GyMac
US Veteran
Another advantage of the revolver is not having to bend over and pick up all the empty cases.
Getting Older and Autos
- Thread starter ColColt
- Start date
Another advantage of the revolver is not having to bend over and pick up all the empty cases.
youseemym&p
Member
my grandfather is 93 and still carries his GI 1911. he cant pull the slide back period. however he found a way around this.
he puts on a mechanics glove with really rubbery grippy texture. and holds the slide firm in his left hand. then with his right hand, pushes the frame froward. thus by this motion cycling the action.
he said he could try all day to hold the gun and rack the slide, but it wont happen, but the muscles used to push forward seem to work better than those to pull backwards.
his arthritis doesnt mind it either.
he puts on a mechanics glove with really rubbery grippy texture. and holds the slide firm in his left hand. then with his right hand, pushes the frame froward. thus by this motion cycling the action.
he said he could try all day to hold the gun and rack the slide, but it wont happen, but the muscles used to push forward seem to work better than those to pull backwards.
his arthritis doesnt mind it either.
my grandfather is 93 and still carries his GI 1911. he cant pull the slide back period. however he found a way around this.
he puts on a mechanics glove with really rubbery grippy texture. and holds the slide firm in his left hand. then with his right hand, pushes the frame froward. thus by this motion cycling the action.
he said he could try all day to hold the gun and rack the slide, but it wont happen, but the muscles used to push forward seem to work better than those to pull backwards.
That is well and good until the gun malfunctions and then he just has a club and anybody too feeble to rack a slide is not able to hit very hard with a club. Larry
Hook the rear sight on a table edge, door edge, door jamb- whatever, and use both hands and body weight to rack the slide. If you kneel down, you can use the back edge of your heel-unless you're wearing slippers or flip-flops.
Well, for one thing, young feller, I ain't got no kids nor grand babies and don't intend on having any. I live alone with my dog by choice. No worries about him calling me at 3:00am in the morning to come get him out of jail or robbing me to buy drugs.
I really don't feel a great burden to exercise. I'm the same size now I was in high school(1963) and basic training except I've shrunk about an inch in height. I still weigh about 158-162 pounds...sort of fluctuates. I walk with my buddy to keep my leg exercised and the blood flowing but as for push ups, sit ups, running in place,etc., I had enough of that in the Army.
I guess if the time ever comes when I have great difficulty racking a slide I can resort to one of my three revolvers. I'm still looking for a LNIB model 65 3" for $400
fonejack54
US Veteran
I am 60 and have severe arthritis in my hands and other places. I'm starting to worry if my hands are going to fail me if I ever need to pull a trigger.
I have a Kimber CDP II for HD which so far I can rack OK. I do keep one in the chamber, but it's in a nightstand drawer. My EDC is a 442 which I put the Apex kit in to reduce the trigger pull. I worry about waking up in the night when My hands are almost useless and having to pull the trigger if I grab the Smith instead of the Kimber.
I have a Kimber CDP II for HD which so far I can rack OK. I do keep one in the chamber, but it's in a nightstand drawer. My EDC is a 442 which I put the Apex kit in to reduce the trigger pull. I worry about waking up in the night when My hands are almost useless and having to pull the trigger if I grab the Smith instead of the Kimber.
Col. Colt;
Just a couple of observations if I may...
The M&P is available in .45 and with a thumb safety that works correctly. I find mine to be somewhat easier to rack than most of the nearly dozen 1911's I own now.
But honestly, if I was not going to keep a round chambered in a HD autopistol that I might need in a helluva hurry...maybe only have one hand free to grab, etc...one night in 'extremis', I would look really hard at getting a M625 in 3in or 4in. Moon clips make it fast to reload should it come to that, and the recoil is less than full house .357's in an L frame. They ain't cheap, but they sure are nice revolvers.
Just a couple of observations if I may...
The M&P is available in .45 and with a thumb safety that works correctly. I find mine to be somewhat easier to rack than most of the nearly dozen 1911's I own now.
But honestly, if I was not going to keep a round chambered in a HD autopistol that I might need in a helluva hurry...maybe only have one hand free to grab, etc...one night in 'extremis', I would look really hard at getting a M625 in 3in or 4in. Moon clips make it fast to reload should it come to that, and the recoil is less than full house .357's in an L frame. They ain't cheap, but they sure are nice revolvers.
Frizzman
US Veteran
I will be 58 soon but I don't consider myself old. I had a stroke about 10 years ago and lost a good bit of use of my right hand. A neurologist told me that I would be about as good at 6 mos. out as I would get. Lots of physical therapy and determination has led to getting more use of that hand than predicted. I started with revolvers for serious work when I became a LEO back in the 70's and am very comfortable with revolvers. I do own a number of autos and carry them at times. There are a good many ways to deal with the slide/chambering issue...I agree that some strengthening exercise could help. A little resistance exercise goes a long way. My doctor referred me to physical therapy for loss of muscle mass issues and they got me set up with excercises that I can do even with some disability. It has helped me a lot. It does take willingness to work on it and effort to go do it, though. You also have to keep in mind that in any sort of violent encounter, being in the best shape you can be is important.
