[ihopewewin]

Recently there's been a some what credible increase in danger for my family. I currently have a 870 supermag for HD for ME but my mother is going to considering a gun for herself(she can't use the 870 about to state why). She's 51 years old and had multiple surgerys on her shoulders and has pretty bad arthritis in her hands. This has made holding up the 870 pretty difficult and when we go to shoot skeet she'll only shoot once or twice. I'm looking for a pistol that she can fire and would be comfortable practicing with. I'm asking you if you HAD to buy a HD pistol in a very low caliber (.22-.38sp) what would it be? I know the consequence's of a caliber that low but she just can't handle the recoil of anything much higher. Just 1 or 2 shots from the 870 with birdshot gives her a really sore shoulder. Preferably something with a pretty high capacity. I know the amount of bullets fired does not make up for bad accuracy but with a caliber that low she may need alot of shots to stop the threat. I'm already set on everything besides the pistol. Keep the house locked, alarm on, 105pound shepards well fed etc. But I just need help finding her a pistol that she can comfortably shoot and practice with. Size doesnt really matter because this will be nothing but a HD gun it does not need to be concealed. From what she's said it doesnt matter if it's a revolver or not but I would like a list so I can show her and maybe take her to rent a few to see what she likes best. (Wrote this in a hurry the situation happend today and kind of put us in a bad spot may be editing if I forgot something). Thank you very much for any time put into helping my family find a firearm. :)

[LT1coupe]

A full size steel 4" or longer barrel .38 revolver, no safety, just pull the trigger or something like a sig DAK P229 or P239 in 9mm. There is enough weight on those the felt recoil is very mild.

[VHinch]

A full size steel 4" or longer barrel .38 revolver

Agreed. Can't go wrong with a 4" model 10.

Not really a S&T question though.

[ihopewewin]

I'm sort of leaning towards the revolver side(I was just thinking of jams etc.) not to mention ease of use. Plus I think she'll have an easier time with an (old fashion) revolver then a polymer killing machine:neener:.

[ZombiesAhead]

.38sp is not a "very low caliber" at all. It's only slightly less than 9mm (in non +p).

If you're open to .38sp, get a K-frame Smith and Wesson revolver. A slightly less powerful caliber would be the .380 - still decent stopping power and available in autoloaders with higher magazine capacity.

But if you're willing to go .38sp, you might as well look at 9mm and then you are pretty much open to all sorts of autoloaders.

[retgarr]

Well can she already be accurate enough with the 870? If so then maybe defending against a robber is worth a sore shoulder.

[Exmasonite]

My bersa .380 is a great gun. my wife loves shooting it (.45 and .40 rattle her too much, 9mm is ok. if she shot more she would be able to handle all, i think).
anyways, very reliable, accurate little gun. can be bought new for < $300 .380 is the 9mm's little brother.

but that being said, get her to a shop to handle different guns and find what fits her best and then get her some TRAINING!

[GRIZ22]

A full size steel 4" or longer barrel .38 revolver, no safety, just pull the trigger

Another vote for the same.

[ihopewewin]

Retgarr the problem with the 870 is that i'm worried about followup shots she can't really hold the gun up that long without extreme difficulty/pain. Not to mention if she had to keep the gun drawn down on someone she would have to constantly let it rest back down which would IMO make her look like a weak target to attack if she can't even keep the gun up.

[CaptMac]

Buy her a FN 5.7 if she is recoil sensitive.

[Chuckulator]

Don't forget the Berettas with the tip-up barrels. They are often recommended for people in your mother's situation.

[Treo]

My vote is for a CZ-82 9x18 12+1 capacity DA very mild recoil, reasonable price.

[doc2rn]

Something in .32 H&R mag would be better if she is arthritic. SP101 or an old detective S&W. Stay away from the feather weight models.

[Wheeler]

Any good quality .38 or .357 revolver, if she is extremely recoil sensitive, load it with .38 wadcutters. Being able to hit what she is shooting at is more important than caliber. A .32 Mag is a good round, actually more kinetic energy than a standard .38 but, ammo is stupidly expensive making it a costly alternative to practice with. As stated, you can pick up a decent quality Model 10 S&W for well under $300, ammo will run about $12-15 a box, unless you can hook up with someone that you trust that reloads.

