New defensive handgun for grandma

K

kealil

New member
Hey all,

I'm helping my grandmother get a new home defense gun. She already has two: an XD9 and a ruger security six. She doesn't want the XD9 because she can't rack the slide and she doesn't feel comfortable with it over all. She likes the ruger but it's waaaaay too heavy for her but otherwise she likes revolvers in general.

So we're leaning towards the snubbie revolver route. I'm mostly looking at S&W Airweight because of how light it is and it's a caliber she's comfortable with, but we haven't made a decision yet. What do you guys think? Are there any better options?

Also, a little clarification. I own several calibers Ranging from .22 to .45. She was only able to effectively rack the slide on a .25 and below.

On a side note, she's gonna be giving me the gun she doesn't sell. What should I go for?
 
Check out the LCR. it may (or may not) be heavier than the SW, but the trigger is very forgiving on troubled hands.

For automatics, look at the beretta 86, and the 2 taurus models with tip-up barrels. Theres an older one and a newer PLY one. they both come in .22 and .25. The beretta is a .380.

Aarond loves his PLY's... maybe hell pop in and give them a thumbs up. Ive been looking for an 86 but theyre kind of hard to find, so i may get a taurus for my grandmother, and possibly girlfriend.
 
Are there any better options?
Click to expand...

* Easy slide to rack.
* Easy to operate.
* Very little recoil.
* Excellent defensive round.
* Easy to load magazine.
* Light weight.
* Very reliable, military grade quality.
* Ideal for arthritic, infirm or elderly for all the above reasons.

FNH 5.7

It's what I'd get my own mother were she still alive.
 
Last edited:
Whats wrong with the Ruger?

I am a fan of revolvers. As a friend once put it; they are baseball bat simple. I like the ruger or a Smith Model 60, my choice would be the 3 inch. Plenty of options out there. Take her shopping and see what she likes. That's my two cents, worth what you payed for it.

Post Script: Sorry, I should have read closer... Ruger too heavy, got it. I still like the S&W Model 60
 
Let me suggest a Beretta Model 86 if you can find one. A light weight snubby sounds good but if the Ruger is too heavy, she may find the recoil a problem in a snubby.

The Beretta 86 is a semi-auto in .380 caliber. However, it has a tip-up barrel so that she would not have to rack the slide. Simply insert a round directly in the barrel and insert loaded mag. It's not as heavy as the Ruger but, at 23 ounces, is heavy enough to dampen the recoil quite a bit. In addition, most .380 loads will have less recoil than most .38 spl. loads.

Description here: http://www.berettaweb.com/Beretta 80/Beretta 86.htm

You may have trouble finding one as people tend to hold onto them.
 
Don't forget that as the revolver gets lighter the perceived recoil may be greater. You might counter that with lighter loads - wadcutters, perhaps. Also, I'm guessing she doesn't have a lumberjack's grip; get her a trigger job.
 
Has she ever shot a light weight snubby? The light weight is great until they fire a round. The short sight radius can make it hard to hit the target.

Have her try a Ruger SP101 revolver with a 3" barrel firing .38 Special loads.
 
Light weight 5 shot revolvers are really nice to carry, but they do kick, even with .38 Specials. Look at some of the 6 shot S&W "K" frame revolvers with a snub nose barrel. The shorter barrels keeps more of the center mass of the weapon in the center of the hand and does not feel as heavy. Most of the models are no long made but really nice used ones can sometimes be found. S&W Model 10, 19, 64, 66, 65 are a few of the many models that S&W produced and are available with a 2 or 2-1/2" nose barrel. S&W also produced the really nice Model 65 Lady Smith but it has a 3" barrel. I really think Archer 9505 nailed it "Take her shopping".
 
Lighter weight semi auto is going to have recoil also....

Revolver is as simple as it gets. Put finger on trigger and fire. No safeties nor racking slides ect.....

let the person decide what they want and feel comfortable using.
 
It doesn't sound like she has a problem with the double action trigger pull on the revolvers. However, it might be considered that the older she get arthritis might in the future be an issue.
 
Easy... S&W Airweight 637. Light, smooth trigger pull, mild recoil with 38 spl. rounds. My wife and I use Hornadays critical defence rounds.
In a stress situation nobody remembers recoil!
 
+1 on a snubbie. Take her to a gun shop and "feel" all the models she can. After she decides go for the Ruger, is that security Six a 4 incher?
 
If the Security Six is too heavy, the recoil of any lighter gun in .38 is likely to be more than she can deal with. And she has trouble racking a slide. Take a look at the Beretta Bobcat in .22LR or Tomcat in .32. Tip-up barrel so no racking. Minimal recoil.
 
How about a 9mm 1911?

You mentioned weight was an issue but she is okay with recoil, perhaps a lighter version like the little EMP could work. Definitely would be easier on her than the revolver's recoil and a much better trigger.
 
I'm helping my grandmother get a new home defense gun. She already has two: an XD9 and a ruger security six. She doesn't want the XD9 because she can't rack the slide and she doesn't feel comfortable with it over all. She likes the ruger but it's waaaaay too heavy for her but otherwise she likes revolvers in general.
Click to expand...

Trade offs all over the place.

My XD has a pretty stout recoil spring. The XDM9 I tried last week seemed a lot easier to rack. IMHO, YMMV.

Heavy guns absorb recoil better. A light snubby with the same ammo is going to be quite painful to shoot, meaning you need to shoot lighter ammo.

Ruger LCR with its soft rubber ergonomic grip, with .38 wadcutters. Maybe.

On a side note, she's gonna be giving me the gun she doesn't sell. What should I go for?
Click to expand...

XDs are common. Security Sixes are not. I'd go with the Ruger.
 
Kealil:

When I was selling guns I approached the problem of women not being able to rack the slide this way. I had them hold the gun at waist level with the strong hand and then grasp the slide with the weak side hand. Their elbows slight bent. Next sharply push with both hands at the same time. This procedure worked most of the time but there were incidents where it failed.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
There's no free lunch - heavy gun - lighter recoil -- light gun - heavier recoil. I was delighted when my wife decided she could accept using a gun for personal defense - I took her to the range and she shot most caliber revolvers & pistols in most calibers and - her final choice was my Ruger GP100 357 magnum loaded with +P 38 special ammo -

GP100.jpg


She could have had this -

P3160001.jpg


Or this -

P3130001A.jpg


We're both happy -
 
"...FNH 5.7..." Ammo's too expensive and difficult to find.
If grandma likes the Security Six, take her to look at an SP101. And load it with .38's.
 
How about some good old type of S&W K frame and have a trigger job done for her hands. For a Semi if she wants one too get something she can really get ahold of the slide with. I would stick to revolvers with her though especially if she liked the Ruger.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top