Lite pull double action for wife . . .

[Prof Young]

I think I made a mistake getting my not-gun-savy-wife a semi auto pistol. It's a Sig 365 chambered in 380. A fine carry gun but she has trouble pulling the slide and just doesn't know what to do when it doesn't fire. We'd need to spend a good deal more time at the range before she becomes proficient in semi-auto. She is not as fond of the range as I am but wants to carry and has taken the cc course.

So, I'm shopping for a lightweight, double action, short barrel revolver, with a very lite trigger pull. It should have a minimum caliber of 32, bigger would be better.

Please talk to me.

Life is good
Prof Young

[Recycled bullet]

Ruger LCR?

[Aguila Blanca]

Double action revolvers typically have fairly heavy trigger pull weights in the double action mode. I don't know what pull weight range you consider to be light enough, but I can't think of a single revolver I would recommend based on the stated criteria.

[Sharkbite]

Get her into a legit training class. Not a check the box CCW class, something that teaches good fundamental shooting techniques. Think Gunsite type class.

Then have her look at the Smith EZ series of guns (avail in 380, if thats her flavor)

[Shoots Left]

I know you're looking for a revolver option but when I think of a light trigger, I'm thinking single action in a revolver. I don't believe that's a good option IMO.

I can't think of any out of the box DA revolver that would be considered a light pull. My LCR, while smooth, would be considered to have quite a heavy trigger compared to an auto loader.

I have to agree with Sharkbite and suggest if a S&W EZ or a Ruger Security 380 might be the solution y'all are looking for.

My 2¢

[JasonD67]

The best, by far, DA (and SA) trigger I have used on a revolver is on my first gen Colt Python. Mine is a 6 inch barrel but they make it with a 2.5 barrel I see. That may be a lot more gun (cost-wise) than your wife may want, however. I carry a Ruger LCR in .327 mag and it's trigger is nowhere near as nice as the Colt...you get what you pay for.

[cecILL]

Might look at the S&W M&P Shield EZ.

380 or 9mm.

Super easy slide to rack.

[HighValleyRanch]

I would suggest the Smith 351PD with the hammer. It holds 7 rounds of .22 mag, potent enough for SD, light, easy to use. She could get good at single action and then learn double action. Lucky Gunner did a whole video on why this would be an excellent choice for self defense.

[micromontenegro]

Small revolvers tend to have triggers that lean to the heavy side. It's a matter of leverage

[HighValleyRanch]

Small revolvers tend to have triggers that lean to the heavy side. It's a matter of leverage

Yes, but small revolvers don't have a fat grip that holds a magazine, so women with small hands can get more finger on the trigger.

[Drm50]

Sounds like a job for J frame 38. No problem for women with small hands or older ladies with weak conditions in hands & fingers. No brainer operation and no confusing controls. My grandma who was born in 1897 lived in Pittsburg area her whole life. When she came to visit the little S&W 38 was in her purse.
Years of knitting and such had stoved up her hands. Family joke about the time a big barn owl flew into her wash hanging on line. It fouled up owls radar so bad it took a perch in peach tree in grannies yard. It made her mad by god and she got her pistol and plugged it. 38S&W not as powerful as 38sp. but made owl sick to death. Granny passed in 82 and I gave the S&W to my niece. She is a nurse and has been carrying it for 20yrs.

[Aguila Blanca]

Even a slicked-up S&W revolver is probably going to have a pull weight of around 10 to 12 pounds in double action mode. That's just not in a range I would consider to be "very lite."

I know the Professor asked about revolvers but, under the circumstances, I second the motion for a S&W M&P Shield EZ.

[Jim Watson]

Anecdote Alert
Armed Women #1 & 2 were considerately furnished double action revolvers by their menfolks.
They discovered that they were a lot easier to shoot if they pulled the hammer all the way back first. This set them up to clear a spooky house with a cocked revolver in hand.
AW#1 was startled by the cat and shot the bed.
AW#2 found no intruder and went to decock. She slipped and shot a hole in the floor.


AW#3 was furnished a Sig P239 DA/SA.
AW#4 bought a S&W 3913 because the salesman showed her it had "Ladysmith" written right on it.
They both developed a technique with both forefingers on the trigger to haul through the double action. They just left them both there for the transition to single action.

[HighValleyRanch]

I've never understood the revolver's world being so concerned about a cocked revolver with a 3 lb. trigger break, and the lack of the semi world's concern about a cocked 1911 with a 2.5 lb. trigger break.
Like the revolver is more likely to negligently discharge than the semi?
(Note: I edited the word "accidentally" to "negligently" to designate the shooter's error, not mechanical error)

[Prof Young]

I think my next course of action is to go to the LGS/range and have her pull some small revolver DA triggers.

We'll learn something from that and go from there.

Life is good.
Prof Young

[HighValleyRanch]

My Kimber K6 has the smoothest DA trigger of all the many revolvers that I've owned and shot. More of a "rolling" break than a glass wall break.

