Lighter Loads-Less Recoil?????????? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

**1lowlife** · 06-02-2008, 03:15 PM

I am wanting to take my 14 year old daughter to the range this summer.
She has never shot and sometimes rolls her eyes at me not leaving the house without a gun on me.
I find it hard to explain why I carry, without instilling fear of the outside world to her.
I'm just trying to get her to experience different things as she grows up.
I've been slowly teaching her gun saftey over the last 6 years.
She has handled my guns at the house (as I taught her proper procedures) and has even helped me clean them at times.
But herein lies my questions;
I'm going to rent a 22 pistol at the range and have her shoot that first.
Then try my Ruger LCP, S&W 642, XD9sc (if it is back from Tripp's by then), and then on to the XD45 compact.
If I buy lighter loads, for the 9mm, 38sp, and 45ACP, will it be easier for her to handle?
I don't want to make it a bad experience for her.
I haven't experimented with different bullet weights and brands of ammo.
I've always just found the ones I like and stuck with them.
I know some of yall have done this with your kids..
Can yall recommend a different gun I could rent for a young first time shooter besides the 22?
Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks..................................

ForTehNguyen · 06-02-2008, 03:20 PM

a 380 auto's recoil isnt that bad

Joeywhat · 06-02-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForTehNguyen

a 380 auto's recoil isnt that bad

But in such a small and light gun like the LCP, it could be awful.

A .45 colt feels like a .22 when shot out of my dad's raging bull. But a .38 special, standard pressure kicks like a mule out of his derringer.

Samf · 06-02-2008, 04:27 PM

.38 out of a medium sized .357 is EXTREMELY manageable. I wouldn't normally suggest range ammo, but a lot of times they de-tune the loads to keep the rentals going forever. I have noticed that women prefer to start out with revolvers because all of the moving parts and flying metal scare them initially. If she enjoys the sport she'll warm up to anything you put in her hand, and then she'll start asking to shoot bigger bore than you do!

**AZXD** · 06-02-2008, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeywhat

But in such a small and light gun like the LCP, it could be awful.

A .45 colt feels like a .22 when shot out of my dad's raging bull. But a .38 special, standard pressure kicks like a mule out of his derringer.

Agreed!!
One of my meaner gun's is a KelTec 380.

Hand her the heavest, biggest thing she can manage to hold properly. I'd recommend no tupperware guns on her first outing. Let her hold steel.

ichy_trigger · 06-02-2008, 05:17 PM

Definately start out with the .22 pistol. Alot of times, the noise causes as much flinch as the recoil.. Dont beleive me? try shooting tiny groups next to a guy shooting a 416 Rigby, I bet YOU flinch when he pulls the trigger.

I would stick to nothing but the .22 for at LEAST the first range session. If you want to move up to another caliber, try a medium frame revolver shooting .38 specials. A 642 will scare the bejezees out of a new shooter, my wife shoots alot with me and wont touch that thing. The military moved away from the .45 partialy due to recoil. Take it in baby steps if you really want to create a long term shooting partner. Many potential shooters are scared away because someone says, "try THIS one now".

As far as buying low powered ammo, good luck in finding something that is noticably less powerful in factory fodder. If you know someone and TRUST them, they could probably work up a light load for you. The 9mm isnt bad but its going to be a large step from a .22. remember, your talking a child AND new shooter. Thats 2 strokes against you from the start.

Good luck and post some pics!

fredj338 · 06-02-2008, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1lowlife

I'm going to rent a 22 pistol at the range and have her shoot that first.
Then try my Ruger LCP, S&W 642, XD9sc (if it is back from Tripp's by then), and then on to the XD45 compact.
If I buy lighter loads, for the 9mm, 38sp, and 45ACP, will it be easier for her to handle?
I don't want to make it a bad experience for her.
I haven't experimented with different bullet weights and brands of ammo.
I've always just found the ones I like and stuck with them.
I know some of yall have done this with your kids..
Can yall recommend a different gun I could rent for a young first time shooter besides the 22?
Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks..................................

You thought process is good, but leave the 642 & LCP at home. Smaller pistols, especially blowback designs like most 380s, recoil pretty sharply. You can't really buy downloaded 380. You could put 148grLWC in the 642, but unless she has really small hands or you have bigger grips, it will be uncomfrotable.
Std. vel. 115gr FMJ in the XD9 might be ok, but serioulsy, the softest recoiling pistol you probably have is the XD45c. Feed it some 185gr target ammo & it will be pretty soft shooting. The only issue there is reliabel feeding of the SWC.

**AZXD** · 06-02-2008, 08:33 PM

Another thought,
See if you can find some cowboy loads they are fairly light on recoil. But really ... Don't hand her that 642.

I heard of a guy who only shot three rounds from the 357 cousin of the 642 and fractured a bone in his hand.

Light guns suck for a beginner and sometimes they suck for macho experienced people.

Borrow/rent a heavy full size revolver in 38 if you want her to experience something more than a 22 on the first session.

Ya know, now that I think of it ... A Ruger Bearcat in 32 would be an easy shooter. See if you can rent one of those and the 22.

**1lowlife** · 06-03-2008, 03:13 AM

Thanks everyone.
Your advice is what I needed.
Start small and stay small for the first couple trips to the range.
I never would have thought of that.
I don't want to intimidate or scare her off on the first trip.
I appreciate the time yall took to help me out...
Thanks again.

WyoXD · 06-03-2008, 04:38 AM

I loaded up a bunch of 38sp's using "cowboy action" reloading data from Hodgdon that are extremely mild--125 gr bullet @ ~700 fps. In my 6" 357 these feel, to me, about like a 22. My 6 year old has no problem with them. I believe you can also buy cowboy loads if you don't reload.

