Revolver for arthritic hands

Huckleberry · Aug 29, 2018

You want a revolver and mention DAO but won’t that trigger pull be more taxing along with working reloads from a speed loader or strip bad thumbs?

What about a Glock 17 or 19 with a slide assist charging handle? Easier trigger pull than a DAO or DA 1st shot. Lighter slide action than a 1911 with a 18-22# recoil spring. And more than enough rounds in the mag to not have to worry about a reload in most SD/HD senarios.

imaoldcowhand · Aug 30, 2018

I mentioned a DAO just as an side note. I was looking for
suggestions such as yours trying to conclude if it was feasible to entertain that idea.

I’ve had lots of semi auto suggestions, but in reality, I guess I’m tired of trying to work slides and filling magazines. This is more taxing on my hands than I think a revolver would be.

I’ve spoken to other people who have had the same surgery as I, and they all said that they have lost some strength and mobility in their hand(s). My doctor also told me that I would loose some strength due to the removal of the tendon half way down my forearm to my thumb joint. That tendon was used to replace the arthritic bone that was removed. It’s about a 12 week recovery time for the tendon to adhere to the surrounding bone to cushion the joint. I’ve been in a hard cast and now a soft cast for 7 weeks, still have at least 6 more weeks to go before I can take the soft cast off and no more physical therapy.

So working my semi auto Colt is out of the picture for now, couldn’t if I wanted/needed to. Before the operation I could hardly work the slide on my Colt as it was. And I personally don’t like the idea of a cocked and locked semi auto. IF I found myself needing it, I’d probably shoot myself picking it up and working the safety. The old hands and body just ain’t what it used to be.

I’m giving up on 12ga pump shotguns too, and am looking for a 20ga semi. Working the pump shotgun is hell on the elbow and shoulder.

I don’t ever see myself having to reload in a home defense situation. And “I” think 5-6 rounds of 38+p is all that I would need.

It may come down to not being able to shoot at all in the future.

Sorry for being so long winded. Sometimes I get carried away.

imaoldcowhand · Aug 30, 2018

Huckleberry said:
You want a revolver and mention DAO but won’t that trigger pull be more taxing along with working reloads from a speed loader or strip bad thumbs?

As for, “more taxing” on a trigger finger, that’s one finger not the hand itself. Besides I don’t ever see myself using the hammer, which would be more taxing on my thumb joint, to shoot SA.

sxs · Aug 30, 2018

Glaron said:
Depends on your specific concerns.

I know someone that had a gunsmith reduce trigger pull to make it easier...

You do have to be careful with that. Lighten it too much and it might not go bang reliably.

Redcobra · Aug 30, 2018

Interesting thread, in that I had the same problem. I had gout in my right wrist and finger joints so bad it caused damage to the joints and is very painful most of the time. So bad I can't shoot a pistol without major pain and further joint damage, so I took my pistols and revolvers to an IP for consignment sale. Looks like shoulder fired only is my future.
Can't even really make a fist on the right.

imaoldcowhand · Aug 30, 2018

Redcobra. Sorry to hear this. I know and understand your problem well.
Like I said in an earlier post, I had to give up the motorcycle, and now maybe guns too. Could be my 10/22 is all I'll have to shoot.

kaliroger · Sep 7, 2018

There are hand creams that provide temporary relief from pain, maybe just enough to let you enjoy shooting your pistols...

You are right to stay away from opioids (aka Fentanyl), besides being bad for you they are expensive and you'll need higher and higher dosage over time...

TheBert · Sep 8, 2018

kaliroger said:
There are hand creams that provide temporary relief from pain, maybe just enough to let you enjoy shooting your pistols...

You are right to stay away from opioids (aka Fentanyl), besides being bad for you they are expensive and you'll need higher and higher dosage over time...

I have arthritis in my hands, feet and neck. The only thing that relieves the pain is taking Mobic, I call it a wonder drug. However, my cardiologist has me on Celebrex for internal inflammation seen on my blood tests. I would really like to get back on Mobic due to it being better than Celebrex.

imaoldcowhand · Sep 8, 2018

kaliroger said:
There are hand creams that provide temporary relief from pain, maybe just enough to let you enjoy shooting your pistols...

You are right to stay away from opioids (aka Fentanyl), besides being bad for you they are expensive and you'll need higher and higher dosage over time...

I do use Asperecreme which does provide temporary relief.

TheBert said:
I have arthritis in my hands, feet and neck. The only thing that relieves the pain is taking Mobic, I call it a wonder drug. However, my cardiologist has me on Celebrex for internal inflammation seen on my blood tests. I would really like to get back on Mobic due to it being better than Celebrex.

My cardiologist is not as lenient when it comes to medications. He does not want to take a chance on more damage to my defective heart valve and thinning aorta. Although he does leave the final say up to me, he does however give me all the facts about it.

Bob A · Sep 10, 2018

Arthritis in hands can be temporarily ameliorated by immersion in a paraffin bath.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031940605609637

These devices are readily available commercially. It might be possible for a physician to prescribe; possibly covered by Medicare.
If I had that level of dysfunction, I'd probably give it a try. As a remedy, it has been in use for generations.

