Old Age, Arthiritis & Trigger Pull

[Old cop]

We keep an older Model 36 in my wife's closet for her in case of emergency. It's well maintained and gets shot from time to time, but not by her. She probably has not fired a gun in 30 + years. She's now in her late 60's and developed arthritis in both hands and cannot pull the trigger any longer. I got my Colt Cobra and she did manage to pull the trigger on that, but with some difficulty. My M&P .22C would be a good choice but she won't go near a semi-auto.

I only mention this as a heads-up for older members here in a similar situation. If your significant other is not a gun person, but you have one around for them it might be a good idea to have them dry fire to see if a problem exists.

 

[OFT II]

You might have her try a Model 10. K frame triggers are easier to pull than J frame triggers.

 

[Pointblank2U]

I'll tell you a pistol that is real easy for unexperienced shooters to handle, the Kel-Tec P32. Don't let the brand name throw you off. It's a quality pistol and easy to shoot. It locks open when empty too. I have two and they both have been flawless.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHp5OVTFcSc[/ame]

 

[crazyphil]

old age

My wife is also old and has arthritis in her hands. About 15 years ago I got a Model 10 snub nose revolver and had a good smith give it an action job. It is silky smooth. Just about a month ago I checked just what you suggested to see if she could pull the trigger alright. Nope. She could not. I can't imagine a gun with a smoother trigger pull so I got her to hold with two hands and pull with both left and right trigger fingers. It works. For now.
An excellent suggestion for a lot of us old timers. Thanks.

 

[oldylocks]

First, thank you for raising this issue. My wife is in the same situation - age, arthritis.

I had picked up a Baretta 21-A Bobcat 22LR DA/SA semi-auto. This has a tip up barrel so it can be "primed" with a 22LR round. The hammer is exposed and can be pulled back so that you don't have to move the slide back to load a round (they make similar models in 25ACP and 32ACP).

She seems to have a problem pulling the hammer back, so I had her try my S&W 638 5-shot 38 spl. The trigger pull is too stiff for her. So, I've been looking at a Ruger LCR 5 shot revolver. I tried the tigger pull at a recent gun show. I've had to overcome my preconceived ideas about a Ruger (not that their bad, but I am very used to S&W). This Ruger LCR revolver is light, well made, and has a very light trigger pull.

Not attempting to give any advice, just describing my recent experience.

 

[Whitwabit]

not only arthritis .. wife has carpel tunnel in both wrists from working as a typist for years .. which causes her pain and had her left wrist operated on already .. and she has trouble pulling the trigger on my DA/SA Beretta PX4 in 9mm .. does a little better with my 40c but with difficulty ..

only pistol I have she can shoot is my Tanfoglio TZ 75 Series 88 in 9mm/41AE it has a 3 pound trigger pull .. but was set up for competition shooting by the original owner .. really only a range gun .. trigger too light to carry and is very easy to double tap with out meaning to .. but its too big in her hands for her to shoot effectively with it ..

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Hi Old Cop:

Sorry to hear about your wife's condition. I also have arthritis in my hands and am dealing with the loss of hand strength and dexterity. If it helps, I've found that the lightest trigger pulls on the J-frame revolvers belong to the DAO models like the Model 442/642 rather than the conventionally designed Model 36/60 or even the Model 638/649 series.

Best of luck,

Dave

 

[Protected One]

Did you see the movie "The Dirty Dozen"? Remember the scene where the convict/soldier was telling Lee Marvin that he simply could NOT climb any higher up the rope? Then Lee Marvin had someone hold the rope taught, grabbed a machine gun and cut loose a burst below the soldiers feet...cutting the rope in half!

You never seen anyone climb a rope so fast!

While not making light of your wife's unfortunate situation, I'm confident that...if the "need" arose, she'd overrule arthritis and pull that trigger faster than 30 years ago!

 

[Kframerbluvr]

Old cop, thanks for bringing this up.
My wife was a competent revolver shot when we we in our 20s. She was a pharmacist and learned to shoot due to the risk of robberies and murders of pharmacy staff at that time.
She has since suffered a stroke that ended her career and reduced her hand strength accordingly. We keep a M10 4" .38 in the bedroom for her use when I am not home. About three times a year, I make her dry fire it to ensure she can fire it if needed. She can still do six trigger cycles, but no more.
Her overall mindset and situational awareness is excellent. She would fight like a wildcat if she needed to. Will not consider CCW. Still gently trying to persuade her to just get the permit so she would already have it if circumstances convinced her it was time to start.
Due to a recent back injury, I have recently had an X-Ray and a MRI that shows arthritis from L1 to L5. Time to consider "senior friendly" self-defense tools for down the road...
Sorry to hear about your bride's health issues. Prayers sent for both of you!

