TexasCHLforum.com

TLynnHughes, thanks so much for posting this. Your input has been invaluable. My wife has now decided she wants to have a gun of her own for SD in our home. She's gone to the range with me a few times, and she has shot my guns and some other folk's guns. We've considered a shotgun, and may get one, but I don't like shotguns in close quarters. With her lack of hand strength, a shotgun could easily become a liability.

Since she is a telecommuter, she can keep her gun handy in her office and get to it easily if someone is breaking down the door.

This is what she has handled/shot so far.

1) Sig P226 (9mm) - too heavy and can't rack the slide (she has some arthritis in her hands), didn't fire the weapon
2) Sig P239 (.357 Sig) - too heavy, she can rack the slide but finds it difficult, didn't like the recoil at all
3) Ruger LCP (.380) - liked the looks and the weight, didn't like the slide, didn't like the recoil at all
4) 1911 (.45) - too heavy, couldn't rack the slide, didn't fire the weapon

So, I need to find her some guns to test that meet the following criteria:
1) Relatively lightweight (28 ounces is too much)
2) SAO or DAO with a hammer that can be cocked or DA/SA with a light DA trigger pull
3) If SA, a slide that is easy to rack
4) Low recoil

It seems that the P238 meets all the criteria, but we will need to test racking the slide to see what she thinks. There may be some smaller Glocks that would fit the bill (G26? G28?), if she can rack the slide. Other than that, apparently revolvers are the best candidates. For those who own and have fired or have rented and fired the new ultralight revolvers, what's the recoil like? Are the guns easy to handle? How heavy is the trigger pull? Is there anything I'm missing in terms of potential candidates?

This will definitely be her gun exclusively. I do not like the small guns at all. I like something substantial in my hand that barks when I pull the trigger.

Lightweight and low recoil definitely won't go together in any serious defense caliber. I'd recommend a steel S&W K-frame. Maybe go with a steel J-frame if the size is a big issue.

JCole wrote:Lightweight and low recoil definitely won't go together in any serious defense caliber. I'd recommend a steel S&W K-frame. Maybe go with a steel J-frame if the size is a big issue.

The problem with the K-frame is weight. They're about the same or even more than my P226, and she complained that was too heavy. J-frames are about the same weight as the P238 and the LCP, so they might fit the bill. She has very small hands, which I should have mentioned in my OP. The Airweight 637 or 642 might fit the bill, if she can pull the trigger comfortably, although I would prefer she had a longer barreled weapon for accuracy's sake.

How about a Smith & Wesson S&W Ladysmith Model 36-3?

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displ ... um=9645210" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

WildBill wrote:How about a Smith & Wesson S&W Ladysmith Model 36-3?

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displ ... um=9645210" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That's definitely an option.

I've been doing some poking around, looking at revolvers and weights. I'm thinking a DA revolver is OK if it has an unshrouded hammer so she can cock it. We'll see. We're going to go to a gun shop and have her handle various guns to see how she feels about weight and handling. If she finds something she really likes, we'll shoot it to see what she thinks of the recoil.

My wife has small hands and arthritis in both. Cocking is an issue on pistols but learning the right method and practice can go a long way in that area. My wife has the S&W642 but the trigger pull is not pleasant for smaller weaker hands and the kick is not friendly to anyone. So for carry she went with the Sig P238. For home and has always been her favorite is the S&W 3913 or the equal in the Lady Smith. She loves to shoot it, easy to operate, nice DA/SA action and light weight. Kick is not bad though in a 9mm for the weight class. A bit harder find but I think it may be the one to fit the bill or similar.

Gary

Just a thought since you meantioned a .380 in the group ...
Although this one was sold already, good photos etc,
No need to worry about hand strength /slide racking with the tip up barrel; recoil isn't bad either
Beretta Cheetah Model 86 Tilt Barrel .380 ACP
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =186391361" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here is my 2 cents, and it may not be worth that as I am a newbie.

I grew up shooting revolvers for the most part. In my younger days (20's) I did some quickdraw action shooting and handgun silhouette, so I am not sure my response to recoil is what others are. I have not been to the range regularly in years, more like 3 - 4 times in the past 15 years. BUT - I am of the girl persuasion, and have small hands, and the search for my choice of future carry has been fun!

I went to the local gun shop/range and tried on everything they had in my price range (and a couple not) in 9mm and 380. If it felt good, I started researching and then went and handled some more. Finally settled on a S&W M&P 9C. I LOVE IT! I have played with my hubby's MTAC holster and think that it will be reasonable to conceal on a regular basis. Mostly, I find my 9C to be easy to work (coming from a revolver past I was very intimidated by the SA).

