.38 ammo for small game & hiking

[California Mark]

What would you recommend for a S&W model 60 (3 inch with Crimson Laser Grips) in .38 for small game hunting and protection while hiking?  Personally, I would load it in .357 but since my wife will be carrying / training with it I wanted a nice accurate .38 for her.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Thanks,

Mark

[John Traveler]

I would go for .38 wadcutters for your intended purpose.  Should be superbly accurate in your 3" barrel, easily controlled for fast repeat shots, deadly on rabbits, quail, and squirrels, and an adequate manstopper.  The biggest advantage is the mild recoil, enabling frequent practice and training sessions to gain proficiency.  Low ammo cost is another plus, encourages target shooting practice.

The snubby guns tend to have widely changing points of impact with load changes, so using the same load is important to gain shooting confidence and proficiency.

[Mikey]

What John said.  Mikey.

[California Mark]

Guys,

Many thanks.  Greatly appreciated.

Best,

Mark

[Graybeard]

Careful there in most states hunting with a laser sighted gun is ILLEGAL. I do love those CTC Laser Grips and my personal S&W 3" .357 wears them but I cannot hunt with that gun here in Bama and I doubt you can legally in CA either. I do shoot it much more accurately with the laser than the sights.

[California Mark]

Any views on these:  Black Hills Remanufactured Ammunition 38 Special 158 Grain Lead Semi-Wadcutter Case of 1000 (20 Boxes of 50).  I was thinking about buying them in bulk. 

Is Semi Wadcutter as good as the Wadcutter mentioned above??

Again, many thanks.

Mark

[Cabin4]

What would you recommend for a S&W model 60 (3 inch with Crimson Laser Grips) in .38 for small game hunting and protection while hiking?  
Thanks,

Mark

Careful there, California has no "right to carry" law either. That is unless you are a Liberal politician, they somehow seem to get carry permits when supposedly there not available.

[Dusty Miller]

If you have your hunting license with you and can keep a straight face whilst explaining to a game warden that you are squirrel hunting with your .357 snubby then you are within the law. 

[John Traveler]

Standard velocity 158 grain lead SWC will give a bit more recoil than 148 grain lead WC but is also fine for your purpose.

[Cabin4]

If you have your hunting license with you and can keep a straight face whilst explaining to a game warden that you are squirrel hunting with your .357 snubby then you are within the law. 

And if its not hunting season......
or if it is the hunting season and its rim fire only......

[corbanzo]

I dont know about small game unless you are using it for an excuse....  Even a low power 38 can do some pretty big damage on small game... unless you are talking about coyotes or foxes.  I would look for a 22mag if you are talking about small game and two legged protection.