Self Defense Pistol for females with no hand strength and/or severe arthritis
- Thread starter TXCOONDOG
- Start date
We do security team training and one guy used a revolver - to be nice, he couldn’t hit very well at all. (He bought a Glock…) You may say he needs more practice. Is she going to practice? I don’t recommend a revolver - they are hard to be accurate with shooting double action. Plus only 6 shots and a slow reload.
Realistically, she will likely never need to rack the slide during an event. A quality semi auto with quality ammo that is maintained and not limb wristed won’t need to be racked, except for initial loading and hopefully somebody can rack it for her. (In hundreds of rounds I had one need to rack the slide for a fail to fire - reload with bad primer.) She likely is not going to be in an extended firefight and even then a reload doesn’t take racking the slide. All this assumes she will keep it loaded.
Did she try both hands to rack it with the red dot? Try a good gun shop to try several and I have read a good instructor could help her learn to manipulate the slide.
Realistically, she will likely never need to rack the slide during an event. A quality semi auto with quality ammo that is maintained and not limb wristed won’t need to be racked, except for initial loading and hopefully somebody can rack it for her. (In hundreds of rounds I had one need to rack the slide for a fail to fire - reload with bad primer.) She likely is not going to be in an extended firefight and even then a reload doesn’t take racking the slide. All this assumes she will keep it loaded.
Did she try both hands to rack it with the red dot? Try a good gun shop to try several and I have read a good instructor could help her learn to manipulate the slide.
The OP stated that this was for an elderly woman with no hand strength. Highly unlikely that it won't be limp wristed.
Might just get flamed for this but..
If one were buying right now I would recommend a S&W EZ in 30 super carry.
If you look around you can find them dirt cheap little less recoil than a 9mm a little more performance than a .380.
Ammunition is available with quite a few choices. The grip safety is problematic though but can be overcome.
If one were buying right now I would recommend a S&W EZ in 30 super carry.
If you look around you can find them dirt cheap little less recoil than a 9mm a little more performance than a .380.
Ammunition is available with quite a few choices. The grip safety is problematic though but can be overcome.
You may be right…and if that is the case there is no choice to be made. Get a revolver.
Reminds me of a young granddaughter’s comment. We are 71 and she said “you aren’t old, you’re just elderly!”
Widow maker 223
Well-known member
I have seen those for crazy cheap, way less than the 9mm version. $270 on grabagun.com but its not the EZ
bohunr
Well-known member
You may be right…and if that is the case there is no choice to be made. Get a revolver.
Reminds me of a young granddaughter’s comment. We are 71 and she said “you aren’t old, you’re just elderly!”
my brother said he was in line to get his prescription at the pharmacy the other day and was getting a little up set at all the slow old people in line taking some time.
then he started chuckling to himself when he realized he was one of those old people
William Suter
Well-known member
If an older lady can't rack the slide to chamber a round, how is she going to rack it to clear a stove pipe? That's why I recommended a revolver. A guy I know bought an 870, 20 gauge for his wife but I think she has a pistol of sorts too. Maybe a shotgun might be considered as well. Not much to go wrong with an 870.
If you are asking me the question, I agree with you - she isn’t. And I’m not trying to argue, but to be clear, my point was stove pipes and mis feeds are very rare…at least in my experience. I know this sounds bad to us guys that train, practice a lot, and try to be prepared for real events, and I’ll probably get push back for saying this. But most women, especially elderly women, like my wife, are not prepared or probably able to clear jams. (And your average man doesn’t either!
She has a magazine of 15 to defend herself. Plus realistically it will be so close there won’t be any jam clearing going on. There is also a rifle and shotgun available at home and I wish I could get her to shoot more often!While I do have a semi auto pistol out for her to use…I also bought my wife a revolver - so I’ll just shut up!
Sgt_Mike
Well-known member
This comes up all the time on forums and runs the exact path this has. The answer is what she feels the most comfortable with usually women. Don't just practice instead leave it in the corner or a night stand whatever it is shotgun, pistol or revolver. There are exceptions to that of course, but sadly that is the nature of the course. If the (a) woman was truly interested in firearms this is not a question, because she already has something to use.
In the thread I've read good points brought up, Have not noticed any true bad ones.
I went through this years ago with the wife, and literally got her a 22 pistol and a 20ga in SBS (rem 870) configuration. Now? she gave the 870 to the daughter and doesn't recall that I got her a pristine early model High Standard Pistol. She keeps thinking it's mine
The daughter at one time was traveling so I gave her a decent wartime Browning High Power (with matching nazi proofs for you collectors) to carry in the car. So yeah it sucks to be her she has a 30-30, a Rem 870, BHP. and an aussy Shepard. On the other end of the house a grumpy arsed retired soldier that is just looking to defend anything.
In the thread I've read good points brought up, Have not noticed any true bad ones.
I went through this years ago with the wife, and literally got her a 22 pistol and a 20ga in SBS (rem 870) configuration. Now? she gave the 870 to the daughter and doesn't recall that I got her a pristine early model High Standard Pistol. She keeps thinking it's mine
The daughter at one time was traveling so I gave her a decent wartime Browning High Power (with matching nazi proofs for you collectors) to carry in the car. So yeah it sucks to be her she has a 30-30, a Rem 870, BHP. and an aussy Shepard. On the other end of the house a grumpy arsed retired soldier that is just looking to defend anything.
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Grab a gun has the shield plus for about $270 but they have the EZ for around $230. On the plus side if you ex military, 1st responders they have a $50 rebate going on.
Widow maker 223
Well-known member
The best thing you could do, that will help a lot. Her having confidence is key.
William Suter
Well-known member
Not wanting to argue either and have to agree wit Sgt Mike. Get her what she's comfortable with. Getting her to practice is another task. My ex has a Colt 22LR. I loaded it and gave her a box of ammo. I doubt she even knows where its at. LOL