[dasmi]

My mom has recently expressed an interest in going shooting with me.
Here is the issue.
She has pretty bad arthritis in her right hand. She needs a gun that isn't very heavy, doesn't have much recoil, but has a fairly large grip. My Service Six is too heavy, and even with .38 specials, has too much recoil.
Any ideas?

[Bear Gulch]

Lady smith 38. or Walther PPK.

[dasmi]

I refer you to the part of my post where I said my service six with .38 special had too much recoil for her.

[dakotasin]

an airweight 22, perhaps?

[dasmi]

Oh, one more thing, she had a hard time pulling the heavy double action trigger on my service six, so something with a light pull, or a single action would be best.

[Waffen]

Ruger Single Six in .22lr with .22mag interchangable cylinder.

[DarkKnight01]

Ruger mark II

[Dave Dembinski]

Is your mom interested in rifles? A single-shot .22 shouldn't be too tough to load for her, and won't kick hardly at all.

[dasmi]

She doesn't know it yet, but I'm also going to try and show her the virtues of a gun for home defense. I know a .22 isn't the best choice, but it's better than what she has now, which is two arthritic hands. So, I don't think a .22 single shot rifle would fit that mold.

[Waffen]

If for self defence, I change my responce to a Taurus "9shot" .22lr revolver of some kind. Nice big molded grips of a fullsize and a light recoil, and 3 more rounds in the cylinder than the Ruger, wich would be better for self defence. Also cheaper than the Ruger.

[dasmi]

Waffen, I just looked at those.
http://taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?model=94SS4&category=Revolver
that one would fit the bill nicely.
Keep those ideas coming folks.

[RyanM]

A Ruger 10/22 might be a good choice. Pretty light, easy to use, trigger isn't too heavy, etc. And for home defense, you could do a lot worse than 50 shots of .22 LR. High velocity 40 grain solids would penetrate people adequately, but pose a minimal danger to those outside the house. Only problem, with the arthritis, would be loading the magazines I think.

[dasmi]

I could load up a few mags for her. And I'm in california, so ten rounds of .22lr is the most the caring state goverment has allowed me to have.

[dasmi]

CRAP! None of those 9 round taurus revolvers are on the California Approved Firearms list. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

But the model 17 in .17 HMR are approved. I HATE CALIFORNIA!

[Waffen]

If you want to venture over to rifles, I would suggest a pump action .22lr such as the Winchester 62A or Taurus 62 , or Rossi 62 (both Taurus and Rossi being the cheaper knockoff's of the old Winchester 62.) Light pump action, tube fed mag. I learned on one when I was in first grade. 15+1 mag compacity I belive.

Sucks that Taurus is not approved. I can't see why. I would call up cali fish and game and see if that list is just not updated or something. Thats just stupid the 17 version would be accpeted but not the .22lr. Maby the mag compacity. If it were me and I couldn't get the Taurus, I would try to find a good used Ruger Single Six.

[dasmi]

It's up to date. And it's not the fish and game people, it's the CA DOJ.

If anyone wants to have a look, it's right here.
http://justice.doj.ca.gov/safeguns/safeguns_new.taf

[DarkKnight01]

for home defence id get her either a 4/10 or a 20 gauge... plenty power to stop and intruder, in a simple pump action style or a double barrel either side by side or over and under... Theres something about those nice over and unders... I have a strange draw to them..

[Sharps Shooter]

How about one of those ultra-lite Taurus .32 H&R Magnums? The titanium one's are ported and I wouldn't think they'd have much recoil. They're DA/SA to boot.

[Waffen]

Thats insane that a .22lr revolver is banned from CA. There is a reason god put california on a fault line.

[dasmi]

It's banned because Taurus didn't want to pay to have it certified.
In california, every model gun a manufacturer makes must be tested for drop safety and other things. For example, let's say I make a 9mm double action semi auto. I get the polymer model approved. I make a green polymer model. I have to get that one approved seperately from the black. I release a .40 S&W version in black. Have to get it tested. In green, have to get it tested. And so on and so forth. Yes, California really does require new certification even if you make a cosmetic change to your gun modles. You can see how manufacturers would just get sick of dealing with California.

