Looking for a small frame wheel gun for wife

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BRUZR

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I've been looking for a small-ish .38SPCL for my wife as a personal defense weapon. I need suggestions. She likes shooting my old S&W 10-6, but we were thinking a hammerless snubnose. Here's the catch... My wife has muscular dystrophy and has a hard time with the trigger pull. Are there any out there with a light trigger pull or can I just buy a gun from a reputable mfg and have the trigger reworked for her strength?
 
I have a family member in the early stages of MD...and one with MS as well ...and personally, I think she might be better off - with a model that has a hammer - that she can cock and then fire it single action.

I don't think there is a magic answer...especially with that medical condition.

Weight, recoil, trigger pull and trigger reset ....are really personal with all of us / but with someone that has some hand / strength issues...its even more critical. Too much weight is bad / too little weight will give her control problems with recoil.

I'm not sure - that an old model 10 / maybe a model 36 ....or something like that ...might be just right for her ...especially with some kind of custom grips on it. I don't think I'd rule out a semi-auto with a slim profile ...like maybe an alloy frame 1911 in a 4" and in 9mm ( like one of the Springfield options, maybe a Kimber Tactical Pro II model ...something like that as well. ) ...but manipulating the slide might be a big issue / but if you helped her load it - then she could shoot it cocked and locked with minimal manipulation. Just a thought.

My best to both of you ...especially long term / it takes guts and courage to deal with MD.

In single action ...most clean and well maintained S&W revolvers will have trigger pulls in the range of 2.75 - 3.25 lbs ...which is pretty light / and you can have a gun like a 1911 - tuned to about 3.5 lbs ...with no slack, no creep in either option.
 
I would suggest a Ruger SP101 in 38/357. You could load it with 38 special and talk to a gunsmith about lightening the trigger pull. I have one and love it. I keep mine loaded with 38 special plus P JHP rounds. I have the model with the 3.06'' barrel. Ruger has great customer service also.
 
+1 BigJimP smaller lighter pistol = much heavier felt recoil. As for going auto look into something with a tip up barrel that way can bypass having to rack a slide. something like a Beretta model 86.
 
Whatever you two decide on, PLEASE choose a model with an exposed hammer. She'll be able to cock it easily, even on bad days, and the trigger pull in single action on the S&W handguns is SWEET!

I'd recommend an Airweight Model 37. It is plenty light, yet the three inch barrel does two wonderful things to a light revolver:

It improves the accuracy thanks to a longer sight radius, plus

The 3" barrel really tames the recoil vs. the typical 1 7/8" barreled snubby version.

That's what my wife shoots and she loves it . . . light, accurate and very comfortable to shoot!

The only photo of it that I've made is this one of several of my beloved 3" - 3 1/2" barreled revolvers. It is obviously, the smallest one . . . and is virtually as light as my own Model 37 Airweight that serves as my "always" (on me) self defense revolver!

Also, taking a firearms course from the Sheriff's instructor, she shot it so well that he exclaimed that she shot better than most of the deputies!

The grips are the original ones from this vintage 1971 specimen + a black Tyler T-grip. Together it is very comfortable to shoot!

2452764IMG1390cw2t2e1.jpg
 
The lightest trigger hammerless .38 I know of is the Ruger LCR. It's sweet. It now comes also in .22LR but I haven't checked it out. It holds 8 shots. Very tempting for someone with hand problems. As mentioned above, another alternative is a tip-up barrel auto in .22LR. Beretta has a nice one.
 
+1 on the Ruger LCR. It has one of the best trigger pulls I've found, and is available with or without a laser.

Most snubnose .38s can be lightened using Wolff spring kits. Most S&W revolvers are designed by attorneys who think an 80 lb trigger is safer.

Finally, they make really nice aftermarket grips for most guns that are comfortable and absorb a lot of the recoil. Take her to a gun store and see what fits her hand and whether cocking the gun is a plus or a minus.

Good luck with the decision and be safe.
 
