The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Handguns => Topic started by: Rastus on April 05, 2009, 09:14:29 PM
-
OK, I picked up a Taurus M94UL snubbie for my Mom who has rheumatoid arthritis and who needs a very light gun. It's ultralite 22LR and box says M94UL for the model number...which stumps me I didn't know they had a 94. Anyway, I need springs or to send it to someone to dress up three things at a minimum:
1. Double action trigger pull--no way she can ever use it...this thing has got to be 12-15 lbs (I'll measure it later but it's no good, trust me).
2. Hammer travel---if she used it single action the hammer doesn't engage until it's almost touching the frame. Another no-no for someone with arthritis.
3. Single action trigger pull--If she could get the hammer back the single action pull is too strong...my Titanium Taurus breaks at 2 lbs in single action mode...this is closer to 7-8 lbs. I need to install one about 1/2 that but at least 3 lbs.
She can barely work the slide on the Walther P-22 I left her...hence the need for slicked up snubbie.
4. Lighten up the barrel a bit--Since this is a 22 LR...I think it could stand some fluting on the barrel to lighten it up even more.
Sources or suggestions????
-
RAS,
I don't have anyone to send it to BUT...............
I bought one for the GF last year. Same HEAVY trigger. Had a local guy work it (he is now gone), it is still a bit heavy on DA.
I would have the hammer replaced with something wider (easer on the thumb) and YES lighten the trigger.
It is a good, ACCURATE gun, 9 shots and the GF loves it.
-
RAS,
I don't have anyone to send it to BUT...............
I bought one for the GF last year. Same HEAVY trigger. Had a local guy work it (he is now gone), it is still a bit heavy on DA.
I would have the hammer replaced with something wider (easer on the thumb) and YES lighten the trigger.
It is a good, ACCURATE gun, 9 shots and the GF loves it.
I knew someone I knew had one that was good. Yes...you are absolutely right it needs a hammer replacement too.
-
I knew someone I knew had one that was good. Yes...you are absolutely right it needs a hammer replacement too.
I haven't replaced the hammer yet.
If ya find one that fits let me know.
BTW I would say the DA is around 8 or 9 now and the SA is around 4 or 5.
-
OK, I picked up a Taurus M94UL snubbie for my Mom who has rheumatoid arthritis and who needs a very light gun. It's ultralite 22LR and box says M94UL for the model number...which stumps me I didn't know they had a 94. Anyway, I need springs or to send it to someone to dress up three things at a minimum:
1. Double action trigger pull--no way she can ever use it...this thing has got to be 12-15 lbs (I'll measure it later but it's no good, trust me).
2. Hammer travel---if she used it single action the hammer doesn't engage until it's almost touching the frame. Another no-no for someone with arthritis.
3. Single action trigger pull--If she could get the hammer back the single action pull is too strong...my Titanium Taurus breaks at 2 lbs in single action mode...this is closer to 7-8 lbs. I need to install one about 1/2 that but at least 3 lbs.
She can barely work the slide on the Walther P-22 I left her...hence the need for slicked up snubbie.
4. Lighten up the barrel a bit--Since this is a 22 LR...I think it could stand some fluting on the barrel to lighten it up even more.
Sources or suggestions????
I wish you'd posted this a couple weeks ago. I'd have given you a gun, a very light 30's era Smith snubby .32 that was badly out of time and not worth fixing because the chrome was funky, but still a good shooter and very light with about two pounds S/A on the trigger(somebody'd played with it). My basic thought, if you can afford it and if she's strong enough to work the slide, is to sell the taurus and get a semi instead. Buckmarks are nice and Gander Mt has several .22 autos on sale from $250- $350. I'm not trying to shill my Brownning Challenger, but I weighed it after reading your post. It weighs exactly 2 pounds 2 ounces and it it will go off if you sneeze hard at it. I don't have a trigger scale, but I would guess three pounds and very short pull. For anyone's mom's self defense I'll make a deal, and I mean that.
Fighingquaker13
-
Ras,
Looks like this?
(http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p78/hazcater/Guns/IMG_2748.jpg)
-
I second fightingquaker.....a good target-style .22lr like a Buckmark or a Mark III would be much easier on the trigger dept. than the Taurus (heavy trigger=reliable rimfire ignition). And the Ruger may be easier for her to load and shoot.
