Need some suggestions for my wife's CCW

[Der Biermeister]

My wife (69 yrs) has expressed some interest -- lets call it lukewarm -- in getting her CCW permit and to begin carrying. She has some physical disabilities though that would greatly limit a choice of weapons. Let me explain:
She has leukemia, but it is under control now. Also, due to pretty bad arthritic thumbs, she had both thumb joints replaced about 10 years ago. No pain now, but she lacks any real strength. With my two semi-autos, she is not able to rack the slide. So I am wondering if perhaps a sub-compact, like a Ruger LCP .380 Ultra Compact Pistol, might work?

I have no experience at all in those kind of small guns. Do they rack much easier? In a .380 caliber, is the recoil quite low?

If we find a good weapon for her, getting her permit should be no problem as the requirements in VA are easy. The most I could expect would be for her to carry in her purse. I cannot envision ever seeing her wearing any kind of holster. But that is still MUCH better personal protection than what she has now -- a pepper spray.

Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[OFT II]

If recoil is an issue I would recommend a steel frame J or K model in 38 Special. Alloy frame guns tend to kick harder. With a revolver there is no slide work, you just pull the trigger. If you go with an auto loader stay away from blow back actions as they tend to recoil harder than locked actions. Good luck. Giving recommendations to my wife is the quickest way for me to go to bed without supper.

 

[poordevil]

Beretta Tom Cat in .32 acp. Tip up BBL so never have to rack the slide. Double /single action and manual safety.


http://search.mywebsearch.com/myweb...m5Ql7ouPsCQ+Twzr3ib3vULnTQUkeFG3&ord=0&ct=AR&

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Pistols in .380 ACP caliber are typically blowback operated, having a fixed barrel with recoil spring pressure being the primary (if not only) means of lock-up. Consequently the recoil springs can be quite stout, so with your wife's conditions limiting her ability to rack the slides of semi-auto pistols it is likely that this will not be something she can easily do.

Assuming reasonable abilities with her finger strength a good double-action revolver might be a better option. I would suggest taking her to a range where she can try one or two before proceeding with a purchase.

In any of the smaller or lighter handguns recoil can be sharp, whether the caliber is .380, .38 Special, or just about anything over .22 rimfire. While a small handgun weighing 15 or 16 oz. is quite easy to carry comfortably and discreetly, they can be difficult to master to any degree of proficiency due to recoil and muzzle blast issues. An all steel revolver adds a few ounces of weight, but that is offset by significantly reduced "felt" recoil, as the weight of the handgun absorbs more of the energy. Soft rubber grips (such as the Pachmayr Compac series) can help a lot in reducing the discomfort of recoil.

Finally, a double-action revolver has no mechanical safety devices to be disengaged (which usually requires use of the thumb). This allows for an easier learning curve during familiarization and practice, while also eliminating one step in deploying the handgun in a stressful situation.

Assuming that your wife finds it possible to operate the double-action revolver comfortably, I'm thinking a steel-frame models (Model 36, 60, 640, 642, 649, etc, in the J-frames, or Model 10, 64, etc in the K-frames, and the Ruger SP101 would be worth trying as well). Good set of soft rubber grips. Stick with standard velocity .38 Special, either a good SWC load or even the 148 HBWC target loads (either one will perform quite well against two-legged threats at short range without damaging recoil or blast).

Familiarization and early practice sessions should be limited to short ranges (most defensive handgun uses are at ranges of less than 7 yards). This will help her build confidence more quickly (seeing more holes in the target) than trying to start out at longer ranges.

My $.02 worth.

 

[Der Biermeister]

Good stuff by all -- thanks.

And what you all say, pretty much backs up what I just read in this article:

Handguns for Handicapped and Very Recoil Sensitive Shooters

 

[coach22]

S & W 351C
22 Magnum
7 Shot
Double Action Only
10.5 Ounces
No weight-No Recoil-No Jam
Load it with either:
CCI Gold Dot Short Barrel 40 Grain
or
Hornady Critical Defense 45 Grain
The wood grips on mine are the ones
that come with the 351PD (exposed hammer),
that I ordered directly from S & W.
Take look at this article (BOTH PAGES)
http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/the-22-mag-for-self-defense/

 

[tops]

My wife has a S&W BG.380 that she likes. One thing I never see mentioned about the Berettas with the tip up barrels is no extractor. If the shell doesn't fire racking the slide will not clear the chamber. The barrel has to be tipped up and use a ramrod to clear the chamber, load the chamber and close the barrel or close the barrel and rack the slide. That is how it is with a 21A. Larry

 

[haywood]

Find a Range wear you can rent Guns and let her decide befor you buy.