John from MD · Sep 10, 2018

Bob A said:
Arthritis in hands can be temporarily ameliorated by immersion in a paraffin bath.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031940605609637

These devices are readily available commercially. It might be possible for a physician to prescribe; possibly covered by Medicare.
If I had that level of dysfunction, I'd probably give it a try. As a remedy, it has been in use for generations.

There are slip on covers filled with beads that are heated in the micro wave also. These are much cheaper than the paraffin baths. I have them and they are fast to use and do give temporary relief.

Redcobra · Sep 10, 2018

imaoldcowhand said:
Redcobra. Sorry to hear this. I know and understand your problem well.
Like I said in an earlier post, I had to give up the motorcycle, and now maybe guns too. Could be my 10/22 is all I'll have to shoot.

Get an M1 Carbine.......

Bob A · Sep 10, 2018

John from MD said:
There are slip on covers filled with beads that are heated in the micro wave also. These are much cheaper than the paraffin baths. I have them and they are fast to use and do give temporary relief.

Interested to read of those gloves, and pleased that they brought you relief.

One possible concern would be temperature control. Paraffin bath is thermostatically monitored, while microwave is dependent on your personal skin sensors.

My wife has a sort of tubular bag filled with something, it think might be nut shells, used for back problem. It can get quite hot; she always interposes a dampened towel between the bag and her body. (Moist heat is the way to go for musculoskeletal relief.)

John from MD · Sep 10, 2018

The mittens have the same thing, a cloth that you moisten. One of the reasons that I didn't go with the wax melters is that you have to plan ahead as it can take 20 minutes to melt.

ohen cepel · Sep 10, 2018

To the OP's question, .38/357 is a great option but I would also look into the .32 family. Maybe a .327 which will let you shoot 32acp, 32S&W, and 32Mag.

imaoldcowhand · Sep 14, 2018

fidelity said:
I have the 2- and 3-inch revolver from them. I actually shoot the 2-inch one better, but that's likely due to the different grips. I was carrying the 2-inch K6S (with hot 38 Special +P loads from Underwood) last week when in Virginia. 357 Mag is a bit more jumpy out of this gun, and the short barrel results in a lot of flash and probably minimal gains in velocity over hot 38 Special +P rounds. I love the compactness of this gun as a small 6-shooter, and the DA trigger pull is very smooth.

I also find both the new Colt Cobra (2017 release) and Ruger SP101 to be straightforward to shoot well (at 7 - 10 yard distances) with even double action trigger pulls. They both have exposed hammers so can be cocked to SA. I've carried both, and with the SP101 that has the 3-inch barrel, I'll have it loaded with 357 Mag. The SP101 absorbs the recoil well. It does have trade-offs in that it is a 5-shooter and is heavier, but it is a slim revolver that conceals easily. I think it's one of the better values for a quality, capable handgun in the current production, small revolver market.

View attachment 240950

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Do you use any ammo advertised as use in short barreled revolvers?

fidelity · Sep 14, 2018

imaoldcowhand said:
Do you use any ammo advertised as use in short barreled revolvers?

For 38 Special, for my wife for home defense, we have the loads on the left in the picture below (albeit from a 2-inch barrel Colt Cobra or a 4-inch barrel S&W Model 64 - both are easy to get on target). For me, the loadings on the right (irrespective of barrel length). Top box on the right is from Underwood, and meant to be a round for woods carry. For normal city carry, I might use to bottom right Hornady as well as a 125gr bonded HP (like Speer Gold Dots) from Underwood. The Underwood loads kick a bit harder than typical 38 Special rounds.

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John from MD · Sep 14, 2018

fidelity said:
For 38 Special, for my wife for home defense, we have the loads on the left in the picture below (albeit from a 2-inch barrel Colt Cobra or a 4-inch barrel S&W Model 64 - both are easy to get on target). For me, the loadings on the right (irrespective of barrel length). Top box on the right is from Underwood, and meant to be a round for woods carry. For normal city carry, I might use to bottom right Hornady as well as a 125gr bonded HP (like Speer Gold Dots) from Underwood. The Underwood loads kick a bit harder than typical 38 Special rounds.

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That's sexist! :rolleyes:

fidelity · Sep 14, 2018

John from MD said:
That's sexist!

She hates recoil. She's perfectly capable with regular 38 Special in my opinion, but in my enthusiasm, I moved her up to shooting 357 from her 686, and she immediately gave me a frown and said "I don't like it." After that, she just wanted to stick with the mellowest 38 Special loads. I'm happy to occasionally get her to the range and wasn't going to argue.

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John from MD · Sep 14, 2018

My wife used a 686 for years with 38 special hand loads and periodically stayed proficient with .357 defensive loads. It fit her hands perfectly and she loved it.

Fast Forward, partially paralized in a wheelchair, she doesn't shoot anymore. Life is a bitch sometimes. :mad54:

Revolver for arthritic hands

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