iam in a wheelchair iam 5'1 and i have full use of my upper body iam looking to get a a pistol soon when i move down to florida and then a cc permit for self pertection im leaning toward a medium to small sided glock or 1911 which would u all think would be best for someone like me to get when i am ready
glock or 1911
- Thread starter ny_vin18
- Start date
- Status
No real way to tell until you try them out. It's an individual decision. A suggestion-don't limit yourself to just a Glock or Colt.
There are other quality weapons out there. My personal choice is Colt, but that was heavily influenced by my drill sgt and the fact that it was the first pistol I ever trained on.
There are other quality weapons out there. My personal choice is Colt, but that was heavily influenced by my drill sgt and the fact that it was the first pistol I ever trained on.
Barry in IN
Member
Good answer Delmar.
Try 'em all.
Don't rule out the Browning HiPower!
I usually don't like 1911's smaller than Commander-size. I've only had a couple of Officer's ACP size 1911s, but neither were very dependable. A Colt couldn't hit the broad side of a barn from the inside. And a Para didn't make it through the first magazine before breaking the ejector tip off. The Para never did feed well.
I liked Glocks for a while, but broke a trigger return spring in one. It took forever to break the first one, and thought I'd really done something.
Then I found it wasn't exactly rare. I then broke two more within six months in different guns, then never broke another.
Of course, I lost a lot of interest in shooting them by then, too.
Try 'em all.
Don't rule out the Browning HiPower!
I usually don't like 1911's smaller than Commander-size. I've only had a couple of Officer's ACP size 1911s, but neither were very dependable. A Colt couldn't hit the broad side of a barn from the inside. And a Para didn't make it through the first magazine before breaking the ejector tip off. The Para never did feed well.
I liked Glocks for a while, but broke a trigger return spring in one. It took forever to break the first one, and thought I'd really done something.
Then I found it wasn't exactly rare. I then broke two more within six months in different guns, then never broke another.
Of course, I lost a lot of interest in shooting them by then, too.
Hkmp5sd
Member
Another thing you might want to add to the mix is where you are planning on wearing the pistol. The physical dimensions of the gun is a major factor in where you can conceal it.
I can kind of relate to your individual issues, ny_vin18. I'm an amputee-right leg below knee, and there are those times when I'm rolling instead of walking.
Some people have had problems as mentioned above with 1911's shorter than Commander length. I have a 1991A1 compact-ugly version of the officers model. My wife bought it for herself for personal carry, and I did some work before I would use it for carry.
Bought the Kings bushing and captive recoil spring/reverse plug setup, and it made a fairly accurate pistol a real winner. I also ditched the scorpion style grip safety for a beavertail.
My personal carry is a Miami Classic II as it keeps the butt of the weapon within easy reach. You can bet that anyone wanting to attack you is going to try for the blind side, and the first thing they will do is dump you out of your chair.
I recommend you find a good quality holster-it doesn't make sense to buy a fine pistol/revolver and stick it in a cheap, ill fitting holster.
I personally prefer a horizontal carry in a chair-IWB's are too hard to get to while seated, and and vertical carrys tend to print the butt for me.
I alternate between a Gold Cup Trophy, a Commander and the O model just as a personal preference, but I recently bought a Beretta Vertec and I think I will check out the synthetic Bianchi's. Gets kinda hot here in Texas and I want a retention system easy to keep clean.
Some people have had problems as mentioned above with 1911's shorter than Commander length. I have a 1991A1 compact-ugly version of the officers model. My wife bought it for herself for personal carry, and I did some work before I would use it for carry.
Bought the Kings bushing and captive recoil spring/reverse plug setup, and it made a fairly accurate pistol a real winner. I also ditched the scorpion style grip safety for a beavertail.
My personal carry is a Miami Classic II as it keeps the butt of the weapon within easy reach. You can bet that anyone wanting to attack you is going to try for the blind side, and the first thing they will do is dump you out of your chair.
