bottomfeeders with tip-up barrels?

[skidmark]

The Lady Friend has multiple physical limitations that make chosing a semiautomatic difficult. A tip-up barrel answers most of the limitation issues.

Now I need recommendations on what is out there. This is NOT a place for folks to tell me how bad minor calibers are, or how revolvers would do better than semiautomatics.

The realities of The Lady Friend's life are that a tip-up barrel seems to solve the limitations that would otherwise prevent her from being able to carry and shoot reliably.

That being said, we would appreciate knowing about any tip-up models other than the Beretta Tomcat, which she is currently looking at.

Thanks.

stay safe.

skidmark

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

This one is made to order

Beretta 86:

This is a 8+1 round .380. It also has "selective" double action, i.e., you can set the ambidextrous safety levers up for double action first shot (hammer down) with the safety on, DA with the safety off, or "cocked and locked." I have one myself as a collector/fun gun, due primarily to this unusual design. Because of its size (nearly identical height and length to the Glock 19, much bigger than the little Tomcat) and mild cartridge it also has light recoil.

 

[tasco 74]

For A Moment There

i thought you were talking about EXCITED LAWYERS!!

 

[tasco 74]

i have one of those baretta autos like shown and it does seem to me like a good answer.

 

[sm]

skidmark,

Beretta 86 was the one I recommended as top choice in the list with links I sent you.

Proven with a LOT of physically limited folks!!

 

[America First]

Taurus has a lot of Model 25 variants. Downside is .25acp is as strong as it gets. Comes with pink grips though.

 

[RyanM]

The Beretta 86 looks perfect. I'll have to keep that one in mind if my tendinitis ever becomes a chronic condition. The safety even moves in the right direction!

 

[MPanova]

I got my wife one of the Taurus PT22, she has only carried it twice and both time we were going out so she was wearing a skin tight black dress so she used her thigh holster

 

[wally]

The Berreta 86 is fantastic, but the price is painful. Got one for my wife so she could shoot her CHL qualifier with an auto as she cannot reliably rack the slide of any of my non-.22 autos.

--wally.

 

[dogngun]

I'd go with either the .380 or the Tomcat, but get a new one.

The DA .22 caliber tip up Berettas are not reliable, but the .25 is very reliable. I have an old 950 Single Action .25 Beretta that works every time.
I know there are people who don't care for the .25, but I have yeat to find anyone of them who will volunteer to be shot with one for the sake of science.

Mark

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

The same lack of hand or finger strength that makes it difficult to rack a slide may also interfere with pulling a DA trigger. With the 86 you can carry cocked and locked (but you have to precock the hammer first), bypassing that problem. Because of the curvature, angle and width of the DA trigger I never found the DA pull comfortable anyway.

This safety does not decock, so the hammer has to be lowered manually while pulling the trigger. I can't think of a reason to do this on a loaded chamber, though.

 

[waynesan]

We need more pics

MPanova,

I got my wife one of the Taurus PT22, she has only carried it twice and both time we were going out so she was wearing a skin tight black dress so she used her thigh holster

You really should post a picture of your wife as you described so we can get a better understanding of how this would work.

 

[rde]

I would agree with the Beretta model 86..however, I think that it is out of production now so I expect the availability of new ones are diminishing quickly. I have the TomCat in 32 and I really like mine. With the TomCat I highly recommend the Inox (Stainless version) because they (as I understand it..due to a thicker heavier slide) have less reliability issues that the Blued models. My Inox model is very reliable as long as I use a firm grip when firing.

 

[skidmark]

consensus on bottom feeders

Thanks, folks.

It seems the consensus is for the Beretta - either the Tomcat or Model 86. (sm- yes, you did recommend the 86, but I was too dim to realize it had a tip-up barrel till I saw pictures. I looked at Beretta's web site and of course did not find it as it is out of production. Mea culpa.)

The Lady Friend took off for a week at the beach, leaving me to suffer in my air-conditioned palace without sand (or sand fleas) in the carpet.

I have located two shooters who have the models in question, and will be setting up a range session for the Lady Friend on her return. After she has a chance to fel them in action, see how they fit her pockets, decide if she wants bling/shine or traditional blue, we will be discussing the mechanics of ordering. I'll post her decision, and if I can get her to tell me, I'll let you all know why she chose whichever one it is.

stay safe.

skidmark

 

[sm]

skidmark,

I am dead serious here, as I know about this set up from real life, and from a gunfighter perspective. Not "shooting" , "gunfighter", there is a difference.

Gold Bead front sight.

Take a look at the Tomcat, they made the same gun with night sights and called it a AlleyCat.
My old AlleyCat, belongs to someone that has been there, done that and survived . First thing he did was remove the night sight and install a 14 yellow gold bead in its place.

He also has the gold bead installed on the 86 he has. All his guns do.

What folks don't "get" is there are those with mindset and training, that can run any gun, as they may have to use what is "there". The "gun" is just a tool and not better than user of said tool.
These persons understand more fully, Software trumps Hardware.
I once asked why he preferred the 32ACP over the 380, he did that look, meaning he could not tell me the where, or the why, just that caliber, and the platform, and ball ammo, works real well.

He understands fully those with limitations with hands, and all too.
He has been in "environments" with such folks.

Gunsmith once asked him, why he needed another 1911 gun built. Gunsmith was sorta busy, and pressed for time, and he had built this fella a 1911.
"It jumped out of the plane and drowned". - he replied with a look, we know.
"Oh, well, in that case let me call you when it is finished then" - Gunsmith replied.
Seems "travel arrangements" getting home had to be altered a bit, and where these arrangements led them, best to travel "light".

 

[marklbucla]

I got my wife one of the Taurus PT22, she has only carried it twice and both time we were going out so she was wearing a skin tight black dress so she used her thigh holster

Someone already beat me to it, but you can't seriously post this (even on THR) and not have the obligatory pic request.

So where is the pic?

 

[MPanova]

Ill see if I can get her to let me take one but I really doubt it lol She doesnt like to take pictures :banghead:makes it real hard to show off my beautyful wife if I cant get a picture