Gun for grandma...

S

semi_problomatic

New member
My grandpa just passed away, and my grandma lives in a rough part of Jackson, MS. She refuses to move, and a few months ago she had brought up wanting a pistol for self defense. She's a pretty tough bird and was "a good shot" when she was younger. So today I gave her my SIG 229 .40. Its loaded, full mag and 1 in the chamber, hammer down, with 180 grain federal fmj fn.

The problem: she can't squeeze the trigger in double action. Doesn't have enough muscle strength. I severely doubt she could rack the slide if she needed to, and she's never shot the pistol.

We can remedy the last one, but I'm still worried about the trigger and slide.

Can anybody recommend a different pistol? I'd of given her a revolver, but since she'd be limited to SA only, I'd rather her have an autoloader. And neither of the revolvers I have are really SD guns (uberti cattleman .45LC and a blackpowder .38). I have a ruger P95DC (9mm), but a piece to the guide rod/spring has broken and its unreliable. The only other semi's I have is a glock 30 (.45ACP) and a walther p22. I never leave the glock with one in the chamber because I feel its unsafe, and the walther feels too much like a toy gun, I don't want to give her a .22lr for self defense. I'd bought it for a trainer for my wife (its even pink).
 
The problem: she can't squeeze the trigger in double action. Doesn't have enough muscle strength. I severely doubt she could rack the slide if she needed to, and she's never shot the pistol.
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Thats the problem with my Grandma,

I gave hear a few different guns to try, she can't work my Grandpa's 38, hard to get the cylinder open, can't pull that 8lb? trigger. Most autos, she can't work the slide because its so hard for her. The only gun she can work is a Glock 17 because its not a double spring, easy for her to rack back and trigger is good. Maybe you should look at a Glock, it's SA and easy to work. She couldn't work my Glock 19 because the double spring system.

P.S she tried the Walther P22 and the slide is to hard for her to rack. :confused::confused::confused:
 
I don't like manual safeties because if you forget to take them off or have to fumble for them in the dark... Just seems like an extra problem for an old lady to overcome. I'll look into the glock 17. But I'd rather a gun that could be left charged with no tension on the firing pin. (Hammer fired vs striker fired)

I'd like to find her a compact or subcompact so she can keep it on her. The SIG is pretty big for her. Plus, its my favorite pistol and I'd really like it back, I was planning on having SIG custom put a SRT in it and slicking up the action so I could use it in 3 gun.
 
Has Grandma had ANY experience shooting a gun? This is sounds like really a case of taking her to a range and have her try actually shooting different types of guns.

If Grandma has not had experience with handguns, then I suggest something better – a long gun. A rifle or shotgun is much easier to control & hit with. The results are also better for the defender.

My personal thought is the elderly can do better with a pump or coach shotgun than a handgun.
 
She says she's had experience with pistols, and in dry firing she pulled the first one and corrected herself, chiding herself for pulling it.

The only pump shotgun I have is a H&R pardner defender. Problems with shotgun (rifle in suburb probably a no-go) is weight, ability to carry it with her, and racking the action. While my wife can shoot it fairly well, my aunt (whose younger than my grandma, but about the same height can't rack it. Plus its a 12 guage and I doubt her small frame could handle the recoil.

I agree on a shotgun being better for HD (why I keep one by the bedroom door), but she specifically wanted a pistol.
 
With the limitations with her dexterity/abilities you mentioned- take a second look at that Uberti. It's got a big hammer that can be drawn back with the heel of her non-shooting hand, the trigger reach shouldn't be a concern, cowboy action loads are light (but still produce outgoing fire), and it's not confusing. Most grandmas I've run across haven't exactly kept up to date with all the latest technology, and there's more than one out there who may be a little intimidated with new fangled things.

Seriously, let her try it compared to a couple of others. And while doing so- try to place yourself in her shoes. The report of a 9 or 40 very well could startle her into dropping the firearm, limp wristing, discharging the whole magazine. A 255gr chunk of .452 lead at 700fps is still quite a force to reckon with!
 
The cattleman has no front sight post... It fell out when I was practicing my...quick draws and finger twirls...(ok, I MIGHT have been watching a western at the time....). But even still, that thing's a cannon, I'd only load it with 5 shots, and she'd have to manually cock it every time. I doubt anyone would want to stay and play after the first shot...but I'd still rather give her 13 to use instead of 5. Plus the uberti isn't very well designed. It snags sometimes while pulling back the hammer and gets stuck between cylinders. Also when you 1/4 cock it to load rounds or 1/2 cock it it has a tendency to not want to lock all the way back. And that son-of-a-biscuit has one heck of a hair trigger. Talk about LIGHT!! You look at the trigger and it goes off. Plus, if something goes bump in the night and she cocks it to do a look around... There's no real way to safely decock it and I'm not sure if she'd spin the chamber to put the hammer back on the empty cylinder.