Besides....a 4-6" bbl. makes a .22lr a far better SD choice than a snub revolver....
-
I was looking up Wolff springs and the said that they don't recommend their reduced power springs for the model 94 (??).
So, my suggestion would be to have a 'smith polish up the internals and maybe cut a few coils. Polishing in the right places can work wonders, but should be done with caution. I did it some years ago to a brand new model 66 (larger frame) and it slicked up well for PPC matches.
From the Wolff site:
TAURUS Small Frame Revolvers
Includes Models:
73, 85, 605 (Not recommended for 94/941)
SHOOTER'S PAK - Reduced Power .
This pak contains 1 each 9 pound reduced power hammer spring and 1 each 6.5 and 9 pound reduced power trigger return springs allowing adjustment for lighter and smoother trigger and hammer action.
Stock No. 30151.....$ 7.89
http://www.gunsprings.com/1ndex.html
-
I was looking up Wolff springs and the said that they don't recommend their reduced power springs for the model 94 (??).
So, my suggestion would be to have a 'smith polish up the internals and maybe cut a few coils. Polishing in the right places can work wonders, but should be done with caution. I did it some years ago to a brand new model 66 (larger frame) and it slicked up well for PPC matches.
From the Wolff site:
TAURUS Small Frame Revolvers
Includes Models:
73, 85, 605 (Not recommended for 94/941)
SHOOTER'S PAK - Reduced Power .
This pak contains 1 each 9 pound reduced power hammer spring and 1 each 6.5 and 9 pound reduced power trigger return springs allowing adjustment for lighter and smoother trigger and hammer action.
Stock No. 30151.....$ 7.89
http://www.gunsprings.com/1ndex.html
i agree you need a gunsmiths opinion on it. i dont know much about smithery, but i know they can do things that i would consider magic to these firearms, find a friend or a friend of a friend who is a gunsmith and see what they think.
-
Guys, I think the customizing suggestions are nice, but what rastus is looking for is a self defense gun for an older lady who will be shooting it across the living room. Y'all are talking about more dollars in gunsmithing (by far) than he would lose in doing a trade on a semi-auto target pistol with a light trigger. I'm not saying this to sell him mine because there isn't a decent gun dealer out there who doesn't have a few used .22 pistols they aren't willing to horse trade on. And guess what, no X factor of how good was that gunsmith. Generally I am in favor of condoning crazieness when it comes to tweaking .22 and even hunting rifles. When it comes to SD however the basic rule of thumb is find something you like from the factory and don't let Cleetus mess with it! Just my .02.
FQ13
-
Yes, not to nit-pick, but it's usually easier for people with dexterity problems to operate a gun with a minimal manual of arms.
Usually too many controls on a semi for someone with arthritis (I've seen that in real life at the range) plus it may be hard to grasp a slide for chambering a round.
With either type gun the loading and unloading would be a little difficult, but since it is a self defense gun (I think ?), you hope one wheel-full is enough and that a re-load ain't needed. A mag change may be even more difficult. You are correct that a semi should be easier because of light trigger pull, but they also have a much different grip type and angle. They might not fit her hand well and slide manipulation for an arthritic may be impossible, even with lightened recoil springs.
Without knowing Rastus' Mom, it is hard to know about her specific capabilities so I based my opinion on the fact that he had already chosen a revolver instead of a semi-auto.
-
First time here; how about a tip-up barrel Beretta or copy? Usually decent triggers. I got my neighbor (77 yr. old 86 lb. lady with weak hands) a Smith M36 with an action job, wadcutters, and after I'd put 4-500 rounds through it after the action job with no failures. She handles is OK for bad-breath distance.
-
OK, I picked up a Taurus M94UL snubbie for my Mom who has rheumatoid arthritis and who needs a very light gun. ...
She can barely work the slide on the Walther P-22 I left her...hence the need for slicked up snubbie.
....
Semi's don't work too well with arthritis...or 79 year olds. She can't reliably operate the P-22...and it hurts to train so....snubbie....
Need to get the trigger really light.