[wild cat mccane]

Or Walther PK/PD380

[Mike703]

What about shooting a revolver double action using both trigger fingers?

[Hellcat1]

Originally Posted by HighValleyRanch

My Kimber K6 has the smoothest DA trigger of all the many revolvers that I've owned and shot. More of a "rolling" break than a glass wall break.

You beat me to it. The trigger on my K6S is nice and smooth and light (relatively speaking). After buying it, I no longer felt that I needed the Colt Python or the S&W 626 that I had, and sold them both.

From Kimber's website:

"The world's lightest production 6-shot in .357 Magnum. This stainless steel revolver features superior ergonomics, smooth match-grade trigger, rubber grip and satin finish. The small yet strong 2 inch barrel has an elegantly engraved logo inlaid on the flawless stainless steel."

It goes on to say that the trigger pull is 9.5-11.5lbs., but my trigger sure feels a lot lighter than that.


Frank

[Ricklin]

Originally Posted by micromontenegro

Small revolvers tend to have triggers that lean to the heavy side. It's a matter of leverage

Small rimfire revolvers no thanks, leverage or more properly the geometry is unfavorable additionally rimfire needs a harder "whack" vs centerfire.
Consider the Beretta tip up barrel .32 semi auto of course, let her choose it. The fairer sex does seem to gravitate to the small Beretta semi autos.

[ChuteTheMall]

Another vote for .22 magnum, either in S&W 351pd or LCRx, but only if she can learn to safely de-cock a cocked hammer. This isn't difficult, but must be done safely.

Rimfire revolvers have the heavy DA trigger pull, but in SA the triggers are quite light.
Single Action revolvers were good enough for self defense for a long time, lots of women shoot cowboy action shooting, and DA is not that much faster for self defense.

It's also the simplest and safest possible handgun, if decocking can be mastered.
And a modern DA/SA revolver with swing-out cylinder is easy to confirm whether it's loaded. Unlike the bottom-feeders.

And .22 magnum ammo is not that expensive, often $16 for a box of 50 at Walmart, so an occasional range trip can bust a lot of caps on a budget, without much recoil.

Compare that price to any .32 revolver ammo, if you can find some.

If she prefers a semi-auto, the S&W EZ .380 is the optimal choice. If she really, really prefers a smaller pocket pistol, either the Ruger LCP-ll .22 Lite Rack, or the Kel-Tec P-32 which hits like a brick thru a plate-glass window.

Rent several for her to try, let her decide, don't badmouth her choice unless it's seriously foolish. Happy wife, happy life, be proud of her decision.

[Hellcat1]

Another semi-auto to consider, and designed with women in mind along with those of us with hand strength/injuries in mind, is the Girsan MC14T. It's got a tip-up barrel, so no racking of the slide is necessary, and it's first shot double action, which makes it very safe to carry. It's basically a Beretta 86 Cheetah clone, and it comes in a number of different colors and finishes, starting at around $500. I've got one and love it. Here's a link: https://eaacorp.com/product/girsan-mc-14t-lady/




Frank

[Ricklin]

Just noticed that Girsan is in .380 thus I would want to rent one of those also for my blushing bride to try out. The Girsan looks rather wide through the grip, might do nicely to mitigate recoil. My LCP is a handful thanks to being a skinny gal.

[74A95]

Originally Posted by Ricklin

The Girsan looks rather wide through the grip, might do nicely to mitigate recoil.

Nope. It's a blowback gun and recoil is unpleasant in that design.

The S&W Shield EZ 380 is worth a close look. It has many appealing features, as explained in this article:

https://www.ssusa.org/content/smith-...aching-pistol/

[74A95]

Originally Posted by Prof Young

I think I made a mistake getting my not-gun-savy-wife a semi auto pistol. It's a Sig 365 chambered in 380. A fine carry gun but she has trouble pulling the slide and just doesn't know what to do when it doesn't fire. We'd need to spend a good deal more time at the range before she becomes proficient in semi-auto. She is not as fond of the range as I am but wants to carry and has taken the cc course.

So, I'm shopping for a lightweight, double action, short barrel revolver, with a very lite trigger pull. It should have a minimum caliber of 32, bigger would be better.

Please talk to me.

Life is good
Prof Young

For a semi- check out the S&W Shield EZ 380. They have many benefit, like shown in the link I just posted above.

For a revolver, the Ruger LCR has a very nice and somewhat lite double action trigger pull. It can be had in 32 caliber. In 327 Federal Mag it can shoot 32 H&R, 32 long and 32 short.

Consider also looking at S&W's new Ultimate Carry revolvers, which can also be had in 32 caliber. They offer a lighter trigger pull, and have awesome sights. Also, a gunsmith can reduce their trigger pull even more. A trigger kit from TK Custom will get the double action trigger pull to around 8 pounds.

https://www.smith-wesson.com/product...r-with-no-lock