Help and or suggestions for short trigger reach

[1blindref]

I'm introducing a friend to guns and teaching her how to shoot. I've had her out two times with several different guns, both pistols and revolvers. Her main reason for wanting to learn is for home defense and going to the range to plink.

I started her out with .22lr's, a S&W 622 and a pre-18. After she was comfortable with those, I moved her up to 9mm and 38 special models of varying sizes - Sig P239 and P225, S&W 36 (1 7/8" barrel), 642, 64 2", 65 3", 67 4", Ruger LCR and SP101 2". The K-frames all have magna's on them.

After some trial and error, she learned that she prefers shooting the K-frame revolvers. The J-frames and the LCR fit her well, but the recoil was more than she could handle. The gun she liked and shot the best was the 3" Model 65. She also liked the 67, but had a very hard time reaching the trigger due to the square butt.

Even though the 65 has a round butt, she's still having somewhat of a difficult time reaching the trigger. She finds herself needing to really reach to get on it. I tried putting a set of Crimson Trace laser grips on it hoping it might help, but they didn't get her any closer. She did however like the rubber grip better than the wood magnas.

My question is, does S&W make any kind of short reach trigger?
Are there any suggestions anyone might have to help solve this problem?
Any other gun's to try??

 

[garbler]

Not sure if any other DA revolvers are going to give you what you need but S&W triggers K-N are all the same. There really is not much room for any mods to a S&W trigger since there is very little clearance at the end of the double action cycle. In fact there is just enough room for an over-travel screw on target and comp guns. The geometry and length of trigger pull are pretty much a function of the guns lock works and nothing that can be changed.

Off hand I think a nice small SA revolver may be the answer

Good luck

 

[cddanjr]

My wife had the same problem, we went to the range and tried many Semi-autos and she ended up with a Ruger SR9 9mm, it has a thin grip that she can get her fingers up to the trigger with no problem.

Check out that and there are some that come with interchanging back pieces.

Chuck

 

[cddanjr]

Not sure if any other DA revolvers are going to give you what you need but S&W triggers K-N are all the same. There really is not much room for any mods to a S&W trigger since there is very little clearance at the end of the double action cycle. In fact there is just enough room for an over-travel screw on target and comp guns. The geometry and length of trigger pull are pretty much a function of the guns lock works and nothing that can be changed.

Off hand I think a nice small SA revolver may be the answer

Good luck

If you want a revolver, you could look for smaller J frames, air weights. even if they are .357 magnum, you can use .38 special rounds for less kick. Hogue fingered grips might help too. Kahr makes some nice 9mm semi autos for smaller hands too!

chuck

 

[all357mag]

Look for a longer barrel, square butt j frame. A more full size j frame with 38spl, 158gr leads will be adequate for anyone.

 

[1blindref]

Look for a longer barrel, square butt j frame. A more full size j frame with 38spl, 158gr leads will be adequate for anyone.

I actually have one that's NIB and never been shot.
I struggled with taking it along for her to try, but couldn't bring myself to do it.

 

[Moonman]

Look at a S&W Model 60PRO. (it has longer grips, 3" Barrel, all steel.)

Ever have her try a 1911, I find that females handle the 1911 in 45ACP rather well.

 

[cddanjr]

Look at a S&W Model 60PRO. (it has longer grips, 3" Barrel, all steel.)

Ever have her try a 1911, I find that females handle the 1911 in 45ACP rather well.

good point, to me it seems that my .45 has less kick than .40 or 9mm? 1911 have single stack mags, so thinner grip!

AND they look the coolest!
chuck

 

[garbler]

Going to a semi brings up another problem with some women and that is having the hand strength to rack the slide if the design requires such. Some of the smaller 9mm and 380's have pretty stiff springs and the slide design on many are not what I would call friendly for smallish hands. You won't know until you try but you could find this kind of frustrating after a while.

 

[shouldazagged]

The combination of one of the Centennial series with Pachmayr Compac grips might help by giving her a higher hold on the piece. My hands are average-to-large but very arthritic. My 640 with Compacs is very comfortable and easy to control. Maybe somebody knows for sure, but I think I remember seeing that Pachmayr makes a version of that grip for round-butt K-frames as well.

 

[Moonman]

You could also try FULL WADCUTTERS in the 38, Less powerful but cut a beautiful wound channel for defensive shooting.

Buffalo Bore makes some POWERFUL ones but that's not good fora RECOIL SENSITIVE SHOOTER.