Need handgun reccomendations for 80yr old.

I think a S&W Model 10 .38 spl revolver with a 4" barrel would be a good gun.

WWW.Budsgunshop.com Has them new for $483. delivered to you FFL for a transfer

You can have the trigger worked on to lighten it up for the old guy.

It's easy to shoot, it's accurate, and reliable. That along with lighter loads, it would be easy to shoot with adequate power.
 
I agree with most of the rest. I carry locked and loaded, just a flip of the safety away.

With older folks it's more difficult to acertain their abilities, physically AND mentally. It really boils down to your decesion. I know plenty who can and plenty who can't.
 
Does he have arthritis or any other limitations? My rheumatoid arthritis is on the rampage these days, but I find it easier to rack a full size 1911 than I do my husband's Sig 220. Maybe a well-loved 1911 with reasonable springs? If he served in WWII he'll have fond memories of the 1911. My dad's 83 and I'm seriously considering getting him one for his birthday next year as he carried it as his sidearm in Hawaii.

You might want to give him the chance, if possible, to shoot some that have decent sights on them. Maybe he's still an eagle eye at 80, but *I* have trouble with the milspec sights on my husband's Springfield. :rolleyes: (Sights? What is this..."sights"?)

It's good of you to take him to the range and give him the chance to find out what he can shoot well. Good for him, and good for you.

Jan
 
I'm always in for... Keep it simple

I have to agree with N. Jetto on getting a revolver would be a great idea.

Ease of use and no strength needed as in a semi.

A Smith & Wesson 625 (45 ACP) would be great. Do have him try out all sorts of gun and let him figure what would work for him.
 
They have a lot of 1911's chambered for 9mm now, and even though a lot of the early ones weren't reliable this seems to have changed for most manufacturers.

Should be easier recoil, especially since you're talking about the full natural weight of a 1911, and should be easier to rack the slide, but can probably get a lighter spring as well.
 
Thanks for all the great replies!

Maybe a well-loved 1911 with reasonable springs? If he served in WWII he'll have fond memories of the 1911. My dad's 83 and I'm seriously considering getting him one for his birthday next year as he carried it as his sidearm in Hawaii.
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Springmom, I like this :). I can tell he want's a 1911 for sentimental reasons if nothing else... but I'm not going to reccomend a gun that he doesn't seem comfortable with. It's really just going to come down to how the range session goes. If he can handle a .45 and prefers it over a good revolver then a 1911 it is. Otherwise, we will consider a nice revolver and some of the other suggestions recently posted.

Personally, I would love to see him do well with the 1911. He's still partial to them... and he also knows it would be a nice firearm to pass down to his grandchildren.

I'm hoping to get him out to the range sometime next week, so stay posted and we'll see how it goes! Thanks again :)
 
My 1911 is a LOT easier to rack than any 9 mm pistol I've ever owned.
Something no one else has mentioned is that at 30, I even have trouble loading magazines on most of the hi-cap wunder pistols. Never a problem with the 1911.

And I would guess that anyone who has trouble racking a pistol due to age is going to have a lot harder time with a DA trigger pull -- not only in the physical strength required, but in keeping those old hands steady.

An M1 Carbine, of the same vintage, available from the CMP for under $500 if you can wait four or five months, is a better home defense and truck/car gun any day of the week than a 1911, though.
 
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