girlfriend with a disability - revolver options?

For what it's worth, I am a one handed firearm user and my range allows me to use a support block (made from back stop material) to rack my handgun off the rear sight as long as the barrel is pointed downrange.
 
My wife shoots a 223 rifle and a 22lr Single Six. She out shoots me with both. A few years ago she had a very bad horse riding accident that broke hew shoulder and did some serious joint damage. She is very recoil sensitive, but with these calibers, she can shoot all day with no ill effects. She has tried shooting my 9mm pistol, and finds her shoulder hurts after a couple of shots.
Keep it mild with recoil and you will both have fun.
 
BCreserveMP said:
Hey all.

My girlfriend has rheumatoid arthritis in both wrists and in her left hand. She is right-handed. There are some things she cannot do, and racking a pistol slide easily is one of them. I think using a revolver wouldn't prhesent any problems.

She wants to go to the range with me but I don't own any wheel guns.

What do you guys recommend as an inexpensive "intro" revolver - preferably in 9mm because I have tons of ammo - that wouldn't be too difficult for her to operate? I want to stay with a smaller calibre because she is very small, and because a lot of recoil would probably hurt her wrist joints. So no Dirty Harry suggestions...
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Ok your GF needs as little felt recoil as possible. Fair enough, I am familiar with gout pain and that is similar to arthritis. She needs the least recoiling cartridge in the gun format that naturally delivers the least felt recoil.

I’d say go for a .22LR Single Action revolver.

The main reason is the grip shape of the old fashioned cowboy style single action, will allow the pistol to roll upward, instead of straight back like the grip shapes on double action revolvers.

By rolling upward, the much of the recoil (even a .22 does recoil, but lightly) is converted to an upward rotation of the pistol. The minimal felt recoil will keep your GF enjoying shooting for longer range trips.

A Ruger Beatcat might be a good fit for her.
 
lone ranger said:
Stop shooting. Yes, I said stop shooting.
My wife has the Same issue with her hands...
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Yikes that's scary. Noted.

My GF is 25 and pretty much has her condition under good management. Basically whatever condition her hand is in when she wakes up is what it'll be like all day. Obviously we would only go to the range on a "good" day. She is right-handed and I assume she would be a right-handed shooter. The arthritis is in her left hand, with only a little loss of range in her right hand (Ifi showed you a photo of her left hand it might make my explanation make more sense - The top of her hand - like the part between the wrist and the finger knuckles - is "bowed" backwards. It's basically the opposite of the shape you want to make when you grasp something like a slide). The problem comes with applying the strength with her left-hand to rack a slide. I don't think there would be any situation in which her left-hand would be expected to bear any weight, maintain grip, etc without assistance from the other hand. That said bearing in mind what you said I will be all over her when she shoots. After multiple CF pistol courses I'm kind of obsessed with safe handgun handling (as everyone should be!)
 
Lone Ranger gave you the best advice
If she has arthritis in both hands the impact of shooting anything but a FWB 65 will hurt her. Why would you do that? Sometimes life ailments prevent us from doing certain activities.


You can have just as much fun as shooting a pellet gun as a powder burner Plus they are more accurate

If you and she insists on shooting powdered guns then buy her a revolver that shoots 22 shorts. It’s the least impact round there is. Any centerfire and she will hate the sport.

There are 27 bones in the hand and the interface between each bone has a layer of cartilage which is often inflamed with arthritis
Why would you want to further aggravate and damage those joints by shooting a gun? That doesn’t really make a lot of sense to me.

Before anyone jumps all over me I am well experienced on this very topic and have personally had to give up many things In Life of which I absolutely enjoyed due to joint pain. Further more my profession is treating joint pain
 
Bc. Your GF lacks the dexterity needed to handle guns safely. You may be asking too much of her. Think that one through objectively. It’s no big deal if she can’t do it as I am sure there are many other things she can do very well. And if she can’t it’s NO BIG DEAL. Really. Your passion doesn’t need to be her passion. This truly can be a case where there is no good gun for her to shoot safely and comfortably. Wrist pain is NOT pleasant and aggravating it is not beneficial.
 
FWIW, after reading all the comments, for a wheelgun, S&W 17 or 617. It's a smith, it'll last for ever and, it's a Smith, Their triggers are second to none, it can be smoothed and will require less finger strength than anything else I can think of. Not the cheapest but probably the best in terms of value. My wife loves to shoot but, she lost the use of her dominant side because of a stroke. we use a little Walther 32/22 bullseye pistol now but, with 0 use of her right, loading etc is all up to me.
 
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