T. Bracker
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- Aug 31, 2004
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If cost is no issue, then consider mine another vote for the Beretta Storm in 9mm.
Best SD gun for small, weak, arthritic hands?
- Thread starter Charlie Oldphart
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One of Many
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Baretta makes a tip-barrel semi-auto in .380 that is fairly small in the grip size, and may fit her hands better than a revolver; since the barrel tips open, a cartridge can be loaded without racking the slide. I think it is model FS86, but my memory isn't the best. It might be available for rent at a well stocked gun store/shooting range.
I have seen one of these at a gun show about 2 years ago, and thought about getting it for my wife; I got her a Makarov instead. My wife has fibromyalgia (SP?) and has trouble just holding a revolver, much less firing one. She finds the Makarov in 9x18 much easier to handle than the .38 revolver with wadcutter loads. If a handgun is decided upon, I recomend the heaviest gun she can handle, as it will reduce felt recoil; those light suckers are for He-Men.
I have seen one of these at a gun show about 2 years ago, and thought about getting it for my wife; I got her a Makarov instead. My wife has fibromyalgia (SP?) and has trouble just holding a revolver, much less firing one. She finds the Makarov in 9x18 much easier to handle than the .38 revolver with wadcutter loads. If a handgun is decided upon, I recomend the heaviest gun she can handle, as it will reduce felt recoil; those light suckers are for He-Men.
Oleg Volk
Moderator Emeritus
One solution for such a situation was a Glock frame with Advantage Arms .22 aluminum upper -- no small controls or external safeties, light trigger, light gun, reliable.
Another option would be an older full-size .32 pistol, like the Colt Pocket Automatic (though its sights are poor).
Another option would be an older full-size .32 pistol, like the Colt Pocket Automatic (though its sights are poor).
.38 special is my suggestion, as others have stated. The ammo available ranges from light target loads that would also be adequate defensive load, to higher velocity HP loads that still don't kick a lot. Keep in mind that the heavier the gun, the less the kick. If she is strong enough to hold a heavier revolver up, it won't kick as much. In addition, if she can't handle the double action pull, she can cock with her thumb and then has a very light pull. Not as fast, but still a good defensive weapon that way.
I would suggest that you get some .38 wadcutter target loads. They have flat ends, and although low velocity, they would make a nasty wound. They are perfect to practice with for a gun shy person just learning. Again, the heavier the gun, the less the recoil. I would strongly advise against a small frame snubby for her.
I would suggest that you get some .38 wadcutter target loads. They have flat ends, and although low velocity, they would make a nasty wound. They are perfect to practice with for a gun shy person just learning. Again, the heavier the gun, the less the recoil. I would strongly advise against a small frame snubby for her.
Burt Blade
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- Apr 29, 2004
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- 477
The Smith & Wesson Model 10, also known as the Military and Police, is fairly easy to manage. With modest .38 Special loads, it is reasonably effective. It is also a very reliable gun.
If double-action revolvers are difficult to fire, one can use a two-hand grip, and thumb-cock with the offhand thumb. Trigger pull is now short and light. This is astonishingly fast with a bit of practice. I know several folks with arthritic hands who use this method to shoot .38 special single-action revolvers in Cowboy Action Shooting competitions.
In long guns, the lever action rifle is a definite possibility. For semi-autos, go with an M-1 Carbine.
Loading a gun with heavily arthritic hands is not something to do under stress. Leave them loaded if you can, or get the gun that is easiest to load.
And above all else, get the gun(s) that _she_ is most comfortable handling and shooting.
If double-action revolvers are difficult to fire, one can use a two-hand grip, and thumb-cock with the offhand thumb. Trigger pull is now short and light. This is astonishingly fast with a bit of practice. I know several folks with arthritic hands who use this method to shoot .38 special single-action revolvers in Cowboy Action Shooting competitions.
In long guns, the lever action rifle is a definite possibility. For semi-autos, go with an M-1 Carbine.
Loading a gun with heavily arthritic hands is not something to do under stress. Leave them loaded if you can, or get the gun that is easiest to load.
And above all else, get the gun(s) that _she_ is most comfortable handling and shooting.
Felonious Monk
Member
Charlie,
Welcome to THR, sir!
I agree totally with the thinking of middy, as follows:
I think I'd try one of the above, but not feel the least bit undergunned if you decide to go with an 8 shot 22 magnum revolver. It's preferable to a baseball bat, and I'm pretty sure no one is going to stop and calculate bullet size flying at them as she shoots.