Proficiency is the key. Don't get complacent because after 100 rounds down range, she was hitting the target pretty good. It's the first 6 that count.

Wheeler

[RoadkingLarry]

Go for the +P rated .38 spec revolver, you can get very mild loads for practice and then keep it loaded with a suitable defense load. She should also do some practice with the defense load.

[P95loser]

I'm going to disagree with pretty much everyone here... I would probably go with a Smith and Wesson Model 617 Revolver. It is a medium frame 22lr with 10 rounds. Use the hottest 22 load you can find and get a really good trigger job on the gun... I'm talking a really light pull. She would then have negligable recoil and miniscule effort to keep on target and lightly pull the trigger. What good is a 6 round 38 if she can only manage to pop of 2 rounds?

10 rounds of 22 will still kill a man.

Another option would be something along the lines of a ruger mark II or III with a single action trigger pull. Extremely accurate and 10+1 with light recoil.

Plus practice ammo is so cheap, she could shoot with it all day for 12 bucks.

[GigaBuist]

Based on what I've got in my collection... well...

For a low recoiling handgun suitable for HD I'd say a nice heavy Ruger pistol in .44Mag or .45 Colt would work. Just use some .44SP or .45 Colt "Cowboy" loads in it. Should be pretty docile.

That said, I'd probably find a shoulder fired weapon that she can shoot comfortably. A 10/22 maybe, a .357 lever gun with .38 specials, maybe a Saiga .410?

[Eightball]

One of those full-size beretta .380s might work here. Small grip, high capacity, "weaker" round, she might find it more managable than 9mm.

[CWL]

If she can shoot a shotgun twice, it'll do more damage than 6-8 shots from a .22 -.38. Being sore is worthwhile to being attacked.

I really think that a shotgun would be easier for her to control and shoot than any pistol if she has arthritis of the hands. Perhaps a .410 can lessen the recoil.

If you are dead-set on a pistol, the bigger the better so she can get a better grip on it. Any full-size revolver in .32 -.38. Teeny guns with tip-up features still aren't easy to hold or control for those with limited hand use.

[chris in va]

10 rounds of 22 will still kill a man.

2 hours later. Not much 'stopping power' to the caliber unless it hits the CNS.

[TAB]

Don't for get 22 mag.

[Harvster]

Like CWL said, I think a pistol is a poor choice, especially a small pistol. Pointing a shotgun is much easier and certainly more effective. And, if she can shoot it a couple times normally, then in an adrenaline situation I would think she could certainly handle a few shots. The other thing to look into is getting a semi auto shotgun. If you get a semi auto with a good recoil pad (like a limbsaver) and low recoil defense loads I'd bet the recoil would be 1/2 of that from the 870.

[JohnKSa]

The Ruger P95 is a gun that many people with low hand strength and recoil issues can still deal with.

[bannockburn]

ihopewewin

My vote would be for a medium frame 4" barrel .357 revolver, maybe with a set of Crimson Trace grips. I just think that her trying to load a magazine or rack the slide of any auto might get to be too difficult for her to do, given her physical limitations. I believe that something like a heavy barrel S&W K frame, loaded with some sort of SD .38 Special load would be make a decent choice in her situation.

[Vibe]

Preferably something with a pretty high capacity.
Still don't get much higher capacity than a Calico. :D

[wnycollector]

cdnn has used S&W model 65's for $269. Practice with .38 SWC's and then load it up with the FBI load (158gr SWCHP) and sleep easy at night!

[madcratebuilder]

A used M10 or M15 Smith is cost effective, you can practice with light loads and carry with P+.

[woad_yurt]

S&W .38, a big one, like a Model 67. There's also those DA H&R .22 magnum revolvers. Minimal kick to both of them, less so for the .22WMR.

[YammyMonkey]

As a somewhat opposing point of view, I'd vote for a S&W M&P9 either the standard or long slide & slap a tac light on it. The standard size gun even without the light is the softest recoiling service caliber gun I've ever shot. I got the impression that she's not going to be fiddling with it so manipulating the slide won't be much concern.

Slap on the small grip insert (easier to hang on to smaller diameter objects), a set of Big Dot sights, Tac light & have her have at it. A laser might help her if she's shooting from an odd position (laying in bed or knocked to the ground) but you're starting to run the price up.

