Soft Shooting, Easy to Rack, Good Sights Suggestion

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zaitcev said:
The 380EZ is commonly mentioned, but I'm not sure I'm completely onboard with this idea for a guy who knows how to shoot, even if on blood thinners. So, how about this: look into a modern gun with a decent trigger that is optics-ready, then buy a sight like DPP or RMR. This may be good for older eyes, and he can charge the gun by using the sight. It's a win-win-win. How about SIG P365XL? Its larger grip helps to hold onto it and control recoil.
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good call but the mags on my 365 normal size one is a real bear and I'm not a complainer on loading mags by hand. hardest mags to load I've ever done. is the xl like this too?
 
I appreciate all of the suggestions and I’ve been checking in now and then between researching models.

Just to clarify, it need not be cc sized, this one will likely only be used for qualifying then relegated to nightstand duty after. He owns and carries a GP100 in .357 but wants something that’s easy to shoot 50 rounds in one sitting, one time.
 
Skylerbone said:
I appreciate all of the suggestions and I’ve been checking in now and then between researching models.

Just to clarify, it need not be cc sized, this one will likely only be used for qualifying then relegated to nightstand duty after. He owns and carries a GP100 in .357 but wants something that’s easy to shoot 50 rounds in one sitting, one time.
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In that case the optic ready Canik goes right to the top of the list followed by the P-07. Then he can rack the optic against the nightstand. If a rail equipped model is chosen a nice micro light can be added for even more versatility.

*Edit
As far as the Canik goes I'd recommend the TP9SFx. My best friend's grandpa was a disabled Korean veteran and he could run it without too much difficulty. In the end his eyes went bad and he ended up selling it.
 
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Skylerbone said:
I appreciate all of the suggestions and I’ve been checking in now and then between researching models.

Just to clarify, it need not be cc sized, this one will likely only be used for qualifying then relegated to nightstand duty after. He owns and carries a GP100 in .357 but wants something that’s easy to shoot 50 rounds in one sitting, one time.
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The .40 HK USP is softer shooting in that caliber than most pistols I’ve tried. The .40 aren't so popular with police agencies these days so they can be found used for reasonable prices when compared with new. For capacity the 16 round extended magazines work without any modifications required.

BSW
 
Skylerbone said:
I’m calling on the collective knowledge of THR to assist in finding something my father can look into for a next stage in life pistol. At 72, after nearly a decade of military service followed by three more decades of police work, and now a few more decades of retirement he’s looking for a controllable SD pistol to re-qualify with.

Due to nerve damage and arthritis he ordered me this week to retrieve the Kahr 9mm I bought him years ago along with his Colt 1911. I offered to swap the recoil spring and load some powder puff rounds but he was adamant that weight was also a factor in ditching the government model and the 9mm at 13 oz was a bit too snappy.

As the thread title states, I’m looking for potential options with:
1. A soft shooting centerfire caliber that doesn’t weigh a ton having a good trigger.
2. Easy to manipulate slide that isn’t knife sharp for a guy on blood thinners.
3. Large sights for trifocal wearing eyes.

I don’t own a large number of pistols, less than a dozen at present and haven’t shopped for a centerfire in some time. I’m picturing something the size of a .380 Beretta with a better trigger and aftermarket support from a company like Apex. Does such an animal exist?
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I'm 78. I carry an M1911 -- a Kimber Custom Classic about 25 years old.
 
Also have to say the usual: make a day of it. Find a range with a good selection of rentals, and have him shoot a few of the options. Carefully. Try say a well powdered rubber glove so he has appx regular hand feel, but won't get immediately injured by something that is poking him, can warn it off and then move on. Pick up a bunch, then shoot those that seem plausible. A few rounds each, as he'll likely get tired fast. He May Not Admit This, so it's your job to keep things moving along nicely.

Also agree, RDS would be good to have if an option on a gun that works well for him (and it always is, even if just sight dovetail mount). I am only 50 and in the last year have stopped being a menace with a pistol because I can aim them again, even when tired, etc. Really worth it.

