New Revolver

[fonzy]

Excited today. I sold my Beretta and I'm now looking into buying a revolver. I own already5 1911s and 1 Kahr cw9. I have owned a Glock 19 that is now gone. My experience with revolvers is very very minimal having only fired a S&W model 10 in 30 and a Python in 38. To me I didn't feel any recoil. What is motivating me to purchase a revolver is mainly my wife. She has arthritis and carpel. We have tried every technique we have seen on youtube even the one where the man has his daughter rack the slides on all his pistols but she just can't rack the slide to save her life literally. To the point where it becomes a safety hazard. So she tells me to get her a revolver.

Some data points. The pistol would be more of a back up to our home alarm system as a last resort. It would not be for carry outside the home and very little if any inside. It would be when I'm out working graveyard shift. It would only be 38 special and I don't think I would consider loading +P or 357. One for the recoil aspect and also the over penetration factor in our cheap dry wall home. You could probably run through our walls if you got enough speed. These are the choices I have narrowed it down to. I appreciate any positive or negative criticizm since this a big decision.

S&W bodyguard 38=the new polymer frame with built in laser. Reason, lightweight along with laser. Although I'm concerned if the light weight would be a con here.

S&W 637 airwieght 38=also lightweight.

S&W 60 ladysmith= its chambered in 357 so I think this extra weight would help minimize recoil.

Also what's your opinions on hammers. I heard you should never cock the hammer in a self defense situation since it becomes a hair trigger(hickock 45) So hammerless, shrouded hammer, or exposed hammer.

Thanks again. I'll post pics of whatever I get.

[Oceanbob]

Something light weight in .38 caliber

Excited today. I sold my Beretta and I'm now looking into buying a revolver. I own already5 1911s and 1 Kahr cw9. I have owned a Glock 19 that is now gone. My experience with revolvers is very very minimal having only fired a S&W model 10 in 30 and a Python in 38. To me I didn't feel any recoil. What is motivating me to purchase a revolver is mainly my wife. She has arthritis and carpel. We have tried every technique we have seen on youtube even the one where the man has his daughter rack the slides on all his pistols but she just can't rack the slide to save her life literally. To the point where it becomes a safety hazard. So she tells me to get her a revolver.

Some data points. The pistol would be more of a back up to our home alarm system as a last resort. It would not be for carry outside the home and very little if any inside. It would be when I'm out working graveyard shift. It would only be 38 special and I don't think I would consider loading +P or 357. One for the recoil aspect and also the over penetration factor in our cheap dry wall home. You could probably run through our walls if you got enough speed. These are the choices I have narrowed it down to. I appreciate any positive or negative criticizm since this a big decision.

S&W bodyguard 38=the new polymer frame with built in laser. Reason, lightweight along with laser. Although I'm concerned if the light weight would be a con here.

S&W 637 airwieght 38=also lightweight.

S&W 60 ladysmith= its chambered in 357 so I think this extra weight would help minimize recoil.

Also what's your opinions on hammers. I heard you should never cock the hammer in a self defense situation since it becomes a hair trigger(hickock 45) So hammerless, shrouded hammer, or exposed hammer.

Thanks again. I'll post pics of whatever I get.

I vote for the S&W 442 airweight. Light, strong, double action, shrouded hammer. Not expensive. Can be carried in the pocket of a bathrobe.

And it works everytime you pull the trigger.

Link:

http://www.gunshopfinder.com/smithandwesson/smithandwessonmodel442.asp

Back in the Revolver days of the LAPD (70s) Revolvers were 'neutered' to
prevent single-action cocking. Before this, the had a few accidental shootings when a nervous Cop cocked his weapon (like in the movies) and in that mode the weapon and it's single-action 'hair' trigger didn't take much to discharge and accidently kill someone.

Good luck.!

[Andy Taylor]

The two revolver that you have fired are both service size steel frame revolvers. The three you are considering are all compact and two of those are lightweight. If recoil is a concern for your wife, any of these (especially the lightwieghts) will have significant recoil compaired to the M10 and Python. If you must go compact, for whatever reason, I would recommend a 3" Ruger SP101. It is the heaviest of the compacts, and therefore has less recoil.
I would however think that since this gun is not going to be carried you would be better off going with a full size gun, such as a S&W K or L frame, or a Ruger GP100. These will be heavier and therefore recoil less and give you at least one, if not two, more rounds. The M10 you fired was a K frame.
Unless the gun is to be carried, there is really no point in a small, lightwieght gun. IMHO full power .357 kicks less in a fullsize gun than does .38 in a lightweight.

You also mention that she has arthritis. The DA trigger pull on a revolver can sometimes be a problem for someone with this condition. Of course that depends on a few factors, the trigger on the specific revolver and exactly which of her joints are effected by arthritis. The trigger can be worked on (lighten and smooth the trigger pull) by a competent gunsmith, but only to a point.
This is where we get to the hammer question. There is no downside to having a hammer unless the gun is to be carried. Hammers can snag on clothing when they are drawn from a holster. If the gun is on the nightstand this is not an issue. For most people it really wouldn't be a problem to not have one in this instance. However you wife is not most people. She has arthritis. She may need to cock the hammer first and then fire the gun in SA mode. Not generally recomended in self defense type shooting, however if she is physically unable to fire the gun in DA, she has to do what she has to do. With a hammerless gun, or one with a bobbed hammer, this is not an option.

