What gun would you have for your home defense if you were an elderly woman?

[Wolffe 104]

This is a serious question to ponder just because I was recently faced with this. My mom had real issue with her hand strength, she has good heath other that this. She did shoot 100 rounds with various hand guns, but she did not have the strength to pull a DA gun with that typical 8 Lbs or more pull weight, to clarify the did manage to shoot the DA trigger BUT she really had a hard time with it. So its obvious and she said it too she needs a different gun.

Suggestions?

 

[finesse_r]

A Ruger 10-22 or a Ruger Mark II, both in .22 caliber and both easy to shoot with little or no recoil.

 

[rwsmith]

Special case....

This is a special case that I think would require a trigger job specifically set up for light DA. Find a gun with a fairly light trigger that she can hold well and have work done on it. Ammo is a consideration, too. People don't get stronger as they age so you have to be ready.

An option is to have an SA semi pistol racked and ready with the safety on.

 

[Farmer17]

I have a Bersa .22 Double Action semi auto pistol that is about the size of a Walther PPK and I like it very much. It has excellent ergonomics and the DA trigger pull is as good as any SIG and the single action is barely 3lbs and it is quite accurate. It holds 10 rounds in the magazine and I think it would work just fine for home defense. The only problem is mine is not reliable with some ammunition, like Remington Yellow Jackets or Federal Auto match. It is 100% reliable with anything CCI makes.

 

[Papa32129]

Combo of Ruger SP101 and .38 special.

Papa

 

[teesur]

Winchester model 12, 410 Ga., 26 inch bbl.
teesur.

 

[sigp220.45]

AR-7 .22 rifle.

 

[STCM(SW)]

This was the problem my wife has.
My cure was a 9mm Shield with the trigger pull reduced to 5.5 lbs.
Or the Kel-tec PT3 380 acp..

Both better then a .22 LR I think.
She will be 78 in a few days.

 

[carpriver]

I would like to suggest the new Ruger LCR 9mm, and a trigger job to lighten it some.

 

[Fishslayer]

Maybe one of those .32ACP with the tip up barrel? No need to rack a slide. As for .22 I would probably trust MiniMags to go bang every time.

 

[senecaap]

I'm not a fan of the .22 for self defense, but over time I've tried to help a lot of older ladies who don't have the strength for racking a slide, working a normal DA, some can't even cock the hammer for single action, and in addition found even .32 too much recoil for their arthritic hands and wrists. The Ruger Mk II is the best option, easy to operate with no recoil. It's not the best, but better than yelling "Shoo."

 

[Wolffe 104]

I have a Bersa .22 Double Action semi auto pistol that is about the size of a Walther PPK and I like it very much. It has excellent ergonomics and the DA trigger pull is as good as any SIG and the single action is barely 3lbs and it is quite accurate. It holds 10 rounds in the magazine and I think it would work just fine for home defense. The only problem is mine is not reliable with some ammunition, like Remington Yellow Jackets or Federal Auto match. It is 100% reliable with anything CCI makes.

Thanks, seems like a good choice.

 

[Wolffe 104]

I'm not a fan of the .22 for self defense, but over time I've setried to help en a lot of older ladies who don't have the strength for racking a slide, working a normal DA, some can't even cock the hammer for single action, and in addition found even .32 too much recoil for their arthritic hands and wrists. The Ruger Mk II is the best option, easy to operate with no recoil. It's not the best, but better than yelling "Shoo."

Also an interesting thought.

Thanks

 

[Bill Bates]

I'll be interested in seeing if anyone has a good solution.

I year or so ago I went through a fair amount of the guns in my safe with my mother. She is in her late eighties. I couldn't find a firearm she could safely operate. She struggled to cock a hammer for single action fire and just couldn't pull the trigger double. She could pull the trigger on the semi autos but couldn't rack the slide to chamber or clear a round.

She even struggled braking the action open on an old double that almost falls open if you get the top lever over.

I do wonder about the little Beratta Tomcats that tip up but I didn't have one for her to try.

I worry about her because she lives alone but I'm not sure there is a good firearms option for her.

 

[GatorFarmer]

Phoenix HP22. Pull out the magazine safety and glue the firing pin safety "on". Cheap, fairly accurate, minimal recoil. I have one. It and my equally cheap JA22 work fine.

 

[Kanewpadle]

We just went over this about a month ago.

My wife has rheumatoid arthritis. I took her shooting to see what she could handle effectively.

First a model 19 with 38 spl. She did ok. But even though the gun has a trigger job she found it difficult to pull the trigger in double action. We did not try single action. I don't want her walking around the house with a revolver cocked and then have to decock it with bad hands.

Then my Glock 19. She did very well but was close to limp wristing the gun. And she would not be able to clear a malfunction.

Last was my Ruger mark 2. She loves it. I added a bolt racker to make things easier. It sits in a lock box with stingers loaded in it.

I highly suggest taking mom out to shoot more.

 

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

I always suggest a Beretta Model 86 in 380.

It has a tip up barrel, great for disabled persons who have a problem racking slides.

It is also the very Softest recoiling 380 semi auto.

Also make sure to get at least 2 or 3 mags and keep them loaded for her.

Problem is trying to find one.

When you do, it will be pricey.

 

[Deftone]

I have a Bersa .22 Double Action semi auto pistol that is about the size of a Walther PPK and I like it very much. It has excellent ergonomics and the DA trigger pull is as good as any SIG and the single action is barely 3lbs and it is quite accurate. It holds 10 rounds in the magazine and I think it would work just fine for home defense. The only problem is mine is not reliable with some ammunition, like Remington Yellow Jackets or Federal Auto match. It is 100% reliable with anything CCI makes.

I have the Bersa Thunder .380, I would love to get my hands on the .22 version. It's off roster here in Cali.

 

[Captain]

I would get a 9mm 1911. Recoil is very mild. The recoil spring is very light, so manipulating the slide is not difficult. It's very easy to shoot with a little training. It fits well even in smaller hands. It fires a very effective round if loaded with really good ammo.

 

[Arik]

I have a Bersa .22 Double Action semi auto pistol that is about the size of a Walther PPK and I like it very much. It has excellent ergonomics and the DA trigger pull is as good as any SIG and the single action is barely 3lbs and it is quite accurate. It holds 10 rounds in the magazine and I think it would work just fine for home defense. The only problem is mine is not reliable with some ammunition, like Remington Yellow Jackets or Federal Auto match. It is 100% reliable with anything CCI makes.

Please let's do some research before posting. The OP said......she doesn't have the strength to pull a typical DA 8lbs trigger. A typical Sig has a DA pull of 10lbs and the DAK models have 5.5 - 8 lbs depending on model. Unless you get a specific race gun you are buying a 10lbs trigger. Bersa has 9.5lbs trigger