Revolver questions

[cripple]

I am currently carrying a SA 1911 in condition zero and I rely on the palm safety to act as just that, a safety. Because of a handicap I cannot completely grasp the grip until Im ready to fire. I have limited use of my hands. I do not have any issue with firing the 1911 when its time but I have since been educated on the dangers of carrying in condition zero with a 1911 so Im looking into revolvers. My theory is if I cant carry loaded and ready then why carry?

Anyway Im looking to you all for answers. Ive never fired a revolver and dont have the means to borrow one or rent one beforehand and Im thinking of selling my mil spec and getting a revolver. Here are my questions/issues:

1. I need to carry cross draw, preferably concealed. Im in a wheelchair and strong side draw is not doable.

2. I need something with manageable muzzle flip, preferably less than a 9mm. My .45 flips but its also very heavy so its manageable. I shoot from the hip so rearward recoil is not an issue. If someone could compare the muzzle flip of a revolver to that of an autoloader it would be helpful.

3. Im not sure of what brand is the best and most reliable.

4. Im unsure of the caliber choice. I target shoot with my son and I need something for SD.

If anyone could give me a good all around comparison between the two platforms that would be great.

thanks in advance

 

[Majic]

Before answering any of the questions....since you have limited usage of the hand then how much hand strength do you have? It takes a lot more hand strength to manipulate the trigger of a double action revolver compared to the 1911 and the single action revolver requires you to cock the hammer for each shot. Be sure you can handle that situation before going any further.

 

[cripple]

I can do both. I have held, cocked and dry fired them at local stores.

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

A good K-frame or L-frame four inch barreled Smith and Wesson revolver, or an equivalent gun, chambered for .357 Magnum should work for you. Loaded with .38 Special or .38 Special +P ammunition, recoil would not be a problem. Three-fifty-seven ammunition will recoil more, and the recoil will mostly be a rotational force. An L-frame would have less recoil with any ammunition than a K-frame due to it's greater weight.

I carry a K-frame with .357 Magnum ammo, and my wife's gun is an L-frame loaded with .38 +P.

Hope this helps.

ECS

 

[Majic]

A good caliber would be the old reliable .38 spl. A medium frame revolver will be your best bet to help tame recoil. You can help control recoil by your choice in ammo. Don't bother with the +P loads (Americans have always been obsessed with speed whether it's needed or not). Just pick a brand that uses a quality bullet pushed at standard velocities. Any of the major brands (Colt, Ruger, S&W, Taurus) should serve you well. They all have their pros and cons so it will be a personal choice. Another good option for you other than the crossdraw is the shoulder holster. So you do have choices.

 

[Neophyte1]

Gp100

cripple: Sir; You've got a tough one. My first suggestion and my last will revolve around the Ruger GP100 in .357. You have the luxury of shooting .38" or .357 full house loads.
The unit comes in 3"-4"-6" stainless and 4"-6" in blue.
The physcial weight of a GP100 will help with recoil; and better yet .38' will feel like a .22.
Triggers in double action are on the heavy side. In single action; not an issue.
Without a doubt the 'trigger group' will respond to a little TLC. Rugers are built to last forever and ever. Priced right; for everyman.
Follow up with your thinking. Just maybe someone here will be more versed.
Probably the toughest question I've seen posed.

 

[rcmodel]

Whatever you do, stop carrying a loaded 1911 with the safety off!

The Grip Safety is not the safety that locks everything down tight inside the gun!
That would be the Thumb Safety!

If you drop it that way, and the stars & moon are aligned correctly, someone could have a .45 caliber hole in them.


rcmodel

 

[boalex207]

I will +1 Neophyte's recommendation.

A Ruger 3" revolver will fit all your criteria as you have presented.

If you can handle .45 cal. recoil, you will be fine with .38 cal., especially in the slightly beefier Ruger wheelgun.

A Ruger can be had even on a budget, and aren't too finicky about maintenance, etc.

Should be no problem to carry crossdraw, or a shoulder rig as previous poster mentioned.

Come to think of it, I saw pre-owned Ruger revolvers on the newest CDNN catalog. They were US Dept. of State security force trade in guns.

Good luck, and Merry Christmas.

 

[358minus1]

Ruger SP101

Good advise above. I'd also consider a Ruger SP101 in 357. Hefty and robust, yet light and small enough to conceal well. You can reduce the springs a little, making the trigger pull a little easier and still reliably pop 38Spl primers. Remember, if you reduce the springs, popping 357 primers may be less certain. On the other hand, sometimes its recommended to never have a trigger job performed on a SD gun, so there's some stuff there to consider. Better to be judged by 12.....

 

[Shawnee]

You are quite correct to be looking for something better than the unsafe 1911 situation. A couple older Ruger double-action revolver models (the "Security-Six and the "Speed-Six") might be well worth looking into and save you some money too.

Good Luck.