I recommend you find a good quality holster-it doesn't make sense to buy a fine pistol/revolver and stick it in a cheap, ill fitting holster.
I personally prefer a horizontal carry in a chair-IWB's are too hard to get to while seated, and and vertical carrys tend to print the butt for me.
I alternate between a Gold Cup Trophy, a Commander and the O model just as a personal preference, but I recently bought a Beretta Vertec and I think I will check out the synthetic Bianchi's. Gets kinda hot here in Texas and I want a retention system easy to keep clean.
Smoke
Member
I agree with the "don't limit yourself" group.
Being confined to a wheelchair must bear issues I can't even begin to relate to.
I prefer the 1911 varients, but there is this danged Springfield XDsomething-or-other that keeps buggin' me.
Try as many as you can.
Smoke
Being confined to a wheelchair must bear issues I can't even begin to relate to.
I prefer the 1911 varients, but there is this danged Springfield XDsomething-or-other that keeps buggin' me.
Try as many as you can.
Smoke
Ken Rainey
Member
Don't forget about revolvers.....a good used S&W (stainless might help in Fl) in say, .38 special or .357 magnum makes a fine defensive weapon and are economical to boot! I like the used ones 'cause they're made out of better parts!
If you go the auto pistol route, I'd recommend Glock for their simplicity and durability - won't rust and requires little maintenance. It's hard to beat a 9mm Glock.
1911s are a passion of mine as well, but I've learned that it takes a lot of devotion to the breed to make sure everything is as it should be before you carry it, in other words, you may have to tune this or that and replace a part or two or three to get everything as it should be - some hit the ground running and are just right. It seems the 1911 manufacturers (nearly all gun manufacturers) are using cheaper parts than they should be these days....sigh. My full size pre series 2 Kimbers have been 100% so far, even though they use the "cheaper" MIM parts. I did use one to learn how the 1911 works by fitting replacement parts even though the ones in the pistol were fine and can be dropped back in quickly, so I now have pre fit replacement parts and have learned my pistol inside and out.
The above three are my picks and when properly setup any of them will serve you well.
As always, YMMV
Ken
If you go the auto pistol route, I'd recommend Glock for their simplicity and durability - won't rust and requires little maintenance. It's hard to beat a 9mm Glock.
1911s are a passion of mine as well, but I've learned that it takes a lot of devotion to the breed to make sure everything is as it should be before you carry it, in other words, you may have to tune this or that and replace a part or two or three to get everything as it should be - some hit the ground running and are just right. It seems the 1911 manufacturers (nearly all gun manufacturers) are using cheaper parts than they should be these days....sigh. My full size pre series 2 Kimbers have been 100% so far, even though they use the "cheaper" MIM parts. I did use one to learn how the 1911 works by fitting replacement parts even though the ones in the pistol were fine and can be dropped back in quickly, so I now have pre fit replacement parts and have learned my pistol inside and out.
The above three are my picks and when properly setup any of them will serve you well.
As always, YMMV
Ken
orangeninja
Member
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2003
- Messages
- 3,117
I've been considering the Glock 21 or 30 and the Springfield Milspec. Got it narrowed down to those 3. The 1911 usually needs a little tinkering, which I don't think I'm up to. But the Glock 21 seems to have blown up in the hands of a few Oregon Police Officers so some Departments frown upon them. I don't really believe that it was necassarily the guns though, since the Police Dept. did not send the remains to Glock at their request and refused to meet with Glock. How do you spell RELOADS?
Anyway, the Glock 21 and 30 are so close in size, give or take an inch. I'm torn. Then the 1911 has that old school "follow me" schtick. Which I ashamedly like.
Anyway, the Glock 21 and 30 are so close in size, give or take an inch. I'm torn. Then the 1911 has that old school "follow me" schtick. Which I ashamedly like.