Another option (now going with the previous flow) would be a good .38spl loaded up with wadcutters- low recoil, they'll cut a larger hole than ball & they'll still penetrate.

My issues with the revolvers are the trigger pull weight & the fact that you only have 6 on tap before a reload. All fighting-caliber handguns suck at taking the fight out of someone so you might as well load up with more rounds.

[P95loser]

I have owned both a ruger p95 and a smith m&p9. The ruger's recoil is significantly lighter than the smith.

[mainmech48]

This may seem a little out of step with most of the posters so far, but why not a double gun in a smaller gauge?

20 ga. or .410 bore would be much easier on the body (and allow for more regular practice) than any 12 ga.

Both have buckshot and "bird"shot loadings in at least a couple of relative powers.

Double guns minimize potential operational/handling issues, especially for people with physical limitations affecting their mobility.

IMO, it's much easier and faster for most folks to be trained to an acceptable level of competence with a longarm than with any handgun. It also requires less regular, disciplined practice for them to maintain that minimal standard.

If a good used double is hard to find or too expensive in your area, there are sturdy, inexpensive single shots in both flavors.

Clint Smith has a very good article on this subject in the July issue of "Guns". Worth a hard look before you commit to another option, IMO.

[cgraham]

A couple of warnings about pistols.

I am trying to outfit my wife, in her sixties (but no infirmaties), and we are having problems.

I found she could not fire a Smith & Wesson J Frame .22 double action because the DA trigger pull was more than she could manage. I had lighter springs installed and a complete action smoothing job, and although much improved, still too hard for her to use. We are going down the same path with a .38sp. (Model 67) and I think it too will be a problem after we get it back from the Gunmith.

The K frame S&Ws are good guns, but it would be best to find a well-used one that has a well worn action which is easy to fire DA, or a different make that has a lighter DA. Trouble is, most pistols have a heavy DA.

I also found that she did not have sufficient strength to work the slide on the semi-autos I have, a Glock 26 & Dan Wesson 1911. Nevertheless, a better choice might be a semiauto if she keeps a round in the chamber, because if the chosen gun is very reliable and large capacity, she shouldn't have to reload. Is the recoil of a Glock 17 acceptable, and does it fit her hand?

The all-steel 9mm DA/SA Smith & Wessons available at CDNN are excellent (a great buy), and the DA pull is quite light. There is a large capacity magazine which gives 14 rounds (standard 11). I have owned one of these for years and they are a pleasant-shooting gun. This is what I will try next for my wife.

Good luck with your choice.

C.

[akodo]

Question, is it that she cannot easily bring up a stock to her shouler, or that the 870 recoils too much for her shoulder?

I.E. could she shoot a .22LR rifle?

If the answer to the above question is yes, I think the solution is a carbine in 9mm, 40SW, 45acp or 38/357.

I think a nice marlin levergun in 357 is giong to be much better than a handgun, especially with recoil.

[wnycollector]

+1 on the pistol caiber rifle. I have a .40S&W Keltec sub2k that is a pussycat even with DT 165gr+P JHPs. I chronoed them once ~1600fps and ~880lbs of energy...a doubletap to the center of mass should be real easy for anyone with a little bit of practice.

[Newton]

I'm going to step away from the majority who have the excellent suggestion of a .38Spl (recommend the 3 inch barrel though) and suggest a Glock 19.

You would leave her with the pistol cleaned, loaded, and lubed and the trigger is very easy to manipulate unlike some of the newer revolvers. Load it with a good standard pressure load like the Federal 135gr PD and recoil would be negligible.

Let her try one out side by side with a Model 10 and see which one she prefers.

[coyotehitman]

10 rounds of 22 will still kill a man.

2 hours later. Not much 'stopping power' to the caliber unless it hits the CNS.

This is a thread about compromise. The fact is, a hole in the heart/lungs/liver, etc. is still a hole in the heart/lungs/liver. I firmly believe that having any size projectile, or ten of them, rip through your vital organs will cause you to rethink your intentions.

If you were considering a shotgun at some point, I assume that a long gun is not out of the question. If that is the case, what about a Ruger 1022 with a folding stock: easy to shoot, cheap to practice with, large cap magazines available, portable with a folding stock, no recoil, low report.