[mustanger98]

This is just me, but for home defense, get her a 20guage double barrel. It'll be simple to use. I'd consider a shotgun easier for artheritic hands to get around and hold too. How many of those are PRK certified?

[dasmi]

For shotguns, I believe as long as it doesn't have a pistol grip, it's fine in CA.

[mustanger98]

Okay, I'd suggest a "coachgun" if the 18.5" barrel length is legal. The short barrel gives an advantage indoors. Get her some #3 Buckshot in 2 3/4" (that's what I've found for 20guage); I don't think they'll kick too hard for her when the adrenaline's dumping. (Shoot low brass otherwise.) She may be a little sore the next day, but if it saves her life that'll be the least of any of your worries.

[dakotasin]

None of those 9 round taurus revolvers are on the California Approved Firearms list.


s&w makes/did make a 10-shot 22 revolver. full size gun and grips. might look into that.

as for home defense, let her come to her own conclusion. teach her to shoot whatever, explain to her pros and cons of self defense/home defense platforms, and let her get what she wants.

[dasmi]

Ok, update.
Talked to my mom last night, she has decided she'd like a rifle, because she used to shoot pellet guns with her dad as a kid, and is more familiar with a long gun platform. So, .22 rifle it is. I'm looking for a used 10/22 or something similar in local shops now. Don't want to spend more than $200 dollars, semi-auto would be best, so she doesn't have to manipulate the action with her weak hand.

[Sharps Shooter]

Hey Dasmi,
Is your Moms hand well enough to pull back the bolt on a 10/22? If not, a little pump action of some kind might work well for her. :)

[dasmi]

Hmm. Never thought of that, and I've never shot a 10/22 myself. I guess her and I will have to take a trip to some gun shops this weekend.

[GigaBuist]

Since you're in CA what about a Marlin 60 instead of a Ruger 10/22? It'll hold 14 rounds instead of the CA approved 10 round mag. That is, presuming that a 14 round tube-fed .22LR isn't a danged assault weapon in CA.

Outside CA I'd say a Saiga .410 would be wonderful. Then again, if the CA ban on Kalishnakov designs only extends to rifles and not shotguns maybe you've got an option there. Loading and unloading a .410 mag sounds MUCH easier than handling .22LR rounds with arthritic hands. Given the nature of the bolt handle on an AK type design she should be able to pull it with a cupped hand OR ram it on the headboard/doorframe/etc.

[JohnKSa]

Pistols:

For an easy to shoot and operate pistol, it's hard to beat the Colt Govt .380 . It's a locked breech design so recoil is much reduced compared to most .380 pistols. Also, as a result of the design, the recoil spring is much lighter than normal for a .380.

You might also look into getting a used Glock 19 and having a .380 barrel made for it. Then put in a lighter recoil spring and you'll have a very easy to operate and very low recoil 16 round pistol.

I would think a small single action revolver in .22 or .22 mag would be pretty easy to shoot and not too heavy.

Rifles:

Lever action .22 rifle might be the easiest to work--maybe a 96/22 Ruger. The mag is very easy to load.

You could also look into a lever rifle in one of the popular cowboy action calibers--on the low end of the power scale. A bit more oomph than a .22 but still very easy to load and shoot, I would think.

You might try out a 9mm carbine if the cocking handle isn't too hard to work. I haven't played with many of them, but they're easy to shoot and would be a bit better for self-defense than a 22.

[bukijin]

mustanger98 has the right idea.

20g double barrel shotgun is the way to go I think. Don't make things too complicated for her !

[mustanger98]

Well, while I still like the idea of the 20guage double barrel, I wouldn't write it in stone as the only way for everybody. Reading that she's leaning towards a rifle, if I knew M1 Carbine was PRK-legal (yeah, right; probably on the assault weapons list) I'd recommend that she look at one of those too, provided a reliable one were available.

[realmswalker]

m1 carbine is cali legal

[MassHunter2190]

I'd second the marlin over the Ruger. I have both in 10/22 and have found that the marlin is lighter, more accurate, and less expensive. If i were you I think I'd pick up something like this. (http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/selfLoading22wClipMag/795.htm) You could load the clips for her, then all she has to do is slam a clip in, chamber it, and start blasting away. Not sure price-wise, but i'm pretty sure if u did some shopping around you could find one under 200. Only 4.5 pounds too. Just my input.