I have a neighbor who says he wants to get a CCW license. He's 91 years old. Just today I was talking with him and he showed me a 1858 New Army Revolver style gun. He couldn't even cock the hammer. Of course he'd never use that as a carry gun, but what I saw does highlight a concern for me, could he operate any gun?

I know he has trouble operating the slide on a 1911. Maybe a revolver like a Ruger SP101 or a S&W Model 60? I'm not sure he could operate a double action trigger.

Then there are recoil issues. He hasn't fired a gun in 30 years. I'm not sure he could fire the 20 rounds required by the Sheriff to qualify.

I don't want to tell him not to get the license, but I'm not sure he's physically able to really use the gun effectively. What do y'all think?

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Freedom isn't free.

Let him try a few under supervision at the range. He'll come up with his own answers.

Maybe instead of a CCW he needs a stable environment like a nursing home or in home care with an attendant that has a CCW!

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59,M&P9,40,40C,357,(2)45,G26

If he wants to try, let him.
It will be good mental and physical effort.
If he can pass the requirements, it's always good to have the sheepskin.
If he can't pass, it may give him some inspiration to try again.
Never tell an old guy he can't do something.
You might be surprised

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Nemo

Does he need to carry or just have access to something he can handle for home defense? Big difference at his age.

Do what you can to help him achieve his goal.

Sounds like a good candidate for a .22 Mag snub. Then put the Wolff spring kit in it for him. It will cut trigger pull 1/3. Is .22 Mag ideal? No, but it's better than a rock.

If your neighbor's mentally sharp I don't see why he shouldn't have the opportunity to obtain his CCW. It may take some work, however with the right handgun, training & practice I believe it's possible. I have taught a number of elderly students, all we're mentally sharp but a few had physical obstacles. I will work with them as long as it takes, I have a special place for them as I have seen too many elderly victims. Nothing warms my heart more than reading a story where an elderly person turns the tables on some a******!

Unless he is exceptionally sharp, the hand strength gets better, hearing and eyesight can pass muster I would have to say no. & it may be time to file down the car keys also. He COULD keep a self defense weapon at home, I suppose, but to arm him at 91, how much longer before he needs to be disarmed? Too big a risk of declining health, confusion, mis identification, accidental discharge, missing the target,etc. Sorry to say. A trip to the range couldn't hurt I guess, unless it brings up false hopes, OR he may realize it's too late for him, he is unable. People at any age seem to over estimate their ability's. Note the guys Zeroing hunting rifles at the range every fall. At 50 yd's they miss the target entirely 3-4 times, then pull a lucky shot & get 1 in the black and are "GOOD TO GO" as this ammo is too expensive to waste.

It's not the age or his eyes or his mental acuity. He's plenty sharp and can see as well as I can. It's his dexterity that I'm concerned with. Watching him struggle with pulling the hammer back on that gun today is when I started questioning his ability to manipulate any gun.

To be fair, that gun he had today had a strong hammer, but not that strong. I could operate it just fine. I just don't want him to end a long and fruitful life with an unintended discharge.

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Freedom isn't free.

Perhaps a handgun might not be the best answer for him, maybe a semi-auto .410 shotgun (low weight, light recoil and no heavy slide to manipulate) not to mention that a shotgun ALWAYS gets respect.

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Don

You said he wants to CCW, so that rules out a shotgun. This is a tough one Rastoff. Why does he say he wants to carry? Perhaps his reason will reveal some other options. He's certainly as entitled as anyone else to try and qualify, but it sounds like he may be a bigger danger to himself if carrying.
If he is persistant, I think the .22 magnum idea might be best. Though it too will need some trigger work in order for him to manage it. The Sp101 Model 60 and is definitely out, the weight would probably be too much.

I presume that since he came to you you will be working with him? If recoil proves to be an issue here's a thought; the glock 42 has very little felt recoil, is lightweight, and something that he could easily carry. My wife is very recoil sensitive and she has one - loves it! Like I said , just a thought.