 

[2ndAmendmentNut]

Hard one to call, but I might suggest a 22mag in a J-frame.

 

[P&R Fan]

I have a client who is a Woman in her 70s. She's in pretty good shape but has very little hand strength. She got a carry permit a few years ago and I recommended an S&W Centennial. She got a M442, but had trouble opening the cylinder. She bought a Ruger LCR that opens the cylinder with the push of a button. That works well for her. She also bought a Ruger LCP .380 ACP that she can easily rack the slide on. She couldn't do that with my Glocks or a Kahr that I had at the time.
In my view the Rugers are the way to go for you.

Jim

 

[Hapworth]

Back up. Buy her a copy of Grant Cunningham's Defensive Revolver Fundamentals, Massad Ayoob's In The Gravest Extreme, or frankly any good, basic read on the many issues related to carrying for self defense. Suggest she read.

After she's had a chance to digest what carrying really means, see if she's still interested.

My thinking? You guess she's at best perhaps willing to carry in her purse (not a good place to carry), and don't envision her wearing a holster (a better place to carry). That indicates she's not sure yet what carrying entails or if it's for her.

Picking the gun out now is putting the cart before the horse.

 

[Maze 686]

No thumb strength is required to rack a slide if you do it correctly.

Most J-frames require more strength to press their double action trigger.

Any gun can be loaded for her and then holstered until she needs it.

 

[Der Biermeister]

Any gun can be loaded for her and then holstered until she needs it.

Excellent point -- thanks

 

[USAF385]

I'd also recommend a revolver like other have.

Any gun can be loaded for her and then holstered until she needs it.

Don't forget though, an auto loader can jam after one shot. Could she clear the jam?

As far as the trigger goes, my wife could barely get the LCP or Bodyguard trigger to break and has no issue with my 642. And she's 28. The little .380s just have a very long trigger.

She also couldn't rack the slide on the pocket .380s, but can on my full size M&P.

 

[ltgem612]

I second the recommendation for a S&W 351C. Only drawbacks are they are expensive and hard to find.
On a J frame in all aluminum at 10oz you don't even know its in your pocket or on your person yet recoil is very very light since it is a 22 magnum not a .38spl.
With the new loads, as described in prior post, which are designed for a 2" bbl, not a rifle, you get good expansion and penetration. There is that school of thought that nothing less than a 45acp is adequate for self defense but you cant find a revolver that will fit in your pocket, is light weight, and HAS LITTLE RECOIL other than the 351C. Everything is a compromise.

 

[Der Biermeister]

I second the recommendation for a S&W 351C. Only drawbacks are they are expensive and hard to find.

How is the trigger pull for the 351C? I have a 642 and am having a hard time getting used to the long pull. I did a spring job to lighten the pull, but it still drives me nuts waiting for the break. So if the 351C is similar, I am sure it would be a problem for my wife.

 

[MrJT]

How is the trigger pull for the 351C? I have a 642 and am having a hard time getting used to the long pull. I did a spring job to lighten the pull, but it still drives me nuts waiting for the break. So if the 351C is similar, I am sure it would be a problem for my wife.

In my opinion the lcp and bg have a worse trigger. It's long, and the distance between the breaking point and the back of the grip is small, meaning you need to be practically making a fist to get the trigger to break.

USAF385 had a good point: if the gun jams, your wife could be out of luck.

 

[ltgem612]

You certainly might be right on the trigger pull of the 351pd. All S&W .22's come with a trigger that is a couple pounds HEAVIER than their .38 spls since the 22 is a rim fire and they want positive ignition. Only way to tell if it is too heavy/hard for your wife is to find one and let her see for herself. You shouldn't buy any gun without seeing how it fits/feels in your hand. Lots of firearms look good on paper but if they don't fit your hand size, length of fingers etc. you should move on to something else. Changing the grip on any J frame can make a definite difference in comfort and shooting ability. From the old Tyler T grips to all the new rubber etc grips available. Only your wife will know for sure.

 

[ibewbull]

If you want to p an empty chamber for what ever reason.

She would want to keep the hammer cocked to lessen required force.

Just a thought.

I like the J frame DA only myself. 38 Special WC could work fine as in the past it has served well as a back up.

 

[Rpg]

Consider a M34 lr kit gun.

There is a place for a 22.

Your wife would love it and rapidly learn to shoot it much better than anything else.

If she wants an auto: locate a Colt Woodsman or High Standard model B. These are so much easier to shoot than anything else that they are well worth the money.

This is for your wife of many years! Don't cheap out on her.

Just my opinion, of course