Pistol for 64 year old mom

American Dad: Consider getting her a can of pepper foam o.c. also. This gives her an alternative to the pistol if she needs it.
 
357 LCR Ruger. Shoot Critical Defense standard 38 Special Ammo for self defense. You will not fined a better trigger. The Tamer Grip makes it the most comfortable shooter.
 
I'm with Hughes and Bentonville and it sounds like that's the way you've decided to go. Nice revolver with a little work done on the trigger. My dad bought a Smith 38 that is so smooth it defies belief.

One other thought about your mom's choice. 38 spl can be had in so many different varieties that I'll bet you can find one your mom's comfortable firing. The only advice I'd offer (and I HATE the thought of trying to pass off my thoughts as advice) is to try to find a low recoiling 38 round before compromising on the 22mag.
 
Take a look at this option --

  • short trigger stroke;
  • Semi-auto;
  • No need to rack any slide to load a round; and
  • Small caliber in mid-size pistol = moderate recoil

The Beretta Cheetah Model 86 is a .380 ACP pistol with a tip-up barrel to facilitate loading a round into the chamber without racking the slide.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beretta_Cheetah

It would also be worth your consideration, I would think, for an older woman who is losing strength in her hands and cannot rack a slide; but does not want the long double action trigger pull of most revolvers. It is well built and likely to be a reliable firearm for years to come.

I would recommend it for my own family members under similar circumstances.

Thank you for your service,

Doc
 
My mom is 72 and she could not pull the slide back on a number of small autos. Just did not have the hand strength anymore. Also she used to shoot a bit a long time ago but is not a gun person. Most automatics were to complicated with the safety's, loading magazines and all. My brother and I got her all set up with dads old Colt .38 Spl. Its an old cop gun, 6 inch barrel, fixed sight. We have taken her to shoot it a few times and she can load it, and keep all 6 on paper plate from breath smelling distance on out to 25 yards. Works for us and a .38 revolver with at least a 4 inch barrel would be my recommendation.
 
A PX4 - SC..... gun reduces a lot of the recoil... vs something like the Kel-Tec , etc. where there is a LOT more felt recoil.

A revolver.

Home defenese : shotgun.
 
If trigger pull is an issue, try a Kahr K9. With standard pressure loads, it shouldn't kick too bad, and the pull on a Kahr is second to none, IMHO, in pre-stressed double actions. It's fairly long, but it is silkity smooth and light. If I could afford one right now, I'd have one.

The J-frame is a lot of trigger, and I wouldn't feel bad if I were her. It wasn't until after I started powerlifting routines that a J-frame trigger felt normal. Another option would be a .32, but practice ammo is pricey. If you go with a .380, look at locked breach designs, and stay away from straight blowback. The straight blowback tend to make a .380 feel like a 9mm, not to mention the slide is harder to cycle manually. Unfortunately, your selection is pretty limited comparatively.

Something like an EMP would be an option as well, provided it is hand strenght and not arthritis that is the issue. The 1911 design in a compact, 9mm offering would have a light trigger and good accuracy. You say she is familiar with firearms, but her hand strength is not good. Can she reliably rack a semi-auto slide?
 
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