Best .22 Mag Revolver?

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My mother has a rare spinal cord condition along with complications from failed back surgery that makes it extremely difficult (read: impossible) to lift anything above 5 or so pounds, and impossible for her to hold even 3 pounds out in front of her for any period of time beyond 10 or 15 seconds before the pain becomes too bad for her to continue. She is at home all day long every day and i work long hours, we live in a rural area and i am worried for her safety while i am at work. We've got motion lights all over, good doorlocks on all the doors, but the house has a billion windows and i'm not relying on them to stop someone. My biggest worry is that a would-be thief would case the house and assume that her car is my 'extra' car because it never moves, come to burglarize the home while i am gone and be surprised by someone in the house...never know what a criminal is going to do at that point.

Anyway, there's the long story - the point is here: I want to buy her a .22 mag handgun for home defense as the recoil is very manageable, and i've seen some light offerings in this calibre with some decent capacity. I want to get her a revolver so she does not have to train to deal with misfires, failure to feed/eject etc. that a semiauto would bring. I've been eyeing the S&W 351PD. Does anyone else have some input?
It would be nice to be able to swap cylinders so she could practice out back of our property with .22 short colibri rounds, then load it with magnums when it's with her.

My logic behind the .22 magnum is that (a) it's as loud as a .357 (b) large muzzle flash (c) low recoil (d) high capacity in a revolver. I think having the illusion of a 'large calibre' being fired at them is a good thing.... and from my experience with my model 642 and 9mm model 659, she would be unable to handle 9mm or .38spl. Any suggestions on alternate revolver caliber's that would be reasonable SD rounds with low recoil would be much appreciate.
 
I'm sorry to hear your Mom is in so much pain. I can empathize with her.

For some reason the .22 Mag is a very loud round. It seems to have a high pitch and it’s very hard on the ears. May I suggest a .32 cal pistol... The normal .32 round (7.65 Browning) isn’t as loud and has a softer kick than you would expect. IMO, it’s a very good SD round and has been used by the Police in Europe since the end of WWI. (I think it was the end of WWI) I’m not sure if you can fire the .32 Auto out of a .32 Mag revolver but if you can then that Taurus mentioned above would probably be perfect. http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=281&category=Revolver Even if it won't fire .32 Auto rounds that revolver is ported so it might have a light enough recoil for your Mom to shoot comfortably. The .32 Mag is a very formidable round which has the same power as a .38 Sp only in a slightly smaller bullet.

If the trigger is too hard for her to pull you can always switch out the stock springs with a Wolf Spring Kit.
 
Keep in mind most new .22 DA revolvers have very hard trigger pulls. Your mother may not be able to pull the trigger.

-Bill
 
Thanks for your input guys. I went by the local (horrifically overpriced) gun store today and took a look at a few revolvers. While my mother does have some issues with grip, she is able to pull the trigger successfully on my S&W model 642 though it does take considerable effort. I had not considered that - thanks for the wake-up post...perhaps i'll need to have a trigger job done on the gun that i decide on. I asked the guys at the gun store about the .32 Magnum H&R and was told that the Taurus 941 (they actually had one in stock, for ~430$+7.5% sales tax...) would have recoil equivalent to my .38SPL model 642 which i think is too stiff....i asked them specifically if it really kicked as hard or if it was more of a perception of recoil due to muzzle blast, and he seemed pretty set on the 32mag simply having as much recoil as the .38spl. I looked at .25ACP but i was very unimpressed with the round in a general sense...seems like it's neither fast enough nor heavy enough to do anything out of a reasonably small pistol. I inquired about the standard .32cal and was told that 'nobody makes them anymore' and 'it's impossible to find ammunition for it' -- any input on that? I told him i had heard that it was a popular round in some circles (pulling from your information on police in europe using it, ArchAngel) but he was set on it as being a round that is impossible to find. I think a .22mag with a cylinder for .22LR would be perfect - i just learned about .22 colibri rounds (no powder charge!) and it sounds like she would be able to practice with those on our property without irritating the neighbours (we're on ~7acres in the country, i don't think a colibri round's report would travel that far at any kind of volume...) but then swap the cylinder out with some .22 magnums for keeping it around the house. Problem is, the only revolver's i've seen with this featureset are single action only ruger single 6's...:(

I got to hold a s&w model 17 today....i wish they sold THAT gun in .22mag with a .22LR cylinder! It reminds me of my 642 in every way that is good :)...just in 22.lr ;) The guy at the gun store said that no revolver that is DA/SA could be made with swappable cylinders. Why is that?
 
