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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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Old 02-11-2020, 02:17 AM
scarab-SW scarab-SW is offline
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Question Trigger Wt. question for Lady Smith, etc.

I'm interested in the lightweight series of revolver snubbies, Lady Smith, 442, and 67-5. These are all DAO? Can someone tell me the trigger weights of these currently in production, to pull and break? I want to recommend the lightest of them to an older woman who has trouble with the whole DAO issue. I'm currently using a Ruger SP101 which has about the lightest revolver trigger out there. If you own any of these, and a trigger pull scale, can you take a measurement for me? Or, are all J-frame DAO triggers alike?
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Old 02-11-2020, 07:03 AM
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Welcome! The first two guns you mentioned are DAO J frames; the 67-5 (if that is what you meant) is a K frame and SA/DA.

If possible, before buying you may want your lady friend to try several guns at a dealer or range. A DAO revolver will probably have a trigger weight in the high upper single digits in pounds, but if she is unable to cycle the gun, the number is irrelevant. If so she may be better off with a handgun made with lighter springs, like a .380 or 9 Shield EZ or even (gasp!) a .22. Hope this is helpful.
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Old 02-11-2020, 07:34 AM
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Here is a thing about triggers, slide pulls etc. If your finger and hand strength is such that you have difficulty with the DA pull of a light weight revolver or racking the slide of a light weight semi auto, your definitely going to have a problem with the recoil of all but the either the lightest loads or the smallest calibers. A all steel gun would help soak up some recoil

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Old 02-11-2020, 09:28 AM
uncleted327 uncleted327 is offline
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Each gun will be different from the next identical gun unfortunately. The only way to know is to try them out in person and see what works. Finding a factory J frame with a DAO pull in the single digits isn't a given. I had a 640 Pro that was easily 12+ pounds. Maybe look for a PC 442/642 that's had at least a little trigger work done at the factory. However having owned an SP101 and many other revolvers I completely disagree and never in ten lifetimes would say the Ruger has anywhere near the lightest trigger out there, or even in just the Ruger line for that matter.

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Old 02-13-2020, 10:23 PM
Execpro Execpro is offline
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murphydog Has the right idea. I have owned many S&W revolvers over the years. My favorite was a Lady Smith with the BEST trigger of them all. JMO

Be SAFE and Shoot Often!
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Old 02-14-2020, 12:01 PM
Protocall_Design Protocall_Design is offline
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About the best you're going to do with a S&W J frame is to put in an aftermarket spring kit, then test for reliability with your carry ammo.
That said, the spring kit can make a world of difference, depending on how the trigger pull is to begin with.
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Old 02-14-2020, 12:16 PM
gnystrom gnystrom is offline
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The Ladysmiths I have handled seemed to have a lighter trigger wt. than standard revolvers. If these are too difficult the options are a spring kit, Ruger's LCR which is not a steel gun or, take a good look at Kimbers revolver offerings as my K6S has one of the best stock triggers I have ever felt.
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Old 02-14-2020, 04:19 PM
Will2 Will2 is offline
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Plus 1 on sleelslaver's comment...

I would be concerned about the recoil of a lite revolver or pistol. She should shoot a few different ones, before she purchases one.

My wife has good finger strength, and usually shoots 200 rounds on a range outing with her 686 4 inch. She can handle the trigger pull of my steel J frame, but does not like the recoil.

Since the J frame is with us almost all the time, I feel it is important for her to be able to shoot it if necessary. She will only shoot one cylinder. If she only had a steel J frame to shoot, I would lose my favorite range partner.

Will
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Old 12-23-2020, 11:40 AM
LtBob LtBob is offline
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Re. Lighter trigger on LS - this from a S&W trained armorer: Lady Smith factory lightened action? Answer – NO – Quote: “if the Lady Smith was given a specialized custom tune up, they'd be the first to publish it, and charge accordingly”. Standard rebound spring from factory is 18-lbs. Lighter springs are normally color-coded (green/blue) – hint, if changed.
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Old 12-23-2020, 12:59 PM
Hapworth Hapworth is offline
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scarab-SW, although you joined in Feb, this is your first post, so welcome to the Forum.

Fact is, too many older women, and women in general, and for that matter plenty of men folk, too, get steered toward J-frames because they're smaller and therefor seeming "easier" to own, handle and shoot.

For the most part the opposite is true, and first time, hesitant or casual gun owners and shooters are ill-served by a J-frame, at least at the start, unless they are willing to be diligent students.

Although the smaller J may be more comfortable -- particularly in trigger reach -- for smaller hands, it requires greater grip strength and dexterity (not to mention technique) to work the trigger and get good, repeatable hits under fire compared to other, larger frames.

Food for thought.

Anyway, current factory J-frame triggers are luck of draw, but most will come in around 12lbs, and if not, usually a little more versus anything less. They're stout for most folks. They're also less amenable to tuning, though a little can be done, but doing so one is quick to approach potential reliability issues.

