Ideal revolvers to replace Shield?

[jnichols2]

Ranger17,

I have arthritis in both thumbs, so I know what you mean.

I have both a Shield 380 EZ znd a Shield 9 EZ, but you already know about them.

Here's something that hasn't been mentioned, it's called the Handi-Racker. It's a plastic 2" x 4" x 1/2" block that fits over your slide. You hold it in your palm, with or without using the thumb, and use it to push back the slide. I have two sizes. Compact works with the Shield, Full is for the bigger guns. I have both. I keep them in my range bag.

You can find it on Handi-Racker.com, they are worth the reasonable cost. Right now, they are on sale for $19.95 each. The How-To says to put it against a wall and push the gun, it works better for me to hold it in my palm and push it against the gun.

 

[lrrifleman]

Ranger17,

You are being given a lot of information, but I see very few questions. I have been disabled for almost 13 years now, and since I came out of the coma, I have blocked 99.9% of the pain. I don't know what issues you are having with arthritis in your thumbs, so I must ask.

Is the arthritis impairing your ability to grasp objects, or is it a dexterity issue?

If it is a dexterity issue, I would anticipate that you will have difficulty working the cylinder release. If it is a grasping issue, I would suspect that it is an issue with racking the slide.

If your arthritis is causing a dexterity issue, I would avoid a revolver like the plague, because your ability to reload in a self-defense situation could be extremely impaired. If it is a grasping issue, you can mount a racking aid on the slide, and you can grasp the aid with your index and middle finger, push with your firing hand, and your pistol is combat ready!

 

[LCC]

For a J-frame highly reccomend a 642, Wolff 13# rebound spring, Crimson Trace LG-350 grips, which besides offerring excellent targeting, really help reduce recoil.. Verify red dot accuracy once the grips are mounted, then good to go without need for a lot of range time.
I'm 70, shoot low round count each year(no ranges around, just woods) and every time I shoot it whatever that red dot pastes will get hit.
148 match wadcutters a very forgiving round on the hands, highly accurate, and two of those in the chest should discourage continued bad behavior.
Since giving up full size semi-auto carry a year ago, been my constant companion, either in pocket or waist. Like it so much, splurged on a Lobo offset AIWB holster that should be here on Monday.

With that said, when summer comes, a Kel-Tec P-32 will get some pocket time. Compact and light DAO pocket auto, highly reliable, soft shooter, and 8 rounds of .32 Fiocchi 73 gr FMJ is sufficient protection for a low threat environment.

 

[Ogie]

Currently I carry my Model 66-8 with 2.75" barrel and it is easy for me to carry. I also have a Colt Night Cobra that works well too although you can't shoot magnum loads in it. For that the Combat Magnum is great!

 

[remnard]

Have you considered the new Shield 9mm EZ?

good alternative! 10 pounds less cycling force on the hand vs the shield! Im going to get one for my instructor class to show the difference. I haven't fired one yet but the LGS owner said it functioned with several different types of ammo. no issues!

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

MERWIN & HUBERT

 

[CajunBass]

I replaced my Shield with a 2019 Colt Cobra. Very nice.

 

[oink]

2.5" 686+
Yeah, it's going to be heavier than the Shield but with the correct grip and holster should carry fairly easy. It will be low recoil with the correct ammo. It will be a fun range gun. It won't give up much in capacity. The trigger pull should be reasonable. It should be accurate.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Well, I am sure you have gotten a lot of good suggestions, but if I were going t a revolver( not being a J frame lover) I would get a 2" model 15-3. second choice would be a nice 2" RB model M10-5

Agreed. Either gun has a wider choice of grips available than almost any other. For the Model 15, I find Rogers grips to be best, but that's for my hand. Pachmayr has a few different ones, also Hogue. Many people like factory, usually adding a Tyler to Magnas. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

 

[S&W Fan]

Here's my choice-1982 66-2 2.5" with some older non-medallion Pachmayr grips. Carry it in a Galco Combat Master combined with a Beltman stiff leather belt. It rides a little high but this holster/belt combo holds it close, for me it disappears under a t-shirt worn untucked. I shoot it well and prefer .38+P short barrel Gold Dot ammo.

 

[mgriffin]

Maybe a 640 Pro?
Heavier than aluminum j frames (less felt recoil with hotter loads), good sights, internal hammer... plus, good looking revolver!

And possibly shot it with some heavy gr. wadcutters.

