My Mom needs help w/ revolver choices. trigger pull & sights for older women

R

redraif

New member
Sorry for the long post, but I like to provide as much info as possible to help from the get go.

Well here is the story... My mother is in her 70s, but she is not the typical 70 year old... Lets just say her own Mom is 100 and still out doing yard work everyday! Mom is independent and says on the go... bust busy with projects all the time. So she is a very active 70 year old.

Well my Mom has never owned her own gun. However, in the past, she had shot a few of my dad's guns. They have been divorced for some time now, so Mom lives alone.

Lately there have been more home invasions in the surrounding area, so she thinks its time for her to get her own hand gun for Home defense.

I took the first step and lined her up for a class with an instructor... to be sure she knew the rules and had someone unbiased that she would listen to guiding her. She felt a semi auto was too complicated for her to deal with, so she was set on a revolver. She rented a revolver at the range and at that time loved it. It was a Ruger sp101 with a 2.5 inch barrel. It was loaded with .38 special.
http://www.ruger.com/products/sp101/specSheets/5720.html

We didn't want her to jump the gun, so we took her to shoot again at another range with other guns. This time we rented a Smith and Wesson, but I can't remember what exactly. Needless to say she did not like it. She preferred the Ruger and its weight. Just to be sure and to give her some options, we let her shoot some of our Semi Autos. She shot my LCP, Berretta 96 and Walther p22. We rented a Beretta 92 and she shot my spouses 40 caliber glock. She again said she did not like the complexity of the semi autos, but loved the sights on the Berettas. Now she says "get me a revolver with Beretta or glock style sights!" LOL!

Long story short, she was in a car wreck not long after and needed foot surgery, the gun hunt was on hold... This was a year ago, Christmas. She is finally ok and back on her feet again without a boot and we revisited the gun purchase.

She harped on me to get her the gun she shot first with the trainer, but with decent sights! I did some digging and found out exactly what it was for her and discovered the exact one actually came in a Wiley Clapp talo version with better sights! Yipee! I figured I was set, I filled her punch list. Semi Auto style sights on the exact gun she shot.

http://www.ruger.com/products/sp101DE/specSheets/5774.html
sp101-wiley-clapp.jpg

sp-101-3.jpg


So I told her... lets just be sure and rent it again before you pull the proverbial trigger... LOL! This past weekend, I took her back to the range and we rented the very gun she was in love with. She loaded it and unloaded it herself perfectly. Shot it well. Still griped about the hard to see and line up crappy sights... But she was not in love like before... She is complaining about the long heavy trigger pull now. She said she could live with it if she had to, but she didn't want to finish her box of ammo... She was done after about 40 rounds. So getting her to take it out to practice might become a less desirable pastime. Of course, because I found a version with her requested sights!

So I need you guys help and experience. I don't have any revolvers and don't have much experience shooting them. I shot the ruger while we had it and I was not really bothered by the trigger. However I'm still scratching the surface with my own shooting experience. I have probably only 3-400 rounds total (lifetime) under my own belt. (first gun bought in 2012 after a break in, when there was a shortage of everything. ) So I'm still too new to really be able to advise her on anything. My fingers have not really reached that level of detection apparently. Heck anything compared to my daily CC LCP seems great! LOL!

Pros and cons with the SP101 for her...
Pros...
1. the weight of the revolver helps with the recoil & she was comfortable with the weight of the ruger.
2. Easy operation and simple to load and unload
3. Crappy sights, but can be fixed by buying the talo version!
4. heard customer service is awesome! :)

Cons:
1. trigger pull. Made her finger sore after some time shooting. Felt the long pull made her waver off target, as she was pulling and pulling before it finally went off.
I had her cook the hammer prior to shooting to help with the long pull, but she didn't really like it. She actually had better grouping without cocking the hammer.

I mentioned getting a gunsmith to work on the trigger to make it lighter, but she says she does not want to make it so light that she accidently shoots her dog pulling the gun out at night. I told her this is why we don't put our finger anywhere near the trigger till we are pointed at the target. Straight trigger finger out of the guard till you are ready.

So what do you guys think? is there another revolver with a lighter trigger pull with similar recoil and weight and semi auto style sights? There is so much out there I'm really overwhelmed. What should I steer her to? I'm trying to at least get her to buy a .357 that she can use .38 special in and eventually step up to .357...

Do I just need to get some .357 snap caps and take her to gun stores to try triggers on everything we can get our hands on? Will this method give her a clear idea of the trigger pull? I just prefer to have a good idea of things to look at before I hit the stores. Seems the area we are in... when 2 women walk in a store, we either get ignored, or we get guys who try to force mouse guns on us... It gets so bad, I just end up ordering guns online to avoid the BS.

