SGT ROCK 11B
Member
DAO revolver I can manage.
"Trigger Finger" in my right hand last year. I got the shots and I am managing it without surgery. But I have cut back on shooting and reloading.
It has finally happened to me
- Thread starter panamajack310
- Start date
DAO revolver I can manage.
"Trigger Finger" in my right hand last year. I got the shots and I am managing it without surgery. But I have cut back on shooting and reloading.
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
.38SuperMan
Member
I’m not sure people that don’t have arthritis really understand what it’s like. It’s not just strength in your grip, it’s piercing pain in your joints that prevent applying the strength you do have to accomplish what you’re trying To do. I describe it like someone driving a spike through your joints.
I have good days and bad. The bad are really bad and the good I can function pretty well. One thing I’ve learned though is not to abuse those joints on the good days because you’ll pay for it the next day.
I only shoot larger calibers with mild loads in heavier frame guns. 22 in a frame is fine and 32 long in an ally frame with mild loads works. I’ve experimented extensively with bullets, powder and loads to come up with 38 special rounds I can manage in a steel frame revolver. With my loads I can ever shoot them in a steel frame snub nose Colt Cobra or a K frame snubby Smith. Heavier frames aren’t a problem but airweight like the 442 or 642 are torture and I pay for it for days. I traded my 442 for a Beretta 84 and. Traded my nickel 37 for a 32 Colt Cobra.
I only shoot the lightest magnums in my heaviest frame revolvers and only shoot a few at a time. It just not worth the pain. I can still rack my 1911’s on good days but recoil even in my steel frame 1911’s is becoming an issue. We’ll see, time will tell.
Best of luck and hope you find a good solution for you.
I have good days and bad. The bad are really bad and the good I can function pretty well. One thing I’ve learned though is not to abuse those joints on the good days because you’ll pay for it the next day.
I only shoot larger calibers with mild loads in heavier frame guns. 22 in a frame is fine and 32 long in an ally frame with mild loads works. I’ve experimented extensively with bullets, powder and loads to come up with 38 special rounds I can manage in a steel frame revolver. With my loads I can ever shoot them in a steel frame snub nose Colt Cobra or a K frame snubby Smith. Heavier frames aren’t a problem but airweight like the 442 or 642 are torture and I pay for it for days. I traded my 442 for a Beretta 84 and. Traded my nickel 37 for a 32 Colt Cobra.
I only shoot the lightest magnums in my heaviest frame revolvers and only shoot a few at a time. It just not worth the pain. I can still rack my 1911’s on good days but recoil even in my steel frame 1911’s is becoming an issue. We’ll see, time will tell.
Best of luck and hope you find a good solution for you.
Last edited:
Grayfox
US Veteran
In my case revolvers became the problem. Middle finger on my right hand won't completely close. Therefore the back of the trigger guard slams into it on every shot. 
I had to completely give up on Colt/Ruger style single actions as it only took one cylinder full to have that knuckle bleeding.
I can manage DA revolvers but I have to grip it in such a way that I jam the first finger of my support hand solidly between the trigger guard and that middle knuckle of my shooting hand. Takes a bit of practice, but I've gotten used to gripping the gun like that.
So far no trouble with semi-autos, but I reckon its just a matter of time.
BTW: I shoot a lot of .22s these days.
I had to completely give up on Colt/Ruger style single actions as it only took one cylinder full to have that knuckle bleeding.
I can manage DA revolvers but I have to grip it in such a way that I jam the first finger of my support hand solidly between the trigger guard and that middle knuckle of my shooting hand. Takes a bit of practice, but I've gotten used to gripping the gun like that.
So far no trouble with semi-autos, but I reckon its just a matter of time.
BTW: I shoot a lot of .22s these days.
charlie sherrill
Member
It's all about shot placement. Shoot what you can accurately hit with, even if it's just a .22 cal. I used to carry the high caliber stuff. I still shoot the 9 mm and .38 special stuff comfortably so that's mostly what I carry. The house guns are .357 magnum ( it might hurt for a second) and a dozen gauge pump.
Themistocles
Member
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2003
- Messages
- 14
- Reaction score
- 13
I am an older guy too and bought a shield 9 and when I first got it, the slide was super hard to move. As it broke in it became much easier to manipulate. It freaked me out at first too. If you work the slide and or shoot it I think it will become easier for you. For mine, the difference over time was significant.
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2012
- Messages
- 3,345
- Reaction score
- 5,559
If you don't mind the extra weight, your 640 seems like a good choice, especially if you're experiencing pain when you shoot.
Maybe keep an eye out for a .32 snub. The new magnums give you a lot of power and recoil options.
Maybe keep an eye out for a .32 snub. The new magnums give you a lot of power and recoil options.
MetalMan
Member
As I approach septuagenarian status in January, I've now relegated my 1911's and K's to occasional range duty and keep my 66-4 snub bedside (but loaded with .38 +p).
While I also have other J's (36's and 60's), I find that my 640-1 Pro hits the sweet spot for me for EDC IWB / OWB carry.
