.22LR for physically challenged ?

[Wanderling]

One of my co-workers, a nice single lady in her 50s has bad arthritis. She lives alone in an older neighborhood that is OK in itself but she needs to drive through some rather bad areas to get to work.

She mentioned several times that she's concerned about her safety but can't tolerate shooting a gun. She tried a 9mm and a .380 and could not manage the recoil.

Would a .22LR be a good match for her ? This is certainly better than nothing. My concern however would be the quality of ammo - I certainly had some duds shooting rimfire rounds, never so far with a centerfire.

 

[jimbo555]

Ruger lcr22lr. 8 shots and if you get a dud, pull the trigger again. Load it with cci mini mags and you'll have less of a chance of that happening.

 

[roscoe]

The Ruger SR22 - it is the easiest pistol to rack the slide on that I know of. And once racked it is also easy to pull the trigger. Then you get 10 rounds.

 

[javjacob]

Another vote for the Ruger SR22. Holds 10 rounds and they are extremely reliable with good ammo. CCI mini mags are the best. I shoot a LOT of rimfire and I have never had a CCI round not go bang when I pulled the trigger.

The SR22 is very easy to handle and it has almost no felt recoil which makes follow up shots very fast and accurate.

 

[Hunter2011]

I will not feel unarmed with my S&W model 422. You simply cannot believe how easy it is to rack the slide, and no misfires with any good ammo like CCI, Eley or Lapua. Foe someone that is physically challenged, a .22 might be the only option.

 

[GRIZ22]

With a semiauto one needs to pull the slide back to load and in case of a jam. Revolvers have heavier triggers. Only she will know which is easier for her to deal with.

I would use a round nose Mini Mag. 22 hollowpoints are woefully lacking in penetration.

 

[joneb]

Fun stuff https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GbMht1livs
I am quite impressed with the S&W 2214, I would not pass up a H&R 922 either.

 

[1911 guy]

I can't comment on what model .22 pistol, so I'll leave that to those who know the guns.

However:

Don't load it with cheap ammo. A good quality high velocity match ammo should be used. I'm partial to the Federal "Auto Match" stuff myself, but I'm sure there are other brands. No hollowpoints, either. 40 grain solid. You need that little bullet at modest velocity to stay together and penetrate as much as possible. You won't get much with a HP.

Try to find a .22 pistol that has enough size to be manageable for her. Very small or very large guns can be hard on arthritic hands due to manipulation for the tiny ones and weight for the large ones.

My advice has always been to use the largest gun you can conceal in the largest caliber you can shoot well. For some, like your co-worker, it happens to be on the extreme low end of the spectrum. That doesn't mean, however, that you should look at it as "just" a .22. The same criteria should be applied as if she were picking out a 9mm or other larger caliber. Handgun fit, placement and ergonomics of controls, magazine capacity, sight radius, quality of sights, parts and magazine availability, etc.

 

[MedWheeler]

My wife won't spend any time with anything bigger than my Taurus PT-22. The trigger isn't that heavy, and the gun can be chambered without racking the slide.

My sample, made in 1998, has been utterly reliable with several hundred rounds of MiniMags (the only round I try to run in small autoloaders.) I also have one in .25ACP, made in 1996. If one can believe it, the .25 version produces even less flash and noise than does the rimfire one. I'm guessing that's because the powder in the .25 burns off faster (as it's designed to for the short barrel), so there's less still burning when the bullet leaves the gun.CCI mini mags are the best.


javjacob writes:

I shoot a LOT of rimfire and I have never had a CCI round not go bang when I pulled the trigger.

This has been my experience as well, and I've been shooting them since 1986. They likely account for 75% of the maybe 18-22 thousand rounds I could guess I've fired (in fact, I've never had a misfire with any round of rimfire ammunition, in any gun.)

 

[Odd Job]

Another vote for a revolver. Reliability is key, along with a simple manual of arms.

 

[Tallball]

A 32 caliber revolver of some kind. 32 S&W or 32 S&W long have scarcely more recoil than a 22, but shoot a much bigger piece of lead. Seriously, the recoil is negligible.

 

[340PD]

Revolver with laser grips. Lot's of manufacturer and caliber options, 22lr, 22 mag. or .327 Federal loaded with .32 wadcutters.

Teaching somebody that will not devote the necessary time to understand the full operation of, and repeatedly train with, a semi auto is a terrible idea.

 

[mavracer]

Don't go cheap with carry ammo get some CCI mini mags or some other top shelf ammo.

