I need some suggestions for mouse guns

[Mooseman]

I have an elderly female patient who's asked me for suggestions for a handgun to protect herself. Currently she has a Beretta .25 but she say's the trigger is too hard to pull for her. I haven't had the opportunity to try it myself. She wants a handgun, either a revolver or semi-auto, that can be used by someone with little hand strength.

Any thoughts?

 

[Certaindeaf]

Probably a large glock. She should keep it loaded, of course.

 

[Texan Scott]

'Little hand strength' indicates two things to my mind: low tolerance for recoil and possible inability to work the slide on a small, tightly-sprung blowback pocket auto.

My suggestion would be to get her a steel-framed 5-shot .38.
1) no boot grips. give her a gun with grips that fill/ fit her WHOLE HAND to make maximum use of what hand strengh she has.
2) load it with the heaviest ammo she tolerates and shoots well. to figure out what that is will require multiple short trips to the gun range to figure out what that is, which implies that she will get FAMILIARIZATION and PRACTICE with the gun she owns. very important point. even if the very most she can shoot out of a j-frame is .38 wadcutter at 600-some fps, it beats the .25 (or a .22) for hole size, and should provide reasonably decent penetration.

(before anyone starts getting upset, I didn't say this was IDEAL. we already know and accept that this lady has limitations that force her to use something less than ideal.)

3) if her hand strength is limited to the point that the DA trigger pull is a problem for her, (sounds like it is) have a gunsmith lighten it (easily done with a da revolver). this adds a bit to the cost, but shouln't be TOO much, and would be worthwhile to ensure she can shoot easily and accurately at need.

This presents her with a fairly low-cost, simple, easily operated weapon that, while not a cannon, could reasonably be expected to tip a fight for life in her favor.

 

[weregunner]

I recommend that she go to a beginner basic www.nrahq.org/women/isc/index.asp or a www.nssf.org/FirstShots/ first to get an good basic education. Then she can decide what gun/caliber combo is right for her and meets her needs.

Barring that have her go to a NRA one on one basic course. Their instructors are knowldgeable about these kind of things.

This is about her choice and what fits her needs and wants.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Maybe a little more information. Is it because she can't pull the trigger on that pistol, rack the slide, recoil too much or is the pistol too heavy?

 

[Naybor]

Texan Scott is right.

My wife can't rack the slide on my 9MM altho she can handle the recoil.

She ended up with a 5 shot Ruger SP 101 .357 and uses .38 +P. She says her hand is just beginning to tingle after shooting a cylinder of the +P. The .357 caliber weapon also gives her an option of .38 Special or .357 Magnum if she gets to where she can handle it.

I purchased a set of Wolff springs and replaced the 14# original mainspring with the 9# Wolff. It has 100% ignition with the lighter spring and she is very happy with the end result.

I also agree she should try a variety of handguns before settling on any make/model.

 

[Certaindeaf]

^
Why does she need to rack the slide?

 

[Mooseman]

Her complaint about the gun she owns is that the trigger pull is too great for her. Her hands are very weak and she's weak in general. Unfortunately she's very sick and won't be recovering. I don't think she'd be able to handle much recoil.

 

[Texan Scott]

necessary to load the pistol. also necessary in the event of a misfire, dud round, etc. the ability to work the slide cannot be overlooked in ANY slide-operated weapon, but espc. in a blowback (the slide generally won't lock open for reloads, so if you can't rack the slide you can't reload, even if you can use it when it is loaded).
just my opinion, but someone who can't rack the slide should NOT use an auto. kinda like someone who can't work a clutch shouldn't drive a stick. sure, they can drive a stick as long as they don't need to change gears, but... if you can't work the whole machine, get one you can.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Maybe saw the trigger guard off so she can two finger it.

 

[BYJO4]

Based on her health and very limited strength, should she even be handling a firearm?

 

[Mooseman]

I'm not sure if she should be carrying or not but I understand why she wants to carry. Here in Philly she's a prime target because she's old, feeble, and slow. She asked me for a suggestion so I'm doing my best to give her one.

 

[jimbo555]

Ruger lcr 22

 

[Nullcone]

"Get a gun" or even "have a gun" is not an answer for every person in the world.

It sounds like she may not have the strength/coordination to safely handle a firearm, let alone use one for self-defense.

Luck to you trying to help her.

 

[krupparms]

I have nuropathy & R A. both cause some of the same problems. Just my 2cents,But a lite J frame .38spl.using upside down waddcutters. Or factory loads. A trigger job is cheaper than most folks think. Good luck to Lady & Kudos to You for helping her!

 

[DBR]

I recommend this lady not carry a firearm!

Someone that feeble is most likely going to get the weapon taken away from her by any self respecting bad guy. I would be surprised if she could hit anything under stress anyway.

IMHO she would be much better off having a can of Saber Red OC spray with a "stream" nozzle to minimize back spray.

 

[bigfatdave]

Based on her health and very limited strength, should she even be handling a firearm?

you're right, she should be getting into a fistfight with muggers
good plan!

===

OP, you need a pile-o-guns and a range day more than anything. Get some candidate handguns together and see what works for her. You may have to go to a target pistol in .22 (Ruger mk__ or 22/45, browning buckmark) with a racking assist device, if she can't pull the trigger on a little mousegun, a DA revolver trigger probably won't help much.

Anyone have a CZ83 in .32acp out there? Is the slide signifigantly easier to rack than the 9x17/9x18 versions? My CZ82 has a nice light SA trigger, a tolerable DA trigger, and holds 12+1 rounds - a .32 would have less recoil, a good grip, the same trigger, and more capacity, as well as being in the "compact" category at least.

 

[blindhari]

Certaindeaf seemed to have a good idea. Look up a "Fitz" special. In this case take off most of triggger guard so two hands can be used for trigger, trigger lightiing job, bobbed hammer, and decent pocket holster to prevent misfire in purse carry, start with lightweight j frame.

blindhari

 

[Lawdawg45]

I have an elderly female patient who's asked me for suggestions for a handgun to protect herself. Currently she has a Beretta .25 but she say's the trigger is too hard to pull for her. I haven't had the opportunity to try it myself. She wants a handgun, either a revolver or semi-auto, that can be used by someone with little hand strength.

Any thoughts?

This is a subject I've dealt with and researched extensively as I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. By God's grace I can still use my collection of semi autos without problem, but someday I will need to retire them and exclusively carry a revolver. A semi auto of any shape or size is completely out of the question with her hand strength, because it would cause numerous malfunctions and the slide would be very hard to work. Her best bet is to find a J framed size .22/.22 mag and have an action job done, or if this would be for home defense only have her try a Ruger Single Six, if her thumbs still work OK. Thanks for being a good friend to her!

LD

 

[Old Fuff]

What model Beretta does she have?

Some have a pop-up barrel system that allows one to chamber a round without having to cycle the slide, and a single-action trigger system so you can carry or keep the pistol in condition-one, or cocked & locked.

Older S&W L-frame .32 revolvers had flat mainsprings, and therefore smoother/lighter double action trigger pulls then current day ones.

She should also look at Ruger's new LCR revolver, which has a much improved D.A. trigger pull, and a choice of .22 LR or .38 Special chambering. .22 WMR may be on the way.

 

[GEM]

It is an empirical question if she can manipulate this gun but I've seen recommended something like a Ruger Bearcat in 22LR.

Cocking the hammer is the issue.

Yes, 22s don't have zombie stopping power but the benefit of deterrence and then the prob. of causing someone shot with a 22 to flee far outways the odds of the zombie bike meth head attack.

If she can handle it.

 

[weregunner]

As someone said she might not be able to handle any gun.

Someone could load and unload the gun fror her when they are at her residence, obviously someone she trusts, but if she cannot pull a trigger well or consistantly then there is a problem.

The best people to contact for this kind of thing might be the NRA accredited shooting instructors.

This is the phone number to the women's NRA programs people.(800) 861-1166 They might be able to help but not sure. Not gauranteeing anything.

Finding who are the local NRA instructors at ranges,gun stores, or gun clubs would be a place to start in your area.

 

[DNS]

Another vote for the 22 LCR.

 

[MedWheeler]

I recommend this lady not carry a firearm! Someone that feeble is most likely going to get the weapon taken away from her by any self respecting bad guy. I would be surprised if she could hit anything under stress anyway.

IMHO she would be much better off having a can of Saber Red OC spray with a "stream" nozzle to minimize back spray.

And how would this help? Is the new rule that, as we get less able to defend ourselves, we go down in defensive weapons? Is it less possible that an attacker could disarm her of a chemical weapon than of a firearm?
I have not met this lady, so I would never be so bold as to say "I recommend this lady NOT carry a firearm!" based only on what is provided here. In fact, if she can access a firearm when her home safety is breached, and can present it (and fire it if needed), she is statistically far more likely to emerge from the encounter uninjured or, at least, alive, than if she were to resist through any other means.
I also think that, if she had a semi-auto that she could handle firing, it's not necessary for her to rack the slide provided someone else does it for her, and checks on it from time to time.
I'm guessing the little Beretta she has is a double-action or DA/SA model. I'm also guessing that .22 ammo is all that she wants the recoil of (and I will not disparage that decision either.) Offhand, I don't know what semi-automatic .22 pistols with DA first-shots have the lightest trigger pulls, but I think the Ruger SR-22 is supposed to be reasonably light and crisp. I've heard that also about the Walther.
But, bottom line, I agree that, if she can handle one of the lighter .38 revolvers, both in recoil and trigger pull, it's probably the best way to go. If trigger pull is fine, but not recoil, she can use the Cowboy Action loads, or use one in .22WMR or .22LR.

 

[Skribs]

Sig P238. A lot lighter shooter than most pocket .380s, and SA trigger pull for easy use with weak hands.