If it must be a handgun, I would consider anything with a tip up barrel that was not in .25acp. I would also consider any of the larger framed .380acp pistols. But if your mother is frail, would she be prone to limp wristing it and causing a jam, would she be able to manipulate a slide release, rack a slide, clear a jam? In that case, perhaps a .38 with light loads is a better compromise.

[MTMilitiaman]

Another vote for the .38 revolver.

It is simple to operate and maintain, has decent power available, and doesn't require manipulation of a slide or several different levers. If she has weak hands, working a slide or slide release lever might be difficult for her under stress. With a revolver, there is no such worries. If there is a malfunction, she simply pulls the trigger again. The only button is to release the cylinder, and with a couple speed loaders handy, she should be good to go.

I can't believe someone suggested the FN FiveseveN. I have big enough hands to comfortably handle a Glock 20 and a Desert Eagle, and the 5.7 seems like a handful to me. For a smaller statured shooter with arthritis, I can hardly think of a worse choice...

[Owlnmole]

Well, we don't really know enough about the shooter's physlical limitations or budget to make a definitive recommendation, but here are a few thoughts:

I would second (third, fourth...?) the recommendation of a steel-frame double-action revolver loaded with mild .38 Specials (whether a .38 or .357).

If the long double action trigger pull is a problem, one solution might be a smallish single-action revolver in the same caliber, which is perfectly adequate for home defense and fun to practice with.

I also agree with the poster who recommended going from .38 down to .22LR and not messing with .32 H&R Magnum or some such.

By the same token a good .22 auto pistol might be a good option -- and an angry Grandma with a Ruger .22 pistol loaded with Yellow Jackets is a pretty big deterrent to the bad guys, IMHO.

Otherwise, another option might be an auto pistol in .380, .32 or .25 ACP. My first thought is to recommend a full-size gun not a tiny pocket pistol, but that depends on what she likes. There are plenty of nice old Colt and Browning single-action autos in .32 and .25 out there. Some other options include the Beretta Tomcat .32 and Bobcat .25 (handy tip-up barrel) The CZ83 in .32 or .380 (or the CZ82 in 9x18 Makarov) is also a good choice The Taurus Millenium series is available in .32 and .380
Walther PPK (or the long PP) in .32 or .380
[/LIST]

[jackdanson]

.357, 4 inch barell, load the first 4 rounds w/ .38's and the last 2 with .357's. If she gets to the point where she has to use them the recoil difference will probably be negligible. Plus the extra weight of the .357 might help with recoil.

[woof]

You want economy, quality, light weight, low recoil, easy handling. I'm shocked no-one has suggested a Bersa Thunder .380

[wuchak]

I'd look into a 9mm carbine like the one from Kel-tec. Even the one from Hi-point gets good reviews, although it is UGLY. With the weight of them 9mm recoil will be next to nothing and with her arthritis it will be easier to shoot and more accurate than a handgun.

[pyle]

This may seem a little out of step with most of the posters so far, but why not a double gun in a smaller gauge?

20 ga. or .410 bore would be much easier on the body (and allow for more regular practice) than any 12 ga.

Both have buckshot and "bird"shot loadings in at least a couple of relative powers.

Double guns minimize potential operational/handling issues, especially for people with physical limitations affecting their mobility.

IMO, it's much easier and faster for most folks to be trained to an acceptable level of competence with a longarm than with any handgun. It also requires less regular, disciplined practice for them to maintain that minimal standard.


I like this idea. I keep a double (in 12 ga) hidden in my house for HD. It's easy to shoot, not much to go wrong and requires very little training. Recoil is low (even in 12 ga because its sort of heavy). However, if she has trouble with the weight - it can easily be fired from the hip - no problem. You can find very inexpensive double coach guns - they're not very sexy but they fire every time and offer little problems.

[EHCRain10]

Id have to vote for a 9mm carbine if she can shoulder it
i have a CX4 in 9mm that is extremely accurate and very low recoil

[senior]

I'll agree also with .38 and 4 inch barrel, I got the s-w .38 HB with 4 inch, K frame, and althought a little heavy, size and weight will offset a .38s recoil to very mild, and more importantly POA is outstanding!

