Excluding 22LR and other rimfire cartridges, what is the easiest revolver to shoot?

I’m disabled. I have a demyelinating condition like MS late leads to weakness and sensitivity (think recoil) in my limbs. That’s part of the reason I haven’t tried a revolver yet.

* even though I put this in the S&W section, I’m open to other brands.

If I were you I would try model 15.

Might try a .32 SW Long in an I frame for lighter weight and for lower recoil. If you don't reload, that might be problematic in terms of finding ammo regularly. A K frame .38 with target loads also great option.

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Some collect art; I shoot it!

Most people don't realize it but a .22 lr needs MORE power hitting the primer to set it off than does a centerfire cartridge. You have to balance hand strength necessary to hold and operate the weapon versus the recoil. Most revolvers take MORE trigger finger power to operate. I respectfully suggest you consider a small to medium frame .38 revolver, or if you must got with a .22 try the Walter P-22. Single action or double action first shot. Decent trigger pull. Reasonable power needed to operate the slide.

For what purpose???????????????

OP would enjoy a M15.

Great sights, virtually no recoil if shooting 148 gr wad cutter target ammo, and very little with standard velocity round nose 158 gr ammo.

Stay away from ammo marked +p.

Smaller guns have a heavy trigger and weight less for absorbing recoil. Is a M27 or M28 a bad idea with 38 Special?

I have arthritis in my hands and wrists and recoil can be quite painful. I reload so I can adjust loads for comfort and accuracy. Of late I’ve been shooting a lot of 38 special loaded for comfort. I find using a fast powder like bullseye or Accurate N100NF for reduced loads helps quite a bit. Lighter weight bullets help also. So far Accurate N100NF with a 125 grain bullet, either lead or plated, shoots very nicely out of my model 15 and King Cobra Colt. Both are lightweight enough without being too light.

When shooting and trying to reduce recoil, heavier guns are your friend. Light frame guns are painful to me.

I would suppose the easiest S&W to shoot would be a K frame (four inch Model 10 with standard barrel) with its trigger lightened by a professional so that reliability is not compromised.

Probably a Combat Masterpiece m15

Model 19 with 38 special loads or a 28 with 38 special loads.

Another vote for the Model 15.

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John

I'm 78 and do a lot of shooting and very aware of comfort. I've got a M15,M19,M49 etc,etc...The absolutely most comfortable shooting with virtually no recoil is a S@W 1915. I shoot one handed and alternate between left hand and right hand. Between the weight and the 5" barrel it is large but very comfortable.

Maybe a model 14 with 38 target loads. Just have no idea how the weight of the revolver would interact with your condition.

Another recommendation for the 4" Model 15. I've seen lot's of folks of varying experience do very well with this model.

Best of luck finding something that will work for you.

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Dave Brown
SWCA #3279

It's calamitous not unanimous indeed ubiquitous. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

N-frame .357 (Model 27 or 28) shooting .38 Specials. Something that you can shoot all day. Almost no recoil at all.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Of course my M15 2” or 4”, smooth as silk. You might as well include a M67

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the Model 15 is a wonderful choice. Even better if it is slicked up by a good revolver smith. However, nothing feels better in my hand than a 5" model 10. The revolver itself is not so heavy as to cause difficulties, and shooting 148 grain wadcutters out of it is extremely easy on the hand and wrist.

HB model10-6. .38. great da trigger. Not much recoil.
Jim

I would recomment any of the 38 special guns, in the K frame model. I would suggest a WC or SWC in the lightest load that is available.

I agree with the K Frame suggestions above. A good Model 10, 15 or Model 19 with a 4" barrel (or their stainless equivalents) would probably be about as good as it gets. Heck, they are about as good as it gets even without a disability.

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Keep your powder dry.

Agree with a revolver, and I’d add a Ruger GP100 or a Smith 686 to the list. The extra weight makes recoil from 148 gr standard load 38 specials very easy.


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Some great answers to the question posed by the OP. I concur that, of
the Smith & Wesson family, the K frame in 38 is a wonderful choice.

In my own experience, another easy shooting centerfire would be a small or mid-frame Ruger single action, as the felt recoil impulses are gentle. I am e.g. suggesting a 32 H&R on Single Six platform, or a mid frame Vaquero in 38/357. (This, notwithstanding that ammo in 32 is much less readily available in these difficult times.)

Wishing Texchappy every possible success in finding a suitable platform and cartridge.

Shield EZ 380. I know a quad with very little dexterity, right tricep weakness and weakness in the hands. Both he and his teenage daughter can rack and shoot the EZ.
It helps that he can recline in his wheelchair and has an armrest which reduces the recoil. My lightened J and K frame too much to pull for him.

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Romans5:8

That’s actually what I have now as a carry gun. I’m wondering if I can hand,e a revolver.

Any S&W model 10, 15, 67, etc. etc. with 4" barrel. But the ammo you
choose is probably more important, for your condition, than the actual
revolver. Get some good advice on a low recoil round like a wadcutter
for example.