I second the motion for the Glock 
, again based on simplicity & reliability. I've been dealing with a bone infection for the last year in my right foot, & am having a bone removed in a week. Although I've been walking (on a limited basis since the beginning of the year & I'm sure this doesn't quite compare with your situation, there have been times that I've been in a wheelchair during this period. During those times I found a Glock 26 in an Uncle Mikes waistpack quite comfortable. Also it has been $100 percent in the 350 rounds I've put through it. The only other pistol that has come close to this in reliability has been my Kel-Tec P32, but reliability seems to be a little more hit and miss with the Kel-Tec from what I've seen posted by others.
, again based on simplicity & reliability. I've been dealing with a bone infection for the last year in my right foot, & am having a bone removed in a week. Although I've been walking (on a limited basis since the beginning of the year & I'm sure this doesn't quite compare with your situation, there have been times that I've been in a wheelchair during this period. During those times I found a Glock 26 in an Uncle Mikes waistpack quite comfortable. Also it has been $100 percent in the 350 rounds I've put through it. The only other pistol that has come close to this in reliability has been my Kel-Tec P32, but reliability seems to be a little more hit and miss with the Kel-Tec from what I've seen posted by others.GigaBuist
Member
Since you're leaning toward a compact or sub-compact firearm I'd say Glock. It's going to work out of the box and it'll run for 10's of thousands of rounds easily.
There's nothing wrong with a 1911 design the way John Moses Browning made it -- but I hear bad things happen when you try and make it smaller than he intended. Can it be done? Oh sure, and they can be wonderful pistols -- but you might not want to make that your 1st choice.
Since you're in a wheelchair though somebody else mentioned that a shoulder holster would be a good idea. Keep in mind that the Glock has a rather dramatic grip angle -- which would make it more prone to printing when carried under the shoulder. At least it would for me -- I'm a small guy at 5'10" (you say you're 5'1"?) so there's not much gap between my armpit and my hips.
The Springfield XD line (their "full size" is only a 4" barrel) wouldn't be a bad idea either. The grip angle is more "normal" on them and they might work well in a shoulder holster. You get the light weight of a polymer, a better trigger than a Glock, and a more normal grip angle with them. They're not bad.
Let us not forget the CZ line either. They've come out with a number of wondeful compact firearms it seems in the past year or two. I just got myself a CZ RAMI in .40S&W last week and I've taken it out once. I love it. It actually fits my hand well and this thing is going to be fairly easy to hide. It's solid metal too, so if worse comes to worse you've got a nice heavy club in your hands.
Nothing wrong with a wheelgun in .38 or .357 either -- I wouldn't dismiss those options.
Let us not forget that since you're in a wheelchair compact firearms in larger calibers may be quite managable for you. I don't mean to stereotype but men that are in wheelchairs tend to have stronge hands and arms than the rest of us from wheeling around all day. You may very well have developed enough upper body strength to deliver fast follow up shots with something that a small guy like me wouldn't even think of.
I'd try out a whole bunch of stuff if I were you. You picked two good platforms to start with but there's a lot out there that doesn't suck. If you were in my area I'd be more than happy to take you out and let you try things that I own to see what works for you and what doesn't. Other THR members usually offer the same. If you can find a range that rents handguns I'd try that out too.
There's nothing wrong with a 1911 design the way John Moses Browning made it -- but I hear bad things happen when you try and make it smaller than he intended. Can it be done? Oh sure, and they can be wonderful pistols -- but you might not want to make that your 1st choice.
Since you're in a wheelchair though somebody else mentioned that a shoulder holster would be a good idea. Keep in mind that the Glock has a rather dramatic grip angle -- which would make it more prone to printing when carried under the shoulder. At least it would for me -- I'm a small guy at 5'10" (you say you're 5'1"?) so there's not much gap between my armpit and my hips.
The Springfield XD line (their "full size" is only a 4" barrel) wouldn't be a bad idea either. The grip angle is more "normal" on them and they might work well in a shoulder holster. You get the light weight of a polymer, a better trigger than a Glock, and a more normal grip angle with them. They're not bad.