Make sure she can hit what she aims at inside of 5-7 yards with some fun outings to the range or the farm.
It's all about placement.
Glad you're taking up the responsibility for yourself and your wife's safety.
Monk
Welcome to THR, sir!
I agree totally with the thinking of middy, as follows:
We MUST be realistic for a woman in her 70's, or she will become frustrated and the goal will not be met.middy said:
I think I'd try one of the above, but not feel the least bit undergunned if you decide to go with an 8 shot 22 magnum revolver. It's preferable to a baseball bat, and I'm pretty sure no one is going to stop and calculate bullet size flying at them as she shoots.
Make sure she can hit what she aims at inside of 5-7 yards with some fun outings to the range or the farm.
It's all about placement.
Glad you're taking up the responsibility for yourself and your wife's safety.
Monk
Think this way....
Welcome to THR, I am new as you are.
I have to say the only reason I was not here sooner was my DOG! She has thwarted 4 known intrusions with only the perp running off scared, maybe scarred, he never came back after I let the dog loose. Marking my house off the list before I ever woke up and reached for my gun.
I recently bought a .45 for a similar issue where meth-heads stole a rig of mine. My current dog did not defend my property as her predecessor did. Anyhow, long story short, get guns that you are comfortable shooting, take some courses for some education, and get more than one GUARD DOG! Being where you are, I assume you can afford the new companions, and they will prove much more valuable than a gun, you will quickly forget their purpose for their companionship, but they won't. No thief or assailant attacks a house with loud vicious dogs, or even yappy barking cats for that matter, not the smart ones. And if they do, you hear your dogs while you prepare yourself for the ugliness that may come. This is why I prefer a dog that can cause some grief on the assailant. A 50 pouder will do fine.
Training them to know the difference is not something I can tell you "how to do". You will need experts for one trained like that. Meanwhile, get you and yours some training and think of the dog as an all critical alarm. It will be you or a pro to train the dog to "know" the difference. My current dogs don't, hence my .45. They will always bark first, but the reaching is usually not necessary. The point is, the dogs bark, you reach, you're READY. They don't expect a 70 year old with a gun.
My suggestion would be to buy a gun with a magnum caliber that you can shoot with practice ammo. Like the .357 mag. Easy practice ammo, heavy hitting protection ammo. Because when it matters, the extra kick won't, because there won't be time, only reaction. But you can practice 38 spcl all day.
And what I don't see in the forum is that you need to prepare being a gunowner. I did not sleep well for about a month once I "knew" what I had to protect myself within arms reach. The responsibility weighed heavy, and it still does, months after purchase. As a younger fellow, I do sleep better in the woods at night, much better. I just "know" I have the gun now, not "think" about it, took a while.
Speaking of which, my dogs woke me up last night as a pack of coyotes strolled through the area. Had it not been for the dogs, I might have had a coyote pelt or two this morning.
jeepmor
Welcome to THR, I am new as you are.
I have to say the only reason I was not here sooner was my DOG! She has thwarted 4 known intrusions with only the perp running off scared, maybe scarred, he never came back after I let the dog loose. Marking my house off the list before I ever woke up and reached for my gun.
I recently bought a .45 for a similar issue where meth-heads stole a rig of mine. My current dog did not defend my property as her predecessor did. Anyhow, long story short, get guns that you are comfortable shooting, take some courses for some education, and get more than one GUARD DOG! Being where you are, I assume you can afford the new companions, and they will prove much more valuable than a gun, you will quickly forget their purpose for their companionship, but they won't. No thief or assailant attacks a house with loud vicious dogs, or even yappy barking cats for that matter, not the smart ones. And if they do, you hear your dogs while you prepare yourself for the ugliness that may come. This is why I prefer a dog that can cause some grief on the assailant. A 50 pouder will do fine.
Training them to know the difference is not something I can tell you "how to do". You will need experts for one trained like that. Meanwhile, get you and yours some training and think of the dog as an all critical alarm. It will be you or a pro to train the dog to "know" the difference. My current dogs don't, hence my .45. They will always bark first, but the reaching is usually not necessary. The point is, the dogs bark, you reach, you're READY. They don't expect a 70 year old with a gun.