Sounds like a different firearm might be something for him then. If he's mentally sharp and can see what he's aiming at, then a different pistol might be all he needs.

Have him try out smaller calibers with easier triggers with you at the range; I'm sure that'd help him get back in the saddle, figure out what'd work for him, and I'm pretty sure he'd enjoy it.

If there's a will there's a way. But I think I'd forget CC for him. A semi is actually harder to load the mag & rack the slide than to load & fire a double action revo in single action mode. Something with a big wide hammer spur can be cocked any # of different ways, then the trigger pull is light. Possibly a 38 special with a dewc in a reduced load. Full sized revo's are easier for me to manipulate. The design of a revo is likely more familiar for a person his age also. His family if any may have a totally different point of view than you also.

You can push-cock a 1911 if it does not have a guide rod. I wouldn't want to be limited to that, but just saying that is an option if he likes that platform. Cocking the hammer on a 1911 greatly reduces the muscle needed to pull back the slide.

1911's in 9mm don't have much recoil. They actually make good CCW's for individuals that are recoil shy.

I suspect most semi's could be push-cocked. My M&P FS has a shoulder on the rear sight that can be caught on a belt, holster, counter top, etc., so it can be cocked one-handed.

How about a .22lr or .22 mag? I have read several stories about
.22's stopping people coming in the house. He could shoot it and they go bang and that runs off most burglars.
A small revolver would probably work.
Also for his hands, they have these small hand squeezers, where you can do individual fingers.
They are in at least three strengths. If he bought the lightest one and squeezed it most days 20-40 times,
it might restore that dexterity.

32 caliber,light kick,centerfire,6 rounds vs five............plenty of options with this gun.....but to add if I were to get to 91 yrs old,a ccw permit most likely will not be high on my list,your friend is lucky to be going strong and wanting to tackle new things.

does this man still drive? i would say no to CC but a small 22 for the home if he can hit a target. that just my opinion . he has rights as a U.S. citizen to get that licence if he can pass test. and being of sound mind. he is your friend ask him y help him make the right choice

PMR-30? Thirty rounds of .22mag? It's got a light trigger, generous capacity, and the recoil spring is light enough to be manipulated. Should work for him since the recoil is light enough to allow achievement at the range especially combined with the fiber optic sights.

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This≠DodgeCity&You≠BillHickok

Take him out to shoot.
Bring a suitable assortment.
The .32 acp might be the ticket.
They are blowback guns, so they do have a tougher recoil spring than a proportionaly sized lockup, but thdey are easy to rack.
You may satsify his curiosity just by givin' him the chance to go out and do it again.

There are some 90 year olds that are more capable than 70 year olds, it depends on the individual. My father in law is 89 and very sharp. When I visited him in Mar, he brought out a 1939 Police Special that was his dad's service weapon. He kept this gun loaded in his bedroom for self defense. I asked when the last time he fired it and he couldn't recall so we went to the range. He couldn't hit a target at 5 yards and had difficulty pulling with the trigger when using double action. We had fun, he shot his dad's gun but when we got home, I recommended that he not keep this gun loaded because I feared he hurt himself or his wife. I would never suggest that he CC. There were other very elderly folks at the range that were having no problems, so it's not age that matters, but the capability of the person. I agree with the others that you take him out to shoot to see how he does.

My one neighbor is an older gentleman, probably in his late 70's or early 80's. Fantastic guy, loves to help out his neighbors, loves to just chat, very sharp, and likes to do things on his own. Old school guy and former Army; I'll do the job until I can't. We were discussing how the neighborhood seems to have changed while he's lived here, with things being nice, then not so nice, and then getting nice again. I found it interesting that he said he keeps a .32 ACP by his bedside at night because while it's getting nicer again, he's learned not to chance it. When I asked when the last time he shot it he told me just a couple weeks ago, and he was still on target. Not as quick on the draw anymore (he seemed embarrassed admitting that) but he was happy he could work the slide and keep it steady. He laughed when I told him that if it ever came down to that, that he'd have his son (lives right across from him) and me charging towards whoever was giving him trouble.