I hope this helps.

[fonzy]

She can pull the trigger in DA on the Beretta so I imagine she can pull it on a revolver. As you mentioned a trigger job would help with this also. I had thought about the full size, S&W model 10 with a four inch barrel. http://www.impactguns.com/store/022188601251.html

But when she looked at the pictures she like the smaller frames.

This is what I'm leaning towards right now.http://www.woodburyoutfitters.com/%2...2414-P199.aspx

The difference in those and the airweights is the weight and about $200. more. So is it worth it? Firing the 38 special without P+ in the lady smith compared to an airweight is there a big difference in perceived recoil?

[Andy Taylor]

She has only looked at pics? Do both of you a favor and go to a range that has both the small guns and full size for rent. Let her shoot both. I suspect really shooting both will change her mind, quickly. Right now the DA pull is not a problem. That is good. Shoot DA as much as possible. Unfortunately arthritis has a way of getting worse over time. Don't handicap yourself with a hammerless gun. Give her the option.

[fonzy]

revolver

Yea we only looked at pics. Our local gun store doesn't have a large selection. We would have to order it. Maybe we should do what you said, go to range it's about an hour away and rent one.

[scarville]

My wife has similar hand strength problems and I've been helping her pick out a good handgun. First bit of advice is do NOT (PLEASE!) get her a lightweight 38/357 unless she tries it first. I love the 442 for a hideout gun but it is not a gun for someone who is sensitve to recoil. In fact, since my carpal tunnel surgery I'm seriously considering selling mine and getting the heavier SP-101.

My wife like my 686 w/3" bbl. It's heavy enough that she doesn't notice the recoil from 38's (158 gr +P) but not so heavy she can't hold it up and shoot it. She has trouble with the trigger pull so I am having the gun action worked on right now. I'm also getting the moon clip conversion done. (I wanted to do it anyways, OK?)

PM sent.

[redcliff]

I would echo the sentiments that for a home defense revolver that won't be carried, the lightweight j-frames are not the best choice. I'd go with a K or L frame Smith like a model 66 if you could find one, 686, or a comparable Ruger. For barrel length go with a 4".

My other comment is that perhaps a handgun isn't the right choice anyway; a shotgun is vastly more powerful and possibly easier for your wife to handle. A 20 gauge pump might be a good choice. For home defense my handguns take a back seat to my shotguns.

[badmonkey]

+1 on barrel length. no reason to get a snubnose .38 when it's a nightstand gun. especially for someone with wrist or hand pain, the extra felt recoil from firing a lightweight snubnose probably won't be appreciated at the range or when it's actually used.

[slobson]

another big +1 on avoiding anything in the airweight or light framed category if recoil sensitivity is an issue. at the very least get out there and let her shoot one before you invest

[Donny1]

A full size revolver is the way to go. The Airweight will suffer from more recoil and less accuracy. A full size .357 with .38 spl's is like a tame puppy by comparison. She will have fun practicing and won't be turned off by it, it will also have some punch with the +p's loaded for HD. The more time she spends at the range with it will pay off in a huge way if she ever has to use it in a HD situation.

[fonzy]

I'm realizing that a 4" barrel wouldn't be very much larger than a Glock 19. The reason I was going with a smaller frame was the cost. Mid size frame Smiths are close to a grand.

[fonzy]

I do have a 12 gauge 500 mossberg. I'm going to be honest with you I'm not sure I'd fire it in the house. The times I have shot it at the range with Federal reduce recoil 00 buck and flames come out. I can say how loud it was cause I had ear muffs on, but I could imagine.

[RedFord150]

One more vote for the full size in 4". Small lightweight guns can be painfull to shoot.
FWIW, my bedside gun is a Ruger Speed Six in .38 Special with a 2 3/4" barrel. This is not a snubbie. This is a full size revolver that was also offered in .357 mag on same frame. It is very easy to shoot, dead accurate, and dead reliable. If you could find one for sale, it would be a good choice. I did replace the skinny wood grips with Hogue Rubber Grip.
You can shoot .38 through a .357 mag. No reason not to buy a .357 for your needs.
Good luck.

[scarville]

I do have a 12 gauge 500 mossberg. I'm going to be honest with you I'm not sure I'd fire it in the house. The times I have shot it at the range with Federal reduce recoil 00 buck and flames come out. I can say how loud it was cause I had ear muffs on, but I could imagine.

Noise is a factor I think a lot of people don't give proper consideration to. It is especially important, IMO, when evaluating a home defense gun because it may have to be fired indoors. Reflection from walls will increase the duration and, probably, the intensity of the sound at your ears. Each 3 dB increase, doubles the sound pressure and halves the exposure time required to cause permanent damage.

Any gun is loud but some are louder than others. All other things being equal, the sound pressure level from a handgun correlates strongly (though not linearly) to the pressure generated. That is one reason I try to stick to the 38 spl or 45 ACP for home defense. Even then I keep pair of Peltor T6 muffs nearby JIC.