My suggestion would be to buy a gun with a magnum caliber that you can shoot with practice ammo. Like the .357 mag. Easy practice ammo, heavy hitting protection ammo. Because when it matters, the extra kick won't, because there won't be time, only reaction. But you can practice 38 spcl all day.
And what I don't see in the forum is that you need to prepare being a gunowner. I did not sleep well for about a month once I "knew" what I had to protect myself within arms reach. The responsibility weighed heavy, and it still does, months after purchase. As a younger fellow, I do sleep better in the woods at night, much better. I just "know" I have the gun now, not "think" about it, took a while.
Speaking of which, my dogs woke me up last night as a pack of coyotes strolled through the area. Had it not been for the dogs, I might have had a coyote pelt or two this morning.
jeepmor
Powderman
Member
spook said:
A really big +1 to that!
Don't disregard the .410. This arm can put out buckshot and even slugs at an energy that equals many hot-loaded handgun calibers.
Recoil is practically non-existent, and the .410 is available in lever action arms (Winchester), pump action weapons, and even semi-automatic shotguns. I'll tell you this, a semi-auto .410, loaded buck-slug-buck-etc. will be a formidable weapon indeed.
You might even be able to find a slightly larger caliber/gauge for your use. I just saw a Browning Auto-5 in 16 gauge in a local shop. The trigger pull is light and sweet, and the shotgun balances like a feather. Moreover, the Auto-5 is perhaps the fastest cycling shotgun on the market--bar none.
Good luck to you in your quest!
Hello - Welcome
You can already see that there are almost as many opinions as there are people.
I will give this one a third recommendation. I recently had the pleasure of working with my 80 year old aunt who wanted a handgun for protection. She also has a weak hand, and what worked best I feel was a revolver. She has been doing well with it. It is also a small frame revolver and not heavy.
The S&W 431PD would be small , light weight, easy to learn and handle, and have light recoil using .32 Shorts or Longs for practice and then using the .32 H&R mag for the extra power wanted for self defense.
Get it and a dog if you want a pet - personaly I don't like to have to take care of pets . While the carbines and light shotguns can be of good use, they still require strength to operate and hold that I don't think your wife may have. Also , as you mentioned - no autos that require the slide to be pulled back will work in my opinion.
So - there's me 2 cents worth.
PS: My aunt chose to buy her pistol in .22 mag caliber . While you won't find many recommending that for personal defense, it has near zero recoil and is a lot better than having nothing, or something that recoils too much for old hands to use. I think the .32 with shorts would also be near zero for recoil and that's one reason I also recommend going that way.
You can already see that there are almost as many opinions as there are people.
I will give this one a third recommendation. I recently had the pleasure of working with my 80 year old aunt who wanted a handgun for protection. She also has a weak hand, and what worked best I feel was a revolver. She has been doing well with it. It is also a small frame revolver and not heavy.
The S&W 431PD would be small , light weight, easy to learn and handle, and have light recoil using .32 Shorts or Longs for practice and then using the .32 H&R mag for the extra power wanted for self defense.
Get it and a dog if you want a pet - personaly I don't like to have to take care of pets . While the carbines and light shotguns can be of good use, they still require strength to operate and hold that I don't think your wife may have. Also , as you mentioned - no autos that require the slide to be pulled back will work in my opinion.
So - there's me 2 cents worth.
PS: My aunt chose to buy her pistol in .22 mag caliber . While you won't find many recommending that for personal defense, it has near zero recoil and is a lot better than having nothing, or something that recoils too much for old hands to use. I think the .32 with shorts would also be near zero for recoil and that's one reason I also recommend going that way.
Remington's 1100 is available in both 20 guage and 410. A gunsmith could put a short synthetic stock on it and reduce the barrel length to minimum legal length. It might be a functional alternative.
Peter, what do you think of this alternative?
Peter, what do you think of this alternative?
trueblue1776
Member
Ok, a few guys want to write off pepper spray. I am aware that this is a gun forum, but that in no means takes away the effectiveness of a 25$ bottle of 10% spray. Most cops in the US carry a can of pepper spray. I have seen more than 300 people get sprayed, after we spray our rookies they must fight me off for 30 seconds and keep me from grabbing their gun. I have not seen a single tough guy that could have realistically injured me after he was sprayed. Yes there are a few people who are effected less, and even fewer people who are so tenacious that they can fight well afterwards, but I have only seen two, TWO out of more than 300 that were truly unaffected.