I haven't done any research on .32 ACP Revolvers so I don't know if they are available but the ammo isn't hard to get. It may be hard to find in local stores but there isn't a problem online. I just ordered 500 rounds of 73 gr Fiocchi FMJ for $9.77 a box. I usually buy S&B or PMC for $7.95 a box but they are out of stock at the moment. It happens sometimes but they restock fairly quickly.

Here is something on the .32 Auto that will probably interest you: http://www.goldenloki.com/ammo/gel/32acp/gel32acp.htm
 
Smith & Wesson made the Model 48 (K-22 MRF Masterpeice)which came in 4, 6, and 8 3/8" barrrels. This might be a good choice in 4" if you can find one. I believe a 22LR cylinder was available for it too. Very uncommon gun.

A friend had a 6" Smith revolver that he bought new in the late 1970's that came with both the 22LR and 22WMR cylinders. At the time, I never paid much attention to model numbers and always thought it was a K-22 which is not correct. I believe it was a Model 48 now in hindsight.
 
+1 for the model 48 in 4-inch--if you can find one. Bought one in 1970 in 8 3/8. Wish I hadn't sold it. Great trigger. In the shorter barrel, the weight should be manageable, too.
 
You were correct in thinking that Model 48 was a K-22, it is, just in magnum form.
 
I realized this is far from what you asked but what about this? Walther P22:

pix522863031.jpg


A .22LR is not my first choice for SD but it's better than nothing.
This gun is light, has adjustable backstraps that might help her find the right grip, no recoil, is fairly cheap, and if she cannot handle the DA on the first round she might be able to cock the hammer and fire 'em all in SA.
Just another option to consider...
I've heard that they are finicky with ammo so if you decide to go that route make sure that you test it intensively first...
 
While my mother does have some issues with grip, she is able to pull the trigger successfully on my S&W model 642 though it does take considerable effort. I had not considered that--thanks for the wake-up post...perhaps i'll need to have a trigger job done on the gun that i decide on.
Click to expand...
Also keep in mind that if your mother is able to do something now, she may not be able to do it in the future due to her health or age.

Another problem with rimfires is that they don't always ignite. This is largely due to the fact that the manufacturing process is so much cheaper than centerfire ammunition. It's rare, but any range usually has a large collection of "dead" .22s.

For your mom, I would recommend a nice S&W 19/66 or Ruger Security- or Speed-Six with a short barrel and .38 Spc Glaser Silver Safety Slugs. These guns offer light weight with outstanding actions and pointability.

51729.jpg


With a pair of round butt Pachmayr grips, this gun would
be a great choice for home defense.
 
I'm aware of the reliability issues with rimfire ammunition, which is why i don't want to give her a semiauto for the task... a .38spl's recoil from 'a short barrel' is too stiff for her, the gun torques out of her hand and the jolt hurts her back. I've got a model 642 that she's tried.. Pepper spray is an idea, but she would likely get caught by some of it and it requires allowing the attacker to close with her to contact distance - with her strength as it is, allowing someone to close to contact distance is not a good idea.
 
Maybe something like this:

http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=372&category=Revolver

would be good for your mom. The same thing is available with a 2" barrel, but I can tell you from personal experience, that the muzzle blast and noise from a .22 Magnum snubby is pretty intense.

There are plenty of .38Spl snubbies available and with semi-wadcutters, one of those might be better for her.
 
I would not listen to the 'Gunstore' people on the recoil of the .32. I have not shot one, but I KNOW that quite a few people who cannot handle a 38 special use them.
Also there are different loads avalable. (Lighter...)

Do not have a J frame's trigger worked on. there's not enough 'meat' to the hammer to have it lightened (Unless you are GOOD/$$$) to have the trigger lightened and still have reliable primer ignition.
 
....a .38spl's recoil from 'a short barrel' is too stiff for her, the gun torques out of her hand and the jolt hurts her back.
Click to expand...
The medium frame size, combined with a light, 80gr frangible bullet like the Glaser, is a very, very light load. If your mother had a rubber, round butt grip on a small, beautiful little snub-nosed revolver like the Smith 19/66//Ruger Security-Six, it shouldn't buck any more than a .22 mag. Plus the Glaser is said to be a formidible self defense round.

Any rimfire revolver is going to require a longer barrel to handle the power of the .22 mag, and it's going to have a stiff trigger pull to put a dent in the rim. That's just the way things are.