Thank you for any suggestions or direction of where to look! :D
 
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The double-action trigger pull on the SP101 can be lightened simply by changing the spring. The factory spring is supposedly 14lbs. You can get a spring kit with 9, 10, and 12lb springs for about $10. Most references I've seen say don't even bother with the 9lb spring. Unless you are shooting handloads with very soft primers, the 9lb spring could result in misfires due to light primer strikes. I recently put the 10lb spring in mine but haven't had a chance to take it to the range yet. It does feel much better in my hand though. The kit also comes with a lighter trigger return spring. Most owners don't advocate changing out the factory return spring. Having a nice, positive return pressure is pleasant for most shooters.

One more thing she could do to make that revolver more comfortable is to replace the grips with a Hogue grip. I hated the factory grip. I've never shot that special edition you have so I don't know if those grips are any better than the standard ones (shape looks the same). The Hogue does feel nice in my hand.
 
I feel for you trying to get your mom something. Mine's 86 and WOW!

You can lighten the trigger in an SP101 with a Wolff spring kit. About $10. It's easy to do yourself. You just have to watch for light primer strikes. You get a few different weight springs. It makes the trigger smoother and lighter but not unsafe. Mines around 5.5 lbs.

Ruger also makes the GP100, very similar to the SP101, 6 shots and a bit heavier. Then you have Ruger's Blackhawk single action line, cock the hammer and pull the trigger.

On the Smith and Wesson side there is the 686. Expensive but really good. Good Luck.
 
Just a thought.
But, if she is going to use it for home defense, why are you looking at snub nose revolvers?

If I were you, I would take along a gun savvy friend (male or female) and look at some used four inch barreled handguns, like a K frame S&W ( or insert another brand ) that holds six rounds of 38 or 357. and has less recoil.

Their are used revolvers that may have a smoother trigger pull than the ones she has been looking at, and have the sights she would like.

My wife is 68 years old and carries a S&W Model 642 in her purse, and has a nickel plated Colt detective special for a nightstand gun. She also has a Ruger LCP and a Walther PPK/S but they stay in the safe most of the time.

For her range shooting it's my Model 19, or Model 15, both with four inch barrels she likes for shooting fun.
She shoots the Colt and 642 also, but just to stay familiar, and proficient with them.
 
Just a thought.
But, if she is going to use it for home defense, why are you looking at snub nose revolvers?
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Not set on a snub nose. Its just what the range had. She said it felt balanced to her and a good weight! :) I want her to handle and shoot something and be comfortable. Best way is to rent it. That is what she liked. I figure a medium frame. Too much larger I and feel she will not like the feel. The kicker is the good sights are limited to the 2.5 talo or 4.2 barrel. I showed her the 4.2 inch and she said... its so big! Lol!
http://www.ruger.com/products/sp101/specSheets/5771.html
 
Grant D said:
But, if she is going to use it for home defense, why are you looking at snub nose revolvers?
Click to expand...

Kinda what I was wondering. The geometry in a smaller revolver's innards is such that they give up some mechanical leverage, so more oompf has to be supplied via a stiffer spring. On top of the short sight radius and relatively heavy recoil, the heavy action makes makes smaller revolvers tough to shoot well.

Since it's for home defense, I'd consider a full-sized revolver built on a medium frame. A 4" S&W 66 (k-frame), 686 (slightly larger L-frame) and/or the Ruger GP100 come to mind. All these come with adjustable sights, which are typically easier to use than fixed sights. AFAIK, the 4" GP100 also comes with a front sight that's easily changeable, so one your mom likes can easily be swapped in.

Out of the box, the triggers on the 66/686/GP100 are likely to be a bit better/lighter than the SP101's, but a good action job by a good gunsmith can make a huge difference as well. A good action job is a lot more than swapping springs to lighten the action. It'll be smooth, so it'll feel lighter. And a good gunsmith knows how to tune guns without giving up reliability.
 
