Self defense recommendation for handicapped shooter

[ms6852]

She needs a pachmayr slide rack assist device. Check out this video .

 

[Great Scot]

Smith 351PD in .22 magnum would be a good choice. Single action if hand strength is an issue. Mild recoil, cartridge is effective enough, and you have a huge variety of grip options. Top it off with good sights and a seven shot capacity, and I think you have a solid choice.

 

[BlueHeelerFl]

The ultra lightweight frames of the J frame can be pretty punishing in recoil for someone with weaker hands. My wife has arthritis in both hands and she cannot shoot a small 38spc revolver comfortably. Carry is easy, but shooting causes pain.

Her current carry options are a NAA mini in 22 mag and a very old Colt Police Positive in 38 S&W (not Special). The 38 S&W is very tame on recoil even though it is not much bigger than a J-frame. If you are set on revolvers, I would recommend a Ruger LCR in 327 Mag. The 327 is similar to 9mm ballistics wise and other 32 caliber loads will fire in it if the recoil is too much.

https://ruger.com/products/lcr/specSheets/5452.html

Semi-autos have become much better for weak hands in recent years compared to revolvers. Older tip up barrel pistols like the Beretta 84 Cheetah don't need slide manipulation to work. As well as the Beretta Tomcat. The S&W EZ pistols and the Walther CCP are both pistol lines purposely marketed to shooters with weak hands. And have features that make them easier to rack and shoot.

But how heavy is the DA trigger on those Beretta's? Some elderly people would have issues with the weight of those and revovler DA triggers

 

[herrwalther]

But how heavy is the DA trigger on those Beretta's? Some elderly people would have issues with the weight of those and revovler DA triggers

The Tomcat has a DA trigger pull weight of about 10 pounds. Even a drunk chipmunk gunsmith can lighten that without much trouble or sacrificing safety. The 84 Cheetah is around 9 pounds. Both are still lighter than most DA revolver pull weights.

 

[The Glockodile]

Would something like this help?

Or is the recoil spring tension more of an issue than I think?

 

[JERRY]

LCR .327 fed mag loaded with any sub load she prefers. Six shots in the same relative size of a J frame but a better trigger than a J frame. if she likes the J frame sized guns in .38 special I'd recommend the lightest recoiling factory ammo available, and right now that is the Hornady FTX 90gr. reduced recoil load.

 

[axman64]

LCR .327 fed mag loaded with any sub load she prefers. Six shots in the same relative size of a J frame but a better trigger than a J frame. if she likes the J frame sized guns in .38 special I'd recommend the lightest recoiling factory ammo available, and right now that is the Hornady FTX 90gr. reduced recoil load.

You said it. For Instance MagTech 32 S&W Long with a 98gr SJHP has good penetration, a little expansion but it recoils like a 22lr. Plus the LCR has a great trigger.

 

[ms6852]

OP has not bothered to show back up.

 

[skfullen]

They are hard to find, but a S&W or H&R in 32 S&W Long might be worthy of consideration.
Mine, with a 2"barrel, throws my mid-range, 100 gr wadcutter handloads at about 750 fps over a chronograph.

As others have said, not approved by "Tactical Ted", but the recoil is minimal compared to a 38 special, and I think a 100 grain bullet is 750 fps is better than any rimfire round out of a snubbie.

 

[Agsalaska]

Rugler LCR in .327 Federal loaded with .32 mags.

Easy answer

 

[SteadyD]

I didn’t read all of the replies, but I assume someone has mentioned the Ruger LCR in 327 Federal Magnum using 32 long or 32 magnum. I agree with those folks. If your ex is disabled, the low recoil on offer with the 327 LCR, combined with an excellent trigger, is my recommendation. Even with current shortages in 38 special, Midway has 32 long available. Most folks HATE shooting J frame sized revolvers in 38 special. I wouldn’t even bother with that step. Go straight to the LCR 327 and drop down to 32 Long or 32 Magnum.

 

[entropy]

The handicapped shooter happens to be my ex-wife who has been staying with me while she adjusts to being recently mostly wheel-chair bound. She is not afraid of guns, has used shotguns growing up, and currently has my 12 gauge Mossberg Shockwave loaded with Aguila mini shells next to her bed. But she will soon be moving to a new place with a far left progressive liberal so something a bit more concealable and mobile might be in order.

She has limited hand strength and cannot rack the slide on my Glock 43. I will take her to the LGS to see if she can manage a S&W Shield EZ slide, but I'm wondering if a revolver would be a better way to go in the long run. I am considering a S&W 442 in .38 spl as pictured. Thoughts?