I like my Kahr, but soft shooting it is not, plus the DAO trigger is maybe not the easiest esp if he also has (likely) some tremors.
 
tbob38 said:
I have 2 of them, but yesterday, I was shooting at the nearby range and WHOA, no uplula. My 81 year old fingers are still sore.
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That is a valid concern. Same goes for racker plates of the kind that one hooks on the rear sight: forget or lose it, and you cannot operate the gun. But I don't think it outweighs the advantage in the selection. If a pilot arrives to the airport and finds that his headset is not in the flight bag, he's not going to say that from now on he's only going to pilot large jets with all-cabin audio system.
 
jhb said:
good call but the mags on my 365 normal size one is a real bear and I'm not a complainer on loading mags by hand. hardest mags to load I've ever done. is the xl like this too?
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They are fractionally better on the XL, but not by much. I fully hoped on the magic of the Lula here.
 
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I love my Sig P238 Extreme. Recoil is very light and the slide is easier to manipulate than a lot of 22s I've had. Night sights, and with mag extension it doesn't feel tiny.
 
Surprised that no one's already mentioned it since the OP mentioned a Beretta in the first post, but what you want is a Beretta 86. You can often find them for sale on Gunbroker, three for sale right now...usually can pick one up for $800 or so. It's a 380 with a tip-up barrel for loading that first round....no racking needed. Triggers are fine, just as they come, DA/SA.
 
Only problem with the Beretta tip up is something I forgot to mention, he’s a Lefty. I think I’m gonna zero in on the S&W as a co-worker gave the same suggestion. I’ll see if I can track one down in the wild. Our local Field & Stream just re-opened from curbside only and I’ve got time after work this week.

Thank you all for the suggestions.
 
Aside from being out of production (maybe just not imported... at least in Italy I have seen apparently new ones on the shelf???) the tip-up-barrel .32/380 berettas are not as great as they should be for the target market. Small and often stiff safety. Straight blowback, so pretty stout.

If Star wasn't 25 years dead, I'd suggest the Model S, as it was a delayed blowback "mini 1911," so good in many ways (soft shooting, comfy, etc). Never seen anything quite like it since, but as above a 9mm 1911 is actually pretty good, can be smoothed out to probably work well but not likely to be on store shelves, so would be ordered or maybe even need some assembly/smithing to meet the needs ideally.
 
Another vote for the S&W EZ .380.

Someone mentioned revolvers. I think the double-action trigger on my SP101 requires at least as much strength as racking the 1911 I previously owned, so I'm not sure that's the best choice.
 
My friend's wife recently went through this search process.

She declined the Glock 42 / 43 due to these models being somewhat difficult to rack.

We recommended avoiding blowback pistols due to their snappy muzzle flip.

We wanted to like the shrunken Browning 1911s, but the thought of (aftermarket) and native brand support being dismal steered us away.

She eventually tried and liked the S&W M&P® 380 SHIELD™ EZ®.

It is easy to load (has a magazine loading tab similar to those made for .22 LR), easy to rack, and just as easy to fire. And if you could avoid the Performance Center versions, not particularly bad - looking, either (just avoid looking at the grip dingus).

I am actually thinking of getting one myself - the model without the thumb safety.
 
JTQ said:
Lot of recommendations for little guns, but I suspect your dad doesn't like shooting the Kahr because it is a little gun, and the 1911 because it is heavy and in .45 Auto. I'd recommend a duty size, polymer, 9mm. Big enough to easily grip, generally smooth contours, and lighter than the 1911.

Glock full size 9mm G17/G19/G34, because 9mm is a light recoiler and the full size guns will make handling the recoil easier. There is more slide real estate to grab for racking and Glock has the most sight options and the kid at the gun store can install them for him if needed. Dawson fiber optic front ( https://dawsonprecision.com/dawson-precision-glock-fixed-charger-sight-set/ ), or an Ameriglo option with tritium insert surrounded by a big colorful square or dot like the CAP sights ( https://ameriglo.com/collections/products/glock-cap-sets ).

Beretta PX4 in 9mm - rotating barrel dampens recoil - Langdon Tactical Technology (LTT) offers a full size and compact versions with big red/orange Ameriglo front sights. Compact ( https://www.langdontactical.com/px4-compact-carry-with-ltt-trigger-job/ ), Full Size ( https://www.langdontactical.com/px4-carry-full-size-9mm/ ). Lots of options to lighten trigger pull.
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The Grand Power K100 is also a rotating barrel 9mm, I prefer it to a Beretta PX4 I used to own.
 
If the EZ doesn't play out, consider the Bersa Thunder line. If he has any experience with the DA/SA platform, he'll find the slide easier to rack if he thumb-cocks the hammer first. He would then use the decocker lever to lower it.

Yes, it's a right-handed pistol, but I really like mine, which I've had since 2008, and I'm left-handed.
 
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