What handgun do you suggest for a senior citizen lady?

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OleEd

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My wife's friend (60+) owns a classic s&w chief special 38. Definitely know how to shoot and better than her sons but.... She is developing arthritis in her hands and having difficulity with the double action pull. She asked me of another handgun that has a lighter trigger pull. She has a CCW license and wants for that and home defense.

I can think of SAs like smaller 1911 type handguns but then too there is the possible problem of racking. Course I carry a Sig .380 often during summer time and when I have to dress up some. But I shoot often and am comfortable my shot placement suffices. I taught her to shoot tgt and in different scenarios but she doesn't practice. I think a 380 is wee bit small for her and am leaning towards a 9mm.

So, "yee of solid suggestions", please suggest away. Thanks and Merry Christmas.
 
Yes...I do have a suggestion. If she "gets" the double action of a revolver..she will like,maybe love ( I do) the action on the Ruger LC9. I used the revolver on duty for a long time and after mastering the pull..we went to 92 F's. That was fine but only the first shot was double action. I have used my LC9 enough that it has become as sweet a I need for good combat accuracy. The safety is also a plus..in fact the whole package is great..grip feel and all. To top it off..you have your respectable power and manageable recoil.
 
If the hammer hasn't been bobbed see if using the gun single action is hard on her hands. If not then she could incorporate cocking the gun into her drawstroke and see how she does with that.
 
I am not a real big fan of semi-auto's for senior citizens.

Unless they have a lifetime history of dealing with the semi-auto manual of arms until a momentary lapse of muscle memory doesn't result in a series of unfortunate events.

A revolver is either loaded, or it isn't.

No forgetting to rack the slide to load it, or forgetting to clear the chamber after the threat is gone.

Perhaps the Ruger LCR?
It supposedly has a lighter smoother DA trigger?

Perhaps a slicked up from use old S&W K-Frame, which is easier DA from the get-go then a J-Frame on a good day?

Perhaps even a Ruger Single-Six .22 Mag, which requires thumb cocking, but certainly has a light enough trigger for anyone once cocked.

rc
 
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I would start with a used, prelock model 10 w a 4" barrel.

Not too heavy...not too light.

38s are not bad on "seasoned" wrists.

lots of grip choices
 
I agree with Guillermo. .38 spl. full size old school Smith and Wesson. A Mod 15 would be even better. Safest, easiest to use, maximizing chances of shot on target of any handgun choice for the veteran adult. Recoil properties adjusted to user by ammo selection, effective enough in use.

Seems to be perfectly tailroed to application.

A caveat however, no matter what age, there is NO skipping the skillset/mindset phase of deciding to be armed. Repeat, at any age.
 
yes...you are correct.

The Model 15 definitely received a lot more love and care than the Model 10.

They action was closer to the Model 14 than the 10.

I stand corrected.

:D
 
Guillermo,

You don't need correction. You are right, a 10 fitted to the user is better.

Sorry Duane, you may get a senior to using the Judge well enough but .410 is far too ineffective in this application to give me warm feelings. Sounds like leading down the wrong path that accuracy in unimportant and-... with MOST .410 loads the grand old dame might get beaten with her own gun. Or worse.
 
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I cannot think of a worse gun than a judge.

Horrible kick
No knock down power
questionable build quality

I would rather her have a starter pistol.
It would be no less effective against the bad guy and not hurt her.
 
You are probably right about that rswartsell I'm sure not expert. But I thought they made some special loads that were suppose to be very effective. The revolver is designed for close range defense. I wish I could get one for myself.
 
Horrible kick
No knock down power
questionable build quality
Click to expand...
I would not agree at all with that.

A .45 Colt is a .45 Colt, regardless of what it says on the barrel it comes out of.
It won't kick much out of a 30 oz revolver with 2 1/2 .410 shells.

I would agree on .410 birdshot knock-down power, and the Tarui quality thing though.

rc
 
Guillermo I guess you can't believe what you read in the books. The review I read bragged it up pretty good. Glad I put that out, I just learned something.
 
The small J frames are difficult for most elderly women . A pre-model 10 like the one I just bought recently with long action is smooth and easier. My 70 year old wife has no trouble with it. But she is a big lady and it fits well in her hand too. Another option my be the Ruger LCR. If not, then the Walther PK380, not PPK, But PK. It is the easiest small gun that can be racked and fired by most people with her problem. My thoughts Snoop.
 
RC

The judge is a horrible 45… And worst shotgun

Even if that were not the case, the elderly woman does not need to be shooting a 45
 
Another option would be a small single action revolver. Cimmeron has them in 38 special , called the lightning, with birds head grip and weighing about 26-28 oz.
 
Agreed. (with Guillermo).

Snooperman, I don't at the moment understand what advantage a single action has at the stage of decision making that allows for selection from all available. What is the point?
 
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Guillermo have you shot the judge. Do you know this for a fact. Three pellets from the 410 at close range should be plenty for self defense at close range. Were not talking about going pheasant hunting. The chamber can have a mixed bag of ammo. Slugs, buck shot or bird shot. Who would keep coming at someone with this weapon in their hand. Superman?
 
Duane
look up what rifling does to shot
better a gun you can use, are willing to use and can hit with...
um a judge, there are much better guns out there, people who plink and get one but don't shoot it much think it's nifty
as for getting shot at, no, I'd rather not be shot at, it's NOT fun, BTDT, but that's regardless if it's a pellet gun or a MG.
 
Duane, the Judge has horrible penetration, it's been discussed to death and for most of us, it's a gimmick gun. Not without use, but there are usually better choices.

Here's the "Box 'o truth" for you regarding the Judge. not good. http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot41.htm

"Lessons learned:
1. Jack bought this pistol for snakes and it looks like a fine tool for that job.

2. Birdshot, in any gauge, is for little birds.

3. Buckshot out of a .410 does not penetrate enough to be an effective personal defense load.

4. The rifled slug was also a disappointment and did not have enough weight or power or penetration to be effective as a defense load.

5. The .45 Long Colt loads had plenty of penetration and would be the preferred defense load for this pistol.

6. It's fun to bust clays with this pistol.

And, as usual, it's always fun to shoot stuff. "

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot53.htm Here's the second attempt, not much better. the wide spread is bad... M'kay?

Personally, I like the Model 10, or other decently framed .38 for just about anyone... but the tiniest, Crankiest little old lady I ever knew kept a TEN gauge double-barreled shotgun and a bucket full of shells next to her bed... and she was not the sort to be trifled with.
 
Thanks Shadow. I'll look into that. However living in Canada I would have a lot of trouble trying to buy one anyway. We are not allowed to purchase a fire arm that is designed for home protection. We can buy guns for hunting or target practice. If they asked the reason for the purchase and the answer was home protection the permit would be denied. The judge is for personal protection so I'm guessing I wouldn't be able to get one anyway. You guys are probably right. I don't know much about hand guns.
 
Duane

We don't need to turn this into a judge thread...

So out of respect to the OP I will leave it at this

No, the judge, even with buckshot, is amazingly ineffective out of a rifled, short barrel
 
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