View attachment 1080508

Not a good choice. I have a Bodyguard 38, about the same weight, and SWMBO hated shooting it. I admit I don't really like putting more than a couple cylinders full through it now and then.

I don’t own one, but the new Colt Pythons and King Cobra supposedly have very smooth triggers, and enough weight to tame .38+P ammo. Capable of both single and double action fire. I agree with those who say the choice must be hers.

Yes, definitely needs to be her choice. @old lady new shooter chose a King Cobra as her first handgun, but has since added to it.

OP has not bothered to show back up.

I agree, looks like a drive by, but I answered above just in case.

 

[old lady new shooter]

Yes, definitely needs to be her choice. @old lady new shooter chose a King Cobra as her first handgun, but has since added to it.

Definitely agree that the choice must be hers.

Actually my first handgun was a 686 Plus. I was living in Cali where there was no concealed carry so it was strictly a house gun. It's VERY accurate and I liked the idea of getting 7 shots instead of 6. After moving to Arizona (for which I think G-d every day!) I wanted to carry and the 686 Plus was just too big. Equally important, I had lost hand strength and could no longer shoot it one-handed with my left hand. When Colt came out with the new King Cobra and I read the trigger was only 9 pounds instead of 12, I immediately wanted one. ONE gun store in the whole Arizona had one, I had to pay a little over MSRP, but it was perfect. It's just as accurate as the 686 and fits my hand like it was made for me, and it's enough smaller to conceal. And yes, I can shoot it one-handed with either hand. Definitely suggest letting her try one out.

In between I bought a beautiful old Model 36 from a friend in another state, thinking it would be a perfect carry gun, but it kills my hand and I'm nowhere near as accurate with it. So it decorates my safe.

 

[old lady new shooter]

SP 101, or GP 100

When I was shopping for my first gun (at age 67), I could not complete the trigger pull on the SP101. The GP 100 felt very nice in my hand and I could shoot it, but I was also looking at the S&W 686... got the gun store guy to let me take both onto the range at the same time so I could trade off cylinder-fulls to see which was better for me without getting interference from tiredness... the S&W was WAY more accurate. I have no idea if this has to do with how my hands are built or if it's intrinsic, but that was my experience. BTW I changed out the grips on my 686 to Hogue grooveless, I didn't like how the original finger grooves fit.

 

[old lady new shooter]

My choice, were I in a similar circumstance would be a Model 10 or 64 (or similar revolver) shooting 148 gr wadcutters. Recoil is negligible, and most people can shoot them much better than a small revolver, yet they conceal pretty well.

148 gr is gonna have a lot more recoil than, for example Hornady Critical Defense 110 gr, which is my SD ammo. Much easier to shoot and extremely effective, and will not overpenetrate. For the range I use FMJ 130 gr.

 

[Remington1911]

I have not seen the OP chime back in, so I am not sure how things went, if they went at all.

A couple things come to my mind, first off if she is "all in" on this if she is moving in with a "progressive lib" kinda hard to hide a gun from someone you are living with, they will see it sooner or later and that will be an issue. Not real keen on hiding thigs like this even if it is a room mate, and not a partner.

You did not go into the why's she is in a wheel chair, however if she is doing a shockwave I doubt even with mini shells strength is an issue, on the other hand you say she can't rack your automatic. What I can't get past is why so many stupid MEN keep tossing out auto after auto....my wife even in her 20's could not rack my browning HP to save her life, now she does good to rack a 1903. Some women just don't have the grip strength, and no amount of squeezing those little 1970's hand deals is going to make you stronger....she tried.

A revolver my not be cool, but it is IMHO the perfect tool for many people, A click no bang is as easy as pulling the trigger again, no stupid trying to figure out if you limp wristed it, or what, it will go bang till all 5-6-10 rounds are gone...just keep working that trigger.

If she is having issues with strength the lighter revolver could be good and bad, light weight generally brings more recoil along for the ride and that could be a real bad thing. More meat means less recoil. My wife can shoot the other things, but she does not enjoy it.....now a 357 revolver loaded with 38's, just fine....I am talking all steel, old school here.

 

[citizenconn]

Not a good choice. I have a Bodyguard 38, about the same weight, and SWMBO hated shooting it. I admit I don't really like putting more than a couple cylinders full through it now and then.



Yes, definitely needs to be her choice. @old lady new shooter chose a King Cobra as her first handgun, but has since added to it.

I agree, looks like a drive by, but I answered above just in case.

No, I have just been on vacation. Sorry guys.

