My Mom wants a pistol.

[blurr95]

Like the title says. She is about average size, and in her mid sixties. She has shot before, but it has been a while. I am thinking a revolver would be best for her, easier to load. I think she might have a hard time pulling a slide back on a semi auto. What is a good one. What caliber, I am concerned about recoil for her. One of my buddies a work has several pistols, but not sure about revolvers. I am going to ask him if Mom can try some of his out before she goes to buy. He already knows my mom. So in all for now, I just thought I would ask, whats a good pistol for an older lady.

Thanks, Jason

 

[DanVoils]

A simple 5 shot .38 should work well. Something like a J frame Smith or a Taurus Model 85. Put some Pachmayers or Hogues on it for some cushion and she should be good to go.

 

[Dead Duck]

Does she play the violin?

This is made for Ma's.

 

[RandallX]

.357 but run .38 spl through it. heavier frame helps with recoil.

 

[pokersamurai]

As you said, the most important thing is to have your mom try out a bunch and see what she likes best.

If you are looking for a quality revolver I would suggest anything made by Smith and Wesson or Ruger.

Like RandallX said, find one chambered in 357. Then have your mom try it with standard pressure .38s, .38 +p, light 357 magnums, and full power 357 magnums and load it with the most powerful round she can shoot comfortably.

 

[mrortega]

A simple 5 shot .38 should work well. Something like a J frame Smith or a Taurus Model 85. Put some Pachmayers or Hogues on it for some cushion and she should be good to go.

Good call. Most .38s now are rated +P and mom should be able to get used to that when she's ready. Plus Speer's Short Barrel is pretty good. I think a novice gunner would be better served with a revolver. Some have a problem racking the slide on a semi auto, some may not be careful enough to realize that just dropping the magazine doesn't unload the pistol.

 

[ctb1]

Be sure to look at the Ruger LCR. The grips on the LCR's are pretty good at taming recoil with .38 special. Better, I think, than the standard grips on the S&W J frames. With .357, however, all bets are off!

 

[Spike_351]

.357 but run .38 spl through it. heavier frame helps with recoil.

I agre with this. Completely, you might want to look into an EAA Windicator with a 2in barrel, pretty cheap, kinda heavy, and a light enough trigger an older woman can pull it easily. It worked for my mother.

 

[Glock19]

.357 but run .38 spl through it. heavier frame helps with recoil.

This ^^^

 

[sloughfoot]

All the previous responses are good. I would just add the Ruger SP-101 in 357 magnum with +P 38 Special ammo. Small grip, muzzle heavy and easy to shoot.

 

[Caldad]

.357 but run .38 spl through it. heavier frame helps with recoil.

+1

Ruger LCR .357 with a light load

I have an LCR .38spl, and because it is a lighter gun, and some ammo manufactures load toward the hotter side, it can kill the hands after only 5 rounds. I reload my .38's now, and make a lighter load that I can shoot all day. You may want to test several different types of ammo (manuf...) to see what is the most comfortable for your mom to shoot.

 

[Rey B]

Cornered Cat - Table Of Contents

 

[the1kidd03]

Typically, it's best to let the lady choose the gun. Let them feel which ones they like and if AT ALL possible try before you buy. Don't pick it for her.

That being said, I HIGHLY doubt she would be incapable of racking the slide on a semi-auto with appropriate training. I'm not saying it's impossible, but rather rare circumstances.

My next question would be whether or not she plans to carry it, or just keep it in her house? This can play an important role in selection.

Now, ANYTHING is better than NOTHING. A .22 is better than nothing. However, from my first hand experience with .38 gun shots, it is NOT a caliber I'll be buying or recommending again. My next, more important question would be; how much does she plan on practicing?

Those small 38s get recommended to beginning female shooters ALL THE TIME at LGS...then they get them to the range and HATE them, struggle to learn how to shoot accurately, or are otherwise turned off from shooting because of them. They don't dissipate recoil well, have heavy triggers and some don't even have a single action ability, and usually have horrible sights or even now "real" rear sight...combine all this with the short sight radius and you're making learning far more difficult than it has to be. I see it ALL THE TIME on the range. One woman was so frustrated with the thing she didn't even want to shoot at all anymore.

Anyhow, I aim to show you that you really need for HER to try out, experiment, and pick out her gun for herself. Trying them is the absolute BEST method.

 

[Iroquois]

Have her try a full size revolver (.38) with some target wadcutters. If she likes it find one
like that with a 3" barrel. It's short enough to hide but long enough to point.
Anything smaller will probably be painful and therefore useless.
If the. 38 is too much look at the Berreta Tomcat. It's tip up barrel makes racking the
slide unnecessary. I wish they still made their. 380 with this feature.
Try the revolver first...you can have the trigger smoothed out and there's lots of grip
choices...just my $.02.

 

[blurr95]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I intend to have try them out and pick what she wants, I just wanted some ideas on what a good direction would be for her to start with. I really don't think she would carry it, but won't say that for sure.

Jason

 

[JimmyR]

Just my

If this is a home defense weapon, I would lean towards a heavier .357, probably a ruger, with a 3+" barrel. A heavier weapon will help with recoil more than anything else, and then if push comes to shove, a ruger with a 4-6" barrel becomes a nasty club after 6 rounds in a bad guy.

I used to own a Ruger Security Six with a 6" barrel, and I ended up selling it because I wanted a more CC friendly gun. I keep thinking about looking for another one, because it shot great, and was just a beautiful weapon. I'd reccomend it for almost anyone...

 

[IncendiaryGunner]

I think the best idea is to point out some of the pros/cons of different types of handguns, and then let her make a decision. If you can arrange for her to shoot at least a few different types - that would be huge.

When my mother decided to buy a handgun years ago, she enlisted me to help her pick one out. After talking about it at length, and listening to the opinions of many people - she decided she wanted a small .38 revolver. "Not a bad choice for her experience level" I thought to myself. I decided before she makes her final decision, I would take her to the range where she could get some first hand experience operating different types of handguns.

Low and behold, my 5'1" 95 pound mother realized she could rack a slide and function a SA, and that she really does not care for revolvers.

She chose a full size 1911, still carries it daily, and thoroughly enjoys making me look bad with it.

 

[foxmustang]

My mom is in her late 50's and we got her a .327 Federal Mag. Can't remember the model number, but its an all stainless Taurus with a compensator built in to the barrel. I think they only run $400-450. She can shoot that all day holding center mass groups at 25'.

 

[04FXSTS]

If she will not use it for CC I would recommend a 4" S&W model 10, 65, 66,686 or something in that realm. The 4" barrel is easier to aim and the weight helps tame recoil. Jim.

 

[Robjps]

Glock 26 or 19

Don't force some super light revolver that will scare crap out of most people not used to firearms. Not to mention the usual lack of decent sights.

First handgun i got to spend much time with outside of a Berretta 22lr target pistol was a glock 17. I found it to be accurate and easy to shoot. The next was a S&W J frame i found it to be quite the opposite. If you are dead-set on a revolver i second the .357 with .38's in it.