Then I got to thinking that the 9C may be at times to big to conceal easily - dressier and summer outfis and the like. So I started looking at "pocket guns" 380's specifically. Same process with a little more research on the recoil and reliability. I kept coming back to how the Sigs felt in my hands - nice - so I took the plunge! *much credit to TLynn and others on that thread. I am very pleased with how my Liberty version handles, shorter trigger pull and sweet recoil. Granted we were using target, not defense loads, but I could have easily put 200 rounds through with no problem, and I have a bit of arthritis in my hands. I think I drove hubby crazy by telling him how much I enjoyed shooting both my choices!

Good luck in your search!

If she is arthritic and has trouble manipulating the slide, she shouldn't be considering an automatic. Start looking at 3 to 4 inch revolvers, IMHO.
Another option for around the house would be a pistol caliber carbine. Shorter than a shotgun, high capacity, long sight radius makes it more accurate.

I want to thank everyone for their responses. They have been very helpful at formulating a list of possible candidates. They are, in no particular order, Sig P238, Bersa Thunder, Beretta Cheetah 86, M&P9c and several S&W revolvers. We're also going to consider a shotgun and possibly a Marlin 1894c in .357. As I have stated, my concern with the long guns is the threat of having them taken away during a close encounter. So while we may purchase one or the other of those, we'll likely keep looking for a handgun that she is happy with.

Also, how is she racking the slide?

I don't know what your and her level of training is, so please don't take anything I say the wrong way.

I see alot of people pinching the slide. That is, they use the thumb and index finger on the offhand to rack the slide. I did it for years when I was younger. I have small hands, and I don't have alot of hand strength. There were some autos that were just a pain in the rump for me. It's what they do in the movies, right?

Once I was shown, though, to palm the slide, I was able to master manipulating every auto I've handled since.
It requires less dexterity, as you're using the meat of the hand to do most of the work.
With the off hand, reach across the top of the pistol, palm down. Grip the slide with the fingers on the strong-side-outside or the pistol, and the meat of the palm on top of the pistol. If necessary, use a push and pull (push with the strong hand, pull with the off hand).
I found this youtube clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAlyOgm6p_A" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My wife had the same issues when looking for a SD gun.
After many trial fittings for fit, size and slide racking ease she settled on a Sig P-250 9pm with the small grip frame. Easy to rack the slide, ergonomic for her small hands, DAO, 5.5 lb trigger pull, no safety to remember in a panic but the long trigger pull acts as a safety. Although it weighs around 29 oz it is well balanced. The gun comes STD with the med grip so finding a sm grip is hard, if your in the houstn area your welcome to try wifes.

baldeagle,

I wish you were close to the Houston area, I would certainly offer up my P238 for her to try out. I'm so excited about it, I can't wait to get back to the range to shoot it some more.

I'm glad my post provided good information. Please let us know what she ends up with and how she likes it!

T.

I've received a gracious offer from a forum member to meet at a range so my wife can shoot his P238. Thanks to you Houstonians for offering. I'd certainly take you up on the offers if we lived in the Houston area.

jamisjockey wrote:Also, how is she racking the slide?

I don't know what your and her level of training is, so please don't take anything I say the wrong way.

I see alot of people pinching the slide. That is, they use the thumb and index finger on the offhand to rack the slide. I did it for years when I was younger. I have small hands, and I don't have alot of hand strength. There were some autos that were just a pain in the rump for me. It's what they do in the movies, right?

Once I was shown, though, to palm the slide, I was able to master manipulating every auto I've handled since.
It requires less dexterity, as you're using the meat of the hand to do most of the work.
With the off hand, reach across the top of the pistol, palm down. Grip the slide with the fingers on the strong-side-outside or the pistol, and the meat of the palm on top of the pistol. If necessary, use a push and pull (push with the strong hand, pull with the off hand).
I found this youtube clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAlyOgm6p_A" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I did not mean to ignore your questions, jamisjockey. I got busy doing other things.

My wife has no formal firearms training. I have taught her the basics of loading magazines, racking the slide, holding the weapon in a firing position, the four safety rules and so forth. I had formal firearms training in the Navy. I was an expert marksman with a rifle but couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a .45. I didn't use or carry firearms in my Navy work. I hunted birds with a Remington Wingmaster 870 (wish I still had the gun!) while I was in the Navy, and I've hunted deer and various varmints over the years, both with the Wingmaster and with an old Western Auto .22lR that I still own.

The method I use and that I've demonstrated to her is the method that you describe, meat of the palm on top of the slide, grasp and push and pull at the same time. I am seriously considering suggesting that she take a training course from Crossfire.