Chuck1217
Member
"Another advantage of the revolver is not having to bend over and pick up all the empty cases. "
Nobody asked for one, but I'll give ya an AMEN on that one.
Nobody asked for one, but I'll give ya an AMEN on that one.
Double-O-Dave
US Veteran
I reached my 56th birthday last week, and I never thought I would live to be this old. My hands have lost most of their cleverness (dexterity) as a result of injuries and illnesses including tennis elbow, carpal tunnel and arthritis. My EDC is a Model 642, but I recently added a Model 38 so I could cock the hammer if the situation dictated same. Among all of my semi-autos, the ones I find easiest to use are a Ruger Mk II, and surprisingly a H&K PSP. For me, I find that my ability to depress the sqeeze cocker, and then deal with the recoil actually improves while using the PSP. Additionally, except for the magazine release and the takedown button, all other functions are handled by the squeeze cocker. If you get a chance to, you owe it to yourself to try out a squeeze cocker.
Best of luck,
Dave
Best of luck,
Dave
youseemym&p
Member
i really really want a PSP. but at $700-$900 a pop i cant afford one yet
Shaunogun
Member
I might be wrong in my thinking, but my thought process and practice encouraged me to choose my 4506 over my 4" 581. Love them both, shoot well with them both.
For home defense purpose, isn't a loaded 581 and a loaded and chambered (de-cock/safety off) 4506 the same thing? Both with loaded chambers, double action hammers down. After the first pull of the trigger, the tie goes to the 4506, especially for someone suffering the effects of aging. Switching to a revolver may not be the best thing. Just using your DA/SA auto a little differently (mentally and physically) may be better for us older folks.
I practiced picking up both and putting a round on target at 10 yards.
Then doing the same thing with a follow-up right after.
I was pretty consistent with the D/A first shot with both guns. The big difference was with the follow-up. For me, the 4506 definitely puts the next one on target more often and quicker than the 581.
When I double-handed the 581 things improved, but you may not always have that other hand available in the HD scenario.
Just my 2 cents worth.
For home defense purpose, isn't a loaded 581 and a loaded and chambered (de-cock/safety off) 4506 the same thing? Both with loaded chambers, double action hammers down. After the first pull of the trigger, the tie goes to the 4506, especially for someone suffering the effects of aging. Switching to a revolver may not be the best thing. Just using your DA/SA auto a little differently (mentally and physically) may be better for us older folks.
I practiced picking up both and putting a round on target at 10 yards.
Then doing the same thing with a follow-up right after.
I was pretty consistent with the D/A first shot with both guns. The big difference was with the follow-up. For me, the 4506 definitely puts the next one on target more often and quicker than the 581.
When I double-handed the 581 things improved, but you may not always have that other hand available in the HD scenario.
Just my 2 cents worth.
I'd love a P7 but they've gotten to be mega bucks these days. I had a chance to buy one in the mid 80's for about $300 but wasn't into "funny looking German guns" back then. I never got to shoot it but would have loved to.
Shaunogun-I understand completely. My 4506 is kept under my pillow revolver style, so to speak, in that there's one in the chamber and 7 in the magazine with the decocker up. All I have to do is squeeze the trigger, just like a revolver. I wish I could shot a revolver as well as an auto but it's never going to happen.
I'm 68, retired a yr.ago.Had my hip repl.6yrs.ago! I work out 5 days a week like I have since I was a boy....instead of doing 250 on the bench I now do reps with 185! Getting old SUCKS! i like my Kimbers & revolvers.The only auto that gives me a bit of tbl.is my H&K P7...but I love it! I posted elsewhere that my daily carry is a S&W 22 mag.revolver, she's a sweetheart!
Jim
Jim
Probably the easiest to rack is the 4506(kept under the pillow) or the HK USP-C 45. Neither require a great deal of strength and unless something short circuits in my brain those two will always be the best I have for HD purposes and are utterly reliable. I'd love to find a 3 inch pre-lock 65 or 686 but it's like finding a gold nugget in the rain forest if you want one not shot to pieces and scarred up and you don't have to get a loan at the bank for it.
I'm close to the O.P's age and that is one of reasons I've always been a revolver fan, simply point and shoot. I'm also a firm believer that for 99% of all civilian defense situations 5 or 6 rounds is more than enough ammo. Protracted shootouts just don't happen very often not even, to active duty L/E's.
As for the loss of muscle mass some lite weight lifting and a semi active lifestyle should help reduce that. it's easy to fill a gallon milk jug with water and use it instead of dumbbells, or do some wall pushups several times a week.
As for the loss of muscle mass some lite weight lifting and a semi active lifestyle should help reduce that. it's easy to fill a gallon milk jug with water and use it instead of dumbbells, or do some wall pushups several times a week.
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