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Hi all. Our neighbor's house got broken into a few weeks back, and with my mom mostly home alone now (only my 15 year old sister) she wants me to teach her to shoot. No problem, I figured since I don't have the money to buy a .22 pistol (don't have one already) AND a defensive pistol for her, I got her one of the little bersa .380's. Figured it's small enough to start on in terms of recoil, but with good bullets in it, is strong enough to do serious damage to someone on the bad end of it.

Only thing I overlooked is that she's left handed.

My first thought was, since the pistol has a LONG double-action pull, I'd leave the safety off (it's mounted on the left side of the slide, to be de/activated with the right thumb) and a round chambered, and the hammer lowered. No way her weak hands could "accidentally" pull the trigger all the way back, and would eliminate the need to flip off the safety.

But in hindsight, since she's going to be a new shooter and the finger-off-trigger thing won't be second nature until a few shooting sessions at least, I thought maybe it'd be best to get her a left-handed or ambidextrous pistol. Any suggestions? She's not very strong, she even had trouble racking the bersa's slide, though in her defense, I think it's harder to rack than my G23 with a full mad, since it's pulling against both the recoil spring AND the hammer spring). So staying in the low caliber is definitely a plus, but nothing smaller than a .380. Any ideas? Size doesn't matter, as she won't be carrying it. It's a home defense pistol for someone way too weak to handle the punch of a 12 gauge.

Taurus P92, Ruger P95 have ambi safys and reasonably priced.


I think that you might be underestimating how women can handle larger calibers. While the Bersa is a fine gun for concealed carry it wouldn't be my choice for home protection.

The recoil of a full size 9mm or .45 is perfectly managable by almost anyone. Most people find a larger gun is actually easier to cock than a smaller gun (more to hang on too. )

Shotguns still are very effective, The mossbergs are light, inexpexpesive and easy to handle. If your mom is taught taught the proper way to hold a shotgun she should be able to easily handle the recoil.

Since your Mom has difficulties with working the slides on semi-automatics, you might want to consider a revolver - or a shotgun as mentioned above.

waltherone,

The M&P is easy to work, is great for small hands and I would know, and can be set up for left handed use easily.

I agree that a revolver is an excellent choice. If you are close to the North side of Houston PM me and we could meet with your Mom and my husband (SRVA) who is left handed could show her a few tricks.

My first thought was HK USP 9mm, but those are usually rather expensive. If you can, I would recommend taking CompVest up on her offer.

For her purposes, I would suggest a good revolver.

There are no safeties to disengage, not much chance of a malfunction. Pick it up, point and shoot (double action).

I would get a revolver with a hammer, so she would have the option of shooting it single action...if the double action trigger pull is too stiff for her. She would need to learn how to safely let the hammer back down.

Also, consider that your Sister needs to be able to handle and shoot the same firearm. Safety in the home... applies to everyone living there who is old enough (and has the physical capability) to defend themselves.

Just something to consider.

I'll go with Flint on the revolver, except for reloading there is not a lot of "handedness" and a good quality one will have a smooth trigger pull that most adults and teens can handle just fine.

There are lots of semi-autos these days without much in the way of handedness, XDs hit the top of my list with the ambi mag release although the slide lock is on the left side of the gun.

Get her to a gun show or one of the bigger shops with rental guns and let her handle a bunch of them for comfort, then, at the rental shop, try the most comfortable in the hand out.

Thanks... may need to give a good revolver some thought.

Oh well, guess I'll just keep the bersa for myself :)

We're way down on the southwest side of houston, rosenberg, and her going to the northside is laughable at best.. she calls First Colony area "houston"

Remington 870 youth 20 gauge pump......

Smaller stock so easily handled by light framed individuals

20 gauge has way less recoil than 12

Stopping effectivness still more than enough for average goblin

can be purchased in HD setup (18.5 in barrel with extended magazine)

walterone,
I know it seems like a long drive, but take CompVest up on the offer.
Knowledge is power, and CompVest and SRVA have taught many people to shoot with both safety and accuracy.

Smith and Wesson .38 Special K frame. Readily available for $250 or so. Get a good trigger job done, load it with some quality hollow points and she'll be good to go. Don't forget regular practice!

I have to admit I didn't even think about revolvers when the question was first posed. Aren't revolvers a little harder on the recoil for an equivalent round?

Liberty wrote:Aren't revolvers a little harder on the recoil for an equivalent round?

It's very subjective. If you try to compare .38 Special and 9 mm Luger, to use one example, the shape of the grips and weight of the barrel make a difference.

I still find the slide action of a semi-auto scary occasionally, and I've fired a couple of rounds. How fast does that thing move? What could it do to your thumb?

- jim