06-02-2008, 03:15 PM	#1
1lowlife XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The Great Lone Star State Posts: 3,265	Lighter Loads-Less Recoil?????????? I am wanting to take my 14 year old daughter to the range this summer. She has never shot and sometimes rolls her eyes at me not leaving the house without a gun on me. I find it hard to explain why I carry, without instilling fear of the outside world to her. I'm just trying to get her to experience different things as she grows up. I've been slowly teaching her gun saftey over the last 6 years. She has handled my guns at the house (as I taught her proper procedures) and has even helped me clean them at times. But herein lies my questions; I'm going to rent a 22 pistol at the range and have her shoot that first. Then try my Ruger LCP, S&W 642, XD9sc (if it is back from Tripp's by then), and then on to the XD45 compact. If I buy lighter loads, for the 9mm, 38sp, and 45ACP, will it be easier for her to handle? I don't want to make it a bad experience for her. I haven't experimented with different bullet weights and brands of ammo. I've always just found the ones I like and stuck with them. I know some of yall have done this with your kids.. Can yall recommend a different gun I could rent for a young first time shooter besides the 22? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.................................. __________________ I used to shoot guns. I still shoot guns. But I used to, too. Thank you to Mitch Hedberg..RIP

06-02-2008, 03:20 PM	#2
ForTehNguyen XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,145	a 380 auto's recoil isnt that bad __________________ XD9 Service Black XD9 Subcompact x 2 Kimber Tactical Custom II AR15 16" Midlength AR15 16" Carbine Tacticooled Lancaster AK47 Remington 870 12ga Express

06-02-2008, 04:27 PM	#4
Samf XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Stanton, CA Posts: 574	.38 out of a medium sized .357 is EXTREMELY manageable. I wouldn't normally suggest range ammo, but a lot of times they de-tune the loads to keep the rentals going forever. I have noticed that women prefer to start out with revolvers because all of the moving parts and flying metal scare them initially. If she enjoys the sport she'll warm up to anything you put in her hand, and then she'll start asking to shoot bigger bore than you do! __________________ Remington 870 Express Magnum - 12Ga. S&W Model 439 - 9mm Amt Backup .380 ACP M44 War relic M91/30 Sporterized CMMG 16" mid-length Ruger 10/22 (waiting period) Mega Lower Wish List Guns-In no particular order: Sig P229 .40 Kimber Eclipse II 10mm Sig P226 9mm S&W686P 4" SAXDS.40 SAXDT 9mm Remington 1100 G3 20GA. Ruger Red Label 20GA. T/C Triumph T/C Icon .243

06-02-2008, 05:17 PM	#6
ichy_trigger XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 8,318	Definately start out with the .22 pistol. Alot of times, the noise causes as much flinch as the recoil.. Dont beleive me? try shooting tiny groups next to a guy shooting a 416 Rigby, I bet YOU flinch when he pulls the trigger. I would stick to nothing but the .22 for at LEAST the first range session. If you want to move up to another caliber, try a medium frame revolver shooting .38 specials. A 642 will scare the bejezees out of a new shooter, my wife shoots alot with me and wont touch that thing. The military moved away from the .45 partialy due to recoil. Take it in baby steps if you really want to create a long term shooting partner. Many potential shooters are scared away because someone says, "try THIS one now". As far as buying low powered ammo, good luck in finding something that is noticably less powerful in factory fodder. If you know someone and TRUST them, they could probably work up a light load for you. The 9mm isnt bad but its going to be a large step from a .22. remember, your talking a child AND new shooter. Thats 2 strokes against you from the start. Good luck and post some pics! __________________ "The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." http://militarysignatures.com/signatures/member2645.png

06-02-2008, 08:33 PM	#8
AZXD XDTalk 15K Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Valley of the GUN Posts: 17,774	Another thought, See if you can find some cowboy loads they are fairly light on recoil. But really ... Don't hand her that 642. I heard of a guy who only shot three rounds from the 357 cousin of the 642 and fractured a bone in his hand. Light guns suck for a beginner and sometimes they suck for macho experienced people. Borrow/rent a heavy full size revolver in 38 if you want her to experience something more than a 22 on the first session. Ya know, now that I think of it ... A Ruger Bearcat in 32 would be an easy shooter. See if you can rent one of those and the 22. __________________ . . The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all. John F. Kennedy The very word 'secrecy' is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths, and to secret proceedings. John F. Kennedy *Birth Certificates are a "Reasonable"* Secret** So-called "reasonable gun control" measures will take us all to the day when the last single-shot shotgun that grandpa owned is cut into pieces. Last edited by AZXD; 06-02-2008 at 08:36 PM.

06-03-2008, 03:13 AM	#9
1lowlife XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The Great Lone Star State Posts: 3,265	Thanks everyone. Your advice is what I needed. Start small and stay small for the first couple trips to the range. I never would have thought of that. I don't want to intimidate or scare her off on the first trip. I appreciate the time yall took to help me out... Thanks again. __________________ I used to shoot guns. I still shoot guns. But I used to, too. Thank you to Mitch Hedberg..RIP

06-03-2008, 04:38 AM	#10
WyoXD XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Laramie, Wy Posts: 313	I loaded up a bunch of 38sp's using "cowboy action" reloading data from Hodgdon that are extremely mild--125 gr bullet @ ~700 fps. In my 6" 357 these feel, to me, about like a 22. My 6 year old has no problem with them. I believe you can also buy cowboy loads if you don't reload. __________________ XD 9 Service T/C Encore Pistol--.308 & .223 Remington 700 VSSF .22-250 Rock River Arms AR15 Mossberg 835 12 GA. Taurus 689 .357 Mag Colt Frontier Scout .22lr Ruger 10/22 Ruger 22/45 (mark 2)

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