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In Omnia Paratus

The K frames are a good choice but the easiest for me considering recoil is my Model 28-2 with wadcutters. Much heavier than the K frames but a real soft shooter. You can experiment with various grips but the best for recoil is the Pachmayr rubber grip they have in various styles and they are inexpensive. Rubbers may not be the best looking but you need comfort and this is a good option.

From n frames to RedHawk magnums it’s all good.

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Plant garlic in the fall

While it might be a bit heavy for you given the conditions you describe, I would recommend a Model 10.

Texchappy - There's a tradeoff here to consider - firearm weight vs. recoil. It depends on what you can manage. If weight is an issue, then consider the smaller (older) I frame or more modern J Frame. If recoil is the issue, then consider my original recommendation of .32 long. However, if you can handle the bit of extra weight, then a slightly larger K frame (aka Model 10, 15, 19) provides a little more punch in .38 Special in a much more readily available caliber. You don't say what you have been shooting, but target level .38's are pretty much equal to a 9 mm semi-auto in terms of recoil. Maybe you can try a few out at a range?

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Some collect art; I shoot it!

a high standard 9 shot ,22 LR revolver. in addition, this is also a collectable vintage revolver,

model 10. loaded with some mild 38 spl rounds, very tame

This one is almost as light recoil as a 22 but hits harder. My Colt DS in .32.

To tell you the truth I have 11 and the easiest to shoot is the ones that I shoot the most.It seems that the more I shoot one the looser it becomes.Right now it's my early 1990s 442.

If they eren't so hard to come by a K frame shooting 32 lons.

The J and I frames are more common and also easy shooting. If ammo supply ever gets back to near normal the are inexpensive to shoot too.

I have several and like them, my wife loves them.

Our '71 DS, with soft shooting loads, is the favorite of the Mrs and her friends.
158gr HC leads and the trigger in DA is smooth and easy.
Same grips as the pic but with a Tyler T.

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Have Fun/Stay Safe

There are a lot of good choices to consider.

But, as others have stated already, the first that came to my mind was my 6" Model 28. It's the gun I use to test all new .38 Special loads, whether handload or factory. Accurate, and extremely easy to shoot.

I might add, grips that fit your hands properly are very important.
Worth a trip to the LGS or gun shows to find what works for you.

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Have Fun/Stay Safe

If weight isn't much of an issue, and IF you can find the ammo, you could try the Ruger .327 Federal Magnum, 85 grain, in the GP100 Revolver. They have a real good punch on what they hit and I would not hesitate to use one for self defense. These .327 FM guns will shoot any .32 caliber cartridge, although in ACP you will experience some light strikes in all probabilty. I've read that when Federal made this for Ruger, they added the 7 just to separate it from the boys. If you shoot anything other than the Fed Mag cartridges, it's like shooting a .22 LR. I can get a little weak wristed sometimes and this gun never bothers me a bit. Mind you, if you shoot one, use good ear protection; not those foam push-in kind of plugs unless you're putting earmuffs over them. This gun in 6" is 1/4 oz. heavier than my 6" S&W .44 magnum, model 629-6. Good luck.
Most of the .22 Magnum revolvers that I've played with are pretty soft-shooting and cause a little more damage than the LRs. You'll have to check with the ballistic pros about that.

I find shooting .32 S&W or .32 H&R in my 16-4 extremely pleasant to shoot.

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213th FBINA

Have a model 10 heavy barrel with fixed sights so should regulate with a 158 grain SWC. Now not much difference between the latter and the model 15. Only real difference is the adjustable sights. Now my model 14 probably weighs more than a model 15 but your talking about two more inches of barrel also with adjustable sights. However better trigger on the 14 and again adjustable sights. But since the model 14 is basically a target revolver 148 grain wadcutters are usually loaded down and usually very accurate. So if putting holes in paper is one of your concerns and doing it accurately then a model 14 is for you. Frank

4" K frame 32-20

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Regards,
Bruce

For me it's a 66-1 6" shooting .38 specials

I load 38 specials for my wife to shoot in her Charter Arms pink lady, very light recoil and easy to handle. I use 3.2 grains of Tightgroup with a 125 grain projectile.

My 38 special target loads in my 6" 686.

I know we are on a Smith & Wesson forum, but my most comfortable and easy to shoot revolver is my stainless 5 inch bbl Ruger GP100 with the older Lett's style rubber with wood panel grips. I have modified the trigger with Wolff reduced power hammer and trigger return springs. Both the double and single action of this revolver is the lightest and smoothest that I have ever experienced. It is chambered for .357 magnum cartridges but I only shoot light target .38 special hand loads in it.

.38 Spl 148gr wadcutters out of my 4" 28-2.

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BTDT, Got The T-Shirt

My Model 15 - hands down!

Think I have a good idea what to see if my range has to rent.

Follow on question: Should I buy some ammo before I go to the range* to have a specific type? What would y’all recommend?

*rather than buying whatever they have there. They don’t have a large selection.