Revolver well suited to one hand shooting?

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labnoti

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I've been reading the "Help me choose a revolver" thread, as well as some other related ones. I've been shooting a S&W Airweight lately. It's great for carry, but it seems like the ergonomics are compromised. I'm looking for advice on another handgun with great one-hand ergonomics. I wouldn't rule out automatics, but I prefer revolvers.

The airweight has been working ok. The gun is very accurate and I can get tight groups. Still, I don't think I want to shoot .357 Magnum from a scandium j-frame. But the thing I like the least is the short length of pull. I have large hands and thin fingers.

My goal is to move up to a platform that will have good control with one hand and can shoot a higher power factor than .38. I can reload and make lighter loads to get started with some of the magnums that would otherwise be hard to shoot one-handed. But when I look at a lot of the guns, they seem better suited to two-hand shooting, like all the N frames and those big cast GP100's. So far, I've got my eye on K and L frames, Model 66, 69, or a short-barrel 686+.

I'm also considering a single action. The CMS guns are tailored specifically for one-hand shooting, but then again, blanks don't have a lot of recoil. The lowered hammers and short-stroke mods make the single action a little easier to cock with one hand. I understand the barrel lengths in CMS have more to do with powder/ember patterns than balance, but for me anything longer than 3.5" is starting to get bigger than what's ideal for my purposes.

Anyone have a suggestion for a handgun, preferably revolver, that fits one-hand shooting well?
 
I have a 3 inch 686 and I can shoot it one-handed in single action. Double action is more of a challenge.
 
Cokeman said:
I have a 3 inch 686
Click to expand...
3", or 2 1/2"?

A K Frame Smith gives you two choices of grip sizes (Magna & Target) and should do well for you.

K Frame S&W 14-3 .38 Spl. Magna Grips
S&W M14.JPG

K Frame 19-4 Target grips
Model 19 Pic 4 @ 95%.JPG

But of course you can do the same thing with a Ruger Security Six.

Target grips. (I don't have a pic of it with the smaller (Fits the frame like the S&W Magna) grips.
Ruger Security Six Pic 3 @ 95%.JPG
 

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K Smith. Period.
Are you shooting DA, SA, or both?
If DA, standard hammer and trigger,
SA, wide Target hammer and trigger,
If both, look for or have swapped out for target hammer and narrow trigger.
 
I was thinking a S&W Model 19 with a 2.5" barrel or a Model 686 with a 3" barrel would be nicely balanced for one handed shooting. Same with the old Ruger Speed Six with a 2.75" barrel.
 
Shane made a good suggestion. The Ruger Bisley revolvers are good for one hand shooting.

I shoot in the Gunfighter category in cowboy action shooting which means a single action revolver in each hand. My Ruger New Vaqueros have lower wide hammer spurs that were first popular with mounted shooters and have since filtered down to we "ground shooters". They make one handed shooting easier. The short stroke actions you mentioned are even better. Converting a revolver to short stroke is expensive so a factory short stroke can be a good choice.
 
Cokeman said:
I have a 3 inch 686 and I can shoot it one-handed in single action. Double action is more of a challenge.
Click to expand...

What is the challenge? Weight, recoil with .357, grip size, length of pull (the distance from the back of grip frame to the trigger), the DA trigger weight due to hammer and trigger reset spring weights?
 
Jim Watson said:
K Smith. Period.
Are you shooting DA, SA, or both?
If DA, standard hammer and trigger,
SA, wide Target hammer and trigger,
If both, look for or have swapped out for target hammer and narrow trigger.
Click to expand...

If it's DA, I want to shoot DA. I'm shooting DA only now, the airweight is a centennial type.
I would only consider SA if the gun required it. Basically, I'd consider a low-hammer, short-stroke gun like the Taylor Runnin' Iron, but otherwise DA.
 
Many folks, including me, think the Colt 1851 Navy .36 percussion revolver has the best natural "feel" for shooting Duelist (one-handed) style. That long barrel seems to instinctively pull itself into the target. It is a lousy choice for defensive carry and competitive target competition however.

I agree that the Smith and Wesson K Frames are likely to be the most ergonomic revolvers ever produced. Bill Jordan thought so, and who am I to argue?

My missus and I carry J-Frames because they are more concealable.

You pays your money, you takes your chance.
 
labnoti said:
What is the challenge? Weight, recoil with .357, grip size, length of pull (the distance from the back of grip frame to the trigger), the DA trigger weight due to hammer and trigger reset spring weights?
Click to expand...
That last thing. I’m still getting used to the DA pull weight and two hand help stabilize better. I’m much better with the SA weight.
 
Thing about a jframe is it’s a compromise. It was always supposed to be. There is grips aplenty out there to fit them. Try a few options. Me, I prefer a standard old school wood grip with a Tyler T or a pachmayr rubber grip. I have had either. For solid shooting targets or hunting k,l,n. For concealing j or k. I do carry my L but not often. I’ve been wanting a k I’m either going for a 64 or a 10 next.
 
Note the contrast in grips. Revolvers have the options hands down over autos, and the smaller framed revolvers with stub grip extensions allow even more variety.

Over the years grips have changed - what is now considered the "boot" grip seems to have most of the bases covered. It fills the gap behind the trigger guard and offers more secure handling, while preventing the second knuckle getting rapped with heavier loads. Substituting polymers with more aggressive friction surface is considered better than slick wood, and the durometer of the material helps absorb recoil to a better degree. Having the grip rise more vertically above the web helps control recoil more and returns it faster getting back on target quicker with less deviation.

Pick the favorite then research the grips and you mate the correct two for your best application.
 
K-frame S&W

Ruger Speed-Six

Kimber K6S (3")

Size/style of grips will make a difference. Is one-handed a preference or a necessity? I note that you state "large hands" (plural), so I assume it not a case of not having a second hand.
 
IMHO, there are no revolvers that are any better suited to one handed over two. This is more an issue of training/familiarity/muscle memory.
 
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