A pistol for my Mom.

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Averageman

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I picked up a S&W Model 10 snub nose for her some years back and she's done well with it but now as she has aged (74) she just doesn't have the strength in her hands anymore.
I would like to get her a small auto pistol that she can edc, but it needs to be easily manipulated with her weaker hand strength.
I'm really considering something in .22 as I'm sure she could handle the weight and recoil, but she still has to be able to charge the weapon.
Any suggestions?


I can remember the day when She would shoot cans off of the fence posts with her S&W .44 special.
 
Something with a pop-up barrel,,,

Something with a pop-up barrel,,,
And a DA/SA or DAO action.

This is a Taurus 22-PLY,,,
If you want a centerfire they make a 25-PLY,,,
I own both of these pistols and mine have been very reliable.

PLY-hand.jpg

They both have a pop-up barrel for easy loading of the first round.

Their actions are DAO so there is no need to rack the slide to cock the pistol.

Another example is the Beretta 21A Bobcat,,,
It is also in .22 or .25 versions,,,
It has an external hammer,,,
The action is DA/SA.

These are only suggestions,,,
But I think the pop-up barrel is nice for older hands.

One other option would be to try getting an action job on her Revolver,,,
Perhaps new springs would lighten it enough for her.

Aarond

.
 
she just doesn't have the strength in her hands anymore.
Click to expand...
Is it the weight of the gun, the weight of the trigger pull, the force of the recoil, or some combination of those that she's she's having trouble with?
 
My mom has the same problem. She eventually got a 32 magnum to replace her 38. When she can longer handle the magnum shells, she can use S&W or S&W long. They have almost no felt recoil, but are more effective than 22 or 25.

She prefers revolvers, but she can use my Beretta Tomcat. They are 32acp with a tip up barrel.
 
If she doesn't have the strength to pull a revolver trigger, is she going to have the strength to pinch and pull a slide back?

As Aarond mentioned, you could look at a tip-up pistol like a Beretta or Taurus.

You could also have her try a Ruger LCR. Their cammed trigger is supposed to be easier to pull than a standard revolver trigger.
 
I've got a bit different approach to this if hand strength is not good. This is a possibility only type of thing.

How about the Taurus PT132 Mil Pro, a KelTec P32, or something along the line. I will admit to having no experience with the P-32 from Keltec though it seems to be a fairly decent gun.

Here's the reasoning. Someone can rack the slide for her on these if she can't. Keep the safety on safe. If that isn't applicable then the gun can be left off safe, but where she can store it safely, but get to it easily.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Semi-Auto-Pistols/BI.aspx?Keywords=*Taurus=PT132 These guns are from Wholesale Hunter in Alabama.

Either the Taurus or the Kel-Tec have DAO or light trigger pulls compared to double action/single action pistols or double action revolvers.

I own two Taurus PT132 Mil Pros in .32ACP. The stats are at the link.

I also own several Taurus rimfire revolvers and have some experience with S&W and Ruger rimfire revolvers. All have hard trigger pulls that would put off someone with hand strength problems. The same goes for .32 caliber revolvers. I've got 6 of those. The .32 ACP with JHPs is harder hitting than the .22lrf.

.22 rimfire pistols( I've got two Taurus PT-22s and some experience with the Beretta 21A) have very hard racking problems, but the pop up barrel on both Beretta and Taurus for loading are positives for them. If a jam develops one does not rack the slide right away. One has to pop the barrel open (that might be a hand strength problem) and then pluck the offending round out. This may or not be a problem for her.
She'll need to be the one who tries out said gun.
Good luck with finding something for her.

P.S. I like the Beretta Tomcat idea as well.
 
Shoot many; buy one. Find a range that rents or shooting buddies willing to let her try as many as she can. We can all talk about what size shoe fits her, but until she actually tries a pair on you'll never know.

Same with guns. And that's especially so with we of the older persuasion.
 
Beretta used to make their Model 86 Cheetah, which was a medium frame size .380, with a pop-up barrel. They are somewhat scarce and pricey but it would make for a better caliber choice over a similarly designed .22 auto.
 
I was thinking that exact same thing. I have a model 15 which someone did trigger work on. Very smooth easy pull. Almost too easy. That on her shelf with a speed loader on the ready. The tip up barrel idea is nice, she can put that in her purse and have the model 15 next to her bed.
 
