[P. Plainsman]

Mom got a gun after her house was broken into, and we go shooting together once a month or so. It's a great mother-son activity.

Her gun is a S&W 642, which some gun shop guy convinced her to get. It's a fine piece (frankly, I covet it ;)), but it's a CCW, not a home defense gun. She's never been really accurate with it.

She shoots much better with my Ruger GP100 (with .38s), and we just found out she also shoots my SIG P220ST much better. Seriously, she got a couple of nice groups at 7 yards with that P220. She finds both of the aforementioned guns a bit heavy but manageable. However, she can't rack the P220ST's rather heavy slide.

Based on these observations, I'm thinking she might do better with a somewhat larger weapon, and perhaps a shell-shucker in lieu of a wheelgun. She's interested in the idea.

We'll have to shop around, maybe rent, and she'll have to pick what works for her. But I'd like to come up with a reasonable list of three or four to look at. Again, this is for a nightstand gun, not a CCW gun.

Here are my criteria:

- single-stack (for ergonomic reasons)

- compact but shootable dimensions; 25 to 35 oz

- a DA/SA trigger of pretty good quality; she shoots better with the SA follow-ups, but likes the safety of the DA first shot on my SIG

- excellent reliability

- no more than $600 new

- slide can be racked by a middle-aged woman of fairly small stature

- magazines that aren't a pain to load (I have ruled out Glocks, partially on this basis)

Optional criteria that would be nice, but aren't necessary:

- 9mm is preferred; she can shoot .45 but seems to be more comfortable with lighter rounds

- made of steel and/or alloy, not plastic

- U.S. made

- external safety

I'm taking a good look at the S&W 908S. Is that a good bet? Other thoughts?

Thanks for your help. Nothing's set in stone here; maybe a new autoloader along these lines won't prove to be the best solution for her. But it's an option worth exploring, and as I said, she's expressed some interest in changing her equipment.

[gazpacho]

Sig P239 is the only handgun that I know of that meets your criteria.

I've talked with a few LEOs who liked their duty S&W automatics, but no civilians. (i.e. second hand information)

If you can consider a few Double Stacks I'd recommend:

Springfield Armory XD-9 4" or 5"
CZ P-01

Or is .38 Special +P is okay:

S&W Model 10
Taurus Model 85

158gr +P LHPSWC is a good SD round

[P. Plainsman]

The SIG P239 is a good suggestion, though we're pushing my price ceiling. What does the slide spring feel like?

The only SIG I know well is my excellent P220ST. It has a rather heavy spring, but I am given to understand that it is atypical of SIGs in this regard.

If she ends up sticking with a wheelgun, I agree, the Model 10 would be a strong choice. More weight, more barrel, better grips, an extra shot, and still compact and handy. Hard to argue with the reliability. (I am trying to be evenhanded. I'm a revolver guy myself, but the DA trigger stroke isn't for everyone.)

[Majic]

She will probably have trouble with all the slides till she build strength or learn new techniques. Try teaching her to hold the slide in her weak hand and push the pistol with the strong. It is much easier that way.

[Ala Dan]

If slides are a problem, resort to the Smith & Wesson model 10.
Most folks handle these really well, especially with patience and
LOTS of practice. ;) :cool: :D I even have a 2" factory nickel
pinned barrel S&W model 10, that sometimes gets pressed into
service.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Tomac]

While it doesn't meet a number of your criteria there's a Beretta .380 (model # escapes me) that has a tip-up bbl for loading/unloading so racking the slide is no longer an issue.
Tomac

[nero45acp]

SIG P225

Though not within your parameters I'd also suggest you consider a S&W 65LS.


nero

[Preacherman]

Another STRONG recommendation for the SIG P225, if you can find one. CDNN had some reconditioned ones for a pretty reasonable price recently - might be worth giving them a call.

[Yowza]

I don't know how easy it would be to find one, but a used S&W Model 39 sounds like it would fit your criteria perfectly. My dad's got one and it has a very comfortable grip, very nice DA/SA trigger, alloy frame so it's pretty light. It uses eight round single stack magazines that are very easy to load. As far my experience goes, my dad's has been very reliable. Unfortunately they haven't been made for many years so finding one to look at could be a problem.

The Sig P225 would be a good choice too. I like mine a lot.

Rick

[Aahzz]

The S&W 908S is what I was going to recommend, or else a 3913 (essentially the same gun - 908 has a few less frills). My wife has a 908 for her van gun, I carry a 3913. Excellent little 9's - easy to shoot, accurate, reliable. Easy slide to rack. Single stack, fits most hands well. Decent price - used 3913's can be found pretty dang cheap, new 908S is not expensive either.

[ACP230]

Buy a copy of Shotgun News and look at the ads from J&G Sales, KY Imports and CDNN. They all have cop turn-in pistols are reasonable prices at the moment.

