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[tomrkba]

I love the 22 Long Rifle caliber version of that gun!

[Lead Waster]

Don't kid yourself about fitness.

A fit body handles deadly stress better than a fat out of shape body. Fighting for your life is stressful.

Someone who is fit can move. Movement and agility can mean the difference between life and death. Standing in one place can get you dead.

Fitness implies mental discipline and a strong mind. A person with a strong mind will have the mindset to drop the hammer at the right time.

Fat and out of shape is weak and lazy. You are a fool if you don't think that will carry into a life and death encounter.

You fight with your mind. Having man boobs and looking 3 months pregnant is external evidence of a weak mind.

P.S. A 70 year old female frail stroke victim is not mentally capable of turning cold blooded killer because you hand her a gun.

You are right about fitness, it's ALWAYS better to be bit than not. However the situation and circumstances that the OP has presented us is a 70 year old woman (and really 70 maybe be elderly, but it doesn't imply "out of shape"). And a 20 year old woman who has suffered a stroke. I mean, yeah man boobs should do something about that of course, but the other two have physical limitations beyond their control.

NOTE: The 70 year old and the 20 year old stroke victime are not the same person. OP didn't say a 70 year old stroke victim, just to clarify.

And you know, I'm not so sure that even a 70 year old frail stroke victim, handed a gun, wouldn't have it in them to pull the trigger on someone if they felt threatened. I mean if you've ever seen a panicked person in the water afraid of drowning, they will pull their own mother under water to get a breathe. It just might be that a 70 year old frail stroke victim with man boobs will blow your head off with a desert eagle if you threatened to hurt their grandkids.
I can say with certainty that I don't know if I would pull the trigger on someone who was threatening me, but if they were threatening my kids, I know 100% I'd pull the trigger.

[Lead Waster]

Back onto the original question.

Double action revolvers can have trigger work done to make them much lighter. The problem is that that makes them less reliable. You can mitigate that somewhat if you reload OR use Federal ammunition (which uses Federal primers, which are more sensitive and reliable than other primers). I'd consider doing that and then stipulating to the gunsmith that does the lightening that it MUST fire a particular brand of amunition.

As for semi autos, if the slide racker solution is not great, and IF the roster were not a problem, then a gun like the SHield EZ might work. Or ideally (IMHO) The Walther CCP, which uses a gas delay like the SteyrGB and H&K P7 ... so the recoil spring is actually much lighter than a normal pistol. The CCP also has a large slide and aggressive serrations (if my PPQ is any inidacation).

The only problems with it is that it was recalled in 2017 for not being drop safe, but I think there is a new version out now. And it's off roster.

[Lead Waster]

I found this article on the Walther CCP (in .380)

https://www.guns.com/news/2020/01/09/new-easy-to-rack-walther-ccp-m2-pistol-in-380acp-now-shipping

It would be almost ideal I think, for the two ladies mentioned by the OP.

And a review of the Shield EZ

https://www.eaglegunrangetx.com/first-shots-review-the-mp-9-shield-ez/

"Loading the magazines is as easy as reported and anyone should be able to load them. Similarly, racking the slide to chamber the first round was ridiculously easy. That is one soft spring! I took my first shots for precision and slow fire to get a feel for the gun. Pretty much what I expected; neither too stout nor overly soft-shooting. If feels like a gun its size and weight should feel when shooting 9mm. It was not at all difficult to control the gun in shooting strings. I then picked up the pace."

[TrappedinCalifornia]

I need to tap the Calguns braintrust on this one.

Two nice ladies from the church came up this morning. One is about 70 and frail (widow). The other is 22 and semi-disabled from a stroke. Neither have very much hand strength... and both are MAGA hat wearing god fearing folk, and they each live alone...

This morning I gave them a basic pistol course, let them try lots of guns, and got them dialed in. They did great, but there's a problem.

Each has their own gun. Each went to the gun store in the middle of Covid, and bought 2 of the only guns they had. Smith & Wesson Airweight 38 specials, double action only, 5 shot revolvers. Great for a purse gun, and with good defensive ammo, will definitely dissuade a bad guy. These were literally the only guns they could get.

The problem, is the double-action only super heavy trigger pull is just too much for them...

I had them try a Glock, M&P, and a shield... but neither have the grip strength to work the slide...

It might be helpful if OP detailed what he means by allowing them to "try lots of guns and got them dialed in."

Which guns and what caliber(s) did you dial them in on; i.e., what did they handle well?

Once we know what they shot well in terms of firearms/calibers, it would help us provide advice on the firearms to seek out rather than making assumptions and bouncing off the walls regarding the capabilities of the "aged and/or disabled."

Or... Is this simply a case where they shot reasonably well with all of the firearms/calibers; but, due to lack of hand strength, they didn't manipulate the firearms well?

[jstert]

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

My wife and I both have Beretta 21A Bobcats in .22 - her for possible serious use due to carpal tunnel surgery on both wrists, and me because it's surprisingly accurate for such a small pistol. Just a couple of days ago, I picked up a Beretta Tomcat in .32, mostly because I never see one for sale and wanted to have it as a companion piece to the 21A. To my surprise, my wife could not latch the barrel closed. Goes to show that not every handgun supposedly designed for folks who have trouble with semi-auto pistols works as advertised.


Hey, rcjacrabbit... when you're in your 60's, with both hips burned out from a lifetime of service along with your knees and back, we'll see who's "weak minded". Hope I'm around to remind you of those words and laugh in your face.

[Pupulepeter]

You are hilarious if you think giving a 70+ year old frail stroke victim a gun turns her into a fighter. It is a false sense of security at best.

I see guys like you at the range all the time. You are typically so fat, you can't see your toes. You have man boobs, and look pregnant (like most in the picture with YSR racer). You have a gun, so you think you are a fighter. You haven't done a situp in over a decade and would get winded running around the block.

But, your gun will save you.

Hilarious.