 

[Hunter2011]

To the OP. Can the lady easily pull the trigger of a revolver? I know my mother struggles a lot to pull the trigger of my fathers 38 special.

 

[FL-NC]

If she can tolerate a revolver DA trigger go 22 magnum. If not, an auto in 22 LR. Use the most powerful CCI rounds they make, and do not overlube the gun- oil can seep into rimfire rounds and make duds.

 

[TfflHndn]

22TCM is her ticket. Very easy to rack, very accurate and a .223 40-grain bullet at 2000 fps. It is loud, so if that's an issue that may be a detriment. But i wouldn't feel under-gunned with mine. And more than 10 rounds too. Very easy to shoot and for those with weaker pinch/grip strength to manage. Virtually no felt recoil.

 

[Merle1]

With a semiauto one needs to pull the slide back to load and in case of a jam. Revolvers have heavier triggers. Only she will know which is easier for her to deal with.

I would use a round nose Mini Mag. 22 hollowpoints are woefully lacking in penetration.

Not too much expansion from a handgun length barrel.

 

[aarondhgraham]

Not too much expansion from a handgun length barrel.

You are correct,,,
But it's still just enough to hinder penetration.

I believe 40 grain Mini Mags are the best ammo for rimfire self defense.

And I do agree that a revolver is probably best,,,
My 70 year old sister has kitten weak hands,,,
She has no problems with a S&W Model 34.

Aarond

.

 

[dbmjr1]

If she can pull the trigger on the revolver, I too would recommend the Ruger LCR.

Just to be a bit different, I'll suggest the LCR chambered in .32 mag. Load that thing up with .32 shorts and she won't even know it's gone off. Centerfire reliability. Slightly better performance and the ability to step up her game should she become more comfortable with it.

 

[Tallball]

More than slightly better performance. It's a 40ish grain projectile versus an 80ish grain projectile. And 32 revolvers can have an easier trigger than 22 revolvers (rimfire hammers have to fall hareder and thus require a stiffer spring).

 

[Wanderling]

To the OP. Can the lady easily pull the trigger of a revolver? I know my mother struggles a lot to pull the trigger of my fathers 38 special.

I have no idea. I only know that she tried to shoot a 9mm and a .380 and wasn't able to handle the recoil.

Having read through the replies, it kind of makes sense that a .22lr revolver would be perfect for her as long as she can pull the trigger - no need to rack the slide, and no extra steps in case of a misfire. I will suggest she rents one.

 

[Merle1]

another option; some autos have tip-up barrels so you don't have to rack the slide. I forgot about them.

 

[tactikel]

Talk to your friend and determine her ability and needs (concealed carry vs home defense; can she rack a slide or shoot a revolver double action?).
My Daughter has severe arthritis. She has major problems with double action triggers (revolver and semi-auto). She loves the Beretta Neos. Striker fired, and the slide is very easy to rack. On bad days she needs help loading the mags, but she will plink 200 rounds easily in an afternoon.
Any striker fired .22 will work. If she wants only HD, a KelTec PMR-30 would give her 30 rounds of .22 WMR. For CC a Walther P22 or similar would work.

 

[Wanderling]

Talk to your friend and determine her ability and needs (concealed carry vs home defense; can she rack a slide or shoot a revolver double action?).
My Daughter has severe arthritis. She has major problems with double action triggers (revolver and semi-auto). She loves the Beretta Neos. Striker fired, and the slide is very easy to rack. On bad days she needs help loading the mags, but she will plink 200 rounds easily in an afternoon.
Any striker fired .22 will work. If she wants only HD, a KelTec PMR-30 would give her 30 rounds of .22 WMR. For CC a Walther P22 or similar would work.

She wants to carry it. She lives in a safe older township right on the southern border of our "wonderful" downtown and the job is in one of the northern suburbs, so she has to travel through some crime infested areas daily to get to work. Also being a single female and working long hours she often has to do her grocery shopping etc. rather late in the evening. If she wanted a gun for home I'd suggest her to get a .22LR rifle - they are light, virtually no recoil, and far more deadly than a pistol in the same caliber.

 

[Hunter2011]

Is the best round in a .22 for SD not rather CCi's Velocitor than the Mini Mags?
But I second the suggestion to get a .32 revolver. .32 wadcutters would be my choice if I were in her position. It will offer more than enough penetration and will do more damage than any .22 solid round.

If choosing a .22, I will go with a S&W 351 PD, simply because it shoots a bit more potent cartridge and holds 7 rounds. Heck, one day when I am old this will be my EDC