Need some assistance

[Echidin]

I recently made the decision that I would like to purchase a pistol for my 63 yr. old mother to have for home defense. I am planning on taking her out to a local range to test some out and would like some suggestions/recommendations as to pistols/calibers that are reliable, effective on a BG, and easy for her to operate as well as control. I was considering setting her up with a Glock in 9mm or .380 and SA XD9 to try out at the range. Anyone else have any good suggestions to contribute as to what I should add on to the list?

[movie zombie]

the easiest to load and clean is a revolver.

take her to the range first to shoot a variety of handguns. let her make the decision as to which one. she's the one that has to be comfortable with it and it has to fit her hand.

movie zombie

PS a .38 and/or .357 are very effective against the BG

[Echidin]

I suggested a .38 revolver to her, but she is not partial to the looks of a revolver and would prefer a pistol. I believe the the felt recoil from a .357 would be too much for her wrists to handle, which is why I thought 9mm/.380 might be a good starting point. Maintenance would not be an issue for her as I would be the one servicing the firearm.

[Batbunny]

I think an easy test to she if a semi auto is good for her is if she can rack the slide. A lot of my male and female friends have a hard time racking the slide, so i think thats a good way to start. However a revolver is quite easy to handle.

[sorensen440]

its not about looks
she would be best off with a full size revolver in 38

[atavuss]

if your Mom has issues with arthritis a revolver will be the way to go for her. you could get her a small or medium frame .38

[c good]

.380 has more snap than .38 special, not in a good way. Don't pay attention to what she likes the looks of. Go with what she can handle and put the most amount of holes in the same place with. A revolver is hard to beat. HTH c good

[Seesm]

yup a 38 is what my mom has... nice little gun she can handle... good times... FTW

[wilit]

Another vote for a revolver here. My wife (in her 30's) has trouble working the slide of some of my pistols. Your mom (hehe, I said your mom) may have trouble too.

[Echidin]

.380 has more snap than .38 special, not in a good way. Don't pay attention to what she likes the looks of. Go with what she can handle and put the most amount of holes in the same place with. A revolver is hard to beat. HTH c good

I have also read about the .380 having more snap than a .38 and even a 9mm. I'm still pushing for the .38 so with a little more convincing, and more than a few rounds at the range, I'm sure she'll put more thought into it. Thanks to all who contributed any input!

[jlh95811]

I think an easy test to she if a semi auto is good for her is if she can rack the slide. A lot of my male and female friends have a hard time racking the slide, so i think thats a good way to start. However a revolver is quite easy to handle.

Yup. I too would select a revolver for her. Also maybe try a smaller pistol like a Walther PPK or anything of similar size. They are much easier to rack.

[rayra]

SP101. Giving a semi-auto pistol to Granny doesn't seem like a good idea. From weak wrists to too many safeties, seems like a greater chance of it failing on her in time of dire need.

[JTROKS]

If you can find a used S&W 66 with a 4" barrel and teach her how to load and shoot it with 38 spl that should be the ticket. I tried to teach my mother how to shoot a 38 spl and the first round was right on target dead center mass. Well, the next shot and after hit nowhere on paper, because she started closing her eyes as she pulled the trigger. The only 22lr I had was a Buckmark and she couldn't rack that slide if it was to save her life. If she can't shoot the 38, try looking for a Beretta or Taurus pocket autos with the tip up barrels. The barrel tips up for manual loading of the first round into the chamber. I'd rather shoot a 25acp than a 22lr if pressed to use one for self defense, the centerfire 25acp has a better chance of going bang versus the 22lr rimfire.

[jinggoyd1967]

NOT a small frame revolver. J-frame sized revolver are hard to shoot. Medium sized revolver is probably the best way to go.

[movie zombie]

i love my j-frame model 60 smith and wesson snubbie. don't go any lighter with the lightweight/airweight frames as the recoil is just way too nasty.

but i also love my k-frame model 66 with a 4 inch barrel. a lot heavier but well balanced.

again, please take her somewhere where she can operate and fire as many different types of guns possible! until she does that she won't really know what she wants. let her shoot a .22 first! then move up to the higher calibre guns while at the range. its also the only way she'll know if she can really operate a slide.

a gun is useless unless its one that she's practiced with. more people are killed with .22's each year than any other calibre. if that's what she'll practice with then that's what she'll be accurate with. if you get her something she doesn't practice with, well, she won't be able to defend herself very well. so in my book a .22 is better than the .38 for some people. some women start out with a .22 and then get bored and want to move up to a higher calibre.

and don't forget to make sure she gets her handgun certificate!

movie zombie