Infirmities? Auto vs. Revolver

[defjon]

In my young and booming early 20s, I got avascular necrosis in my right wrist. I am right handed. After the surgery, I was in a cast for a really long time.

I had to learn to do everything left handed, one handed, and even after the cast came off it took years to get my right hand, wrist, arm etc back in the game (and it still ain't what it was).

Anyway, a could load a revolver one handed faster than trying to load mags. I could operate a revolver left handed. That was the first time I really remember going to revolvers for all handgun purposes. A 586 four inch and model 85 snub covered my bases.

 

[JTQ]

I'd think it would be easier in a pinch to cock a hammer using the side of a table or object, than it would be to wrack a slide, and hope it chambered a round. Like in a pinch and if I was having issues with my hands, for sure I would want the revolver.

You're saying cocking the hammer of a revolver on a table for every shot rather than racking the slide on an auto-loader, once, to get a nearly unlimited number of shots, would be easier?

It just goes to show, everybody is different.


Edit to add: The "cocking a revolver hammer on a table or object" comment got me thinking. I pulled out my S&W 686. I find it much easier racking an auto-loader slide on something rather than cocking the hammer of my 686 on some object.

 

[film495]

You're saying cocking the hammer of a revolver on a table for every shot rather than racking the slide on an auto-loader, once, to get a nearly unlimited number of shots, would be easier?

It just goes to show, everybody is different.


Edit to add: The "cocking a revolver hammer on a table or object" comment got me thinking. I pulled out my S&W 686. I find it much easier racking an auto-loader slide on something rather than cocking the hammer of my 686 on some object.

maybe. never compared side by side like you did here. just antother option. I'd also be concerned with injured or arthritic hands, if I short stroked the slide and a round noses up, and it jams, then I'd have a whole other issue to solve, with injured or arthritic hands, and with revolver all you still need to do, is get the hammer cocked.

 

[AlexanderA]

Numerous times, usually posted in the Revolver section
of The High Road, shooters have said they've turned to
revolvers because they can no longer work the slides of
the auto pistols.

I've always found the opposite to be true, for me: auto pistols have been easier to operate than double-action revolvers. It's that long, hard trigger pull that's difficult to master. And some big, ergonomically-challenged revolvers, such as the M1917 Colt and S&W, are practically hopeless. Easiest of all are the modern striker-fired autos. YMMV, of course.

 

[JTHunter]

Speaking of cocking a revolver, as my Mother aged, she had problems with the DA trigger on her SP-101 in .38 Special. I took it to a gunsmith and, with his guidance (he wouldn't do the work - liability concerns), he talked me through taking the handgrips off to access the coil spring. He had me nip off a half turn of the spring, then test the trigger pull. IIRC, I ended up taking off 1.5 - 2 full turns to lighten the trigger's weight. For a couple of years, that worked for her before even that got to be too much. Then, I put a half inch piece of black rubber tubing on the trigger on the trigger spur itself and taught her how to hold the trigger against the edge of the table next to the bed and use both hands to push down to cock the gun. That worked for the last year she was able to remain in her home.

Now that gun rests in a drawer next to my bed.

 

[S.Crockett]

By the way, Beretta has really worked on their triggers and the
DA/SA is really no problem, especially for those already familiar
with DA revolvers.

Good to hear that Beretta’s DA/SA trigger units have finally caught to the smoothness of S&W 3rd Gen DA/SA triggers.

 

[jmorris]

My Friend lost an arm, years ago in a logging accident, his dominant arm at the time. We shot IDPA together and he placed up with the better SS - low EX with a .45 1911 and little lower down the list in 3 gun but all with only one hand.

This is him, on two Texas stars, one day when the match was rained out but we still wanted to shoot.

Joe and two stars, two no shoots.

www.youtube.com

He didn't use things like magazine loaders, had a manual transmission in his truck too but I can't remember him ever shooting a revolver.

 

[jmorris]

I almost forgot, our other friend TW, also told him once, no matter how many guns he had on him, he was always unarmed...

 

[Buckeye63]

As you age most older people develop neuropathy .. personally I developed neuropathy due to a neck injury and cervical fusion surgery…
I stay fit .. but still have weird weakness that comes and goes in my hands and forearms

 

[Hookeye]

Isnt there a Beretta 86 clone being done?

 

[Old Dog]

Isnt there a Beretta 86 clone being done?

Yeah, Girsan is making one, but ruined the classic lines by adding an accessory rail with a 4.5" barrel. Fugly.

 

[DustyRusty]

Uncle Ed, I share your sentiments on the M9/92. It feels great in my hand, I can operate the slide, it decocks & has capacity. If I had to carry it, I wouldn't complain.

 

[nofendertom]

Reading posts about INFIRMITIES: AUTO or REVOLVER, I wondered if there are any companies that cater to adapting the firearm (auto or revolver) to an individual's
infirmity. Pretty much like adapting hand controls to a vehicle for someone who has limited use of their legs. Maybe something like the addition to the hammer of a revolver, like what is used
when mounting a scope on a lever action rifle.

 

[Rodfac]

Might be tough to find a revolver out of the box with a light enough DA trigger pull to satisfy the OP's needs. Good gunsmithing and some luck with spring replacement are options but may impede 100% ignition.

That said, my two son's M&P 9's offer light weight slide racking force IMHO. My one P365 by Sig is similar. HTH's Rod

 

[dobedo]

For those who have 9mm and 40 caliber autos you can now get a revolver in those calibers that do not use moon clips. I recently shot one and will be purchasing one in 9mm and 40 caliber.

Pit Bull

The Pit Bull’s unique design provides a dual coil spring assembly located in the extractor which allows for easy cartridge insertion and retention in every chamber of the revolvers cylinder. This patented system allows the shooter ease of ejecting spent cartridges for immediate reloading...

charterfirearms.com

 

[Old_Grouch]

I have a unique issue which allows me to fire a DA revolver faster than most autos. I have nerve damage in my hand that hinders my ability to extend my trigger finger. Flexion (pulling the trigger) is not affected but extending the finger to allow trigger reset is slow and, after a few rounds VERY slow. The trigger return spring in most autos is not strong enough to overcome this; I have to consciously move my finger forward and that is where the weakness becomes an issue. The return force of the trigger in a DA revolver is more than enough to move my trigger finger for me so, as a result, I'm probably in a very small minority of people who can actually fire multiple rounds from a revolver more quickly than a semi-auto.