If my own mother needed a gun I would buy her pepper spray, why? Because she has never handled a gun in her life, it's cheap (you can buy one for every room in your house if you want and still spend less than half of what you would spend on a reliable firearm), pepper spray requires no marksmanship training, she doesn't have to worry about neighbor kids finding one, it's easy to use, and most of all, IT WORKS!
One argument was that some guy had 30 seconds of fight left in him after getting hit with foam, this is most impressive, the foam feel's like having airplane stripper poured in your eyes. If you shot me in the center mass with a small calliber handgun I'll bet I'd have more than 30 second's to come after you.
It all boils down to preference, I guess you are probably safer with what you feel comfortable with, if you think you need a gun, get a gun. Don't believe for a second though that pepper spray is a toy.
If my own mother needed a gun I would buy her pepper spray, why? Because she has never handled a gun in her life, it's cheap (you can buy one for every room in your house if you want and still spend less than half of what you would spend on a reliable firearm), pepper spray requires no marksmanship training, she doesn't have to worry about neighbor kids finding one, it's easy to use, and most of all, IT WORKS!
One argument was that some guy had 30 seconds of fight left in him after getting hit with foam, this is most impressive, the foam feel's like having airplane stripper poured in your eyes. If you shot me in the center mass with a small calliber handgun I'll bet I'd have more than 30 second's to come after you.
It all boils down to preference, I guess you are probably safer with what you feel comfortable with, if you think you need a gun, get a gun. Don't believe for a second though that pepper spray is a toy.
Charlie, I sure do share your concerns. Even moving to a "nice safe place" is no guarantee against ruthless perps. A small carbine like the Keltec or Mini 14 would really reduce the recoil and make her one mean granny to confront. She can just fire away multiple shots. Yes most revolvers can be tuned by a gunsmith to lighten up the trigger, but she still will have to deal with the recoil. I also have dogs, and they're worth their weight in gold. Even a medium size dog will begin to get the understanding of their "protector role", and do their job for you. Dogs have a way of knowing when someone weaker needs help. Look up the breeds. There are dogs known for their strong bonding tendencies for 1 or 2 people, rather than a big family of kids. Do this soon. It will give you some peace of mind. Hell, get a bottle of bear spray. Its the strongest spray out there, doesn't hurt to have that around either. Its range is about 30feet.
trueblue1776
Member
Oh, and Burt, do you honestly think an old lady should have an M-1, If we are thinking of the same 308 you should re-evaluate the advice you give people
Get an auto-loading 20 ga shotgun and load it with buckshot. Preacher is right that it will recoil more than a carbine; nonetheless, it is still a very controllable and user friendly gauge and action. Automatics tame recoil much better than double barrels or pumps. I would recommend the Remington 11-87 Upland Special, which you can view here:
http://tinyurl.com/8f4p5
It has a short barrel, which is desirable for a longarm that will be used in tight quarters (e.g. indoors).
http://tinyurl.com/8f4p5
It has a short barrel, which is desirable for a longarm that will be used in tight quarters (e.g. indoors).
trueblue1776
Member
Perhaps a Bren or maybe a Russian KPV, you guys are nuts
Trueblue, I think he mean the M1 Carbine.
The advice about not using pepper spray is based on the concern that it's only temporarily incapacitating. If an elderly lady uses it she has to retreat from the house to be sure that the assailant won't recover and exact revenge upon her before law enforcement can arrive or she has to fall back to a safe room with a weapon for the same reason. (the indoor use/colateral inhalation concern can be mitigated by use of stream or foam instead of fog sprayers)
We have pepper spray in stategic locations so that they can be grabbed at a moments notice and used while getting a more permanent solution.
The advice about not using pepper spray is based on the concern that it's only temporarily incapacitating. If an elderly lady uses it she has to retreat from the house to be sure that the assailant won't recover and exact revenge upon her before law enforcement can arrive or she has to fall back to a safe room with a weapon for the same reason. (the indoor use/colateral inhalation concern can be mitigated by use of stream or foam instead of fog sprayers)
We have pepper spray in stategic locations so that they can be grabbed at a moments notice and used while getting a more permanent solution.
trueblue1776
Member
maybe I'm just cynical of the abilities of elderly women with arthritus firing old battle rifles
George S.
Member
While there seems to be a lot of well-intentioned suggestions regarding what is the best firemarm for your wife, I have not seen anyone suggest that you both go to a gunstore that has a range and actually try a few handguns, carbines, or even shotguns. A really good store will be able to suggest not only a specific handgun based on how it feels in her hands but what specific caliber and load will be the most effective for home self-defense. You might even want to carry this step a bit further and get her to go when she is experiencing some amount of pain or discomfort. Unfortunately, Murphy's Law is usually in force when you have to do something at a point in time that can cause problems.
A longun would not be my choice for somebody with issues like arthritis in the hands or any joints in the arms. If she is awakend in the middle of the night by an intruder, just the act of picking up something relatively heavy (compred to a lightweight pistol or revolver!) can be painful in itself much less dealing with the fright and stress of the situation. My mom had rhuematoid arthritis and even picking up her coffee cup in the morning was painful to her.
Further, a longun can let an intruder grab the barrel should she miss with a shot or not grab it and get it on target in time. She would most likely lose control of a longun in a situation like this. And rifles tend to kick upwards from recoil as you shoot, If she does not have the strength to hold a rifle or even a shotgun, a missed first shot may not give her a chance for a second.
For my $.02 worth, look at a relatively small caliber double-action only revolver. No chambering of a round, no safety to worry about and you can get them in a very light weight. Most all revolvers respond to a bit of trigger work and a lighter spring for a light trigger pull. Aftermarket grips can help with the hold and recoil absorbtion. I would consider anything from a .22mag (yes, they will stop somebody!) to a very lightweight .38 with something like a wadcutter/target load if typical defensive loads are too hard to control.
I would suggest looking at either the Ruger SP101 DAO 2 1/4" barrel .357mag (which will handle .38spl's), Taurus CIA Model 850 .38spl or the Ultralite 731 in .32MAG, or the S&W Lady Smiths. These are lightweight models in DAO and should work fine depending on the ammo load selected. They have smaller grip frames and she would probably find these easier to grip.
Again, try them to see what she feels comfortable with!!
A longun would not be my choice for somebody with issues like arthritis in the hands or any joints in the arms. If she is awakend in the middle of the night by an intruder, just the act of picking up something relatively heavy (compred to a lightweight pistol or revolver!) can be painful in itself much less dealing with the fright and stress of the situation. My mom had rhuematoid arthritis and even picking up her coffee cup in the morning was painful to her.
Further, a longun can let an intruder grab the barrel should she miss with a shot or not grab it and get it on target in time. She would most likely lose control of a longun in a situation like this. And rifles tend to kick upwards from recoil as you shoot, If she does not have the strength to hold a rifle or even a shotgun, a missed first shot may not give her a chance for a second.
For my $.02 worth, look at a relatively small caliber double-action only revolver. No chambering of a round, no safety to worry about and you can get them in a very light weight. Most all revolvers respond to a bit of trigger work and a lighter spring for a light trigger pull. Aftermarket grips can help with the hold and recoil absorbtion. I would consider anything from a .22mag (yes, they will stop somebody!) to a very lightweight .38 with something like a wadcutter/target load if typical defensive loads are too hard to control.
I would suggest looking at either the Ruger SP101 DAO 2 1/4" barrel .357mag (which will handle .38spl's), Taurus CIA Model 850 .38spl or the Ultralite 731 in .32MAG, or the S&W Lady Smiths. These are lightweight models in DAO and should work fine depending on the ammo load selected. They have smaller grip frames and she would probably find these easier to grip.
Again, try them to see what she feels comfortable with!!