But I could always let her try it.
 
If you think she is going to have trouble deploying some of the pistols you mentioned in her home, how do you think things will fair if she has to while concealing in public. It could turn out to worsen the situation. If she even fumbles, or if anything snags and the attacker sees the gun and gets the drop it wouldnt be a very good situation. If someone wants her purse, maybe you should just tell her to let them have it. I can understand having it in the house though.

I dont see why a .22 wouldnt do the job. In an autoloader there will be at least 10. After the first pull, or if it is left cocked and locked, it will provide light recoil allowing your grandma to easily reaquire the target. 3 well placed .22s, or more than 3 if you have her practice with it, should stop most hoodlum intruders.
 
I guess am not understanding here, if DA is too heavy, racking the slide is too difficult, not comfortable to have one in the chamber with glock....there's not much else out there?

I think u should consider flipping a manual safety at this point. loaded USP cocked and locked ---> safety off ---> immediate SA.
 
Hence the problem. I *know* a .22LR is lethal. I believe it's racked up the largest body count in the US for a single caliber. But I have a hard time leaving my grandma with a "toy". Plus it has a safety, if the safety is on and you squeeze the trigger the hammer will drop but no boom. I dont want that to confuse her in an emergency. I need a range like BULLSEYE in Tacoma, WA where you can rent handguns. They had an awesome selection. I wish she'd just quit being stubborn and move out into the country with us.

I just looked at that new S&W on another post. I think I'll look into that too.
 
Any semi with a decocker and no safety...like my sig and p95dc. I never thought about leaving the safety off though...*sigh* in my defense we just had my grandpa's funeral today and I'm OCD about weapon safeties. If they can be on then I *think* they should be. Thanks for kicking my brain out of stupid.
 
I wanted that upgrade too. I may have to give her the walther for a bit and send the sig to get the dak and just accept the loss of my sig. I dunno. Thanks for your time, advice, and kick to the brain.
 
Guns that don't "fit the pre-conceived notion" of a defense gun are often the VERY BEST choices for older women if they can’t manage a double action trigger pull or lack the strength to pull back a slide.

Guns to give true consideration to are;

Pump and Lever action as well as some bolt action 22 or 22WMR RIFLES.

Lever action 357/38 carbines.

AK 47 and SKS carbines ( 9 year old girls can use these well, as we have seen in various wars over the last 50 years)

A Browning "Silver" 20 ga AUTO shotgun with a 24 inch barrel (very easy to opperate and VERY mild recoil with field loads)

38/357 and 54 cal SINGLS ACTION (cowboy) revolvers. Or even in 22 or 32 if they want something with nearly no recoil. The grip is very easy on the hand in recoil, and if the loads are not super hot nearly all older gals can handle them well. Most like to shoot them. They are also super safe to operate.

.You see, most 70-80 year old ladies are simply not going to go out 1-2 times a month and learn fighting skills.
So they are not going to be able to do shoot and move drills, combat rolls and tactical reloads

Therefore any gun that they LIKE to shoot and get somewhat proficient with is a better gun for them than a gun they really don't like, and won't practice with.

Any gun is better than not gun and any hit is better than any miss.

A gun in the hands of an “old lady” is as effective today as it was when the gun was a new design. A SAA Colt is as good today as it was in 1880. Is it the best gun?
Not as a rule,--- but it may be the best gun FOR HER!
Only hits count.

Start to think more about the lady and less about the gun and you’ll make a good choice.
 
I never leave the glock with one in the chamber because I feel its unsafe
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You are not going to like my recommendation, then, but I will still make it.

Glock, Plastic M&P, XD.
Kept loaded, chamber included.
In case of emergency, aim and pull trigger.
17-19 times.
If that doesn't take care of the problem, it was probably not correctable with smallarms fire anyhow.

This requires that she do enough familiarization to have a hope of getting hits and that you are willing to go with her to provide the muscle to load magazines and rack the slide. Then leave her with a clean LOADED gun when done.

If she can't crank back a tough double action trigger or rack back a slide, or cram cartridges into a magazine, don't waste her time trying.
 
A 22 S&W rebolver or 22 mag . BG at night not going to look a size of hole. Most of time he going to see gun and leave. . 22 will be fine use solid not HP in pistol . May be a 32 revolver if you could find one

Best make sure she has tthe mine set to shoot some one. In case he doesn't leave
 
I'm kinda on the same line as Mr. Watson---if she can't do the things you mentioned then don't waste the time. Just get a Walther PPS 9mm with some skateboard tape or something similar and teach/shoot with her. I live around Jackson and I know how Jackson is--especially for a elderly person living by themselves. Don't know if you have a place to shoot but I would be glad to meet y'all at the Byrum range to let her shoot/practice some. I have a few pistols she could try.
 
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