If she has a hand problem due to health issues, it just makes sense to me that she would have problems with a semi-auto handgun with 'racking issues'. A revolver solves the racking issue. An J frame Ultra lite .38 hollow point round in a weapon that's rated +P, should be good for her.
 
I agree on the 38spl revolver much better for defense than
a .22 imo, I do also have the pt 22 flip up barrel
cheap little pocket type but mine is NOT reliable with all
ammo and a .22 does jam and misfire would not trust a .22
as a defensive tool but that's me.
But on the other hand its better then nothing
 
I am not sure so I will put an idea out there how about cowboy type
loads for a 38, would they be low recoil ?
 
At age 74 is not the best time in one's life to switch platforms from revolver to semi.

You did not mention the specific problem with the weaker hands, but whther its weight, recoil, or double action trigger pull, there are alternatives without switching platforms unless he is also very comfortable and familiar with semis as well.
 
Perhaps a shield with a safety, or a CCP with that blowback design the slide is very light because it doesn't require a heavy recoil system.
 
The trigger pull is what is difficult for her. Her hand strength isn't what it used to be. Weight isn't such an issue for her.
 
The trigger pull is what is difficult for her. Her hand strength isn't what it used to be. Weight isn't such an issue for her.
Click to expand...

..but she still has to be able to charge the weapon.
Click to expand...

The trigger of a revolver can only be lightened so much before ignition reliability may suffer. This may exclude revolvers from further consideration, though I hear the LCR-series from Ruger have easier triggers. I cannot agree, though, as I have not tried any.

As far as charging the weapon, is there a reason it cannot be stored ready for use already charged?

The PT-22 I own, made in 1998, has been absolutely 100% percent reliable for me with quality ammo, meaning CCI MiniMags. Just putting that out there. Many will disparage those who wield, or plan to wield, a .22, but there are countless grannies and grampas doing just that, and most would be well-advised to steer clear of them. Lots of bad guys have been captured, incapacitated, or driven off by some "little old lady and her twenty-two."..
 
As far as charging the weapon, is there a reason it cannot be stored ready for use already charged?
It is a S&W model 10 revolver and I dont think leaving the hammer back would be a good idea as sometimes She has her grand and great grandkids around.
The whole idea of an auto was hers. I have no doubt she can manipulate an auto, she just needs one she can load, charge, clear and pull the trigger on.
 
If she is used to a revolver I think I would probably try to stay with that.

I think a trigger and spring job could be worth a look. At the very minimum a spring switch can get the weight down and still be reliable without costing much at all. Just don't go too light. My sp101 has a mid weight setup and it made a very noticeable difference.

May be a silly question, but how comfortable is she firing the weapon in single action?

Those little flip barrel autos could work very well if she is comfortable with it, but I am not sure I would be after a long revolver tenure. Muscle memory can be very stubborn.

I do not have any experience with the model 10, so I am not sure how the trigger is on there. If another revolver is in the cards, I would check out that new Ruger LCR with hammer and 3 inch barrel, or maybe an sp101. Like I said, I had good luck with just the spring kit. I got to play with a gunsmithed one and it was very slick compared to mine...
 
all good ideas to solve one or two issues.... but I think the OP was right on this.... I think Recoil, force to Charge, and force to pull the trigger. (And likely to hold up at arms length) are all issues.

I dont think a .22lr pistol is a bad idea. Not Ideal for most people but this isnt that situation.

My .02.

I think there's a .22 auto or revolver with light enough resistance in the trigger and action.
 
Beretta 21A in 22 or 25auto Has tip up barrel . I prefer the 25 for carry . and 22 for target shooting . My hands are giving me trouble also. I find racking the slide on my 1911 's hard. On my Colt Defender near impossible now. I am starting to carry my 44 spl revolver more and more
 
You might also look at the Beretta Tomcat in 32 ACP. It also has the tip up barrel and is fairly easy to handle. It is thick and heavy for a 32 but that makes it easier to handle. Go for a later model stainless (inox) if you find one, the older blue ones had frame cracking problems I am told. I have had mine for close to 20 years and never any problems with it. I always carried Winchester Silvertip ammo in it and it functioned flawless.
 
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