Single Action .38 Special?

Perhaps one of the "mid-size" SAA clones, like the Uberti Stallion?

I think the open tops are really cool.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/product...y+model+revolver+u341359,+38+special,+55\",+w

Arkansas Paul said:

I think the open tops are really cool.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/415003176/uberti+1851+navy+model+revolver+u341359,+38+special,+55\",+w

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open tops feel and point AWESOME. However, the 2 conversions I have played with are kind of a pain to load and unload. They don't index like a SAA does.

if she's ok with a 22, the ruger wrangler is made of aluminum and weighs next to nothing.

The Uberti Stallion, sold by Cimarron as the Model P Jr, would serve, if she is sold on the plow handle grip and leisurely gate loading.
https://www.cimarron-firearms.com/model-p-jr-38-special-4-3-4-in.html

But a K38 or any other of the huge family of S&W K frame Hand Ejectors from 1899 to date would be better in every respect except movie styling. Sure, the double action lockwork is there, but she doesn't have to use it; these guns have light crisp single actions that ruled target shooting until the automatics took over.

Some random thoughts:

Is 150 rounds of shooting not plenty enough? By age fifty, in 2011, I had decided to stop pounding my hands with recoil of more than about 100 rounds of centerfire ammo, per range session. Anything beyond that was .22 LR. (I shot a few too many big-bore Magnums, through N-Frames, with K/L-sized hands, in the Eighties.)

If your NMBH is the stainless version, it has a stainless steel grip frame, whereas, IIRC, the blued version has a lighter allow grip frame.

Women who have handled and fired my SP101 revolvers have wanted to keep/buy them.

I have seen, but not handled, the junior-sized Uberti single-actions.

I bet even the standard size Uberti Cattleman will be lighter than a BH.
And you could even shave off a tiny bit more weight with the Birds Head grip.

I would love to find a deal on a SAA clone in 38 Spl instead of 357/38.
I hate running " the other round that fits" in any of my revolvers. I don't know why, no real reason I guess.

What about a used S&W model 10? They are light and easy to handle. She could shoot it singe action and later double action when she gets ready.

Thomas Traddles said:

The leisurely loading did not seem to bother her, but this was her first time out and has not been exposed to many alternatives. Nevertheless, a DA/SA like the model 10 is also soething I have not ruled out.

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On the left is a Cimmaron Lightning .38Spl and at the right is an EMF Great Western II in .357mag. The GW is much lighter than the RBH of the same barrel length. The Cimmaron is even lighter and came with an excellent trigger. The Cimmaron is available with a 3-1/2” barrel. I highly recommend the Lightning style grip frame. It’s just so much easier to handle regardless of hand size. I have fairly large hands and my wife has averaged size hands but we both shoot those revolvers easily.

Pat Riot said:

What about a used S&W model 10? They are light and easy to handle. She could shoot it singe action and later double action when she gets ready.

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This. Or, if she likes thumb-cocking the hammer, one of the pre-Model-10 revolvers, with the older-type hammer spur, which is easier for some thumbs to cock. The ones known as “4-screw” and “5-screw” have hammers with these older-type spurs.

My 4-Screw pre-Model 10 snubby is a joy to thumb-cock.

If you are not wanting only an SA revolver, there are a number of DA/SA revolvers available that will shoot 38 Special.

4" used S&W Model 15 or new Model 67 chambered in 38 Special. These are k-frames and have adjustable sights. The Model 10 is the fixed sight version.

Also, the Model 60 can be had with a 3" barrel. Newer models are chambered in 357 Magnum, but 38 Special can be fired in them. There are used 3" Model 36's out there, again a j-frame S&W chambered for 38 Special.

Ruger SP101 may be available with a longer barrel than 2". They are SA/DA revolvers and there is a model chambered for 357 Magnum.

My 5'-2" wife likes her 4" S&W Model 586. It is an L-frame and a bit heavier than the k-frame guns. She only shoots 38 Special in it. S&W did make some 38 Special L-frames but you'd have better luck finding hen's teeth.

Speaking of the Model 10, there have been some Model 14 revolvers assembled at the factory as single-action-only revolvers, and one could buy the kit to convert existing revolvers. The Model 14 can be seen as an adjustable-sight 10.

