Please recommend a revolver or top-break semi- for my 80+ year old mother.

[USMCE4retired]

(first post and, typically, begging for help)

Good day, all.
Very informative and civil (peaceful) forum here. I've been enjoying my reads here for some time but now I must show my noob side by asking for help.

I need to find a suitable revolver or top break semi-auto for my 80+ year old mother.
I bought and let her use a Bersa Thunder Plus in .380 for home protection. I bought this because it was the easiest I found to rack the slide, and is reputed to have slightly less recoil than the single stack Bersa's. Mom has not been able to rack the slide effectively and has even pinched herself doing so. So now we have the fear factor as well as the lack of strength working against her.

I have a crapload of .380 ammo, so a recommendation in that caliber would be fine.
I am also very much open to suggestions in 9mm or .38spl.

I have been holding off selling or trading to Bersa Thunder Plus until I am very sure that what I get for her to use will acctually be used. And safely.

Your constructive input would be greatly appreciated, as my dealings with revolvers is nil.

Thank you for your help with information and personal experiences.

 

[snowman]

Welcome to the forum, sir, and thank you for your service.

I'm not an expert(there will be others along to help), but I believe that the .38 Special is the best solution to your mother's need. S&W has a boatload of models chambered for it. The size of her hand will make a considerable difference in what will work best for her, so it will be important to take her to the gunshop and let her hold them in her hand. If the shop has a range and allows potential buyers to rent them or just shoot them to see how they like them, that would be wonderful.

Since I don't own a .38 and am not familiar with all the variations, I'm going to step aside and let the others take over.

Best wishes in providing protection for your mother.
Andy

 

[Takasnooze]

I love the Beretta 86 Cheetah. Obviously not a S&W, but a semi in .380 tip up barrel. Google it and check them out. Nice gun.

 

[Texas Star]

You use the very odd term "top break autos." That is very strange. But the above-mentioned Beretta M-86 does have a tip down barrel, to allow loading without racking the slide.


I think your mother, if she should have a gun at all, needs a revolver that allows single-action firing after cocking the hammer. She probably cannot cock an auto slide or fire a revolver with a normal DA pull. And she will have to operate the cylinder release! I think Ruger's cylinder release makes best use of force applied to open it. The GP-100 will probably be too big and heavy and the SP-101 usually has a very heavy trigger pull. I suggest a good used Security-Six series gun, probably with four-inch barrel.

Stainless steel is a very desirable option, and you can let her try a used S&W M-64. But I think she will find the Ruger trigger easier to pull, as the mechanism applies the muscle force diffrerntly, with less strength needed for the first third of the pull. I'm guessing here that the S-S series triggers resemble later Ruger DA guns here, as I haven't owned one in some time. But I guarantee you, I can pull the trigger DA easier on my GP-100 than on my S&W's, and the pull stroke is more even, without a hump to climb before the pull eases.

You may need to look at the Beretta-950 .25. It has a tip-up barrel, and little recoil. A .25 is better than nothing!

 

[45Wheelgun]

I agree with .38/.357 as the probable best caliber.

Hand size has a bunch to do with this. I also agree she needs to hold it before you buy it.

If she has medium to smaller hands, I would suggest a round butt J-frame. I would suggest a Model 60, It has a very small round butt grip and generally ships with rubber. It Stainless steel compared to any of the light weight materials, helping with mild recoil of .38cal. If she likes adjustable sights they do make a 3" version with adjustable sights. That is what I bought for my wife's use. Not that Grandma needs .357's but it would be an option in a modern M60, vintage M60s are .38 only. If she intends to CCW, have her get one of the covered hammer versions (M649/M640)

 

[Double-O-Dave]

I went through the same drill with my late mom several years ago. We started her on a Model 37 S&W in .38 Special, but she had a hard time with the recoil even with mid-range wadcutters. Mom was a little woman probably 4'8" and north of 100 pounds with small hands. We eventually tried her on a Model 64 (heavy barrel) with a 4.0 inch barrel and she took to it like a duck to water. Standard velocity 158gr. LSWC was her load of choice. In response to a series of home invasions, the local police hosted a "gun clinic" for the "little old ladies" to teach them how to safely load and fire a handgun. The chief of police later told me that he wished some of his officers could shoot as good as mom did.

Bottom line, if your Mom can manage the weight and size of a K-frame revolver, a Model 10 or 64 might work well for her.

Best of luck,

Dave

Sorry, forgot to add that you should consider a set of laser grips for your mom's gun. They have their plusses and minuses, but I think they are far more beneficial than detrimental - especially under stress and especially for a novice shooter. The only revolvers I own that don't have laser grips on them are the ones that no one makes laser grips for.

Regards,

Dave

 

[brucev]

"I need to find a suitable revolver or top break semi-auto for my 80+ year old mother.
I bought and let her use a Bersa Thunder Plus in .380 for home protection. I bought this because it was the easiest I found to rack the slide, and is reputed to have slightly less recoil than the single stack Bersa's. Mom has not been able to rack the slide effectively and has even pinched herself doing so. So now we have the fear factor as well as the lack of strength working against her."

