First revolver - left handed shooter

[Dahak]

While I love my 2.0c 9mm, I am starting to get a hankering for a revolver. I've figured out that I want a 357 magnum. The revolver would be used for the range, but I would like to get something that would be suitable for concealed carry just in case I fall in love with it. I also plan to use it to help transition my wife from 22 to 38 special to eventually being comfortable with 9X19 (though if she landed on the 38 special I would be happy). Actually a revolver might be perfect for her, she hates dealing with the slide (or I could just be trying to justify a new firearm )

I am a left handed shooter. From what I have found so far, that's not a major deal except for reloads being slower and a "specialty" left handed revolver would not be necessary. Plus the kids (teenagers who are just getting started) and spouse are righties, and I want them to be able to use it as well.

What are some revolvers that I should absolutely test out before buying? The 686 Plus is on the list based on some early research, but with frame size plus barrel length options, I am starting to confuse myself.

I tried searching the forum history but my searches didn't work as well as I had hoped - links to old threads would be welcomed if this is something that has been discussed before.

Thanks!

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
Get a police trade in , or well used M-10/13 or SS M-64/65.
M-10-M-64 are 38's the other are the same in 357..
OR most any K or L frame S&W, Speed/security 6 or GP100 ruger...
What you can find...
Then learn reloading.....!!!!!!!

 

[muddocktor]

I'm a lefty and I started out with revolvers in pistols and didn't find any particular problems loading and shooting them. Especially with speed loaders, I don't find any particular problem reloading. I grab the body of the gun in my right hand and hit the thumb latch with the left and rotate the cylinder out with my right thumb while holding the barrel end up and operate the ejector with the fingers on my right hand, then load the critter back up again. Works for me.

As to the type of revolver, well that all depends on what you and more importantly, your wife are comfortable with. My wife never was comfortable with a bottom feeder and racking the slide was really hard for her, so we went to the gun shop and let her handle some revolvers. In my wife's case, she found that a 3" barrel model 60 was something that felt "right" to her and it proved out so at the range too. It is rated for 357 Mag, but I only let her shoot 38 Special in it as it is a bit of a beast with 357 Mag ammo and would definitely be wayyy too much recoil for her to deal with. But with 38 Special, it is quite pleasant to shoot.

So my advice is to plan a trip to the gun shop with your wife and let her handle various revolvers. You will have no problems handling any 357 out there, so your wife will be the one that most needs to be fitted to the gun properly. In your case, your wife might be able to handle a heavier revolver such as a 686 or a model 66 or model 19 K frame and see which she is more comfortable with.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Long Time Left Handed Revolver Shooter Here, Welcome to the Club!
You need to go to a range, gun club or just out with your gunned up Buddies and try different Revolvers.
That would be different Frame sizes, calibers and barrel lengths.
Remember, shooting guns is like catching fish.
How many do you want to clean?

 

[gman51]

I am left handed and reloading a revolver is not a problem and actually being left handed could be a plus. Being left handed I probably have much more hand control while loading than a right hander has using their left hand to reload.
Realize one major thing about shooting 357 is the smaller/lighter the gun the harder the kick will be. A smaller gun is usually used for concealed carry which mean a big kick as payment for shooting 357.
Personally I choose to carry a revolver because all around it is the safest option for carry.
I used to carry an LCR 357 loaded with 38+P but I had switched, close to 2 years ago, to a Bulldog 44 spl and I really have no desire to go back to the 38 or 357.
You definitely want you and anyone going to use the gun to test fire whatever before buying any gun. I believe most women would like a light 38 spl revolver over many small semi autos. Just remember the lighter equals heavier kick.

 

[muddocktor]

To expand on gman51's post, if you go J frame, stay away from the scandium or aluminum framed guns, as they are light and the lack of weight means they will kick harder. The model 60 I got for my wife is a steel frame gun, yet only weighs 23.2 ounces empty. A scandium frame/titanium cylinder model roughly comparable to it can weigh as little as 11.4 ounces and recoil would be a lot more than the steel model gun.

 

[gr7070]

... a 357 magnum. The revolver would be used for the range, but I would like to get something that would be suitable for concealed carry just in case I fall in love with it. I also plan to use it to help transition my wife from 22 to 38 special to eventually being comfortable with 9X19 (though if she landed on the 38 special I would be happy). Actually a revolver might be perfect for her, she hates dealing with the slide

There's a lot of incongruities there!

Personally, I don't like anything but a J-frame for conceal. And I much prefer an aluminum one. That would make for a horrible range gun, especially in 357.

