Suggest a .38 home gun for older gentleman

[Super Dave]

Yea, we saw 500 head of deer running in one herd on Molokai (that's according to the guide). They just keep coming. He estimated there were 10,000 deer on the Molokai Ranch where we hunt.
One guy from Alaska said it's some of the best deer hunting in the world. I don't know about that.
Who would have thought? They have turkey, antelope and a bunch of other birds.

Oh man...I hate to bring this up but my buddy hasn't said anything more about the gun. I know he's interested...just not as interested as we are.

Take care,
Dave

 

[Super Dave]

By the way, the other guy in the first photo with my buddy is the guide.

This is me...

What's neat is all the different micro environments in such a small area.

And down by the ocean where the deer dig for the brackish water.

 

[jframejoey]

WOW

Just wow. That view is amazing.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

Have him look at the model 49 bodyguard. J frame, 2" barrel, steel frame which does tame recoil pretty well, shrouded hammer so he can shoot double action or single action. 158 gr SWC will do the job without beating up him or the gun. Kinda like this one.



Gold dots will do the job well also.

That's a beaut alright, and I carry old Bodyguards myself, but since it's only a house gun, why should he disadvantage himself with a J-Frame, a two inch barrel, and only five rounds instead of six?

 

[sac-gunslinger]

Oh man...I hate to bring this up but my buddy hasn't said anything more about the gun. I know he's interested...just not as interested as we are.

That is because we are gun nuts and start foaming at the mouth at the least suggestion we could be buying another one. That's all.

 

[gunny4053]

That's a beaut alright, and I carry old Bodyguards myself, but since it's only a house gun, why should he disadvantage himself with a J-Frame, a two inch barrel, and only five rounds instead of six?

I don't see a J frame as a disadvantage as a house gun. I say that because we're talking a house, a rather confined area that doesn't require shooting at great distances. With a set of larger grips, the J frame easily fits the hand, is very controllable, and if 5 rounds won't do the job, a skatter gun might be a better choice. Of course, this is just my opinion, and because I use mine for this constantly. I drop mine in a pocket during the day, so if there's a BG at the door, I'm covered, and at night it's on the night stand with a couple speed strips.

All that aside, glad to see another bodyguard guy, they are great.

 

[Jdavis]

Many of you guys sound as if you think this gentleman is decrepit with one foot in the grave. If this guy can walk that terrain and shoot a medium to heavy caliber rifle to take his quarry, he is in pretty good shape. If it must be a .38spl revolver, a J or K snub should do the job. Let him make the final choice.
For those that worry about interior noise and muzzle flash let me tell you of my experience. Some time ago, I had an unexpected visitor in my home in the wee hours of the AM. I grabbed my Beretta 92FS and investigated. Upon exiting the bedroom door, I came face to face with the "visitor" who pulled a large knife. He was about 15' away when I fired the 9mm and missed but shattered the urn beside him and he fled. I never saw a flash or even heard the round. I suppose my stress level was too high to notice. The moral of story is noise and flash are the least of your worries in this situation. BTW, I now use a laser on my SD handguns (much easier for older eyes to use under stress)

 

[sac-gunslinger]

I never saw a flash or even heard the round. I suppose my stress level was too high to notice. The moral of story is noise and flash are the least of your worries in this situation.

When I was instructing I frequently had houseives in the class who had never been around guns. They were more worried about noise and recoil than badguys and would not be dissuaded that they would not notice either. After two days on the range all were asking when the big ammo would come out because they had not noticed noise or recoil.

When I reminded them about not noticing, the lightbulb would go on and they would say "ohhhhh......" BTW, these women were far better shots because they listened to and applied instructions about shooting. The cowboys who "didn't need no damn shooting class" were consistently beaten by the "housewives." I used to love to point that our to them.

 

[milkthe23]

Just my two cents!

If you want six rounds a Smith Model 10 4"w/ pac's, or a 686P if you want more. I have nerve damage in my hands and arms age 55. I can stand to fire the FBI Load. No Magnum ammo.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

What is the classic, steel, S&W snub nose revolver (model 10/64 of the small guns)?

Thanks,
Dave

A Model 10/64 2 inch snub nose. There is less barrel to use as leverage if the BG tries to snatch it. I recommend Crimson Trace grips zeroed for the gun/ammunition for home defense, especially for someone who isn't a dedicated handgunner, but that's just me.

ECS

 

[revolvergeek]

I like a 2" - 3" k or L frame for this kind of duty. A 2" 10/15/64 would be ideal; short enough to shove in a pocket if he had to, but with a bigger frame to dampen recoil, good trigger and way better sights than typical j-frame.

 

[Fchewy]

I would want something that i could have on me all the time because you never know when you are going to need it and there ain't no time-out's while you go to the other side of the house to get it. J- Frame.

 

[mbliss57]

4" model 10 or 64. Simple and effective.

 

[Super Dave]

Well, all our discussions didn't have one bit of influence.

He has decided on a Ruger LCR 5415.
Ruger® LCR® Double-Action Revolver Model 5415

I'll look forward to checking it out.

Thanks again,
Dave

 

[Cal44]

Well, all our discussions didn't have one bit of influence.