The .22 mag just doesn't show any real power until it hits about six inches in a barrel, and even then it would prefer a rifle. That's why I bought a 6.5-inch Single-Six rather than one with a shorter tube. The .38 Spc with a very light non+P bullet should almost feel like a blank.

Has anyone shot a Glaser?


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I'll pick up some glaser safety slugs and see how they feel - thanks for the input, it's invaluable.
 
S&W 48

My dad just picked up a model 48 that he found at the local sporting goods shop. It has the 4" barrel. Does anyone know what they are worth?

Needless to say, it's a great looking gun in almost new condition. I look forward to putting some 22 mag through it.
 
M 48

It's a fine model, the 48, and not all that easy to find. Had one in 8 3/8 a long time ago, and it was a terrific shooter.

SCSW (3rd ed) lists the 48 ANIB for $450; excellent, $350. Four-screw versions are worth more.

Post some pix when you can!
 
The medium frame size, combined with a light, 80gr frangible bullet like the Glaser, is a very, very light load. If your mother had a rubber, round butt grip on a small, beautiful little snub-nosed revolver like the Smith 19/66//Ruger Security-Six, it shouldn't buck any more than a .22 mag. Plus the Glaser is said to be a formidible self defense round.

Any rimfire revolver is going to require a longer barrel to handle the power of the .22 mag, and it's going to have a stiff trigger pull to put a dent in the rim. That's just the way things are.

The .22 mag just doesn't show any real power until it hits about six inches in a barrel, and even then it would prefer a rifle. That's why I bought a 6.5-inch Single-Six rather than one with a shorter tube. The .38 Spc with a very light non+P bullet should almost feel like a blank.

Has anyone shot a Glaser?
Click to expand...

With all due respect, I have shot Glaser and they are no way light in the recoil department. They are actually pushing +P power so that the bullet fragments. I have shot .38 standard ammo and Glasers and the recoil is a little heavier with Glaser. Federal actually makes a Low Recoil version of the Hydra shoks that you can try, but honestly, if you mom is that bad, I would start with some real light target or cowboy action ammo, or skip the .38 all together. The only way your going to reduce recoil is to get a heavy gun, and that is going to cause problems. The .22 Magnum is real loud out of a short barrel, but if you get a 4 or 5 incher it should reduce the sound and increase the preformance. I like the .32 Magnum option. The word on the net is that it has 80% of the power of a standard .38 with 50% of the recoil. If she finds herself not liking the recoil of the .32 mag, you can drop down to a .32 S&W long ( see the thread I started comparing the blast and recoil of a .22lr and a .32 S&W long) As others have said .32 revolver ammo is hard to find, but available online if your local shop does not carry it.

I'm in the same boat. I promised to teach an eldery widow neighbor how to shoot a revolver and help her pick out a gun. She did fine with a 3" S&W .22lr revolver, but I wish I could recommend something with more ommph.

Here is an article on gun selection of eldery and handicap;
http://www.chuckhawks.com/handguns_handicapped_shooters.htm
 
Okay, some will laugh, others might flame me but I think this might work well for your mom:

http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=49&category=Revolver

It's a 17hmr. Now I know thats WAY underpowered for SD, BUT, it's super light gun, the recoil should be mild, and it does have 8 rounds so eliminates or at least reduces the risk of having to reload.

Despite the low power at near point blank range I believe this round might do more damage than we think and there are 8 rounds versus 6 or 5.

I know rimfire ammo isn't typically as reliable as centerfile but I believe with the constraints your up against, this would meet nearly all of your criteria.

The trigger can be lightened by a gun smith but it does have the hammer so it can be cocked first if necessary.

God Bless
Gideon
 
Gideon...I'm not laughing, but I'm wondering if the Taurus 94 shooting .22lr CCI stinger would be better than a .17. I never shot a .17 handgun but I'm thinking that while .17 is a Fast little bullet giving decent penetration it will make a real small hole, great for small game, but not for humans. You might also run into the same problem as the .22 magnum, shooting rifle rounds out of a snub nose revolver is going to have a lot of flash and bang.
 
Headless,
Like I said above, look for a .32 Auto revolver. The .32 Auto (7.65mm Browning) isn't as stout as the .38 Special and will be a much better SD round than the .22 Mag. If the .32 is still too hard for your mom to handle, which I have my doubts, you can have the barrel ported. I'm 99.99% sure it will not cause her any pain and it will be a much better SD gun than a .22 Mag. Six rounds of .32 Auto is no joke!

Like said above, the .22 Mag in a revolver gains very little power over a .22LR. It adds recoil and a lot more noise with very little gain.
 
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