A 38 special recoil would not be less than a 9mm auto. So I wouldn't consider that working up to. I also think a double action revolver is a terrible choice for a casual shooter. That trigger takes a great deal to be proficient with! An auto striker-fired trigger would be much preferred for a casual shooter.

I'd suggest you get a 4" 686 or a 66 for a great range gun. But in a pinch you can do most anything with it. If your wife likes it and becomes proficient with it great.

For more versatility I'd stick with a 6-shot; if competition is at all a possibility.

If you decide you want to conceal a revolver, use *that* as an excuse to get a good, proper conceal gun. One that's actually good at that.

I am starting to confuse myself.

You're trying to do way too much with one revolver.

 

[6string]

As a lefty, I find the DA and SAA revolvers to be very easy to use.
LH index finger operates the latch, RH thumb an middle finger keep the cylinder under control at all times. RH index finger operates the extractor rod.

I never have to worry about my LH thumb getting bumped by the latch under recoil.

 

[BB57]

You have a few different options for a left hand reload, worst to best:

The first is to just transfer it to the right hand and then do a normal FBI, Universal, or Stress Fire reload. That's got a couple downsides though as you'll be handling the gun more and working with the speedloader with your non dominant hand. Not your best option.

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A better option is to keep the revolver in your left hand in firing position while you press the latch forward with your right thumb and press the cylinder out with your index finger. You are basically pinching the revolver between your thumb and index finger when you do that. Once your left index finger presses the cylinder out, release the revolver into the palm of your right hand, and use your left to go for the speed loader. With the revolver in your left palm, your middle finger will be in position to press the ejector rod, so hold the revolver vertical and let the forcing cone rest on your index finger and operate the ejector rod with your middle finger. Point the revolver back down toward the ground and hold it with your middle finger and ring fingers on either side of the crane. Insert the speed loader and dump the cartridges in the cylinder. Drop the speedloader, grip the revolver with your left hand while simultaneously moving your index finger out of the frame and close the cylinder with the middle and ring fingers of your right hand.

The end result is very close to the right hander's FBI reload in terms of speed, but with the same limitation of limited ejection power and velocity.

There are some variants on this option. You can use the left hand thumb to press the latch forward, use the right hand thumb to press the cylinder out, and/or wrap the right hand thumb around the back of the hammer to hold the revolver while you eject. That latter technique works well if you are shooting multiple cylinders of .357 Magnum where the forcing cone gets hot enough to burn you if it is in contact with a finger or thumb. It adds an extra movement, but you won't get burnt and reflexively drop the revolver.

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The third option, and the best option in my opinion, is a left hand variant of the Stress Fire reload. Operate the latch with the left thumb and press the cylinder out with the right thumb. (On a Colt, where the latch is pulled to release, use your left index finger to release the cylinder latch.) Then use the right thumb and fingers wrapped around the cylinder to hold the cylinder open and support the revolver. Rotate the revolver muzzle up and use your left hand to whack the ejector rod to eject the cases. Rotate the revolver muzzle down while you use your left hand to get and operate the speed loader. Then close the cylinder with your right hand fingers while removing your thumb from the frame.

This gives you maximum ejection force and velocity without bending the ejector rod, and it prevents contact between your hand and a hot forcing cone.

 

[BB57]

A light .38 Special target load in a K frame revolver is very light in terms of recoil - a lot less than a compact 9mm pistol.

In a J frame that same target load will have a bit more recoil, but it is still manageable. A Ruger SP101 is about 6 oz heavier and splits the difference between the J and K frame recoil wise with the same .38 Special load.

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An important consideration with a DA revolver is to be sure the trigger reach is short enough that you can get your trigger finger on the trigger all the way to the end joint on the finger, not just the pad, without shifting your grip. Unless you, and more importantly your wife, have really strong fingers you'll need that joint on the trigger to get enough leverage for a good DA trigger pull.

If you or your wife have short fingers, you'll need a grip that doesn't cover the back strap to get the shortest possible reach on a K or L frame, and if it is still too long go with an SP101 or a J frame revolver. Alternatively, since Ruger uses a peg style grip frame on the GP100, you can go that route with careful grip selection.

In short, a DA revolver can be a very good choice for a casual shooter, but it has to fit the shooter correctly with a short enough trigger reach to get enough leverage to operate the trigger in DA mode. Then, just focus on learning to shoot it in DA mode, so there's no "two trigger pulls to master" problem.

You can also easily lighten the trigger return spring and mainspring on the SP101 to get a lighter pull, but be sure to test it to ensure it doesn't have issues with light strikes with your carry ammo. If you have light strikes you can install a heavier mainspring. Wolff sells a kit with the lighter trigger spring and 3 different mainsprings for that purpose.