[308sc]

I agree on a .38 spl revolver loaded up with some nasty hollow points. The only reason I would stay away from autoloaders is because you mentioned she had very bad arthritis...which could make it harder for her to rack the slide.

[lee n. field]

She's 51 years old and had multiple surgerys on her shoulders and has pretty bad arthritis in her hands.

I'm asking you if you HAD to buy a HD pistol in a very low caliber (.22-.38sp) what would it be?

Hmmm. I'm going to guess that cycling the slide of your typical autoloader is going to be difficult.

See if she can handle a light loaded .38 revolver. I'm guessing not, with a double action trigger. Other than that, Ruger Mark II or III ought to be pretty easy on the hands, assuming it fits her. (Whether it would be effective enough is a different question.)

[Neener Neener]

Another vote for the .410 or 20g. Good choices on ammo and you don't have to be as accurate......Plus, I think staring at an old lady with a shotgun would be more intimidating than a little old lady with a pistol.

[Girodin]

It didn't come to mind until I read the suggestion but I like the idea of a five seven pistol.

It meets all the requirements of the OP. It is very low recoil. The only pistols I own that recoils less than the five sevens I've shot are .22LRs. It reoils less than the .380 the 9mm or the .38s. It is also easier to shoot than a double action revolver. Yes you have a safety but honestly if that i too much to manage than so is a gun. It has high capacity 20 rounds with 30 round mags available. It is not my first choice round but given the parameters I like it a lot. It almost shoots like a .22 but has more stopping power. Biggest draw back is that it isn't real cheap.

The thing about a carbine or shotgun is it is difficult to carry around the house and keep at the ready at all times. A pistol is easy to do so with and that means you will probably have it when you need it.

As an experiment of sorts I have carried various arms around the house with me. I found that 12 gauge and others were soon being left on the counter or sofa when I ran to the other room for something. I also constantly needed to set them down to do various tasks. Now if I thought a theat was real serious I would likely do it despite the difficulty and hassel. I also would be unlikely to sta in my house alone if the threat was that serious though.

The weapon that was the easiest to keep on my person and handy at all times besides a handgun was a ps90. I even would walk out to the mail box with it. It is compact easy to hold with one hand and its unconvetional appearnance means most people dont know what the hell I was holding as I walked around my yard.

In short a pistol is easy to keep at the ready all the time. A long gun is superior but harder to have right with you. Which means even if I was had a long arm i would also have a pistol.

[loud-mouth shnook]

I hadn't noticed it being said previously and if it's mother hen-like, I apologize. Not my intent.
So just in case it needs to be said: If you've not already done so, it would be prudent to notify your local police dept. about your situation. Then, should a defensive shooting occur, there'll be a record w/ the police that a potentially dangerous situation was present.

On topic, I hate to bring this up because I, personally, am not too fond of them but have you considered a Hi-Point 9mm carbine? With a round chambered, only a squeeze is necessary. Large enough to distribute recoil to the point of being almost non-existent. Inexpensive.

This, of course, is provided that its trigger pull, size, and overall weight are not prohibitive for her.

Good luck with whatever you got goin' on over there!

[Mastiff]

I'm going to second Treo's idea. A CZ-82 in 9mm Mak or a CZ-83 in 380 or 32. The pistol is steel, so it soaks up the recoil. It can be fired Double Action, so she doesn't have to worry about a safety.If she can't handle the trigger pull in DA, she can still shoot single action. You get either 12+1 in 9mmMak or 13+1 in 380. I'm not a fan of spray and pray, but I think for your mother this may be the way to go.
I'm in the same situation with my wife. She is 66 and has Rheumatoid Arthritis. She can easily shoot the CZ-82 I bought her. She can't handle anything much more powerful, and she can't pull a double action trigger.

[springmom]

I am 53 and I have arthritis, and here's what works for me (and what doesn't).

I love my revolvers, I really do...but a DA trigger when you have arthritis in your fingers is a VERY difficult thing to deal with. I have practiced quite a lot, and I still have trouble being as accurate as I would like, with any of my revolvers. SA I'm right on target, but how often can you shoot SA in a SD situation???

Despite my arthritis, I'm pretty resistant to handgun recoil; the key is having good grips. NOTHING wood. My Kimber has the rubber diamond grips; my revolvers do too. Also, despite arthritis, I can manage to rack a slide...although the WAY I do it is weird to most people. Depending on the gun, I may use either hand to pull back on the slide. I do *not* do the cross body racking the slide, as for me, my hands are too weak to work that well.

