Light strike help needed

[Holden6v8]

wife has small hands with arthritis and a mdl36. We had to go to a lighter mainspring and have light strikes on a couple different brands of 38 Spl. Anyone have recommendations of some thick-base brands with decent performance?

 

[OKFC05]

Federal has the reputation for the most sensitive primers, but you can easily go so light on a J frame mainspring that all of them are borderline reliable. If all you did was change the mainspring, talented internal polishing would help both smoothness and consistency. The rebound spring also affects trigger pull.

 

[chief38]

The J Frame revolvers because of the coil spring in them and their small size have what I would term a perceived stiff double action trigger pull. They can be greatly lightened but IMHO at the risk of making them unreliable. I would NEVER carry a CCW or defense gun that required the use of specific 38 Special ammo just to make it reliable.

I smith all my DESIGNATED TARGET ONLY revolvers and if they do misfire (I usually don't go that light though) all I do is miss the paper. I make it a rule never to change the mainspring on a carry gun - but that's me. The rebound spring can be exchanged for a lighter one (Wolf Spring Co.) but don't go too light or the trigger return will get sluggish when rapid shots might be required. Don't cut coils off the original - replace it with a full length lighter one.

If your wife can not accurately and comfortably work her M36 (and I sympathize with her as I also have some arthritis in my hands) it might be time to consider another type or model.

Getting older sucks - but it beats the alternative!

 

[xcop]

spring

Most of the "heavy" trigger pull you feel is from the rebound spring. You can change this for a lighter one but to monkey around with a hammer spring can bring the results you have dealt with.

 

[shawn mccarver]

wife has small hands with arthritis and a mdl36. We had to go to a lighter mainspring and have light strikes on a couple different brands of 38 Spl. Anyone have recommendations of some thick-base brands with decent performance?

Get a different gun. A striker fired pistol with a "single action" like trigger is a better idea.

Get something like the M&P 9, Glock 19, Springfield XDM, FN Model FNS 9, etc.

I know the next comment will be slide operation. There are alternate ways to operate the slide, but if it is kept with one in the chamber for defense, as it should be, with high round count, it is less likely that operation of the slide is required.

The 9mm round is more powerful than the 38 special, but has MUCH less felt recoil than a J frame 38 special.

The 9mm full size will be less painful for an arthritic person to shoot, as much of the recoil is soaked up action of the pistol and the more ergonomic grip, and no matter how you slice it, a 9mm striker-fired pistol is just easier to shoot than a J frame 38.

Don't get me wrong, I like J frame 38s, but with the advent of pocket 9mm pistols holding 7 - 8 rounds or more, with light weight and easier striker fired actions with a trigger pull of 7 lbs instead of 10 - 12 lbs, the J frames just make less sense, especially for this application.

 

[gcouger]

Light primer strikes w/ newer K Frames

Try before you buy. I would had never bought my wife's S&W 438 if I'de tried it. I've shot K Frames all my life. This one will be fine with a new firing pin and trigger job. Fortunately I can do the work. Make sure the gun you buy is reliable and is one you will use to practice or similar to one You will practice with. The last thing you need is you gun not being part of you should you ever need it.

When I tried my wife's 438 the first round went click (Federal White Box) and bareley dented the primer. It fired the second time around. That's the main reason I carry a revolver. If it miss-fires I just pull the trigger again.

To test the firing pin protrusion I pulled the hammer back and dropped a Bic pen down the the barrel. When I pulled the trigger the Bic pen barely made It out of the barrel. When I tried it with my 649-2 the Bic bounced off the ceiling.

I am not interested in why the firing pin is short. I know how to fix it. Even if I have o make on from scratch. Fortunately, I have a longer firing pin will be here in a day or two to fix that coming from Midway. While I am in there I'll smooth up the trigger, deburr and lube things as they should be. That should give a smooth 8 or 9 pound double action trigger pull.

I've put Crimson Trace lasers on both of them so our old eyes have a better chance. I can cover all 5 shots at 20 yards with my hand using either gun single action. They open up some shooting double action. The gun I is lot more accurate than I can shoot.

Recoil is not about male or female or how much you weigh. The main problem is does it cause you to flinch and not practice. The reason we have the 649 is so my wife will have a gun to practice with. I will probably start with very light hand loads and hope she never learns about flinching.

I find the heaver gun is not a problem if I wear a good 1-3/4 belt with Kydex sewn inside. Someone with a waist that is smaller than their hips should find it easier to carry. A good holster is as important as the gunn it holds.

Gordon

 

[Holden6v8]

All very interesting, but irrelevant. This is the gun she will keep, not going to a different one, not carrying it and debating method of carry, or holsters, not bothered by recoil, not re-training on semi-autos, well aware of how to smooth and tune Jframes,
Are there more answers than the first one that relate to my question, and not your personal story or preferences about other parts?

 

[Nevada Ed]

If the Federal ammo fails in this gun , it is time to take it to a gunsmith and have him go over it and fix the problem.

A gun in good condition should fire all types of ammo. If it
gets light strikes, the problem needs to be fixed......