Easiest shooting revolver?

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?
 
a high standard 9 shot ,22 LR revolver. in addition, this is also a collectable vintage revolver,
 
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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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Other than widening the range of selections among our group, this post may be of no value given the non-stock status of the revolver I have selected. So proceed with that caveat.

My easiest to shoot revolver is my customized S&W L frame with a 6" bbl. This revolver has a match (not duty) action job. From my PPC competition days I shoot DA only, so a smooth, light DA pull is very important to me. If this particular revolver is not the smoothest and lightest of all my revolvers, it is a least enough of a contender to leave the issue unresolved.

During this same era (80s) Wichita Arms offered a stainless steel barrel shroud for S&W L frames, and other similarly configured revolvers. This shroud is heavy, replicating the weight of a bull barrel, plus it is extra length (and thus weight) because it has an integral recoil compensator. One of the road tests of this rig stated that shooting .38 wadcutters felt like shooting .22 rimfire rounds. I had to have it.

That heavy muzzle dampens any sight disruption from the long DA trigger pull. .38 wadcutter recoil really does feel like .22 rimfire.

The downside is that, all up, this is a lot of weight, somewhere in the 60 oz range. It is unwieldy to carry, so I use a PPC holster. It is the antithesis of speed and maneuverability. One has to be prepared for the weight and its muzzle heavy bias when picking up this revolver.

But when I roll back that smooth, light DA trigger, and experience virtually no recoil, thus facilitating accurate follow up shots as quickly as I want them, it is revolver perfection.

And that is my easiest shooting revolver.
 
K22's are tough to beat, generally speaking. Very close second for me is any N Frame .44 Magnum with a 200gr LRN/Plated/Coated over 5.0-6.0 grains of Clay. Awful lot of gun, not a lot of power. Feel's like a weak .38 in a K frame. Very enjoyable. It's a 200 round minimum when I bring that combination to the range...just tons of fun and a true pleasure to shoot.
 
While .22 is cheaper, .22 magnum tends to be a lot more effective and I have heard that the quality control is better, especially now.

Also: if you are successful with the pistol you have now, the cost to move to a revolver right not be worth it. With had weakness such as you describe, the heavier revolvers that tame recoil might be too heavy for you, and the longer trigger stroke contraindicated.

Note the general trend toward recommending the K frames. There is a reason for that. The revolvers I shoot best are K frames.
 
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A lot of range ammo can be weak, which is what you want.
Otherwise, good luck finding the gunstore ammo for your needs.

I love the K frame; one of my favorites! I think it will be too heavy for you.
If you are feeling weak now, the future may hold even less strength for you.

You are between a rock and a hard place. You need weight to reduce recoil, but you may not be able to hold the weight.

The answer for new guns would seem to be a light weight scandium with low power ammo.
I also believe that the .32 S&W long, and the revolvers that shoot it, offer the best fit for your condition. I have a lightweight 1920's Colt Police Positive that weighs 20oz and is a joy to shoot with almost no recoil.

.32 ammo will be hard to find. I'm certain you could find one of those local Lubbock, Texas boys who would handload you some 32 S&W long.

Keep up your spirit and don't give up things you love easily. A little adaptation may go a long way.

Here's wishing you good luck, bud. Let us know how it goes.
Prescut
 
A top break in .38 S&W is both light weight and low recoil. An additional possible benefit is that it has a very small grip.

I don't have any experience with a S&W top break model however I do have a Iver Johnson 3 1/2" third model safety revolver in .38 S&W that shoots low power reloads very well.
 
I would vote for any K framed 38 Special .
My most favorite shooter is a stainless steel model 64 , 38 Special , with a 4" heavy barrel ... it seems to hang steady right on the target ... the gun isn't too heavy nor too light ... it's just right !
Ammo ... 148 grain HBWC Target Loads are the easiest to shoot and give great accuracy ... it's what they are made to do .
I cast my own wadcutters , load my own target ammo and over the last 50+ years haven't found anything more fun to shoot ...
Gary
 
Everybody is different. When I got my 14-3, I was amazed at how well it shot and it's accuracy. When I bought it they could be found easily and at reasonable prices. It does not recoil much depending on ammo. Bob
 

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If your hands are large enough a N frame with .38 wc using both hands would be very easy to shoot. I have a couple .38 Colt New Services and they shoot very well. No recoil at all.
 
If you have the possibility, then go to a shooting ranch where you can rent/try some different revolvers. E. g. different weight, barrel length etc.

I think .38 Special from a not too light and not too short revolver is usually quite comfortable to shoot. I have a Model 14 with a 8 3/8" barrel and that is fun and easy to shoot. You can also try a revolver for .357 Magnum and shoot it with .38 Special. Then the revolver is heavier and the felt recoil is milder.

But of course it also depends of the weight of the revolver you can handle without problems (depending on your illness?).
 
Texchappy said:
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.
Click to expand...
Many ranges require that you buy and use their ammo in rental guns.
Ask your range personnel before buying the ammo.
 
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