This old revolver - can you help?

[Hawg Rider]

Welcome to the Forum, roux. IMHO, one option for you is to take a basic pistol course (NRA-sponsored or local gun shop/range), not just a defensive pistol course. Many have ladies only sessions if that would make you feel more comfortable. These courses are designed to familiarize you with revolvers and pistols of different types, including operation, disassembly and cleaning, etc. If that doesn't appeal to you, then a visit to your local gun store may help. They can show you many different styles and types of handguns for CCW, but the key is to find one that fits you and that you're comfortable with handling/shooting. There's nothing wrong with your 80-year old S&W M&P revolver, but it doesn't fit you. As others have mentioned, practice is key for a CCW handgun, whichever flavor. There are pistol manufacturers like Walther that have developed handguns designed by women for women (PDP F-series). S&W also has ergonomic pistols for smaller hands and easier slide racking (EZ, etc.). And there's nothing wrong with Glocks, Springfields, and Sigs. There are a myriad of revolvers with smaller frames, too. After many trials and errors, my wife settled on a Ruger LCR .22 Magnum revolver for her CCW. Not my first choice for caliber, but it fits her, it's small and light, minimal recoil, and she shoots it well. It also sports a LaserMax red laser and an XS Sights fiber optic front sight. Good luck with your decision!

 

[roux]

It is apparent that you have done your homework before coming here. You took a self defense course and used a .357 magnum. If you can handle a DW .357, you can handle any 9mm on the planet. I disagree with the statement that "a revolver is more simple to operate than an auto." A revolver's double action is looooong with a heavy pull. The trigger pull on any auto is much easier to deal with. It takes two hands to perform a reload with a revolver. Sometimes it is difficult to push the cylinder release forward with one hand, open the cylinder with the other hand, tip the gun to eject the empties, then fumble around to do a reload. On an auto, you push a button and the magazine falls out. Insert a fresh mag with the offhand, release the slide and you are ready to go. The key to any auto being used for self defense is to make sure it is 100% reliable. And I mean 100%.

In your first post you mentioned a Glock 43X. That would be an excellent choice. I don't own a Glock, but there is nothing wrong with them. They just don't seem to like me. My primary CCW is a S&W Shield Plus, with no manual safety. They have a Glock like trigger. Glocks don't have a manual safety either. Sometimes I carry a .38 J frame. But I prefer the Shield (13 rounds being better than 5).

Good advice above to try to find a shop that has a good selection of rentals and give different ones a try. It is obvious to me that you are capable of making an intelligent and thoughtful choice. Good luck.

I almost forgot...if you can find some more good training, it will be money well spent. One last point...when you go to a gun shop and the guy behind the counter tries to change your mind and direct you to a different gun, inform him that you have made your decision and that is that.

Yes. This right here:


" A revolver's double action is looooong with a heavy pull. The trigger pull on any auto is much easier to deal with."


This was my concern. I've had one instance in my life (to date) when I as confronted with what I thought was a active intruder (Wind blew the door of my home open and I was alone. It sounded as though the door had been kicked open). The sheer panic was paralyzing...I was armed, but frozen for a long moment. There's no way to prepare for the weakness that takes over when it's perceived that such a danger exists. I can practice shooting (and certainly will, given the wonderful advice received here), but once that initial wave of adrenaline subsides, I need something I can handle.



It will take some time and practice to discover the best choice for me, but you guys were awesome. I thank you and ask God to bless each and every one of you.



-R

 

[roux]

3 of the rounds pictures look like SWC (semi wadcutters). The square shape of those improve the cutting action of the round. A wadcutter is the square faced blunt load almost almost loaded even with the top of the cartridge case. They can be pretty hard to reload in a hurry, so many suggest wadcutters in the cylinder and SWC for reloads (usually in a speed loader). From what I know, that's a good idea.

Another single column pistol I like is my PC shield with 4" barrel and RDS. My old eyes like RDS. As long as you need to train up with a semi auto anyway, depending on your eyes, starting with a RDS is not a bad idea.

Holsters are another annoyance. There are good designs and makers out there in both leather and kydex. Your body will have a big impact. Shoulder flexibility is an issue - if you have joint problems, a higher riding holster might be a no go.

Depending on where you are in the south, forum member BMCM does good work. I prefer to drive rather than ship a firearm, as that has become a bigger pain than it used to be. (He hangs out mostly in the third generation subform.)

You gave a good enough description of who you are and what drives your considerations that I don't think my reading of you was brilliant.

Home defense issues should be considered in layers. I have pontificated more than once on such, and you can search up those strings. TO ME, the firearm(s) are the last consideration. Environmental stuff (lights, fences, locks, dogs and the like) that make your home less attractive and a bigger pain in the butt are your friends. They discourage bad actors and provide evidence in your favor about the need to use defensive lethal force. (I'm a prosecutor in our civil division but much of my experience is criminal prosecution; our office does both because of WA law.) The more work an offender has to do to get to you, the less likely they are to do so, and if they put in the effort, the more clear your case for self-defense.

We think alike. I moved back to the south five years ago with my 5 year-old Standard Poodle. I didn't know a soul in this small town and my nearest kiddo was 30 minutes away. My first thought was to, "make it safe" which I did by installing motion-detector lights, cameras and motion sensors along the street. Don't underestimate Poodles. They have a big voice and are smarter than most people.

 

[A10]

Good Morning Roux, and Welcome to the Forum!

There isn't a lot I can add to the conversation, as most have expressed my thoughts fairly well. A gun shop isn't going to give you a lot of trade value for your .38, and you could consider selling it here on the Forum. It might realize you a bit more cash.

Compact 9mms can be a good choice for self defense. They are quite concealable. I carry a Glock 43 on occasion. There are a bunch of other manufacturers out there, with two popular ones being Smith & Wesson and Sig. The suggestion of going to a range that rents a variety of handguns is a good one and will give you the opportunity to see what fits your hand best.

Regardless of your decisions, I wish you lots of fun in your search! BTW, are you familiar with Lena Miculek? If not, you should watch some of her vids. She comes from a famous shooting family, and is a championship competitor. She even has a Sig handgun named for her.

 

[rct269]

And yet another option to correct stiff/long/heavy trigger pull is a "Spring Kit". The trigger pull will be just as long, but so easy you won't notice it.

My experience with one such beast goes like this: The beast is the same as yours, just a bunch older. My father-in-law bought it new in 1920, and carried it daily in the hip pocket of his overalls for a mere 60 some odd years. As you might imagine, it wasn't pretty---but it worked---sort of!

Somewhere along the line some Bubba had replaced the trigger rebound spring for him, and the spring seems to have been selected based only on the fact it fit in the hole. The resulting double action trigger pull was TWENTY TWO POUNDS!!!

Enter a Miculek Spring Kit which can be had for $20 some odd. It's claim to fame, besides the fellow who designed it, is it will provide any weight trigger pull you desire----noting you should avoid going below seven pounds, lest the gun won't go bang.

So anyhow, this now once pretty much useless beater has been transformed into a functioning arm that's slicker than greased Owl doo-doo on a brass door knob----with a seven pound D.A. pull. Truly unbelievable!!!

Ralph Tremaine