Best load range for limited grip strength

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  • Last Post 07 October 2024
Idahocaster posted this 04 October 2024

I  am trying to find a cast bullet load for my wife's .380 (Ruger LC380 with the extended floor plate for full hand grip) that will work for her. She loves the pistol, but has problems with malfunctions due to having problems with her grip strength. I think she can learn to grip the pistol so that it won't malfunction, but I want to give her any advantage I can. What is best for someone in this situation? Lower power loads that have minimal recoil but also don't have much margin to failing to operate the pistol correctly? Or mid-range to higher power loads that have plenty of power to operate the pistol, but also have more recoil? We have tried both and so far she has the same malfunctions with either end of the spectrum, but I am looking for any ideas on what might be the best way to move forward.

Before anyone suggests a revolver, she also has a J-frame that she shoots very well with wadcutter loads, but she really likes the .380 and I would love to help her learn to shoot it.

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Eutectic posted this 07 October 2024

The 22 LR suggestion is NOT the answer. Little 22 autos are fiendishly ammo sensitive and prone to malfunction. This is separate from ammo problems which seem to be more common of late. I have tried several 22's and gave up on them as carry guns.

The Ruger LCP is very light which is part of the problem. Grip is very important, you must get as much mass behind the gun as possible. 

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JBinMN posted this 05 October 2024

I forgot to add in about the loads, but I am tired of typing so I will try to keep it short.

When my missus had carpal tunnel surgery in both wrists some time back, I was present with a similar problem. I started out by making rounds that progressively gained in strength/power/felt recoil, not unlike a ladder test range of powders.

Starting her out with some boxes of low power & gradually raising the power level up to mid range in progression, to get her used to things. It worked well & she eventually had no issue with the upper levels of powder/recoil. It worked in both 38Sp. snubby revolver & with a 9mm pistol.

So, my suggestion is just that. G'Luck with that too if ya try it.

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JBinMN posted this 05 October 2024

Here is a suggestion of something you can try to perhaps help your missus.

Take some sand bags or a sandbag & a front shooting bag &  have her shoot the pistol with the butt of the pistol sitting on a sandbag & the fore-end of the pistol sitting on a higher placed sandbag/or the front bag. ( make sure the pistol barrel is sticking out a ways from the higher bag so the muzzle is past the bag to prevent burning or holes in the upper bag. ) .
This can be done sitting or standing... Sitting at a bench, or with the bags mentioned above sitting on an appropriate height ladder/ladder step or some sort of platform for standing shooting, you both can choose one or do both.

Have her shoot a mag or two with the handgun resting on the bags, using "good form" with her hands/wrists/arms, to get familiar with doing this type of rested shooting, and to help her learn the muscle memory to get good "form" from the "rested" position.

Once she has done this till she is comfortable shooting "rested", & any corrections that are noticed by you in her shooting form are adjusted to get her form correct, then after that, have her take a resting shot & then on the next shot raise the handgun just slightly off of Both bags, keeping the same form and shooting off a round. Repeat this second step alternating between "resting" & raised" in her "programming" for a few mags.

Then go to one shot resting, two shots raised slightly, and keep adjusting until she is shooting most of a mag raised & not rested, all the while keeping the good form in shooting.

Eventually her muscle memory for good form should kick in , and she should not need the "resting" shots, but can just shoot with the handgun "raised" as if she was still in the rested position.

This can also be done "dry firing", but actual shooting is better as far as I am concerned. Not going to go into the reasoning to keep from typing much more.
( I will mention that anyone who has been in the military & has had marksmanship training with a rifle & or handguns ( at least those who went in the USMC back when I was in a while ago) likely remembers the sessions of "dry firing" for a while before actually going to shoot "live fire" on the range to develop good form & familiarize with the shooting positions. The above rested/raised drill with a handgun is basically the same sort of thing, but usually moved to the range to help correct issues demonstrated by the results of actually firing & felt recoil..)

I am tired of typing. If you choose to try this, I hope it helps ya. It is what I would do with my missus or others like my grandkids, should a similar situation presented itself with them, back when they were learning the basics. It can also help with those who tend to flinch, along with some other methods.

Anyway....G'Luck~! Hope it helps/helpe3d.

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Lucky1 posted this 04 October 2024

This is not for CC purposes, but for a better day at the range, she should could consider a wrist brace. They're fairly cheap and easy to use but might just give the boost needed.

Scott Ingle

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Aaron posted this 04 October 2024

When your bacon is on the line stay with the revolver. No way one should be out in the real world with a borderline functioning autoloader. Unless one is very adapt at clearing the jams which is unlikely in most incidents you're holding a liability rather than an asset.

Yup.

 

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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Premod70 posted this 04 October 2024

When your bacon is on the line stay with the revolver. No way one should be out in the real world with a borderline functioning autoloader. Unless one is very adapt at clearing the jams which is unlikely in most incidents you're holding a liability rather than an asset.

Forrest Gump is my smarter brother.

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Idahocaster posted this 04 October 2024

I'm using the Lee 102 grain round nose bullet with 2.8gr Universal Clays. It is a nice soft load that drops the brass right at my feet. The heavier loads were 3.0 to 3.2gr of the same powder with the same bullet.

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Larry Gibson posted this 04 October 2024

What loads are you using?

Concealment is not cover.........

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Idahocaster posted this 04 October 2024

Thanks for the input guys. He problem is limp writing. She can run the slide just fine. Ric, I think your advice on placement of the gun in the hand is the kind of thing that will help. She shoots it well when it works, but she gets at least one malfunction per magazine which is really frustrating for her. We will work with how she is holding it and see where that gets us.

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RicinYakima posted this 04 October 2024

Two thoughts: one is use the fastest powder you have to get the pressure up. Second is placing the pistol in her hand. The pistol should be absolutely straight from barrel thru fork of the palm and thru the forearm. That puts more mass behind the frame to let the slide function . FWIW

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Duane Mellenbruch posted this 04 October 2024

Hand grip strength is one factor, but wrist strength is also a factor.  Limp wristing encourages feeding failures.  To help in clearing failures or pulling the slide back to feed a fresh round. the sling shot method might not be adequate for her.  Perhaps turning sideways so the muzzle is pointed down range and placing the weak hand on top of the slide keeping the palm clear of the muzzle and push the hands together rather than pulling them apart with the sling shot method. 

Perhaps one of those rubber slip on grips will fill the hand a little more and make it easier to grip.  Having no idea the size of hand and fingers, that might not be workable either. 

 

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Aaron posted this 04 October 2024

You are beating a dead horse. One must have the correct strength grip AND loads with enough boiler pressure to cycle the slide with the correct grip. I suggest a 22LR small-ish semi auto.

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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