I've bought several ex-cop guns and they've all worked well. Blue wear was common but they all have shot well.

[foghornl]

If "Mom" has trouble racking a slide, then something along the lines of a GP-100 is a darn good choice...Nothing wrong with a working Model 10, either. First centerfire revolver I ever shot was a 4" Model 10 in the Skinny-Barrel guise.

OR, maybe one of the older series Ruger DA .38's/.357's.... Speed/Service/Security Sixes are readily available in the 'previously owned' market.

[TheEgg]

I have found that a very large percentage of non-gun people who take up handguns late in life seem to have a MUCH easier time using revolvers. I have helped a lot of folks acquire and learn to use handguns after decades of not even thinking about it -- these folks seem to stumble pretty bad when confronted with a pistol. They simply are not going to put in the work to get comfortable with one.

My Mom (77 years young!) uses a Ruger GP-100 Stainless with 6" bbl., loaded with full boat magnum loads.

She simply "gets" wheelguns, but is hopeless with an autoloader.

She keeps the Ruger loaded in her roll top desk -- I pity any intruder that takes her on --- she can really work that thing. :)

[P. Plainsman]

Good thoughts all around, folks. Thanks.

My Mom (77 years young!) uses a Ruger GP-100 Stainless with 6" bbl., loaded with full boat magnum loads. . . . She keeps the Ruger loaded in her roll top desk
Now that is pretty cool.

[TheEgg]

:D

My Mom is about as cool as it gets. She comes from a long line of southern "Steel Magnolias". Her mom got to Texas riding on a covered wagon coming from Lousiana (She passed on a few years ago at 101 years old. We are not sure if it was the chewing tobacco or the fried foods that cut her life short. :p ) Anyway, my mom and all of her sisters are all in their 70's or 80's and will work most people a third of their age into the ground. One aunt will have nothing to do with guns. Another (82 I think) actually has a semi-auto AK-47 stashed in her closet!!!!!!!!! No kidding!

[trickyasafox]

a used mossberg with the shortest legal barrel in your area with light loads. you could even grab her a 20 guage. she might not rack a pistol slide well, but i dont know of anyone who cant rack a shotgun. it'd be a nice companion to her current pistol too.

little unorthodox, but she'll probably shoot it better then any pistol :cool:

[BucksDC]

How about a Walther P99. Very slim ergonomic double stack. Easy mag release. Fairly light. Good long double action pull. Only reason I mentioned it is because I gave my mom my P99. I didn't care for it, but she really took to it.
Yes, I too shoot with my mommy :D

[Black Majik]

Have your mom try out the 1911 platform. I've found many females like the 1911 platform due to the single stack and easy pointability of the firearm.

My recommendations as follows:
1) Colt Commander NRM. All steel, very reliable, and no frills/foo foo home defense gun
2) Colt Lightweight Commander. I'm sure you can find a slightly used one for around $600 or so
3) SW 1911Sc (scandium), its a lightweight commander sized 1911. Around $750 new, so might have to look around for a used one. Again, with some looking around I'm sure you'll be able to find one in your price range.

Good luck.

[Surefire]

The only SIG I know well is my excellent P220ST. It has a rather heavy spring, but I am given to understand that it is atypical of SIGs in this regard.

My Sig 220 ST also has an incredibly heavy spring. I think maybe this is inherent in this model, and another buddy of mine also reports a very heavy spring in his 220 ST.

All my 9mm Sigs have much lighter springs.

[Pointman1776]

Some excellent replies on this thread!

May I recommend:
CZ-P01 (designed for men and women officers in European police departments...outstanding ergonomics, weight, balance, feel, factory trigger pull, decocker DA/SA, has rail for night-light/laser, grips designed to also fit women with smaller hands, easier mags to load (especially with HKS mag loader), etc. etc. etc.). Around $475-$500. The choice of elite police forces world wide.

Also, Sig P239; or perhaps a P228 or P229, especially if she likes your P220. (Might find P226 a little large). Also comes with decocker DA/SA, options for rail, great ergos, weight, balance, feel, trigger pull, grips, etc. etc. The choice of elite goverment departments and military forces world wide.

Nothing else comes close in DA/SA imo.

re: P220 spring...first thing I did after the first time I shot it was replace the spring...BIG difference.

[Jammer Six]

Here are my criteria:
What is it about guns that turns women into such helpless creatures? Why can't women who shoot choose their own equipment?

Don't tell your mother how to $%*@.

[P. Plainsman]

Essaying a polite reply, I'll say that I'd do the same if my uncle expressed dissatisfaction with a gun he owned. I am more into guns than he is, I know more about them (though still far from everything), and I spend a lot more time shooting and gathering information. Similarly, when I have to buy a new car, I will probably rely heavily on some of my relatives, who know a lot about cars, to help me narrow it down to a manageable list.

Then I will test-drive them and see which one fits me best.