My Old Model Blackhawk, which is built on a smaller than the standard New Model comes in at 40oz.



The USFA Rodeo is heavier at 42oz.



The 6" K38 is pretty svelte at 37oz.



The .357 version of this half lug 5" 10mm GP (38oz) is right in the same range, around 40oz.



I haven't recorded the weight of the 1851 yet. All my dozen or more open top Colt types have rear sights.

I had a similar problem with my wife. After many a trial, including cocking a hammer, we settled on two fingers. Left and right. Not for targets, but defense. No time for fiddling around.
A DA, SA, medium sized 9mm would mean cocking the hammer for the first round for targets.

A S&W 'target hammer' will give you more to grasp when cocking, if you go that route.
BTW, 'uncocking' is the real challenge when handling cocked revolvers of any sort.
Moon

Thomas Traddles said:

Rexster, she just kept shooting and I did not interrupt. The loads were mid-range and so recoil was not punishing in the BH. The amount of time with the gun, despite her getting tired, was helpful for her learning the manual of arms.

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I typically recommend encouraging new shooters to pick their own guns - especially wives - but it sounds like she did make a choice and is now leaving it up to you to get her something appropriate. I could be wrong. If so, the only advice I can give, one married man to another, is to be on your guard not to fall for the temptation of adding to your collection under the guise of buying something for her. I have seen that exact scenario ruin marriages.
Good luck and let your wife know there’s plenty of gals out there who have their own club memberships.

She loved the NMBH, of which I am very happy since I love the SAs above all. But the gun is heavy and after 150 rounds or so, she was feeling fatigued.

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I'm going to suggest something different.
Since you've been married 41 years, I'm going to guess she is close to or over 65 years old.
Medicare advantage plans & supplement plans usually include membership to Silver Sneakers
SS is an amazing program.
At no cost (or very, very, very low cost - such as a one time $10 fee for a membership card w/picture), you get a membership to local gyms and swim clubs.

I swim between a half mile & a kilometer - or more - every morning. I've been doing this since 2016 & it's made such a huge improvement in how I can perform everyday stuff that just seemed to deteriorate for no reason after the first few years of retirement.(in 2011).

No - dumb things I was starting to find difficult to do. like hump a 40# bag of dog food from the car to the house - open jars - grip a pair of pliers - just stupid stuff I used to take for granted being able to do, that slipped away from me due to lack of movement.

Just a thought about going to the root/cause instead of trying to find a solution to the symptom.

Hi...
I would recommend a Uberti Richards Mason open top conversion in .38Spl.
I have one and it is just an awesome little revolver.
I prefer my revolvers in dedicated chamberings...I never shoot .38Spl in my .357Mag revolvers or .44Spl in my .44Mag revolvers.
I have dedicated .38Spl and .44Spl revolvers for that.

A 4" model 15 or 67 Smith would be about the same weight as a model 10 with better sights.
Have you thought about a 32 Ruger makes a Single Six/Seven in 32 h&r and 327 if you reload they're pretty easy shooters.
The Uberti Stallion is a sweet size too.

Ammo suggestion for low recoil:

A 38 Special revolver can also shoot 38 Long Colt and 38 Short Colt. The 38 Short Colt has 1/3 less recoil than a 38 Spl. wadcutter. And an even lower recoil 38 Special is the Comfort Plinker, described in the article below.
https://www.shootingillustrated.com...atts-bullets-comfort-plinker-38-special-ammo/

Good for you for taking your wife shooting. Too bad you don't want to consider a 32 caliber gun. I have two Ruger single six 32 mags and they weigh around 32oz and are the easiest and best handling single actions I have ever held. Both have 5.5" barrels and adjustable sights. And you would need to reload for them. But they are easy on lead and super easy on powder. And the recoil is about like a 22 mag in the same gun unless you are shooting full power mag loads. Lead bullet loads going 900fps are just so much fun to shoot.

But other than that another vote for the S&W model 15. The best 38 caliber revolver ever offered. My model 15 also weighs 32oz unloaded. And nothing has a single action trigger like a Smith & Wesson.