As in another post, I'd suggest the S&W model 649. All the features of a snagless pocket gun with the ability to thumb cock the firearm. With the fully shrouded hammer (ie. extra metal) and stainless, the heft helps a lot in the recoil department. My wife with limited hand strength has carried a Lady Smith for years, but with the exposed hammer you have to have some form of "formal" carry to prevent snags. Smithy

P.S. I had the performance center work on the action and they did an excellent job!!
 
This is a personal choice you really shouldn't make for her. Everybody's hands are different. Recoil tolerance is different. etc.

Find a range, rent several options, and have her try them out.

I just went through this with my brother's wife's mother and her choice was perfect but it was and should be hers to make.

She tried my model 38, my sp101, and a model 60. We found her a nice prelock model 60 NIB and she likes the compromise of weight and handling with non plus p ammo. I took her out to roll some soda cans and she had fun and gained a lot of confidence. And she'll carry it. No point in having a gun that isn't with you when you need it.

You can practice putting your thumb on the hammer when you draw it and it won't snag. Personally I don't like giving up the single action capability. It detracts from having fun shooting.
 
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I have a lot of women coming into my shot who are looking for a "simple to operate" gun. Many are having trouble with the slide on a semi. When I hand them the revolver they smile and say, yes, this feels much better.

Our S&W BGs and Ruger LCRs have been moving very well.

The LCR has a slightly fuller grip than the BG and will giver her more gripping area to mitigate recoil.

They are both hamerless, so they can be fired out of a purse with out slides or hammers hanging up on something.

Good luck!
 
I would be careful about reducing the weight of the trigger pull. I have found that even the top smiths sometimes make the trigger light enough so that you get misfires.

If she can pull a hammer back that would work, but sadly the DA trigger on revolvers is relatively heavy.

Jerry
 
If her hand size dictates a smaller frame than the Model 10's "K" frame, and you like S&W's, I'd try a J frame Chief's Special, either the steel frame or aluminum. My wife has used both the M-36 and 637 with success and her hands are just a smidge smaller than mine (I wear an "L" size work glove). S&W can do an action smoothing job for you, or one of the custom gunsmiths that are into revolver work.

I had some warranty work done on both the guns listed above, and both were reworked by S&W personnel to some extent...both came back VERY SMOOTH in operation. Depending on your wife's grip and finger strength, she should benefit from such "customization". Best Regards, Rodfac
 
my wife went from a kahr CW9, to Glock 26 to S&W mod 36 Lady Smith.
Since she got her first J frame she got a Taurus Tracker 627 and a S&W mod 66 with a 2 1/2" barrel.
She still own a Browning HP and her Kahr but only carry her revolver...
Let her try a K frame with a short barrel like a mod 66 with 2 1/2" or a mod 13 with a 3". It's a great allround size
 
Sorry to hear about your wife's health issue, hope she is comfortable.

As to your question; I agree with those that have mentioned the Ruger LCR.

The ones I have handled have had great triggers.
 
I'd say a 3" J-Frame with an exposed hammer, loaded with some hard cast wadcutters at relatively low velocity (standard for a wadcutter) should do the trick. They'd penetrate, but not recoil excessively. There's always the .22 magnum or .32 H&R magnum as well. The Model 10 is a full-sized gun for sure, and DA revolver triggers aren't exactly easy to master. The single action option on that gun is as good as any other exposed hammer DA/SA revolver. I'd be careful about that trigger, though. It may be better to have to fire it single action than lighten the springs, etc too much and cause light strikes.
 
I would opt for any of the current models of J frame S&W. They have everything you could possibly want from alloy guns, blued, or stainless with exposed hammers, shrouded hammers and hidden hammers for a snag free draw. My wife currently has a Lady Smith in stainless and of all the others I've owned over the years, there's not a one that I did not like. Smithy.
 
although the old S&W M36 are my favorite carry guns, I carry an Armscor M206. I don't have to worry about beating it up and it is accurate/reliable.

However....Taurus has a new revolver that has caught my eye. It was originally called the Itsy-Bitsy Revolver, now I don't know what they call it. It is chambered in .380 Auto and looks to be made on the old S&W I frame.
 
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