Need help wheel gun experts!

willpgn

Well-Known Member
2A Bourbon Hound 2024
2A Bourbon Hound OG
Life Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2017
Messages
4,799
Location
D.C. in P.D. in S.C.
Rating - 100%
6   0   0
So, my mom is finally getting her CWP here is SC and I’m looking for some information to help her out. At this point, I am thinking that a revolver will be easiest and best suited for her to carry. She has some wrist and tendon issues from her youth in her left arm so this make racking a slide on a semi very hard, if not impossible for her...she’s tried on all the vast options I have!

What I don’t have, is a good grasp on suitable revolver options her. I only own 2 revolvers given to me by family and they will likely never be shot (and wouldn’t be suitable for her or CC anyway). My personal experience with revolvers is as follows...first handgun I ever shot as a kid was my dad’s, hated the DA heavy trigger...never looked at or bought revolvers in all my years because of that one experience! :oops:

Here are some of my thoughts on her needs at this point...

Caliber - common, nothing exotic, likely 38
Trigger - something with not too heavy a pull in DA
Hammer - exposed hammer is ok
Size - not super small but also not full sized, needs to fit in woman’s “normal” shoulder pocketbook and car console, also not too heavy
Brand - reliable, cost is not a huge concern

Help me (and her) out CFF! Thanks!
 
Last edited:
Ruger speed six or sp101. They aren't the lightest for sure but if she has wrist issues heavier is better in terms of recoil control and feel. If you wanted smaller and lighter you could go with a S&W 442/642 or a Ruger LCR. I've carried both and they are great guns. If you were to get a Ruger LCR you could get the LCR357. It weighs a few ounces more but makes shooting 38 special much more controllable than in the lighter 38 only model. Just my thoughts.
 
Many will suggest the S&W J-frames, but for this application you may want to look at a Taurus Model 85 snubbie. The Taurus has a slightly shorter trigger reach and a surprisingly good DA trigger, and of course it's less expensive.
 
Many will suggest the S&W J-frames, but for this application you may want to look at a Taurus Model 85 snubbie. The Taurus has a slightly shorter trigger reach and a surprisingly good DA trigger, and of course it's less expensive.
I'd also like to second LOW's suggestion of an LCR .357 loaded with .38s. Very nice DA trigger on these.
 
Thanks so far! A shorter trigger reach and smooth DA would be great as mentioned on the Taurus 85 as she has smaller hands. The slightly heavier LCR357 with 38s would be doable for her as well.

Her right hand/arm (she is right handed), grip and finger strength are just fair. Her left arm is the main problem and causes issues with gripping a slide and racking it on a semi. We tried many options there...techniques and guns that is!
 
Don't fully discount the semi autos. There are a few members here whose spouses have arthritis or other issues racking a semi auto slides and are very happy with their Walther CCP's.
The LCR with 38's is a solid suggestion, too.
But what you really need is to get to a range somewhere that rents guns to it's customers. Put a few different ones in her hands and then, and only then, will you know what truly fits her needs, not what fits the needs you think she has.
 
If it’s something that she will enjoy shooting, a Double action revolver is not it.

Guns that have easy slides to operate include the 380 ACP Bersa Thunder, Sig P238, and 9 mm Beretta 92. Though, the Beretta has a heavy Double action trigger.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
I will get behind the Taurus 85. Solid revolver, 5 shot rated for 38+P and there is an airweight available.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/766582149


suitable-bullets-for-38.jpg


$234 + $15 shipping + $25 transfer fee (estimate) = $274







or this smith 442

162810_01_lg_0.jpg


https://www.carolinafirearmsforum.com/index.php?threads/handgun-inventory-for-sale.25835/

buy it here for $299 + $10 shipping + $25 transfer fee (estimate) = $334 and you would be helping out a fellow forum member who is trying to raise money for his leukemia treatment.






I am not sure you want to consider a semi auto given the issue of racking a slide as you mentioned, but if you do, the Bersa thunder 380 as mentioned is a good choice

2338631_9992338631_is


$225 = $35 shipping + $25 transfer = $285
 
I have a Rossi 851 38 +P that has a very smooth DA trigger.
Not high end I know but the trigger is amazing.
 
Ruger LCR in .38 Special. It has the lightest and smoothest trigger right out of the box. Much better that other similar size .38 revolvers.
 
Appreciate all the recommendations!

We haven’t given up totally on the semis yet. I have a Sig 938 that she is going to try. In reguards to the Bersa 380, I’ve got a CZ83 in 32 that is tough for her and a Walter 380 that she can’t do (almost identical to the Bersa above).

As far as a range and rentals...I’m about as close to that as it gets around here! :D
 
The new Shield EZ .380?
 
"If you are reading this, odds are you are a man. At least that’s what our demographic data suggests. If you are, we invite you to keep reading, because although the information contained in this article was created by and about women, it is particularly pertinent to male spouses, relatives, friends, pistol instructors, gun store clerks or any others associated with women and who may have introduced—or hope to introduce a woman—to target shooting or personal protection with a handgun."

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/8/21/the-american-rifleman-ladies-pistol-project/

.
 
Ruger LCR in .38 Special. It has the lightest and smoothest trigger right out of the box. Much better that other similar size .38 revolvers.

Or, if recoil is a major concern, the LCR in .327 Fed Mag. It has the heavier frame of the .357 and 9mm, and the nice trigger, but will run almost any .32 caliber load. I can't imagine that .32 Long wadcutters would have much recoil at all. As a bonus, it holds 6 rounds instead of 5.

I just picked up one of these for my wife, so I'll be able to give you first-hand feedback on recoil in a couple of weeks. My wife is small and has small hands, and not a lot of grip strength, and loves the feel of the LCR trigger when dry-firing.
 
My wife's experience was that the snubbies in 38 were pretty snappy for her, especially the lightweight ones. That being said, the LCR in 22 or 22 mag might be an option. I found this out after buying what I thought would be perfect, a Taurus stainless smubby. I think this new Smith and Wesson 380 is going to be a winner with the ladies and elderly also.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
Snub nose 38’s are less fun to shoot than subcompact semi auto 9mm’s. Find someone near you that has rentals she can fire. She may be able to cycle the slide on a Shield, G43, or LC9 just fine, they’re all pretty easy to do.
 
Thanks for all the replies! We got her out shooting today and started with a semi 22. She also got to shoot my dads 38 Spl S&W snubbie (can’t remember the model). It’s about 35 years old...still had the original receipt in the box. It was a bit much for her on the DA trigger but she handled the recoil ok. I let her shoot a few full size semi 9s...,CZ P09, CZ SP01, FN509...which she also did well with, outside of slide operation.

I do believe the winner for my mom seems to be my wife’s Sig P938...almost forgot we had that one but glad I brought it. She can handle the recoil and actually operate the slide well. She shot around 75 rounds total between 22 and 9 from 3 to 15 yards and she didn’t miss the cardboard silhouette at all!!!

She really enjoyed it! I think she is headed toward the Sig P938 or P238 now. Thanks again CFF!
 
Back
Top Bottom