You need a gun that is easy to shoot, has minimal recoil...and that is easy to assemble and to disassemble. I occasionally have to have my husband help the first and last steps with my 1911, as the pin is hard to work out of the frame for me, and sometimes hard to push all the way back in.

In that regard, the two easiest guns to disassemble and reassemble that I have owned are the XD series (get a 9mm in a 4" gun for minimal recoil) and my Bersa Thunder .380. The .380 IS enough cartridge, and in the Bersa (or the Sig 232) recoil is just about nonexistent. And the Bersa's pretty easy to reassemble.

With arthritis NO gun is going to be a piece of cake. There are tradeoffs with every one of them. If she can go and rent several guns at a range, or if you have a friend with a number of guns she can try, it will help. She has to pick the one that fits her hand best, she has to be able to rack the slide or to pull the DA trigger even on a bad day, and she has to be able to take it apart to clean it.

Good luck and happy shopping for the right gun.

Springmom

[Snapping Twig]

Lots of information here, plenty of suggestions.

To my mind, a proper fitting grip and an action job combined with a proven stopper that's a non-magnum.

I vote for a 4" S&W N frame shooting .45acp or .45LC.

A large slug of lead moving anywhere from 650 to 800fps hits with authority and little recoil. The large frame gun soaks up the recoil, the grips fit properly and an action job reduces DA & SA pull.

[usp9]

I'm looking for a pistol that she can fire and would be comfortable practicing with. I'm asking you if you HAD to buy a HD pistol in a very low caliber (.22-.38sp) what would it be? I know the consequence's of a caliber that low but she just can't handle the recoil of anything much higher.

FN 5.7 because it has very little recoil, it is easy to rack the slide, and the magazines are very easy to load and hold either 20 or 30 rounds (plenty of lethality). As she gets older the limitations may also grow. A small caliber now may last her a longer time.

[rrruuunnn]

if she has problems with recoil, she may also have problem limp wristing semi auto pistol. to avoid the jams, i'd go with revolvers.

[deputy tom]

An old friend had the same situation 30+ yrs ago and gave his Mom a .22 LR rifle.Either a 10/22 or Remington Nylon 66,I can't remember which.I'd suggest the same with the 10/22 since Nylon 66's are hard to find and the 10/22 can be equipped with higher cap. mags. Another thought would be a Mossberg 410 HD shotgun.They were marketed toward women with light recoil as their redeeming quality.A 12ga SG using low brass ammo beats nothing and doesn't hurt much to shoot even with injured shoulders.I know all too well.YMMV.tom.

[icebones]

ruger sp101 in .38 special with lasergrips.

cant go wrong.

the sp101 is beefy and soaks up alot of recoil, and the lasergrips are good for people who have trouble focusing in sights. (i.e. people with bifocals)

just like my grandmother. bought her a sp101 in .357, but its kept with soft point .38, the lasergrip really helped her with accuracy. but she dosent have arthritus so i really cant say a lot.

[pbearperry]

In my humble opinion,if someone close to me needed a firearm for house protection and had problems with recoil or arthritis,I would suggest a short barrelled semi auto 22 lr that would spit out 10 quick shots.I think they would be able to make more hits in a scary moment.

[grimjaw]

Which of these is the issue?

1. She has difficulty operating the action of a firearm to load it.
2. She has difficulty operating the action of a firearm to fire it and/or recover from the recoil.
3. She has difficulty lifting or holding aloft a long gun.

I realize it might be a combination of the three, and the answers would guide my suggestion. For instance, if it's just 3), then sounds like any handgun in a reasonable caliber might work.

jm

[guadman]

I am afraid that I have to disagree about the stopping power of some 22LR cartridges.

In actual recorded shootings, based on case history and autopsy, out of some 500 documented occurrences where a 22LR, CCI Quikshok round was used, the one shot stop % was 40%!
Switching slightly over to the CCI Stinger, this stopping power still stood at approx 38%.

22LR is a very underrated bullet.
The fact is that, in the usa, more people are killed by 22LR bullets then ALL cartridges of ANY KIND ----PUT TOGETHER!