Neither the Lady Smith nor the Performance Center "Pro Series" J have tuned triggers or any special work done to them. The "Enhanced Action" models are slightly lighter and smoother in action and it's unclear what specifically S&W does to achieve this but I suspect it's purely in the springing and not what would be called true action work.

I agree with others that a stock Ruger SP101 is far from one of the lightest factory double-action triggers out there, but the mentioned Ruger LCR and Kimber K6s are probably close.

Picking someone's gun for them is usually not as constructive as helping them get the opportunity to try many firearm types and determine -- with consideration to all the factors that go into gun owning and use beyond pulling the trigger -- what suits them best.
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Old 12-23-2020, 01:02 PM
Hapworth Hapworth is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Protocall_Design View Post
About the best you're going to do with a S&W J frame is to put in an aftermarket spring kit, then test for reliability with your carry ammo.
That said, the spring kit can make a world of difference, depending on how the trigger pull is to begin with.
PD, whose J-frame spring kit do you like best?
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Old 12-23-2020, 01:06 PM
Hapworth Hapworth is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Will2 View Post
Plus 1 on sleelslaver's comment...

I would be concerned about the recoil of a lite revolver or pistol. She should shoot a few different ones, before she purchases one.

My wife has good finger strength, and usually shoots 200 rounds on a range outing with her 686 4 inch. She can handle the trigger pull of my steel J frame, but does not like the recoil.

Since the J frame is with us almost all the time, I feel it is important for her to be able to shoot it if necessary. She will only shoot one cylinder. If she only had a steel J frame to shoot, I would lose my favorite range partner.

Will
Concerning recoil and J-frames, consider switching to 148gr match full wadcutters if you want to bring your wife back around.

They're much softer shooting, and out of the approximately 2" barrel of the typical J-frame in use, is a viable self-defense round as even the best defense hollow-points are marginal in performing properly out of a 2" barrel, but the match wadcutter gets excellent penetration and its sharp shoulder cuts a good hole.
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Old 12-23-2020, 01:14 PM
rockquarry rockquarry is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hapworth View Post
scarab-SW, although you joined in Feb, this is your first post, so welcome to the Forum.

Fact is, too many older women, and women in general, and for that matter plenty of men folk, too, get steered toward J-frames because they're smaller and therefor seeming "easier" to own, handle and shoot.

For the most part the opposite is true, and first time, hesitant or casual gun owners and shooters are ill-served by a J-frame, at least at the start, unless they are willing to be diligent students.

Although the smaller J may be more comfortable -- particularly in trigger reach -- for smaller hands, it requires greater grip strength and dexterity (not to mention technique) to work the trigger and get good, repeatable hits under fire compared to other, larger frames.

Food for thought.

Anyway, current factory J-frame triggers are luck of draw, but most will come in around 12lbs, and if not, usually a little more versus anything less. They're stout for most folks. They're also less amenable to tuning, though a little can be done, but doing so one is quick to approach potential reliability issues.

Neither the Lady Smith nor the Performance Center "Pro Series" J have tuned triggers or any special work done to them. The "Enhanced Action" models are slightly lighter and smoother in action and it's unclear what specifically S&W does to achieve this but I suspect it's purely in the springing and not what would be called true action work.

I agree with others that a stock Ruger SP101 is far from one of the lightest factory double-action triggers out there, but the mentioned Ruger LCR and Kimber K6s are probably close.

Picking someone's gun for them is usually not as constructive as helping them get the opportunity to try many firearm types and determine -- with consideration to all the factors that go into gun owning and use beyond pulling the trigger -- what suits them best.
Well said. A J-frame gun is a not for a beginner; they're difficult for many to shoot well. For the inexperienced, shooting a J-frame is a good way to develop a flinch. Trigger pull is secondary. A J-frame user might be best served by learning to shoot with the standard trigger. They're very reliable and you won't have to test them to see if they work, even if the pull is a bit heavy. Some believe that a lighter trigger pull takes the place of a shooter's shortcomings, but it doesn't.
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Old 12-23-2020, 01:36 PM
Doug44 Doug44 is offline
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The way a gun fits you hand effects the feel of the trigger. I just put Hogue round to square butt combats on my 686 and it made the trigger feel lighter. No it did not make it lighter but it feels like it. So maybe try some different grips for the lady.
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Old 12-23-2020, 01:56 PM
Ranger514 Ranger514 is offline
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I mostly carry a 642 PC that is an improvement in trigger pull over the standard DAO J frame. Having said that, I'd highly recommend that everyone with interest in the J frame should try one out at the range before buying, for the reasons stated by others.
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Old 12-29-2020, 09:35 PM
vintage40s vintage40s is offline
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I bought my first gun, a 642 Airweight .38, last summer. The trigger pull was too hard so I ordered a trigger kit and had a gunsmith install it.
Duty/Carry Spring Kit for J-Frame Revolvers
That made the trigger much better.
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