 

[Old cop]

Thanks everyone for the kind words and suggestions. We've been married 47 years and know each other like no one else ever will. Unfortunately she will not go near a semi-auto or I would set her up w/my M&P .22C. I'll check into the Ruger LCR.

 

[Kframerbluvr]

Old cop, let us know how things go. My bride will not consider a bottom feeder either, if that is any consolation...

 

[bowzette]

Thanks everyone for the kind words and suggestions. We've been married 47 years and know each other like no one else ever will. Unfortunately she will not go near a semi-auto or I would set her up w/my M&P .22C. I'll check into the Ruger LCR.

This may be a solution. I recommend the .357 and practice with mild standard velocity .38 and carry/loaded at home the Speer Gold Dot 135 gr .38+P for short barrels. The 4oz extra weight over the .38 LCR will help with recoil. I found the 13.5 oz .38 LCR snapper than I liked for shooting more than two or three cylinders. The cam trigger design will feel like a 5-6 lb trigger pull.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Old Cop:

I am reluctant to offer this suggestion, except I know you are an experienced gun handler - this will date me, but have you thought about installing a trigger shoe on your wife's revolver? Yes, I know this can cause an AD when putting the piece in a holster, or even a gun rug (under the proper conditions), but there are advantages to keeping her with the revolver she is comfortable/familiar with, and with the proper safeguards, such a modified revolver may be okay for her.

Best of luck,

Dave

 

[Darkenfast]

I was just in a gun shop today and handled a gun that I had not previously considered. I have a small elderly lady friend who has trouble with gun handling and can only pull about five shots off in her SP-101 and doesn't like recoil. So, I asked to handle one of those Browning reduced-size 1911s in .380 auto. Small grip, easy-to-operate ambidextrous safeties, low racking effort (and I assume recoil) because of the locked breech, light weight and big sights. I realize that the OP's wife doesn't want an auto, but anyone with really small hands, arthritis or wrist problems might want to try one of these.

 

[66snub]

What about a 1911? The triggers on those, even the lower dollar ones, are pretty light. Kept in condition one, at the ready, it would make a formidable home defense gun.

The slide has a nice, big area to grab for malfunction clearing/mag changes too. If gripping the slide is an issue, have her rack the slide against a table using the rear sights. What say you?

 

[Kframerbluvr]

The last two suggestions are interesting. Devil's advocate question: A husband buys his wife one of these. She learns to shoot and operate it just well enough. Husband is the one who performs routine maintenance on the gun. He passes away and the gun stays in the dresser drawer for twenty years. One night, the unthinkable happens. Will that gun still fire at least a few shots without malfunctions from lack of lubrication?

 

[Rockdoc16]

The LCR should be a legitimate option. I carry a 9C and also a LCR 38. You can shoot the LCR one handed if you want. Don't fight the recoil, the gun is so light it goes right back on target. I love mine. And remember you can get them in 22 magnum. I know what you are thinking, but check the latest numbers on the self defense loads. Pretty impressive for something that small. Penetration of about 13" in gel. The best gun is the one you will use. Placement.

 

[gman51]

I also agree with the LCR 357 model because the +P is to light, think feathers, and recoil even with a +p would be out of the question for a person with hand problems. The LCR has a really easy to pull trigger. Best revolver trigger I ever experienced. I also heard the trigger on the LCR 22 is nothing like the above two guns. It supposedly is fairly heavy.
I don't think most of the elderly could rack the slide on most semi autos. I also agree after sitting in a drawer for years the semi auto could most likely fail where as the revolver probably would still be okay. Besides no safety gizmos to wonder about on a revolver. Point- pull trigger- goes bang. No wonder if a safety is on or off or if there is a round in the chamber.
I just checked for giggles and I can pull the trigger on my LCR 357 with my little finger. I am 64 years old and hands aren't near as strong as years ago and lucky I have no hand problems such as arthritis.

 

[bowzette]

I also agree with the LCR 357 model because the +P is to light, think feathers, and recoil even with a +p would be out of the question for a person with hand problems. The LCR has a really easy to pull trigger. Best revolver trigger I ever experienced. I also heard the trigger on the LCR 22 is nothing like the above two guns. It supposedly is fairly heavy.
I don't think most of the elderly could rack the slide on most semi autos. I also agree after sitting in a drawer for years the semi auto could most likely fail where as the revolver probably would still be okay. Besides no safety gizmos to wonder about on a revolver. Point- pull trigger- goes bang. No wonder if a safety is on or off or if there is a round in the chamber.
I just checked for giggles and I can pull the trigger on my LCR 357 with my little finger. I am 64 years old and hands aren't near as strong as years ago and lucky I have no hand problems such as arthritis.

Perhaps you can rent or barrow a LCR .357 and have her shoot standard velocity 38s to determine if that will work for her.

 

[Old cop]

I have a buddy in a LGS where I used to shoot before moving out of the area. They rent the LCR and I'm still w/I driving distance so will stop by and try it out.