People who dismiss this round are, I believe, simply uninformed or else really do meet the cliche about their gun and cartridge size substituting for the ...groin anatomy.

Anyway, having said all that, I recomend that you and grandma go look together at the S&W Model 317.
This is an Ultralight pistol made of polymers and titanium, that holds 8 rounds of 22LR cartridges. Unloaded the gun weighs only 10.5 oz!
I have this gun in the 1 7/8" barrel.
It is astonishingly accurate. I can keep about 5 rounds out of 8 within the black on a target at 25 YARDS, which is amazing for a snub nosed revolver of any caliber.
There is essentially no recoil.

This is a beautiful gun. 1500 rounds thru it so far and not a single malfunction attributable to the gun. It's rust proof, water proof, etc.

I really would at least go look at it it.
It's has a nice feel in the hand and, with the accuracy, low recoil, light weight, and near indestructability it should have a real appeal to anyone who is somewhat recoil sensitive.

You can do your own reading about 22LR cartidges of course but I keep mine loaded, for self-defense, with 4 rounds of Stingers and 4 rounds of Quickshok, one round alternating with another (don't ya love the versatility of a revolver?)

Whatever you decide, good luck. I hope everything works out ok.

[Dilbert]

4" revolver in .357 magnum is the way I would go. Easier on old sore hands. If she can't handle .357, you could download some handloads for her that would still exceed 38 Special. Just a thought.

[crankshop1000]

I'd set the 870 up with a folding stock with a pistol grip and have her learn to shoot from the hip with a stiff upper lip. (ACDC). One shot should suffice.

[3 gun]

A few good ideas posted. I agree that a 38 revolver is most likely the best choice for a handgun. It may not be the best choice. Both a pistol caliber carbine and 20ga shotguns would be better picks. The PCC would be the best pick when looking at low recoil, ease of handling and fire power. A High Point in 9mm with the 15rd mag loaded with 124gr +P ammo and topped with a red dot adds up to a winner. The controls do not need much in the way of hand strength. You can cock the gun by pushing against a door frame if needed. The carbine even with a red dot does not cost a lot, about $225. 9mm is still the least expensive factory ammo, so you can get some practice. It's not heavy and is short enough to be handy in a home. They cover the carbine with a lifetime warranty.

[LAK]

In this case I would suggest a Browing Buckmark .22 loaded with .22 solids.

If she has weak/sensitive shoulders a blowback .380 is going to be alittle sharp for her, and manipulating a revolver might be too much for her arthritic hands.

Once one has the operating system down, a .22 pistol is a piece of cake to shoot.

[smee781]

High cap 380 or fn 5.7, easy to get range time with and high mag count.

[BikerRN]

To me this sounds like a gun that will sit in a dresser drawer more than it will be shot, either in practice or defense of life. The "administrative handling" favors the Revolver. It is easier to load/unload and can set fully loaded for years with no ill effects on the gun.

With that said, I'd look at a 4" S&W in 38 Special or .357 Magnum or a Ruger GP100. Stocks can be changed to facillitate a better grip. I change my stocks all the time on my guns, so this may take some expirmenting your your's and her part.

You may also want to look at a 20 Guage Shotgun, but it may still be too much recoil. One thing is important, get her good quality training. I know women that stand 5' nothing and weigh less than a "slip of paper" that have no trouble handling the 12 Guage Shotgun because they have had training on how to "properly" hold and handle their weapon.

One advantage to the Revolver is, since it doesn't rely on the bullet being fired to cycle the action you can load it with reduced recoil loads to no ill effects.

BikerRN

[Bradco]

I am surprised no one mentioned the all famous Colt Python 4' 357, hey it's mom we are talking about here, her safety is 1ST!

[WalkAbout]

I'd reccomend the Taurus Judge in .410. Aim isn't all -THAT- important, and if you load the first two with .410 and the remaining rounds with .45 LC she'll kill whatever she's aiming at.

For what its worth, I carry a S&W .357 J-frame that I load the first two rounds as .38 and the last 3 as .357. A similar strategy on a larger sized wheel gun might work for her. From what I understand, most people don't notice the recoil or the noise in a life or death situation.

Stay safe.

