Best DA Revolver for DR

I want to improve my performance in Harry Reeves and (in future) Distinguished Revolver. I have medium hands with shortish fingers. I find it very difficult to thumb the hammer fast enough to get 4 accurate shots off SA during Rapid Fire stage.

I tried a K14-4 (but it had an 8" barrel so I sold it), the DA was smooth, but still very hard for me to be consistent using DA for RF.

Roddy suggested trying a Ruger SP101 which has a smaller frame and therefore fits my hand better, but I still have great difficulty with (the somewhat heavier) DA trigger and no easier for me to thumb the hammer. I'm bidding on another K14 6" barrel, but am wondering whether it is the right choice.

So, all you revolver experts out there, any suggestions on which 6" barrel 38/357 revolver has (or can be modified to have) the shortest, smoothest, lightest Double Action trigger? I'm not ready to pay ~$3.5k for a Manurhin/Korth/Python, but am open to pretty much any other suggestion.

M-14/k-38 is still the best for you. If you have small hands D/A probably isn’t best for you. A good revolver smith can reduce your hammer cocking to a very smooth manageable weight. Correct grip and hand position will help cocking S/A.

Find a PPC gunsmith, he can fix you up with  6# da pull and a legal Sa pull.

Dear Jim,

Thanks for the valuable advice - any suggestions on a PPC smith?

Maybe Len can help in Oregon. Michigan is a long way away.

I had a K-38/M-14 and a Colt OMM.  IMO the Colt OMM is easier to thumb in SA.   That's just my view and no actual objective quality evidence to back that up other than having owned both and used various grips with each.

I recommend using the model 14 and not using the "target" grips. There are a lot of smaller grips for the K frame that will fit your smaller hand better. Grips are cheap. Roddy works on my guns if I get a project I can't handle.

Len

These would/should work

Thanks Len. If/when I get a 14 I'll find some of those smaller grips. I might try carving up something custom to try to get my hand higher up closer to the hammer and as far forward in relation to the trigger as possible. 

I wasn't sure whether Roddy did Revolvers. I will see him on Tuesday and add to his work load!

Having had both, the model 14 is much, much easier to cock than my Ruger GP101. The more vertical angle is good for my hand, though  

I have a model 15 which has a stiffer hammer spring and a shorter hammer than the model 14, so not all K38 revolvers are the same.

I'd look for a K38 with designated target hammer, which is longer and broader with sharp serrations. I have medium sized hands and even with the larger target grips it's a short throw for the thumb up to cock it.

I could never maintain my grip and shoot SA in sustained fire.  I found SA for the first round and DA for the remaining 4 worked much better.  I had a PPC smith work on my trigger resulting in about a 6 1/2 lb DA pull.  Worked well for me.
Phil

I never shoot DA. But, then again. I cheat. Holding, gripping, keeping control is easier when the grips fit so you can tuck your little finger under the frame. This stops the revolver from being able to roll up in your hand and you don't have to "milk" to re-grip. Keep a firm grip if you like your pinky.  

J frame len??

S&W pistolsmiths?

Try Northern Virginia Gunworks in Springfield, VA. Sandy Garrett is one the best ever on revos.

Also MoJo Custom in Michigan.

Grips?

Check Brownell's for Bill Davis PPC grips.

If you are running those S&W small slab grips, then a Tyler Grip adapter will make them about a million % better, without making them feel larger.

+1 on Sandy. He’s done 2 wheel guns for me.

james r chapman wrote:J frame len??

With Len's paws that photo may actually be an "N" frame just showing an example of his grip.

Thanks to allgoodhits for the suggestions.

I found: http://www.billdavisenterprises.com/Adjustable-Stocks.html
And have ordered a set of bright orange grips - just to offend the purists!

More experimentation and practise now needed.

JayhawkNavy02 wrote:+1 on Sandy. He’s done 2 wheel guns for me.

Hopefully his work is better than his attitude. I stopped by his place to see about some work, since he’s literally right down the street from me. Maybe I caught him on a bad day, but he came across as a total asshole who didn’t want to give me the time of day.

mpolans wrote:

JayhawkNavy02 wrote:+1 on Sandy. He’s done 2 wheel guns for me.

Hopefully his work is better than his attitude. I stopped by his place to see about some work, since he’s literally right down the street from me. Maybe I caught him on a bad day, but he came across as a total asshole who didn’t want to give me the time of day.

You caught him on a good day, otherwise he may have thrown you out! Seriously, I have known him since 1976 and he has built many, many guns for me over those decades. He definitely has a bark and growl, but has a heart of gold and can do anything. He will not be the cheapest, he likely will not be the fastest, but there is no one as meticulous as Sandy and his son Robert. Both members of the Guild, and no one else works on things in their shop except them. He has built several one of kind guns for me and they are exceptional in every way.....including cost!

Martin

This is with the N frame. I made a video of thumbing the hammer but I guess it is too long. I will keep playing with the idea. 

Allgoodhits wrote:You caught him on a good day, otherwise he may have thrown you out! Seriously, I have known him since 1976 and he has built many, many guns for me over those decades. He definitely has a bark and growl, but has a heart of gold and can do anything. He will not be the cheapest, he likely will not be the fastest, but there is no one as meticulous as Sandy and his son Robert. Both members of the Guild, and no one else works on things in their shop except them. He has built several one of kind guns for me and they are exceptional in every way.....including cost!

Martin

Martin,

You have it exactly right.  If you're looking for a hug, Sandy's not your guy, and honestly, neither is Dave Sams and who cares. I'm not there to small or talk.  Sandy did all 3 of my kids Sporter rifles, saved a family Colt Woodsman that was beat up by machining his own parts and it meant a lot He also did the best trigger on any revolver I've ever handled for my DR. I can't mention how many times he took care of me on short notice while I was shooting in VA. Another one of the very talented Gunsmiths we're blessed to have supporting us.

Ha, reminds me of the time that Jack Best made me cry.

(In his defense, he was correct that I hadn't cleaned my .45. In my defense, I was 13 years old.)

john bickar wrote:Ha, reminds me of the time that Jack Best made me cry.

(In his defense, he was correct that I hadn't cleaned my .45. In my defense, I was 13 years old.)

Dang! Jackie was a pretty nice guy, but my 45 was clean lol
Jon

Jon Eulette wrote:

john bickar wrote:Ha, reminds me of the time that Jack Best made me cry.

(In his defense, he was correct that I hadn't cleaned my .45. In my defense, I was 13 years old.)

Dang! Jackie was a pretty nice guy, but my 45 was clean lol
Jon

Mine have been clean ever since then

LenV wrote:I recommend using the model 14 and not using the "target" grips. There are a lot of smaller grips for the K frame that will fit your smaller hand better. Grips are cheap. Roddy works on my guns if I get a project I can't handle.

Len

Agreed. Another benefit is that the non-target grips are recessed behind the trigger deeper, allowing you to get a deeper grip on the gun.

I've modified a JM grip or two to get the same effect.