Buy her a used S&W K-Frame in .38 Special or .357 Magnum with a 4 inch barrel. Load it with plain Jane 158 gr. LSWCHP ammunition. Tell her to aim at the belt buckle and fire away if a HD need arises. If she is physically able to handle more power/recoil, consider using a heavier load. But the above recommendation would serve her or anyone else well in the overwhelming vast majority of situations where a HD weapon was required.

 

[jmcghee]

Before you give up on the bearsa,go to the cornered cat website.It is a website for woman to learn about firearms.They suggest a method of racking a slide that is easier than the way most people do it

 

[StatesRightist]

I like the .327 magnum caliber for older women and those who recoil bothers. You can shoot .32 Longs in it for practice, which have almost no recoil and go with the .327 magnum for self defense, which is 80% as effective as a .357 magnum according to research.

Nothing wrong with .38spl, if it's in a 4 inch gun as well. JMO.

 

[jmcghee]

I also recommend a model 10 or any of its variants if the bearsa wont work.

 

[jimmyj]

Glock Model 19-loaded magazine with round in the chamber.
Five pound trigger-pick up/point/pull trigger-10 rounds

 

[A10]

The glock 19 is a good suggestion if you want to go with another autoloader. If she can learn to grasp the back of the slide on the serrations, then push the grip away from her, she may be more comfortable actuating the slide. It is simple to operate, dependable, and light. Recoil should be very manageble for her, and ammo selection is seemingly endless.

The other suggestion of a K frame .38 is also great, if she can manage the double action trigger. Buds Guns, Used S&W Model 10 38sp Police Issue $269.00 SHIPS FREE, is a good source. This is the link for some police trade ins at a very reasonable price. The ones I've seen are in good shape, with bluing wear but mechanically practically new.

Regardless, if you can get her somewhere to look at the type of firearm and let her make the decision you will be miles ahead. Most any reputable gunshop will be happy to help, and should be able to direct you to a place for some good instruction for her. Best of luck!

 

[Doug M.]

I've seen two good ideas. One is the Beretta with the tip up barrel; there is one in the .380. .380 ain't all that great and I would be worried about her having to do malfunction drills if she had a malfunction (jam goes on toast). On the other hand, a set of .380 holes in the chest is not going to improve a criminal's physical performance, and if she can shoot it well in her environment, and keep it on her person easily, it beats the cannon she can't or won't shoot.

The K frame with standard velocity sold SWCs is also a decent option, depending on hand size and strength. I suggest the adjustable sight versions, not because she needs to adjust them, but because they are easier to see and aim with as one gets older. At least put a BigDot from XS on it - at household range, if she puts that on someone's sternum, she is going to really mess up their day. My preference would actually be for a good quality target wadcutter - low recoil, adequate penetration under most conditions, and a nice square edge for good flesh cutting. I have seen recommedations for preferred versions of this load for SD, but can't recall where or what was suggested.

 

[Thuer]

80 plus. That is a respecteble age. I hope that I can say someday that I have reaced that age.
First thing what gets in my mind when I read 80 use a blackpowder revolver.

But the second thought is get a good Smith and Wesson model 10 or 15. .357 magnum for a woman with a good age is a bit stiff.
.38 silvertip or just a hollowpoint will do the job.

Just my thought and I almost forgett. Welcome to the forum. I hope your mother reaced well over 100.

 

[m1gunner]

A J frame 32 S&W long is what my wife uses. If I had to get a hand gun for my 80 year old mother, that is exactly what I would get.

A 2 or 3 inch barrel is just right. No recoil and no need to hand load for reduced power.

 

[vytoland]

have your mom try a S&W model 64 (K frame) with a 2 (30 ozs.) or 4 (35 ozs.)inch barrel. it is a .38 special revolver. there are several different types of grips, rubber and wood, that will be able to accommodate your mom's hand size. DEWC (double end wadcutter) are available in different power levels.

if she finds that a .38 special is too harsh for her, a S&W model 63 (J frame) with a three inch barrel (26 ozs) may be better. it is a .22 caliber, 8 shot, revolver.

 

[pawncop]

Another vote for the Model 10.

 

[GatorFarmer]

The Beretta Model 84, also sold under the Browning label, lacks a tip up bbl, but being a locked breach semi auto makes for relative ease in chambering a round. It is rather large for a .380 auto, but does use a 13rd magazine and is virtually recoil free, or least I felt the one I used to have was.

 

[Bekeart]

If she is comfortable with K frame size, look at the alloy frames for lighter weigh.

Bekeart

 

[Smithhound]

I went thru the same situation with my Mother, She is 72 and has pretty bad RA, the mobility in her hands is not very good. We tried every small frame revolver I had and thought would work from a .32 J frame to 2" K's in .38 and She just didn't have the hand strength to work the trigger.
Turned to small size auto's, tried a Ppk, Ruger LCP, tip up Berretta and had the same problem, not enough strength to work the slide but enough to function the trigger.
Finally, working on the premise that a small calibre is better than no calibre I let her try my Walther P22. Bingo! The slide was large enough for her to grasp and work without being too big and the trigger pull in SA was about as perfect as it was going to get. It took some time to teach Her to leave it in Condition 4 (cocked and locked with safety on) but once She understood that in that condition it was safer than a revolver She's gotten to be a pretty good shot with it. Plus it makes Her feel good to be able to shoot with us when we go to the farm.
Hope this helps out.
RD