Brian

[Ken Rainey]

The four inch .38 special revolver is an ideal home defense handgun BUT, if her arthritic hands prevent her from using the double action trigger, then I suggest a Glock 17 with standard pressure ammo...;)

[BikerRN]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recently there's been a some what credible increase in danger for my family. I currently have a 870 supermag for HD for ME but my mother is going to considering a gun for herself(she can't use the 870 about to state why). She's 51 years old and had multiple surgerys on her shoulders and has pretty bad arthritis in her hands. This has made holding up the 870 pretty difficult and when we go to shoot skeet she'll only shoot once or twice. I'm looking for a pistol that she can fire and would be comfortable practicing with. I'm asking you if you HAD to buy a HD pistol in a very low caliber (.22-.38sp) what would it be? I know the consequence's of a caliber that low but she just can't handle the recoil of anything much higher. Just 1 or 2 shots from the 870 with birdshot gives her a really sore shoulder. Preferably something with a pretty high capacity. I know the amount of bullets fired does not make up for bad accuracy but with a caliber that low she may need alot of shots to stop the threat. I'm already set on everything besides the pistol. Keep the house locked, alarm on, 105pound shepards well fed etc. But I just need help finding her a pistol that she can comfortably shoot and practice with. Size doesnt really matter because this will be nothing but a HD gun it does not need to be concealed. From what she's said it doesnt matter if it's a revolver or not but I would like a list so I can show her and maybe take her to rent a few to see what she likes best. (Wrote this in a hurry the situation happend today and kind of put us in a bad spot may be editing if I forgot something). Thank you very much for any time put into helping my family find a firearm.

I'd have to recommend a 4"-6" Revolver, preferably Used as the older S&W's tend to have a nicer Trigger from what I've seen. I'd select a 38 Special 4" Model 10 if it were my Mom, but I recently found a 5" Model 10 and would recommend that because the longer Barrel gives a little more recoil control.

The other option, since you said she has arthritis in the hands, is a Glock 19. The Trigger pull is a little lighter and the odds of her having to reload, or having a malfunction are pretty small, if the weapon is broken in properly and maintained properly. There are ways around working the slide, like using the edge of a table.

Check out, and your Mom too, www.corneredcat.com

BikerRN

[Confederate]

I think you should consider a Ruger Charger (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_97Drd-Tk-c&feature=related). Fold the bipod up, slap a 30-round mag in and you could hold off the Mexican Army. I also like the Ruger Mark IIs.

[Hammer-52]

I've always found revolvers easier for folks to use and the SP101 is a good solid revolver. In the new .327 she'd have 6 rounds instead of 5 and the charts & writers show it would be better than a 38.

Best of Luck

[SgtWaldo]

Smith Mod-10 with wadcutters. Low recoil and accrate. If you reload, load up some dumdums. Low recoil and a big splat!

[Yellowfin]

Taurus 905. 9mm with porting using moon clips for loading. Simple, cheap, and easy to shoot.

[hamourkiller]

S&W Mod 19 pinned and recessed. 4" bbl
Practice with 38scpl, loaded with .357 mag Remington 158 gr hpt or Winchester 158 gr hpt for real business.
At the range she will notice recoil and noise at home shooting the child rapist or what ever she will not notice it. The bad guy will though.
For a long gun for goodness sake! get her a shorty AR-15! No muss no fuss, loaded up with Winchester 64gr power points she will turn the bad guys to jelly and the soft nose will shred itself on most walls.
The wife unit confiscated my 5.56 shorty and gave me my 870 back!

[DanK]

Uhmmm... how much thought have you really given to 9MM? Its slightly bigger than what you are asking for, but I shot a Glock 19 recently... there was just about no recoil. Glocks are great at absorbing recoil in general, and I don't think you'd have a problem with the 19 or 17. If you go with a compensated version it should be really smooth sailing. And there's no law that says you have to use a +P+!!! You could select a somewhat weaker 9MM load... that will be within the .38 power range.

With a weak 9MM in a low recoil gun like the G17C you get a lot of perks:
*Great reliability/Safety (I was going to suggest the FN 5.7 but I've heard about those shooting out of battery and exploding!)
*The best ammo capacity (up to 33+1 rounds)
*Cheap ammo, that will also give you compatibility guns you may want to consider CCing
*Lighter gun & trigger pull than many, if not most, comparably revolvers