Like others have said, take him to the range and let him try out a few things to see what he's able to do. If he can't CC, then maybe he can keep something on the nightstand. If he can't do that, then y'all can still have some fun at the range.

Look into the Berreta Tomcat. It breaks open to load and he wouldn't have to operate the slide.

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Eccentric old coot

Love your comment about his son and you charging towards whoever was giving him trouble. Nice to hear someone with the proper respect and attitude towards our older citizens. Kudos to you!

It's how my parents raised me, I'd give them the credit for that. The Marines just reinforced it.

A community is only as strong as the strength those are willing to put into it. Norm (he hates being called Mister) has been around longer than I have, and he's been nothing but polite and helpful. He's tried to help my wife and I move a fridge into the basement when we first moved in, help me rake the front lawn, and offered his mower when mine broke down. That's a great neighbor, and one that's earned my respect. His son is much the same, and he's told me to give a call if my wife and I are ever in a bind. We take care of each other and don't put up with nonsense.

If I ever have kids, then that's what they'll be taught. I think I'm pretty happy with just shepherds for a while though.

I'm sure it's a wonderful little gun, but not in CA.

I will talk to him about going to the range. I honestly don't think he will want to. That alone may make the decision for him.

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Freedom isn't free.

In Florida the same theory applies to driving. After somebody gets run over or the car goes through a storefront the kids take the keys away.

This guy is 91 years old and has mental and visual acuity? He is old enough and smart enough to make his own decisions. Tell him no and see what happens. Let him take the course if he can't pass it , so be it. He'll figure it out. A friend would encourage and help him. Nick

I was going to recomend the 21a, basically the same gun in .22lr.

Does he drive? If yes, go for it. If not, forget it.

I haven't had any dealings with a .32 Beretta but the 21A doesn't have an extractor and if the shell doesn't fire you have to flip the barrel, get the shell out of the barrel, close the barrel and then rack the slide to chamber a shell. For me that is not much of a pistol to carry for offense or defense. Larry

I've fired the .25 version of this gun and it is EXTREMELY accurate (point & shoot) and almost no kick.

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Don

At my last LEOSA quals an elderly gent and former Baltimore City PD officer attempted to qualify. He was very soon removed from the firing line as he was clearly a danger to all...including himself.

It was sad to see, but the instructors later told us the gentleman suspected he would be disqualified but wanted to attempt one last time.

Be safe.

I had forgotten about derringers... might not be a bad option, and it's certainly better than nothing.

Ruger LCR in .22 Magnum would work better then the J-frames in that caliber. My 351c has like a 14# DAO trigger.

Hmm...if the PMR-30 is not an option, I like the Beretta tip up autos. I believe they make the cheetah in a tip up and that is .380. I'm only advocating .380 because its the biggest of the little gun calibers and the cheetah is pretty big to soak up the recoil.

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This≠DodgeCity&You≠BillHickok

He probably has more maturity and common sense than all of the 20 - something ninjas with CWPs put together. I'd help him all you can.

Do you really know him as well as you think? Do you know the full story, or just his side? I'm not trying to be insulting towards him or you. Many elderly have sundowners (& other conditions you may not be aware of) , where they seem perfectly normal during the day, then go off the wall at night. If he has family I would talk to them first, and get their thoughts before getting involved in a potential nightmare. In a perfect world we would all like to see him be able to defend himself. As we all know too well the world aint a perfect place.

I think the Mosquito is about the easiest semi-auto slide I have encountered so far. Yes only 22 but better than nothing.

DoubleTap Defense - Creators of DoubleTap? might be an option

A revolver might be better though.

To all the derringer suggestions: Marksmanship potential, fun, and low recoil...all pleasantly absent from the derringer equation. Don't confuse novelty with fun. That double tap has a horrendous trigger. Long, stacky and heavy.

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This≠DodgeCity&You≠BillHickok