Rather than steal a couple of recent threads, I thought i'd start this one in the lounge.

Has anybody dramatically changed what they buy and the caliber the use as the get older? Specifically I'm referring to self defense purposes and aging sight and stiff hands.

The two threads I mentioned about centered around a few members asking about getting a 45 acp revolver for home defense and occsaional concealed carry.

One thread had a lot of responses about getting a 625 in various configurations. The other mentioned getting a 1917 and cropping the barrel.

Well, is everyone on the board 6'8" tall and weigh 350lbs? The lightest empty 625 I'm aware of is around 38-39 oz unloaded. A 5 1/2 1917 tops out unloaded at about 36 1/2 oz.

And they are N frames. No matter how much you cut and crop, they're still nearly (or over) 40oz loaded. Lot of gun to pack around.

I'n leaning toward the 45 acp in revolver as I get older and have picked up a 325sc 2 3/4" and a 625-10 2". Both weigh about 22 oz unloaded. So probably around 27 or 28 loaded. Or a little more depending on grips.

Yes, I know they have the lock, but please don't turn this into a "I hate" the lock thread. If you do, please don't nuy a smith that has one.

Are others out there radically changing their gun habits as you age?

Thanks
Dave

I confess I've gotten away from reloading and 95% of my shooting is with with 22 rimfires. Didn't have one as a kid, catching up on what I missed. One acquaintance is introducing his kids to shooting with air rifles-"Hey, it's shooting." is how he puts it. The rimfires are easy on the shoulder, the ears, the pocketbook.

Since retiring I've gotten into more reloading and for larger calibers.

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

For a .45ACP I use a pre 70, 1911A1 Colt because it has 2 more shots than a revolver and with a belt hook it is easy to conceal. A pre 70 Colt is the only auto I trust. I still load a .357 all the way but I have backed the .44 down to about 1200 fps. If old age keeps working on me I may have to load the .44 at about 1000fps. Larry

I am carrying lighter guns. Fortunately, recoil doesn't bother me yet, any more than it ever did. I did get a good gunbelt from Gun Belts by The Belt Man , and it does seem that that makes a big difference. Time will tell, eventually, but I am mostly doing a lot more pocket carry with deep pockets and a Model 12, or even a 37.

I'm moving up. Just bought a 296ti (44spl) to replace a Colt Cobra (38spl).
I've sold some of my heavier "weight" handguns and rifles
and now prefer compact carbines and handguns. I refuse to give up large calibers. I reload and choose my loads.

I've really slowed down my shooting and reloading of my larger calibers and have been shooting many more .38's and .357's.

Jeff

re: calibers & load recipes

One other thing I've noticed.....ANY handgun caliber that moves a chunk of ballistic technology of about 200 grains at about 950-1000fps seems to accomplish whatever I have in mind...

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

I'm 50 years old, 5'5" and 150 pounds. I've gradually moved up in caliber and carry weight. My M&P45C is 2 lb, 4 oz (36 oz) with the IWB holster. If my beltless slacks are too light to hold it up, I use my underwear band to help. Then again, I am counterbalanced by my 6 pound purse.

I started out with a Commander in 45ACP for concealed carry. As I got older, I found that the weight, recoil, and noise of the Colt wasn't as much fun as it used to be. Now, I carry either a 640-1 or a Taurus 605, or both.

I'm sort of in an experimental phase. I've never liked heavy, clunky guns and while I like N frames my hand size is more "K". My right arm is getting stiff, which may or may not be fixable (hope it is).

For that and other reasons my Model 18 gets quite a lot of use these days, along with one or another .38 Special. The only big bores I am inclined to use are a Ruger .45 Convertible and a New Model Vaquero in .45--both light, well balanced, and mild in recoil for what they deliver.

Guess I'm not as tough as I used to be. Or something.

I've carried the same 27 ounce Sig P220 .45 for the last eighteen years. I qualify with it at least four times a year, and for the last year or so my hand and wrist ache for days after shooting a couple of hundred rounds.

I'm going to stick with it as long as I can, but when I retire I will probably do most of my shooting with something else.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

I find that I have lost most interest in my 38/357s. My favorite gun is a 3” 629 and I still shoot the 45 revolvers a lot.
The autos I shoot are 40 & 45.
I still carry my model 60 in 357 some so I shoot it about once a month so it won’t surprise me if I meet Osama Bin Laden and have to send him to meet Allah, but if that happens I so want it to be my 629 so I can have it gold plated and jeweled with my $25,000.

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Shoot fast & live long
Warren

When we were in business, I regularly carried a M1911. Now that we've retired, the .45s are still what I shoot the most at the range, but for home-defense and concealed carry I usually default to the .38+P 642CT. If I ever splurge on a set of CT grips for the 'Springer I'll probably put that back on the nightstand. Eyesight more than anything else has prompted the change.