Let us not forget the CZ line either. They've come out with a number of wondeful compact firearms it seems in the past year or two. I just got myself a CZ RAMI in .40S&W last week and I've taken it out once. I love it. It actually fits my hand well and this thing is going to be fairly easy to hide. It's solid metal too, so if worse comes to worse you've got a nice heavy club in your hands.
Nothing wrong with a wheelgun in .38 or .357 either -- I wouldn't dismiss those options.
Let us not forget that since you're in a wheelchair compact firearms in larger calibers may be quite managable for you. I don't mean to stereotype but men that are in wheelchairs tend to have stronge hands and arms than the rest of us from wheeling around all day. You may very well have developed enough upper body strength to deliver fast follow up shots with something that a small guy like me wouldn't even think of.
I'd try out a whole bunch of stuff if I were you. You picked two good platforms to start with but there's a lot out there that doesn't suck. If you were in my area I'd be more than happy to take you out and let you try things that I own to see what works for you and what doesn't. Other THR members usually offer the same. If you can find a range that rents handguns I'd try that out too.
Mikul
Member
They are both good guns, but I would take a Glock over a 1911. I do not like the two-piece feed ramps on 1911's, their extractors that need to be "tuned" and therefore go out of tune, or their grip safeties. However, with the right ammo, and a good gun, they'll run for a long time.
No matter which gun you get, buy a good holster to carry it. Not only will it make carrying more comfortable, but it will make it safer. The Glock has no external safeties, so if you pull the trigger (or snag it on the wheelchair, your pants, a key, etc) it goes bang.
Do not get a compact Glock in .40 or .357 Sig if you plan to shoot it much. Those calibers beat up the little guns. Well, get it if you want to, but expect more frequent parts breakage (in the 5,000-8,000 rounds range).
While I don't know the specifics of dealing with a wheelchair on a daily basis, I wouldn't think that concealment would be a problem. If the weight of the gun is not a problem, get a big gun. They're easier to control and less punishing to shoot. They even come with a higher magazine capacity. Heck, if I was in a wheelchair every day, I'd find a way to conceal a shotgun. Stashing reloads seems easy too. Do it if you can.
No matter which gun you get, buy a good holster to carry it. Not only will it make carrying more comfortable, but it will make it safer. The Glock has no external safeties, so if you pull the trigger (or snag it on the wheelchair, your pants, a key, etc) it goes bang.
Do not get a compact Glock in .40 or .357 Sig if you plan to shoot it much. Those calibers beat up the little guns. Well, get it if you want to, but expect more frequent parts breakage (in the 5,000-8,000 rounds range).
While I don't know the specifics of dealing with a wheelchair on a daily basis, I wouldn't think that concealment would be a problem. If the weight of the gun is not a problem, get a big gun. They're easier to control and less punishing to shoot. They even come with a higher magazine capacity. Heck, if I was in a wheelchair every day, I'd find a way to conceal a shotgun. Stashing reloads seems easy too. Do it if you can.
trapperjohn
Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2004
- Messages
- 567
if you are serious about practice, i would opt for the 1911. I really dont like the long hard double action of a glock. at least compared to the single action of a good 1911.
I alos dont like the way the glock fits in my hand, but that may differ with you.
rent both, buy the one you like.
I alos dont like the way the glock fits in my hand, but that may differ with you.
rent both, buy the one you like.
Black Snowman
Member
Like everyone says, you'll have to find what works for you. Rentals are your friend when shopping for a gun. You can save a ton of money by trying before you buy. I don't know of anyplace that rents CZs in my area so it took me a little longer to find them but once I had I was hooked. Asking around to try some guns doesn't hurt either.
If you see something on the range you think you might like go ahead and ask the shooter if you can try it. Some people will love to give someone a chance to try their favorite gun and promote the brand, others would rather not have an unknown person touching their gun. Ask politely and accept there answer and you won't have problems either way
If you see something on the range you think you might like go ahead and ask the shooter if you can try it. Some people will love to give someone a chance to try their favorite gun and promote the brand, others would rather not have an unknown person touching their gun. Ask politely and accept there answer and you won't have problems either way
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked