Newbie needs advice on handgun choice

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Mia97

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Hello all.
I am hoping someone can give me advice as to what kind of gun would be best for me. I grew up in the country, and all the farmers had guns, so i have no fear or problem with using one. But I know nothing about guns; the types, how they work, so on. So this is a first step in this journey, which hopefully will end with gun range training, possibly a concealed carry license. For now I need to learn the basics. I am an older lady, small with very small hands. I cannot work what they call the 'action' on an automatic. Tried it at a gunstore, that's what they said. Was able to pull the trigger on a revolver. I need something that is right for my size hand, and I do have some arthritis. I live alone, and have felt vulnerable and fearful for a good many years. Now, with the current lawlessness in our country, I really feel I must have something more than pepper spray. Thank you for any input.
 
Mia97 said:
Hello all.
I am hoping someone can give me advice as to what kind of gun would be best for me. I grew up in the country, and all the farmers had guns, so i have no fear or problem with using one. But I know nothing about guns; the types, how they work, so on. So this is a first step in this journey, which hopefully will end with gun range training, possibly a concealed carry license. For now I need to learn the basics. I am an older lady, small with very small hands. I cannot work what they call the 'action' on an automatic. Tried it at a gunstore, that's what they said. Was able to pull the trigger on a revolver. I need something that is right for my size hand, and I do have some arthritis. I live alone, and have felt vulnerable and fearful for a good many years. Now, with the current lawlessness in our country, I really feel I must have something more than pepper spray. Thank you for any input.
Click to expand...

The only way you can really find out is classes at a range with rentals. Do a search on Shooting Ranges in your area. Find one that offers classes and rentals if possible. Any internet forum is going to recommend all kinds of guns they like. Will mean little and of be little if any help to you. If you can't find a range in your area you can give people here a rough idea of the part of the country you are in and some may be able to point you to some possible places to call. Good luck and enjoy. The learning can be a ton of damn fun as long as you find a good teacher.
 
Welcome to the forum!

The Smith and Wesson Military&Police (M&P) EZ model automatic is specifically designed to have controls which are easy to manipulate for folks with hand strength issues. They are simple to use, relatively inexpensive, and small enough to be carried concealed if necessary. Perhaps most importantly, they are not too difficult to find at this time.
downloadfile.jpg

Another traditional option for a new shooter would be a double-action revolver in either .38 Special or .22 Long rifle calibers, such as the Smith and Wesson Models 442 and 317, or the Ruger LCR series. These are still solid choices, though they can be pricey, the recoil on the .38s is too much for some neophytes, and the .22s lack power. Still, even a .22 can be effective as long as you are comfortable with it and train enough to become proficient.
2.jpg
rug_0-1.jpg

Unfortunately, these may be difficult to come by at the moment.....

Something to consider may be a single-action .22 revolver such as the Ruger Wrangler or Heritage Rough Rider. These are very inexpensive (under $200), simple and easy to shoot, and best of all, there appears to be no shortage of them right now.
Think-Ruger-1.jpg
These do have disadvantages for a self-defense gun, having a capacity of only 6-shots, a slow rate of fire and taking a long time to reload- as well as generally lacking power and being too big to conceal easily- but would make for cheap training guns which could be pressed into nightstand duty in a pinch, and you could always move up to something more potent once you gain some experience.

As others have said, make sure to take a gun safety and shooting class, and see if you can find a range that rents pistols so you can try several types before buying, but I hope this gives you an idea of what to be looking at. Good luck!
 
Last edited:
Welcome!

You stated you had a hard time racking the slide or "work the action" on an automatic. A revolver would be best suited for you in my opinion.

My Grandma is 85 years old and has lived alone for about a decade now since my Grandpa passed. He was the gun guy in the family. She too felt the need for protection and found a revolver was easier to load and shoot. 38 special was comfortable for her.

Not to be biased, but Smith & Wesson has some of the smoothest stock triggers out there. Quite a few models offered, so I recommend finding a shooting range where you can find what fits you.


More people than ever are arming themselves. I applaud you and wish the best. For new shooters, you may find popular ammo is hard to come by in these times.
 
Hello Mia97. I was the range manager & instructor at a large indoor range years ago. I taught people from 12yo to the oldest being an 86yo Great Grandmother. She came in to purchase a firearm for the same reasons you are outlining. Break ins in the county were up that year. Her husband who had recently passed, and while a firearms enthusiast himself, she had never even held a firearm. She lived alone & was frightened. She decided on an a S&W hammer-less J-frame revolver in 38spl. I started her out with the prerequisite safety instruction & operation.... loading/unloading etc. I then set the target at 5yds away & proceeded to show her stance, grip, sight picture & trigger control. What we call the “Fundamentals of shooting”. These four were the emphasis in my instruction. At first she could not even hit the large cardboard backer the targets are taped to from this distance. But after only 15mins of instruction & practice, she was putting all rounds into a 6” area center mass.

Some things said have been correct. Online forums are sometimes places to end up with more questions, if you are brand new.

Instruction is good, but can be very expensive. And difficult to get much one on one training in a large class. I would look for indoor ranges around you with a support staff. You may find that one or two..maybe even more of the Range Staff are instructors. And they are always more than happy to give instruction. Best part....they don’t charge anything besides the normal range & rental fees.

I had several people who would come to my range a couple times a week, and I would give them personal instruction. And at no charge... It was my pleasure. I was a very good instructor & I enjoyed giving others the knowledge I possessed. Still do.

Edit: Like I said instruction from a dedicated course yadda-yadda is great.. I’m not opposed to it at all. But again, it can be extremely expensive. I had some basic instruction when I was 12yo through a club organized by my church. The instructors were a couple of our Deacons who were also hunters. They were not professionals but had a firm grasp on safety & use. From then on I taught myself. Through research & practice. I didn’t have much money growing up. Couldn’t afford professional instruction. Some doubt credibility based on this. I tell people online to read my content and judge for yourself.
 
Last edited:
Hi Mia,
I don't know where you reside, but firearms use and care classes are available as standard fare in most states and counties in the US. I advise you to visit a local privately owned gun store and chat with the folks there. Ask to talk to the owner or manager. They'll take care of you. If your plan is self protection in the home, don't discount a 20 gauge shotgun! I know a 78 year old lady that is a wrecking ball with a Remington 1100.
 
Mia97,
Welcome to THR.:)
If you have a local range try talking with them about gun safety lessons as well as shooting lessons. Many ranges also rent firearms and once you feel confident after some training you could try a few different handguns to see what you might like.

One thing about guns and people. No one gun fits everyone or meets everyone’s needs. People have different tastes, different hand or body configurations. What feels good in my hands may not in yours.

If you get the opportunity to shoot a variety of guns it will help build confidence and you will see what works for you in a gun. Try different sizes of guns as well as different calibers / cartridges. Perhaps start with .22 Ling Rifle in a revolver then maybe .38 Special in a revolver and 9mm in a semi auto. I recommend these as they are very popular and they are less expensive than other cartridges.

I hope you find what you need.
 
Yes, welcome to THR! I'll also join those that said you should look into a .38 Spl. revolver. I think the .38 Spl. offiers a lot of flexibility, because you can go from light-recoil loads up to the more powerful +P loads without having it affect the function of the pistol.

Also, bear in mind that a revolver chambered for .357 Magnum can also safely fire .38 Spl rounds. So I'm saying that if you find a .357 Mag that you like, don't rule it out, just because it doesn't say .38 Spl. on the side. A lot of .357s are also heavier than their .38 counterparts, and that also helps some with recoil.

I'll add that I've often heard it said that "the .22 you have beats the .45 you left at home." If you find that your needs are best met with a .22, then get that.

I will also suggest that you might be better served by starting your journey with training, rather than ending it that way. A good instructor will be able to talk to you about various kinds of firearms, and will likely have several that you could handle and try.

And finally, some suggested reading, from trainer Kathy Jackson: https://www.corneredcat.com/
 
There is also something else that is not the usually recommended firearm for self defense but it is a very effective means as the firearm has a magazine that holds 30 rounds a Kel-Tec CMR 30 pistol with the sliding stock or the Kel-Tec sub 2000. But if arthritis is a real issue a 38 caliber may be too hard on your hands you could also consider a 9mm revolver or a 22 magnum revolver. During times that physical abilities handicap all of us we need to break away from the traditional thinking and a new paradigm should take place by thinking outside the box, like a nice 9mm carbine rifle or a rifle in small calibers.
 
Odd Job said:
I agree with those who recommend a revolver.
I'll further say you are better off with a double action revolver than single action, and should try a .38 Special at the range, if you can rent one.
Click to expand...
Agree.

Let me add: not too light, not to small, double action trigger that you can use.
 
Many people think that the smallest lightest handgun is best for those with limited hand strength but those tiny guns in general have pretty snappy recoil.
 
mmb617 said:
Many people think that the smallest lightest handgun is best for those with limited hand strength but those tiny guns in general have pretty snappy recoil.
Click to expand...
And thus making it reasonable to look at a .357 Mag revolver, loaded with .38SP +P.
For home defense for Mia, if the grip suits her hand, this might work. Alternately, the Shield EZ in either .380 or 9mm are worth considering, as mentioned above.
Finally, definitely spend time on The Cornered Cat site (also above), and consider buying Kathy's book.
 
Another thought for Mia:
As you educate yourself, learn about and try revolvers in both single action and double action mode. You might find a double-action-only trigger harder to pull than you like.
Then, with semi-automatic pistols, learn about the pros and cons of thumb safety versus no thumb safety. Either option is generally OK, but the choice makes a difference in training experience and personal preference.
 
Alex Clayton said it all.
Absolutely no way to find out what fits and works with various types, actions or calibers without actually firing one. With no previous experience with firearms there’s no base line.
Any city is going to have range/gun shops with qualified personnel to oversee and guns to rent and fire there.
 
mmb617 said:
Many people think that the smallest lightest handgun is best for those with limited hand strength but those tiny guns in general have pretty snappy recoil.
Click to expand...

I agree.

My wife is not a “shooter” but I wanted her to try out all of my revolvers to see what she liked and shot best for self defense at home as I was going to be away for a while on a job.
She is 5’ 1” and has small hands.
I had her try all of my revolvers that could fire .38 Special using Hornady American Gunner ammunition (not +P).
Without getting ling winded; she fired J frame (small frame size), K frame (medium frame) and an N frame (large frame) Smith & Wesson revolvers. She did not like the J frames at all - too whippy and too much felt recoil.
She actually liked and shot best with, of all things, my S&W 327 NG revolver.
I would have never imagined she would pick this gun. It has a large “N” frame and a long big grip. But, like she said, “It feels balanced and I can steady it easier.”
She did not like and would not consider my semiauto Glock pistols. Too hard to operate for her.

I would recommend you do not limit yourself on revolver size when trying out guns.

She shot all of these guns except for the one with imitation stag grips, it’s a .22.
She picked the big ugly one towards the bottom right.
29A9EEE3-791A-4C99-A677-4B4289D465D7.jpeg
From top to bottom - all Smith & Wesson models:
19 - .357
10 - .37 Spl
17 - .22 did not try
60 Pro - 357 - I thought she would like this one. She hated it.
442 - .38 Spl on the left
327 Night Guard - .357 on the right - Her pick
36 - .38 Spl
 
I agree with most of the post answering your dilemma here. i would just add a couple of things from my own personal experience of helping elderly ladies around my area find a personal
defense pistol. Take one or more of these out and try them yourself to see what fits your hands and what you like after shooting them. the Smith and Wesson or the Taurus J-Frame in the Air Weight model 38 and 38+P or 375 Mag, find one that you like then put a set of Crimson Trace Laser Grips on it, so you dont have worry about trying to aim in a panic situation, just watch where the Laser is and simply pull the trigger. Double action is nice but for most people like yourself, probably no where near as accurate, so i would recommend the double action with a hammer so it can be used either way. Once you find the right one for you, make sure you take it out and shoot it as often as you can so you are, and stay comfortable and familiar with your newly found companion. I wish you well and have fun with it.
 
I have gotten many requests to do firearm instruction again. This new wave of gun owners is having me revive a skill set I haven't used in bulk in years. And that isn't a bad thing.

Best advice I can give is find a local range where you can try some rental handguns. Even better if they have some sort of range officer to help you with loading, aiming etc. This will help you find what works best for you. Fact of the matter is you can get classes from 10 instructors and you will get 12 firearm recommendations. And none of them may work for you.

Revolvers can be easy for shooters with weak hands as there is no slide to manipulate. The downside is they can be very difficult to fire accurately. Especially in double action revolvers, long heavy trigger pull. There are a few semi automatic handguns released recently that are designed to be easy to rack, even with weak hands. Some of these are the Walther CCP and the Smith and Wesson M&P EZ handgun line. Once again, you won't know what works for you until you try some different handguns.
 
My wife has wrist problems and can't take the recoil of a 38 special. There are various 32 caliber revolvers that have barely more recoil than a 22, but are much more effective.

On the rare occasions I am out of town, my wife has a 32 H&R magnum revolver. The recoil is moderate and doesn't bother her. She usually practices with 32 S&W long, which is even milder.

My daughter could shoot this revolver easily when she was eight.

Charter Arms 32 Magnum

Charter Arms 32 Magnum

 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Welcome to the forum!

The Smith and Wesson Military&Police (M&P) EZ model automatic is specifically designed to have controls which are easy to manipulate for folks with hand strength issues. They are simple to use, relatively inexpensive, and small enough to be carried concealed if necessary. Perhaps most importantly, they are not too difficult to find at this time.
View attachment 937370

Another traditional option for a new shooter would be a double-action revolver in either .38 Special or .22 Long rifle calibers, such as the Smith and Wesson Models 442 and 317, or the Ruger LCR series. These are still solid choices, though they can be pricey, the recoil on the .38s is too much for some neophytes, and the .22s lack power. Still, even a .22 can be effective as long as you are comfortable with it and train enough to become proficient.
View attachment 937371
View attachment 937372

Unfortunately, these may be difficult to come by at the moment.....

Something to consider may be a single-action .22 revolver such as the Ruger Wrangler or Heritage Rough Rider. These are very inexpensive (under $200), simple and easy to shoot, and best of all, there appears to be no shortage of them right now.
View attachment 937373
These do have disadvantages for a self-defense gun, having a capacity of only 6-shots, a slow rate of fire and taking a long time to reload- as well as generally lacking power and being too big to conceal easily- but would make for cheap training guns which could be pressed into nightstand duty in a pinch, and you could always move up to something more potent once you gain some experience.

As others have said, make sure to take a gun safety and shooting class, and see if you can find a range that rents pistols so you can try several types before buying, but I hope this gives you an idea of what to be looking at. Good luck!
Click to expand...

Nightlord, Thank you so much for this good information. I think I will further explore the first option you gave. I am in this for self-defense, and do want to be sure I can stop the threat. In the videos of the riots and elsewhere I see the police having to use multiple leos and methods to stop some big guys on drugs. I am in a rural area on the west coast. We do have a range and concealed carry classes. But no gun rentals.
 
Mn Fats said:
Welcome!

You stated you had a hard time racking the slide or "work the action" on an automatic. A revolver would be best suited for you in my opinion.

My Grandma is 85 years old and has lived alone for about a decade now since my Grandpa passed. He was the gun guy in the family. She too felt the need for protection and found a revolver was easier to load and shoot. 38 special was comfortable for her.

Not to be biased, but Smith & Wesson has some of the smoothest stock triggers out there. Quite a few models offered, so I recommend finding a shooting range where you can find what fits you.


More people than ever are arming themselves. I applaud you and wish the best. For new shooters, you may find popular ammo is hard to come by in these times.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot. I will look into these.
 
David Hoback said:
Hello Mia97. I was the range manager & instructor at a large indoor range years ago. I taught people from 12yo to the oldest being an 86yo Great Grandmother. She came in to purchase a firearm for the same reasons you are outlining. Break ins in the county were up that year. Her husband who had recently passed, and while a firearms enthusiast himself, she had never even held a firearm. She lived alone & was frightened. She decided on an a S&W hammer-less J-frame revolver in 38spl. I started her out with the prerequisite safety instruction & operation.... loading/unloading etc. I then set the target at 5yds away & proceeded to show her stance, grip, sight picture & trigger control. What we call the “Fundamentals of shooting”. These four were the emphasis in my instruction. At first she could not even hit the large cardboard backer the targets are taped to from this distance. But after only 15mins of instruction & practice, she was putting all rounds into a 6” area center mass.

Some things said have been correct. Online forums are sometimes places to end up with more questions, if you are brand new.

Instruction is good, but can be very expensive. And difficult to get much one on one training in a large class. I would look for indoor ranges around you with a support staff. You may find that one or two..maybe even more of the Range Staff are instructors. And they are always more than happy to give instruction. Best part....they don’t charge anything besides the normal range & rental

I had several people who would come to my range a couple times a week, and I would give them personal instruction. And at no charge... It was my pleasure. I was a very good instructor & I enjoyed giving others the knowledge I possessed. Still do.

Edit: Like I said instruction from a dedicated course yadda-yadda is great.. I’m not opposed to it at all. But again, it can be extremely expensive. I had some basic instruction when I was 12yo through a club organized by my church. The instructors were a couple of our Deacons who were also hunters. They were not professionals but had a firm grasp on safety & use. From then on I taught myself. Through research & practice. I didn’t have much money growing up. Couldn’t afford professional instruction. Some doubt credibility based on this. I tell people online to read my content and judge for yourself.
Click to expand...

Thanks David Hoback, for this good information about things to learn and the gun option. I am in a rural area and we just don't have a lot of resources for many things, including an indoor range. I need to move due to the lack of some many things here, but there is far less crime here than in more populated areas, and housing is more affordable. So until the country "settles down'" and hopefully we start making our own things again, so on, I am staying.
 
billtool said:
Hi Mia,
I don't know where you reside, but firearms use and care classes are available as standard fare in most states and counties in the US. I advise you to visit a local privately owned gun store and chat with the folks there. Ask to talk to the owner or manager. They'll take care of you. If your plan is self protection in the home, don't discount a 20 gauge shotgun! I know a 78 year old lady that is a wrecking ball with a Remington 1100.
Click to expand...
Billtool, I want to stop the criminal, not take out the drywall, and with my iack of experience, I fear with a shotgun I might be destructive. lol
 
Mia97 said:
Nightlord, Thank you so much for this good information. I think I will further explore the first option you gave. I am in this for self-defense, and do want to be sure I can stop the threat. In the videos of the riots and elsewhere I see the police having to use multiple leos and methods to stop some big guys on drugs. I am in a rural area on the west coast. We do have a range and concealed carry classes. But no gun rentals.
Click to expand...
https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/mp-380-shield-ez-0
The link above goes to the Smith and Wesson website for the EZ, and there is a good overview video at the bottom of the page. Good luck!
 
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