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Rick, W0FG
CTR2 68-72

I'm only 76 so i mightr change as I age. I used to carry a Glock 17 (9mm). Now I have three house guns: two are 45 ACPs, one a 45 Colt. I usually carry one of the 45s, a Glock 36.

I have big hands and the N frames still feel right. While my 25-2 w/6 1/2 bbl is my favorite revolver, the 325 with the 4" bbl is moving up fast.

Rifles, I seem to be moving away from the middle ground. Last three were a 5.7X28 and a 9.3X62 and a 45-70. Just the way it worked out..

I've gotten away from most magum calibers and concentrate on more target shooting with 22s and 38 spls mostly. Really like reloading for the 38/44 revolvers.
Carry a Glock 23 and model 49 for protection unless I'm home. Then it's 12gauge.

Barb, would that apply equally for a man's European carry all?

I don't know if being a product of the late fifties has a bearing, but I prefer an old CA 44spl for totin' 'round. On the other hand most any sidearm will find a spot to ride in the overalls...

same here...have done the 44 mag.thing for many years..after retiring,started reloading and shooting 460/500 stuff...and 22 is still fun as well

I've gone up, down and sideways on it?
Used to go .44/.45 only. Then went .44 only. Then went .38/.357 only. Then .45 only. Then .38, 9X19, .45? What has changed is the on board capacity with the 9X19. And I now carry a .38 J frame on the off side no matter what I'm using for primary.
'Cause I can't fight as well as I once could!

Which is a deadly weapon itself.
I gave up on the 1911A1 a long time ago, now it bothers me to shoot my 5903's and 19-3's. Getting old sucks big time. -Ed.

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Shoot the CPU, not the monitor

Which is a deadly weapon itself.
I gave up on the 1911A1 a long time ago, now it bothers me to shoot my 5903's and 19-3's for long periods of time. Getting old sucks big time. -Ed.

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Shoot the CPU, not the monitor

I became interested in .44 Magnum and M/29's back in the days of Inspector Callhan's Dirty Harry, bought my first 6 1/2" M/29-2 for the sum of $240.00. I shot a lot of the old 20 round boxes of WW 240 gr. Lubaloy lead bullet loads and some of the JHP stuff too. I was attending gunsmithing school in Trinidad, Colorado at the time and interestingly enough we bought our .44 Magnum ammo from the local Rexall Drug Store. Try and find ammunition in a drug store now a days. I also shot lots of hot handloads, practicing enough to become proficient with my weak hand as well as strong hand. This drove my shooting buddies nuts as most of them could not hit anything with their strong hand or with a two handed hold either. I also shot .44 Magnum in other guy's TC Contenders, that broad square area at the top of the Contender's grip smacked the **** out of the area between your thumb and trigger finger. Now that I've had my 60th birthday I still like my M/29's as well as ever, I shoot mostly .44 Special power loads assembled in Magnum cases now. My big game rifle used to be a .338 Magnum with 275 gr. handloads, now it's a .35 Whelen with less than full power loads. My deerslayer used to be a 12 Ga. with maximum load rifled slugs, I now shoot a Ruger 77/44 .44 Magnum. I have made concessions to becoming older and wiser.

Havent changed calibers or guns much, but I have realised that everything does not have to be loaded up to the max anymore!

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Stay safe people!

Not specifically due to age but, I recently had my bicep reattched to my shoulder on my right/shooting arm.

Although I love my hard kicking old milsurp rifles I see few 8mm and no 7.62x54r rounds, in my future.

Working up a 100 yard 22LR rifle right now. I am also considering a 22 centerfire in my near future.

I've yet to find out how magnum handgun loads will affect my shoulder. Fortunately, it's easier to shoot with my weak hand when it comes to handguns as compared to rifles.

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" I don't recall, senator."

I seem to be stuck on .22 rimfire pistols and rifles over the last couple of years.

I shoot alot more shotgun now than I ever did,,but with lighter
reloads, it's easy on the screwed together shoulder,arms & wrists. Easy on the older guns too.

I still shoot quite abit of rifle, but all target & plinking as I don't hunt anymore. I like some heavy stuff but keep it to a reasonable limit to avoid any further problems. Cast lead bullet shooting in c/f rifles is becoming a favorite lately. Add the .22's and there's lots to do at the range. I've never owned an AR, AK or SKS! The Garand, M1 Carbine and Remington Mod 8 autos throw enough brass into hidding for me.

Handgun shooting hasn't changed much as far as caliber. Most anything is good as long as it's a bit different & classic.
I have sold off some semiautos though as it's difficult if not impossible for me to pull the slide back on some of them anymore. BHP was the worst, unfortunately,,I really liked those pistols.

Muzzle loaders (traditional) is a new/old hobby. Haven't messed with it in 40 years. Starting over is fun though.