He has decided on a Ruger LCR 5415.
Ruger® LCR® Double-Action Revolver Model 5415

I'll look forward to checking it out.

Thanks again,
Dave

Still, he made a good choice.

I have an LCR also and it's a keeper.

Mine is a 357, buy I've only shot 38 special in it.

The LCR 357 is slightly heavier and has a stainless steel frame around the cylinder (plus a polymer grip frame).

 

[Mule88]

A 3 or 4 inch 13 or 65 would be more versatile as he could choose between 357 or 38.

 

[fdw]

Well, all our discussions didn't have one bit of influence.

He has decided on a Ruger LCR 5415.
Ruger® LCR® Double-Action Revolver Model 5415

I'll look forward to checking it out.

Thanks again,
Dave

Good choice, I own the LCR in 38 and 22. Very pleased with them!

 

[jtcarm]

I'm on board with the M10, but there is one advantage to a 2" vs 4": It is harder for a bad guy to snatch out of your hand.

Massad Ayoob once wrote that when training LEOs, he could snatch a 1911 that was pointed at him from just about any LEO by grabbing below the barrel and levering it up and back towards them to break their grip, then pull back, all before they could drop the hammer.

On the other hand, even the tiniest female officers could retain a 2" M36, because there's nothing to grab.

Granted, Ayoob is an expert who has perfected the move, but it may be a consideration for a gentleman whose reflexes and grip strength aren't what they once were.

 

[AKAOV1MAN]

I will be 70 in September, and every work day I strap up and jump(well get into) my 2013 Charger PPV and hit the road. Sometimes when some 30 year old kid asks where I got my sidearm, I tell him it belonged to General Custer and I was the only one who got away. Sometimes I think they believe me. M64 RB pencil barrel with the "FBI/Chicago" load 158 gr SWC HP +P. It has worked several times for me in the past, worked very well indeed. Used to pack a BHP but all that 9mm ammo got heavy after a while and over a half century career never used more than 4 shots in serious social discourse. Of course having an 870 and an M4(real one) sitting next to me in a vertical rack does provide a little extra comfort.

 

[AKAOV1MAN]

OK, I'll admit it, at the end of a 10 hour shift, I do creak a little getting out of the car.

 

[BingoFuel]

Scooter seems to me to have the exact correct answer. I'm about his age and definitely have seen strength and fine muscle control degradation as compared to my teen-age or twenty-something physique.
The 686 4" (either SSR or plain) has the mass to ensure greater comfort, surely is not a pocket gun but is small enough to handle and point quickly and stable enough to shoot without a learned hitch and to get a second shot on target with some reasonable speed. It is pricier than some of the other suggestions and I respect Marine family member but there seems to be a disconnect between defined use and recommendations.
B

I would suggest a 4 inch 686. Stainless steel so it has a higher level of tolerance for humid conditions. In addition you have the availability of the 7 shooter and in a house gun an extra round or two would be a bit comforting. Finally that full underlug barrel will reduce muzzle flip and it's weight will reduce recoil, both of which are likely to be critical to an older person.

Fact is that I can't think of a worse suggestion for someone in their 70's that one of the J frames suggested by others. What you can shoot with relative comfort at 20 or 30 is something that can feel like a wrist breaker when you get older. I also just don't understand the appeal of pocket carry. If you are in your own home use a belt holster and you'll have your weapon at hand in a holster that is vastly faster to draw from than any pocket.

Go ahead and call me "ageist". I don't know of one single 70 year old with the wrist strength they had when they were 30 or the ability to drive a golf ball as far as they could when they were younger. When you age your body changes in ways that usually mean you have limitations. I'm only 58 and I've already discovered that heavier handguns are a whole lot more comfortable to shoot and far less likely to lead to pain the day after a range outing.

 

[pace40]

I have 2 observations about this 3 page thread...

1st..........The OP specifically asked for a .38 not .38 special.
The correct answer is a 38 DA...

2nd....After said 3 pages of discussion on the S&W Forum, the gun of choice is a Ruger...

Geesh

 

[smokey04]

Interesting thread. I have been "researching" this problem for nearly a year[my wife thinks I'm crazy]. The problem I set out to research was for people that live in the "Badlands" of our country[usually big cities] who worry about home invasions.I'm nearly 70 years old and I am a great fan of the Colt[oh,dear, did I say that?]Commander[Lwt],CCO, Officers Mod. ,or Defender.But if a.38 is the desired gun I nominate any S&W with a shrouded or internal hammer or a Colt Dick Spl. If you live where you feel you need to be armed all day,every day, in your home, I have found the Colt Agent[the revolver,NOT the New Agent] or Cobra to be ideal in a Galco Miami Classic shoulder holster. Remember,we "oldsters" visit the toilet more than our younger friends and dressing down and back up gets old.Another option I really like is the S&W Mod. 60-15. [3" .357 Mag.] I don't like the "lock" but I've had no problems so far. You won't want to shoot this cannon with maggies but it gives you the option of everything from.38 target wad cutters up to +P+ and Mags., if you can stand it.I'm glad I don't live where I have to be armed every minute of every day but, the formula seems to be the heaviest caliber in the lightest gun, with the most convenient and comfortable carry system that will fit your life style. I do hope this is helpful, if not insightful.Regards, Nick