexpensive practice ammo and defense ammo here too. Mark