 

[Bronco89]

I have a shield 9, my wife has the S&W 637 Airweight. I secretly covet her 637. Beautiful weapon. I can't imagine any drawbacks.

 

[ltj9296]

I used to carry a shield 9, but when i started carrying aiwb, i switched to a j frame. After I bought a 2" 64, I started to carry it almost all the time. At first it seemed a little heavy, but I got quickly used to it. The shield and j frame are nice, and I still have them, but my k frame is way more fun to shoot.

 

[wrangler5]

I shoot a 9mm Shield in IDPA matches, which typically run 90-120 rounds over 5-6 fast-firing stages, with magazine changes. I don't know how they make a gun that small so painless to shoot, but I think I could shoot 2 matches in a row without a problem.

I have also shot those matches with steel K frame 38 Special revolvers. The 38 Special ammunition was LESS powerful than the 9mm ammo I use in the Shield. I tried using the stock Magna (wood) grips with a BK grip adapter (naturally) at first, but could not stand the recoil by the end of the second stage (40 shots max) and had to switch to rubber grips with cushioning over the backstrap.

The lesson for me is that the Shield is MUCH more comfortable for extended shooting sessions than a revolver unless the revolver has cushioned grips. But cushioned grips make the gun larger and so harder to conceal. So while I carry a revolver (lightweight J frame 32 H&R Magnum with +P ammunition) more often than the Shield, I have stock (small) grips on it for better concealment.

This means I cannot (comfortably) use the carry revolver for range sessions - I can tolerate a maximum of 12 rounds of the +P ammo before my hand hurts too much to go on. I can shoot more using a steel-frame 32 with cushioned grips and lower powered ammo. But with the Shield I can go all day with pretty much any ammo.

 

[Mongo1958]

I own a Shield 9mm (PC 1.0) that is a great gun, but as i now am dealing with some arthritis issues in my left thumb it is getting more difficult to manipulate the slide.
As there seems to be countless options for revolvers out there, what models could potentially make for ideal Shield replacements? Something that could be carried if desired, but also match the accuracy I get at the range now? Knowing all the variables involved, what sort of barrel length in a revolver could be similar in accuracy to its equivalent in semi auto?
So if my short novel hasn't lost y'all yet lol, any basic feedback would of course be appreciated. Thanks!

Check out the Model 60 and Model 66. My SW Shield is a primary weapon at Church (I'm on the security team). I also wanted a midsize revolver as well to add to the rotation.

 

[MickeyR]

Ordered a S&W 43C (.22lr 8shot) today as my answer to your question.
Sold a Kimber K6S because it hurt my 72 year old whist.
Have a Glock 19.5 and a Sig 365 SAS that i can fire fine now. Ordered the 43C for down the road.

 

[duane_wade]

I traded my Shield .45 for a 360 Airweight and first thing I did was swap out the grips with a Hogue monogrip, what a difference it made in felt recoil. I shoot 125 gr Gold Dot or Golden Saber and it is not as bad to shoot as you would think. I would not want to shoot it all day but have put a box of 20 through without any pain.

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[Groo01]

Groo here
How much weight can you get by with?
How much size? Cost????
The J frames are nice but the grip / trigger reach may be to small.[with "Arther" showing up]
A K frame might be better but heavy.[ unless you find a Si one M-315]
L frames are usually out due to weight.
That leaves a light weight N frame [$$$$$}
They are 45 acp , 44 mag, 357-8shot ...
A 327Snub would work.
8shot 357 but due to weight [22oz] many shoot 38.
After that most of the larger revolvers are around 35oz to 40 oz range.
I would not go with a light weight J frame as the kick will be jaring.

 

[muggers29536]

I still shoot 44 magnums and FN45XTac at 70, but been doing it a long time, but my time is coming to mellow things out. When that time comes I have a S&W 624 J frame w/ larger grips.Very shootable even w/ 38+P. I also have the Colt King Cobra (larger than J frame and smaller than K frame) at 27oz that shoots 38's and 357. - 3" with limited recoil. If these arent big enough I have a 686+ 3" at 35oz that handles 38's for range duty or 357 for business. All are easy to conceal and you never are underpowered. Just my .02 worth. Good luck finding whats's comfortable


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[hittman77]

I carry a 38 Special LCR.

It's lighter than their 357 but handles +P rounds.

Mine has a factory installed red fiber optic front site.