A used Model 10 will be easier to shoot along with having a lighter double action pull. Lighter springs in a self defense gun can lead to misfires. I wouldn't do it. My wife, 68 year old, can pull the trigger thru on S&W guns. I doubt she could use a SP101. When arther gets in you hands and fingers you need something easier to pull than the Ruger.
 
a used Model 10 will be easier to shoot along with having a lighter double action pull. Lighter springs in a self defense gun can lead to misfires. I wouldn't do it. My wife, 68 year old, can pull the trigger thru on S&W guns. I doubt she could use a SP101. When arther gets in you hands and fingers you need something easier to pull than the Ruger.
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What would your thoughts be to address the s&w model 10 sights, to make them more along the lines of the semi Auto style? Is there an option for that?
 
as far as my revolver experience goes, the Ruger LCR has the "lightest" trigger pull. It has a little longer to go, but is smooth and light in pounds.

i wouldn't bother with .357mag, it's a very stout cartridge and is unpleasant to fire indoors. Nothing wrong getting a 357mag though, since the heavier frame can make a difference in recoil. i think the LCRx in .38 +P and a 3" barrel would be something to look at. May be a fit, may not, but the trigger should be much easier.
 
What would your thoughts be to address the s&w model 10 sights, to make them more along the lines of the semi Auto style? Is there an option for that?
Click to expand...

You said this gun was for home defense. In my opinion, in a truly defensive situation sights loose their importance. Far more important is instinctive point shooting.
 
Most any of the S&W's ...in a K frame ...in .357 Mag will have a better trigger pull ( usually a lot smoother )than the Rugers in my experience.

The common models in the K frame - are model 19's either blued or nickel / or the newer model 66's. I would stay away from all of the light weight frames.

In the 2 1/2" barrel length they will have a round butt frame ( which may be better for her )...or the 4" barrels with have a square butt frame. Most novice or young shooters in my family that I've introduced to revolvers prefer the 4" barrels for balance - and while I'm a lot closer to your mom's age - and have been shooting and owning revolvers for well over 50 yrs ( I have bigger hands - but I also like the K frames in 4" guns - even though the L frame model 686's or the N frame model 27's fit me better). You can also change the feel a lot of a revolver - by changing the grip ...S&W has a lot of options - rubber, wood, -with finger grooves, without, some wider, some thinner...( shop the gun shows in your area for grips on S&W).

I think she needs to shoot more guns....and you will find a different feel between used guns even in the same model ....and a good revolver gunsmith can clean up a revolver's action ( not necessarily lighten the trigger pull ) for a few hundred bucks.

Most important though - is to let her pick what suits her / and what fits her hands so that she will practice ( and nothing wrong with shooting a .357 Mag with .38 spl in it ) to make it even more manageable.
 
You said this gun was for home defense. In my opinion, in a truly defensive situation sights loose their importance. Far more important is instinctive point shooting.
Click to expand...

Quite true, but i wold like for her to learn and be comfortable aiming at the range... for this she would prefer better sights. She plans to buy just one gun to defend herself and train with.

Yes i understand this all goes to the wayside when your addrenaline gets going, but would not training even help there... muscle memory... the more confident in aiming she is the better she would respond in a stress situation?
 
Well, she is not likely to accidentally shoot the dog with the lightest spring you can put in a Ruger and still expect the shot to go off.
I would be more comfortable for her to have a true action job with friction reduced in proportion to spring load... and still no risk to the dog.

If she is open minded and interested enough to experiment, show her a LCR. It has about all the mechanical advantage you can get into a DA package that size and is easier to haul through than an SP. Emphasize the steel magnum model even though shot only with Specials.

I agree that a K Smith is about the most universal handgun made, at least as revolvers go. See if you can put one of those in her hand.
 
SP101's are renowned for their poor triggers. It's a shame. They really are a handy size. It sounds like she needs to go to a gun store or gun show and dry fire some different revolvers.
 
If she wants it for home defense get her a 2 or 4 inch revolver (38 or 357) that she`s comfortable with. Take her to the range with some 38+p`s. Have her shoot it at 7 to 10 feet. (If she ever needs it that's about where she`s going to be) A couple of cylinders will do. Then +p`s for home defense and wadcutters or round nose lead for fun.

One other thing,if she ever needs it the sights won`t really matter.
 
Firing 50 rounds out of a snubbie with a heavy trigger can be a physical ordeal for a 70-year old. Don't push her into marathon sessions.

She's picked the revolver she wants. Get it for her and put in a lighter spring set.

People can dither for months. Get her a pistol for self-defense and do it sooner, not later.
 
Have her try a K-frame revolver w. target sights such as the Model 66, or used Model 19. They have the weight to minimize recoil, the sights she likes, and a smooth DA trigger.
 
How about a used Security Six? Larger than a SP101 but smaller than a GP100. The trigger isn't great but neither is the trigger on a SP101.
 
You stated the best option yourself but get .38 snap caps and take her to the gunshops for both sight picture and trigger pull.
 
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