-
Ras,
Looks like this?
Nope. 2" snubbie, blued.
An ultralite.
Other threads----P-22's, Buckmarks, Challenger III, Mosquito (Not that I'd let her have that for defense), MK III's...all out. I have all of those....she can't reliably operate the slide due to arthritis.
I don't mind spending the price of the gun with a smithey to make it run.
-
Why not get a Taurus .22 pistol with a tip up barrel? You don't have to rack the slide when you load it.
-
Why not get a Taurus .22 pistol with a tip up barrel? You don't have to rack the slide when you load it.
That's a good suggestion I should try it. I didn't think about the Taurus 22 because of a Berretta Tomcat we used to have. The Tomcat would be too hard for her to engage the barrel lock but the Taurus may be better.
The Tomcat was also ever ready to bite the hand of the person who fed it....quite nasty.
-
OK...I got the deal. Because of dry fire, the rimfire firing pins are a bit short, otherwise they would be damaged by dry fire. Now, I don't know the difference between centerfire and rimfire firing pins, but if the Taurus firing pin was a bit longer the lighter springs would work and you'd still get a positive ignition. S&W, as I understand, does the same thing but you can swap out a longer centerfire firing pin in it and lighten the action and get ignition. Can't do the swap in a Taurus....at least I haven't been able to find a longer firing pin.
Anybody got info on a longer firing pin for my Taurus?
-
Why not get a Taurus .22 pistol with a tip up barrel? You don't have to rack the slide when you load it.
Don't know about the firing pin set-up but in reference to the PT22, I just bought one because Taurus is going to go to a polymer frame for that pistol this year. I wanted to get one of the metal framed ones before they disappear. When I got it home and showed my wife, she wanted to try out the trigger pull. She also has arthritis and just wanted to see if she could still pull the trigger. She had NO problem with the trigger, but did have a hard time closing the barrel (she got it eventually).
-
Rastus, I've known you at least here, a long time, I will send you a Pm, and I would be glad to operate on this revolver for you, be it known that rimfires take more hammer force than pistol centerfire rounds, So cannot be as light as other revolvers.
I just lost 2 good friends, husband and wife, both shooters and hunters, they were in their 70's, after the husband died the wife of course was alone,but aware, she had spinal cancer and arthritis, her son gave her a model 17 Glock loaded, with a crimson trace laser grip, the barrel was already charged, so all she had to do was shoot, she could not work the slide, but it was already ready to go. My point is, you can prepare the pistol for her, no guarantee's, but the 1st one should do damage. The revolver I'll be glad to talk to you on the side, this is a difficult situation but not unresolvable. The action job would be free.
-
Rastus, I've known you at least here, a long time, I will send you a Pm, and I would be glad to operate on this revolver for you, be it known that rimfires take more hammer force than pistol centerfire rounds, So cannot be as light as other revolvers.
I just lost 2 good friends, husband and wife, both shooters and hunters, they were in their 70's, after the husband died the wife of course was alone,but aware, she had spinal cancer and arthritis, her son gave her a model 17 Glock loaded, with a crimson trace laser grip, the barrel was already charged, so all she had to do was shoot, she could not work the slide, but it was already ready to go. My point is, you can prepare the pistol for her, no guarantee's, but the 1st one should do damage. The revolver I'll be glad to talk to you on the side, this is a difficult situation but not unresolvable. The action job would be free.
Yet another reason you are a Ranger.
-
Rastus, I've known you at least here, a long time, I will send you a Pm, and I would be glad to operate on this revolver for you, be it known that rimfires take more hammer force than pistol centerfire rounds, So cannot be as light as other revolvers.
I just lost 2 good friends, husband and wife, both shooters and hunters, they were in their 70's, after the husband died the wife of course was alone,but aware, she had spinal cancer and arthritis, her son gave her a model 17 Glock loaded, with a crimson trace laser grip, the barrel was already charged, so all she had to do was shoot, she could not work the slide, but it was already ready to go. My point is, you can prepare the pistol for her, no guarantee's, but the 1st one should do damage. The revolver I'll be glad to talk to you on the side, this is a difficult situation but not unresolvable. The action job would be free.
I should have the new springs in mid-week... :D