 

[Big Boomer]

Well being in a wheelchair would have it's advantages as you would not have to worry as much about printing. (No one is going to see you from the back side or be staring at your hip while you are standing in line somewhere)

I love my 3" Sp101 but I would have to say go with a larger mid frame like a GP100 or I think its the "N" frame I could be wrong on that last one Smith and Wesson. You could run .357's in it and should be able to control it quite easily, or you could run .38's in it with very little felt recoil at all.

I would go with the larger heavier weight gun. The sp101 is a handful with full power .357's

 

[Jim K]

I don't know how much problem it could be, but you might consider a revolver with a concealed hammer or with the hammer spur removed, to prevent the hammer spur from snagging on your clothing or a part of the chair.

Jim

 

[Rexster]

I can also recommend Ruger DA revolvers, either current production such as the GP100 or SP101, or older models such as the Security Six, Service Six, and Speed Six. Many guys seem to prefer the 3" barrel lengths of both the GP100 and SP101, and if you are used to a 1911, the same may be true for you, as those who like the way autos balance tend to gravitate toward 3" sixguns. I will depart from what some others have said about the safety of a 1911 in Condition Zero; if the trigger pull is not too light, the grip safety has plenty of internal engagement surface, and the holster covers the trigger guard, it is no more hazardous than a Glock carried in the same manner. This assumes the operator of the weapon keeps his finger clear of the trigger until the muzzle is oriented toward the threat, of course. Even so, I think the DA revolver to be a better choice in this situation, as there is a greater margin of safety. A 3" (actually 3-1/16") SP101 might be just perfect, if it fits your hands well.

 

[earplug]

Have you looked at various DA/stiker fired semi pistols? Since you are comfortable with the 1911 another pistol such as a GLOCK might work for you.

 

[Zebraranger]

I have to concure with the other guys. Ruger GP100 or Ruger SP101, you can shoot 38 specials or 357 magnum from the same gun. One of the best priced revolvers out there. There are cheaper revolvers out there, but not built as well. The SP101 will give you five shots and is a little smaller, The larger GP100 is a six shot, both are double action and will out live us both.

 

[19-3Ben]

I'd second either the 3" SP101, or a 3"GP100. If you are worried about recoil, the GP100 will be heavier and soak up more recoil.
Get a rubber Hogue Monogrip for it. They are fantastic and soak up recoil beautifully.

 

[popbang]

Cripple,
I understand your problems. I have severe nerve damage and limited use of my left hand. I cannot even pull the trigger in double action mode on very light pull guns. With double action revolvers the hammer sets low enough that I cannot cock it with my left hand. Autos are out as my hand is formed so that when I grip an auto I end up limp wristing it.

I settled on single action revolvers. May not be the best choice, but it sure beats sticks and rocks.

 

[Neophyte1]

thought

popbang: Sir; you hit on exactly my thought. I am uninformed other than "cripple's" description of his particular. With any Single or Double action you will have the best of both worlds. For one it may work and vise versus. My shooting is revolvers primarily. I have both dedicated Single action Rugers and Double actions. Each serves me well. Will it work for your or anyone else? Only you know what will work.
Each of us presents a particular set of circumstances; from likes to infirmity's.
This is part of the reason I visit different sites; to explore and to learn. With folks like you and 'cripple' it offers insight toward others situations. Maybe I can use this information for myself or others. Maybe at least; point out what I've learned from you.

 

[22-rimfire]

Take a look at the new 327 Federal mag round which will be offered in the Ruger SP101 platform. Should be very controllable and has slightly more power than the 38spl+P. You will be able to shoot 32 mag in it as well and it will have a relationship similar to the 357/38spl in terms of a revolver being able to shoot both high and lower powered loads.

 

[Pat Cannon]

I own both a 2.25" SP101 and a 3" GP100. I carry the SP because it's 10 oz. lighter, and more compact, but if I were in your situation I can't think of anything better than the GP100. Both my revolvers are DAO because it's the ultimate in simplicity: you'll never have to decide whether to cock the hammer first, 'cause you can't. The only control is the trigger, and it's clear what it does. This also ensures that you'll never cock the hammer, then decide not to shoot and have to decock -- a circumstance of many accidents. I too used to carry a 1911, but I figured why put up with all that complexity.

The only downside of a DAO wheelgun is the heavy trigger pull. The trigger pull of my GP100 is much lighter than my SP101. I vaguely recall that this might be inherent in the mechanical design of a 6-shooter vs. a 5-shooter, but I could be wrong about that (help me out here, smart people).

Regarding holsters: for ambulatory folks, off-body carry is generally considered a bad idea, but if I were in a wheelchair I'd consider a holster mounted under the left armrest; it could be under a nylon zipper pack or some such thing. Just a thought.

 

[Arcticfox]

I have never fired a Ruger, but I hear they are robust. I do love S&W. The model 19 (or variant), or a 586/686 are fine revolvers. Bill Jordan would agree .

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

If you want a good revolver that is less then a 9mm I'd recommend a ruger sp101 in 32hr, and last I checked bianchi made a very nice crossdraw holster for them.