trueblue1776
Member
solid stuff George, good show
JMusic
member
Charlie, welcome. I'm a new member to this group but they are impressive aren't they? All have good advise, but I am going to attempt to answer your specific question. The Smith and Wesson Model 10 is a sweet pistol and something a gunsmith can do wonders with. They make one with a bull barrel that in my opinion is one of the best shooting revolvers ever made. It has negligable recoil with 148 grain wadcutters. My wife has a concelled carry permit and frankly still thinks it is too much gun. What ever you decide try to purchase at a store that will let you try that or a simular model. Here are my wifes favorites. North American Arms mini revolver with matching 22 mag and longrifle cylinders. This is a "single action" very small pistol that she carries in her purse. She practices with the long rifle cylinder and then interchanges the magnum cylinder for carry. You can get oversized grips for this revolver that helps the pointability. I prefer the Blackwidow model with the same set up and that would be my recomendation for your wife. See their web site. Another that she has for her bedstand revolver is Smith and Wesson model 651. This is a J frame 22 mag. and is an outstanding shooter. I will throw out one semi auto. Berretta's Tomcat in 32 acp. This has a very good grip DA/SA after first shot and has a tip up barrel that allows for loading without racking the slide. A friend of mine has lost most of the grip in his hands and he loves the Tomcat for his carry pistol. Charlie, these are all marginal calipers at best but adequate. Many people mentioned dogs. When I was in Law Enforcement I spent a couple years working B and E's. I never had a successful breakin or burglary when a dog was present no matter what the breed. I will take this one step further and say if you are serious you should consider layers of security. It is easily done with lighting and a dog. Basic principle is to make sure you have your property lit to the extent that no one can easily conceal themselves near your doors and windows. You can do this with porch and door lighting on timers and then some IR/motion lights of brighter intensity on all four corners of your house. Good luck
Jim
Jim
Essex County
Member
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2005
- Messages
- 1,247
Years ago I knew a gentleman with severe arthritis that selected a .22 magnum Ruger Single-Six as a bedside handgun. He found that it was easy for him to cock repetedly. Good luck with your choice. Sincerely, Essex County
beaucoup ammo
Member
Mr. Oldphart
I know several Oldpharts in the New England area. Welcome to THL. Seriously, Charlie, put me down for (1) good watch dog and (2) .357 with .38 special ammo. Get a good smith to tweak the trigger and all the missus will have to do is lift, point, cock and pull the trigger with zero effort.
The most important choice, of course, is anything your wife is comfortable with. I'm willing to bet if you call a couple of ranges in your area and explain the situation as you did so well in your post, you'll find people more than willing to let you shoot a selection of weapons. Find one that will offer her a proper grip with her condition.
Having a rough idea of your floor plan would allow the the real experts who post here (Not Me!) to offer up more effective suggestions. One story or two? Big house? Small? ,etc.
Take Care
I know several Oldpharts in the New England area. Welcome to THL. Seriously, Charlie, put me down for (1) good watch dog and (2) .357 with .38 special ammo. Get a good smith to tweak the trigger and all the missus will have to do is lift, point, cock and pull the trigger with zero effort.
The most important choice, of course, is anything your wife is comfortable with. I'm willing to bet if you call a couple of ranges in your area and explain the situation as you did so well in your post, you'll find people more than willing to let you shoot a selection of weapons. Find one that will offer her a proper grip with her condition.
Having a rough idea of your floor plan would allow the the real experts who post here (Not Me!) to offer up more effective suggestions. One story or two? Big house? Small? ,etc.
Take Care
Burt Blade
Member
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2004
- Messages
- 477
trueblue1776
The M-1 Carbine, more properly, U.S. Carbine, .30 Caliber M-1, is not a "battle rifle". (Not in the sense of an M-1 Garand, Springfield ‘03, Mauser 98, SMLE, etc.) It is a lightweight, auto-loading carbine firing the .30 Carbine cartridge. That cartridge is essentially a hot pistol round, being somewhere between a .38 Super and a .357 Magnum, depending on how one keeps score on such things. It is not the .30 caliber round fired by the Springfield ‘03 or the Garand, that rifle round being better known as the .30-06. The M-1 Carbine itself is lighter than an AR-15, and was intended as a replacement for a sidearm, for people who could not carry a battle rifle due to their military duties. (Officers, drivers, heavy weapons crews, etc)
A ten year old can easily shoot an M-1 Carbine.
The M-1 Carbine, more properly, U.S. Carbine, .30 Caliber M-1, is not a "battle rifle". (Not in the sense of an M-1 Garand, Springfield ‘03, Mauser 98, SMLE, etc.) It is a lightweight, auto-loading carbine firing the .30 Carbine cartridge. That cartridge is essentially a hot pistol round, being somewhere between a .38 Super and a .357 Magnum, depending on how one keeps score on such things. It is not the .30 caliber round fired by the Springfield ‘03 or the Garand, that rifle round being better known as the .30-06. The M-1 Carbine itself is lighter than an AR-15, and was intended as a replacement for a sidearm, for people who could not carry a battle rifle due to their military duties. (Officers, drivers, heavy weapons crews, etc)
A ten year old can easily shoot an M-1 Carbine.
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