 

[bernie]

old lady new shooter, I have not shot Hornady Critical Defense 110 gr. so I do not know how it reoils, but I would be shocked if there was more recoil in the 148 gr. wadcutters. They are extremely mild loads. However since the meplat of the wadcutter is essentially the diameter of the bullet, it cuts a pretty good hole. Not trying to be a smarty pants, but have you ever fired target wadcutters to compare the two?

 

[defjon]

Yes, from a 642 and 110 grain critical defense is comparable to a wadcutters in recoil. This from a guy whose wrist is held together with pins and plates.

I second the models 10/ 64. Prices are inflated and they may be hard to find in your area.

If you can't find one, a Taurus 856 is likely available and offers six shots in a size comparable to a colt d frame / detective special. No recoil with critical defense or wadcutters.

 

[chicharrones]

https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/why-the-best-snub-nose-caliber-is-32/amp/

 

[old lady new shooter]

old lady new shooter, I have not shot Hornady Critical Defense 110 gr. so I do not know how it reoils, but I would be shocked if there was more recoil in the 148 gr. wadcutters. They are extremely mild loads. However since the meplat of the wadcutter is essentially the diameter of the bullet, it cuts a pretty good hole. Not trying to be a smarty pants, but have you ever fired target wadcutters to compare the two?

Not sure if I ever fired "wadcutters" since ammo boxes don't say that and being a latecomer to shooting I'm actually not clear on how that translates to what I would see on the box. But I can tell you the first time I went to a range here and asked for range ammo they gave me 158 gr and it was CONSIDERABLY more recoil than the 130 gr I was used to. I believe it was FMJ like what I normally use.

I don't remember all the details now but I researched SD ammo very carefully and concluded that the Critical Defense was the best choice for that purpose. I do remember it passes the FBI penetration standards, and IIRC what happens to the bullet inside the person you have to shoot makes it less likely that the bullet keeps going and hits someone on the other side.

Also, I sacrificed a box of it to make sure I would be able to shoot it well... my old indoor range in Cali didn't allow that type of ammo, I went to an outdoor range and was kinda freaked out about walking out and moving a target stand around, so I just selected the position where the existing target stand was the closest. I didn't use actual targets, just plain copy paper, and since the target stand was quite a bit further than what I had been practicing, I estimated 12 yds, I didn't expect to be able to make a ragged hole like I can at 5 yds, so I just aimed for the top half of the paper. I shot some of my regular range ammo and as noted one box of the Critical Defense and the groups with the Critical Defense were noticeably tighter.

So, that's been my experience. Like we always say, YMMV.

 

[bernie]

olns, typically it will say wadcutter somewhere on the box. While they are a 148 gr bullet, they are typically downloaded so that they are about the mildest shooting .38 special available in most iterations. I know that 158 gr. can have some "ooooomph" to it depending upon how it is loaded. If you have never shot it and do not really know what it is, why did you assume that it would have more recoil? I am sure that the 110 gr. Critical Defense is good stuff, but I have never shot it, so I did not poo poo it. The original poster asked for our thoughts. In my experience, the 148 wadcutter in a K frame is an extremely light recoiling combination that would most likely do a decent job at what they were looking for. Genuinely not trying to be a jerk here, but the whole "my choice is better than your choice, even if I have no experience with what you are talking about" gets old. With all of that being said, reloading wadcutters can be slow because of the profile.

 

[Tallball]

I'm 56. I broke a finger on my dominant hand a couple of months ago and it's been slow to heal. That hand is still weak.

My Single Sixes are the easiest to shoot as far as hand strength goes. My daughter could shoot them when she was in second or third grade because pulling the hammer back and pulling the trigger are both so easy. The 32 caliber version didn't bother my hand any more than the 22 did. They are not ideal for SD, though.

I could shoot my medium-framed DA 38 special pretty well the first time I tried after the accident. It has an unusually good trigger, which helped. Smaller 38's were difficult for me. I put a few rounds through a snub 38 and a polymer 45, and my hand hurt for the rest of the day.

As I get older, after I can't shoot large calibers anymore, I will have to settle for 38's and 9mm.

When my hands get even weaker, it will just be 38's, because they are easier for me to operate.

Then it will be only 38's that are steel and not too small.

When I can't shoot those, it will be 32 caliber revolvers.

Hopefully I will croak before I can't even shoot 32's anymore.

 

[citizenconn]

Thanks for everyone's input. We still have some homework to do as far as finding a small frame handgun for the ex to carry on her. But after a fair amount of trial and error, for her main home defense firearm we settled on this large frame pistol using handloaded 220 grain subsonic .300 BLK. I have a number of these and this 7.5" one with the lighter recoil spring side charger is lightweight and easy for her to charge, handle and shoot with an always on large circle red dot (Holosun) and really quiet with one of our Omega 300 suppressors.