While I also have other J's (36's and 60's), I find that my 640-1 Pro hits the sweet spot for me for EDC IWB / OWB carry.
First of all, kudos to you for getting your wife to the range! Mine refuses to try and says she did try it once at a friends house when I was there with her. Her memory must be better than mine because I don't remember it. For us "Old Schoolers," there is just something about those older Smith & Wesson revolvers anyway. I think that I finally have an addiction. It's called "Pinned & Recessed".
OP
panamajack310
Member
JeddD607-my friend I have had the pinned and recessed bug my whole life. It got way worse once the Hillary hole came about.
Look into an anti inflammatory diet and exercises for your affected body parts. It definitely does help.
How do you know?
Many believe the alternative will be quite pleasant!
That may be true Tom but I have so many more miles I want to travel, in a rhetorical sense, confined by these physical limitations due to advanced age.
More to the subject, my one carry piece, a Kahr MK 9 Micro (I call it my Wal-Mart gun) is hard to rack these days. I just keep one in the chamber and train to release the slide on a second mag if needed. For around the yard I keep my 2" 317 in my pocket, loaded with 8 Stingers. I hope to be doing that for many years to come, if that is what is in store for me.
We all know that getting older comes with its issues. Arthritic hands have got to be one of the most debilitating. Lucky for me, I'm RH and it's mostly my LH thumb area that is a problem. I do exercises, and use Voltaren gel cream on the joints. I've also had a cortisone shot in the joint that helped quite a bit for a while. Revolvers are not a problem, even magnums, but racking smaller pistol slides is a chore and I have to use my entire hand over the top of the slide. Good luck!
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2015
- Messages
- 1,358
- Reaction score
- 1,576
Do any of you have issues with the stiff DA trigger on many revolvers?
My 686 Plus has a fairly heavy DA pull. I put a lighter rebound spring in it but do not want to mess with the main spring. Its not an issue now but I worry about what will happen as I age.
I am 65 with no arthritis in my hands but I do have it in my feet and knees so I am not one of those lucky individuals that ages without arthritis. My only hand issue is some Dupuytren's contracture in both hands.
My 686 Plus has a fairly heavy DA pull. I put a lighter rebound spring in it but do not want to mess with the main spring. Its not an issue now but I worry about what will happen as I age.
I am 65 with no arthritis in my hands but I do have it in my feet and knees so I am not one of those lucky individuals that ages without arthritis. My only hand issue is some Dupuytren's contracture in both hands.
I respect you manning up and acknowledging what many would ignore due to ego. Revolvers are awesome and you seem to have an affinity for them. Rooting for you!
gwpercle
Member
S&W Air-weight J-Frame in 38 special.
I keep it loaded with 148 gr. HBWC Target ammo ... because I can shoot that load real well .
Also have an Air-Weight J-Frame in 22 LR , just for fun shooting at the range ... revolvers can handle 22 Longs , Shorts and CB Caps ...
realy low recoil ammo there ...
My last gun purchase was a Ruger Wrangle Single Action ... just for fun shootin ... realy enjoy shooting it .
Getting old Sucks but not getting any older Sucks More !
We older shooters just got to Keep On Keeping On !
Gary
I keep it loaded with 148 gr. HBWC Target ammo ... because I can shoot that load real well .
Also have an Air-Weight J-Frame in 22 LR , just for fun shooting at the range ... revolvers can handle 22 Longs , Shorts and CB Caps ...
realy low recoil ammo there ...
My last gun purchase was a Ruger Wrangle Single Action ... just for fun shootin ... realy enjoy shooting it .
Getting old Sucks but not getting any older Sucks More !
We older shooters just got to Keep On Keeping On !
Gary
Last edited:
The S&W/Lipsey's UC guns are an excellent choice for a J-frame. The 32H&R models (632-UC and 432-UC) are fairly light recoiling with certain loads and can shoot 32 Long as well.
Unfortunately, I suffer from these same types of problems concerning pain and stiffness in my hands.
Talon Grips sells a grip enhancer for the slide of many popular semi-auto pistols. This simple add-on requires no modifications to the slide, but due to the design of the product, results in a better grip during manipulation. The slide becomes much easier to pull rearward during loading and racking.
I currently use these products on my Shield, and they solved this problem for me without changing platforms. 30 day money back guarantee. (I'm not affiliated with the company)
Arachnigrip Products - TALON Grips, Inc.
Talon Grips sells a grip enhancer for the slide of many popular semi-auto pistols. This simple add-on requires no modifications to the slide, but due to the design of the product, results in a better grip during manipulation. The slide becomes much easier to pull rearward during loading and racking.
I currently use these products on my Shield, and they solved this problem for me without changing platforms. 30 day money back guarantee. (I'm not affiliated with the company)
Arachnigrip Products - TALON Grips, Inc.
Last edited:
AJ
US Veteran
Made my own .32 H&R Mag out of a S&W 30-1. Works well and with the right loads is great.
