Grandma wants a gun

[ironhorsemanfxsts]

I got a call from my grandmother today, who will be 70 years old this year, and she is going to apply for a carry permit. She was wanting to know what would be a good handgun for some one her age with mild arthritis. I was thinking on the lines of a pistol instead of a revolver for lighter weight. The two I have been looking at is a Kel Tec P32 and a Walter 22. I have never personally shot either gun, and I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter. She has been around guns all her life with her husband and kids and grand kids, but she never personally had an intrest until recently. I think it is cool granny wants to hit the range.

 

[ISHOOTHST'S]

S&W Airweight

 

[JohnP82]

thats awesome!!!

 

[a.bentonab]

I've heard ALMOST all good things about a P22, until I bought one. The blue one struck my fiance's fancy, and I thought it was a pretty good way to get her started. that said, the first range trip was a disappointment. It had a few jams per mag. Since then I have cleaned, lubed, and took it to the range a couple more times, and I now have it down to the point of about 1 failure per mag. Definately not what I would keep in my nightstand. Hopefully I will get it to the point that I can trust it, as my fiance refuses to step up a caliber ( still working on that). Just want to keep you informed!

I would probably say that a .38 revolver would be just about right. If you want to stay with .22 then there are plenty of models of 8-10 shot .22 revolvers out there. Without knowing your grandma, I would probably assume that multiple target acquisition (the reason for high capacity, IMO) would be just about out of the question. I think the simplicity of a revolver would probably be an advantage. Of course, if there are any type of firearms she is more familiar with that would be the obvious choice.

 

[00BlasterResto]

I'd take her to the gun store/show and see what she likes!
An airweight may be a bit much for granny's arthritus.

.22's seem not to function reliably if you ask me. Mabey its the ammo??
even when I was a young kid plinkin around with a LR, .22's just seem to jam to me.
I think if I were going to go for a .22 I would get a revolver, my cousin has one and there seems to be less room for error. Still in a box of .22's there always seems to be a couple duds. Mabey just me buyin cheepo's though I havn't shot one in quite a while.

 

[BIG TIM]

Try a nice quality heavy 4" barreled S+W revolver in .38 caliber. If grandma has arthritis, pulling a slide back could be a problem. Another good brand of revolver, but a little cheaper, is a Taurus. Stay with a 4" barrel and look for Magna-Porting to reduce muzzle jump. The Taurus Tracker has both and would be a good choice.

 

[ironhorsemanfxsts]

I would hate to get her to the range with something that would intimidate her and cause her to give up on the idea of being a gun owner. So I'm hoping to start small to build her confidence. I have plenty of 22 pistols and revolvers I may just take her to the range and let her shoot those to see how she feels.

 

[Joe Williams]

A 4" .38 with wadcutters is a total *****cat to start with, and a better defensive round than a .22, or a .32, IMHO. In fact, they are a LOT of fun! She can work up to a standard pressure defensive load like Federal's Nyclad or the Corbon DPX, or a +P load as time goes on.

If she cannot handle a double action pull on a good Model 10 or Model 64, I doubt she'll be able to handle the slide on a semi-auto, and with the revolver she can learn to shoot single action quite quickly if she needs to. It's not ideal, but I think it's still better than a .22 or teensy, tiny hard to shoot well mouse gun. I've know a few folks with arthritis go with revolvers for just this reason.

 

[bigcraig]

Ruger GP100 with a 4" barrel.

People who advise getting small lightweight guns for new shooters, or shooters with weak hands and arms, are doing a HUGE disservice to the new shooter.

 

[fastwally]

S&W J frame for small hands.

 

[DeadeyeChrista'sdad]

The guys who advise 4" barrels and .38 specials, or running .38 target loads in a .357 (at least at first, and definitely always for practice) are right on the money, as far as combining stopping power, shootability for a "newbie" albeit a 70 yr old one, and granny's arthritis. A full sized revolver shooting target .38s just isn't gonna kick a whole lot, and will be easier on the hands and easier to get on target.
Another option is the Ruger SP 101 in .327 mag,, and shoot .32s out of it. Very little recoil, smaller package, (better for small hands) and still sufficient stopping power. One of my favorites of the older guns is the NEF .32s. Great little revolver, great purse gun, and until early in the 20th century, the standard carry caliber for most people who didn't want the bigger cowboy calibers.

 

[CSK22]

A 4" .38 with wadcutters is a total *****cat to start with, and a better defensive round than a .22, or a .32, IMHO. In fact, they are a LOT of fun! She can work up to a standard pressure defensive load like Federal's Nyclad or the Corbon DPX, or a +P load as time goes on.

If she cannot handle a double action pull on a good Model 10 or Model 64, I doubt she'll be able to handle the slide on a semi-auto, and with the revolver she can learn to shoot single action quite quickly if she needs to. It's not ideal, but I think it's still better than a .22 or teensy, tiny hard to shoot well mouse gun. I've know a few folks with arthritis go with revolvers for just this reason.

^^^^Word

My concern would be racking the slide on a semi auto, let alone even gripping it to try with her arthritis. Some guns I have a hard enough time with it

I think Joe makes a great point with the 4" revolver

 

[feriil]

Revolver as one said because they can easily be operated with little to no strength. Racking slides can be hard.

.32 max, bigger calibers might jump too much for her. Even a .32 should be a little heavier gun, a .22 is probably best as it can be light and still hold 6-9 rounds with no recoil, I don't know how strong she is but you don't want her dropping the gun on the 4th shot.

She will probably notice the weight of a heavier gun and not want to carry it in her purse. A .22 in her hand is better than a .357 she can't use, when someone pulls a gun out the LAST thing perps are thinking is 'that's a small caliber'.

 

[stilllearning09]

+1 for Grandma!! The best thing for her would be to take her to a range and let her shoot a variety of weapons in different calibers and both semis and revolvers. She will tell you what she is comfortable with, and that's the key.

 

[22rssix]

Ruger GP100 with a 4" barrel.

People who advise getting small lightweight guns for new shooters, or shooters with weak hands and arms, are doing a HUGE disservice to the new shooter.

Ditto ^

The MIL, has bad arthritic joints. She came out to shoot. of the J-frame, 4in K-frame and G19. She liked the G19 the best. She was able to rach the slide, and shoot good groups with it.

 

[JR50]

My wife and I had the same thought about a revolver when it was time for my wife's first handgun. Her arthritis was a major concern. She could shoot well enough but the pain when firing a j-frame was too much. The Taurus 709 Slim turned out to be the best solution. YMMV.

 

[esrice]

4" revolver.

 

[Zoub]

My Mom has had a Ruger SP101 since the early 90's and we bought it used. The GP is a better shooter but the SP is a little smaller.

She was in her 50's when we bought it and mid 70's now and she still likes it.

 

[Dawall]

Not knowing your grandmother, I would suggest a small frame 8 or 9 shot 22 revolver with high velocity hollow points as a start. She might be able to handle a 38 with low recoil shells today, But what about years from now? Just a Thought.

 

[mx_chick_42]

i have the keltec .32 and would not reccomend for grandma. it has alot more kick than expected and kind of hard to hold on to. the walthers p22 would fit in her hand much better. my b/f just got a walthers p22 and i think it is much easier than my keltec. you can carry one in the chamber with it decocked. if you get the good ammo for the .22 it wont jam. his does best with federals