Firearm chooses

[BSA1]

I am puzzling at choosing a firearm for H.D. for my wife.

NO semi-automatic handguns. She can not rack the slide on any semi-auto I have offered her. I guess she lacks the necessary hand and wrist strength. She has had carpel tunnel surgery in both of her wrists.

She lacks the strength to fire a j-frame revolver she currently has double action.

She says she prefers the Model 10 although I am concerned about her lack of hand strength. Maybe a pencil barrel Model 10?

Did I mention NO semi-automatic handguns?

She can handled and shoot Ruger Vaqueros just fine which is a little bit of a puzzler since she does it one handed from the back of moving horse. The problem with a single action revolver is safey decocking it under stress which leads her to state she might just as well shoot him if she has to cock it.

Favorite shotgun is a H&R single shot shotgun 12 ga.

What are some suggestion?

K frame revolver with a lighter tuned action by a good gunsmith?

Cut the barrel down on the H&R for use in the home? Very affordable and that 12 ga. bore in legendary.

She has short arms. How about a AR with adjustable stock and short barrel?

Unfortunately it looks like I am being forced to move back into town as the bank is getting the farm so rifle caliber such as 223/308 is out of the question.

Maybe a 9mm AR style.

NO High Point. I believe in buying high quality firearms although I do not want a custom gun.

Did I mention no semi-automatic handguns and no High Points?

 

[OARNGESI]

Get her a model 10 if it is her preference

 

[TurtlePhish]

A 9mm AR would be great. I say that's your best option out of all those, even better if you can suppress it.

 

[holdencm9]

Just get her a reliable semi-automatic handgun, and keep a round chambered. Problem solved!

Make sure it is reliable though, because if she gets a jam she won't be able to do tap-n-rack. If that concerns you, just get her two.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Can't go wrong with the venerable 12 gauge.

A 9mm AR upper is a nice option, too.

As for the single action Vaquero, in a HD situation, I wouldn't decock until the cops were hauling the intruder out the front door, either in cuffs or on a gurney. Let the adrenaline rush pass and then make the weapon safe.

 

[mf-dif]

What technique does she use to rack the slide? Easiest way on modern pistols is to hold by the waist and push your grip and your slide hands together in a fast explosive motion. Pulling back with your index fingers is tough.

 

[TAKtical]

Or have her practice the punch method. Have her try to pull back on the slide and push the frame forward at the same time. Some women have weak wrists and this technique can help. My mother had carpal tunnel and once she got the technique down, she had no problem with any of my auto loaders.

 

[BSA1]

Guys I wasn't clear enough. NO SEMI AUTOMATIC HANDGUN!!! It isn't a topic for discussion. I have listed my chooses so please limit your comments to them.

 

[whtsmoke]

BSA you asked for opinion and yes you said no autos but like one said keep one in the chamber and with a high capacity, not that she would need it but the problem is solved. The AR is out, if she cant operate a slide of an auto how will will she do the bolt on a AR? Revolvers are nice and safe but and my wife has troubles also I feel alot safer knowing that she has an auot that she would have a hard time working the slide with one in the chamber knowing she wouldnt have too. Just my opinion eventhough Autos are out.

 

[checkmyswag]

Side by side shotgun?

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I bought a SP101 for my wife but it turned out to be more then she could handle.
It was a 327fed mag and the recoil wouldn't have been to her liking.

I couldn't even pull the trigger on it accuratly. I sent it to a gun smith for a spring kit and trigger job. It is no problem now.

My point is that a model 10, sp101, Taurus what ever, can be made wife friendly. A 38 special in any of them would be very agreeable to the weaker sex.

My friend bought a Taurus snub in 38 special, I do'n't know what model but it shoots to point of aim with out even trying.

I have never owned a Taurus but that little snub impressed the heck out me when my friend and I started shooting bulleyes with it with out even having to try.

A model 10 in good condition with about a 4"barrel would be a no brainer, if she doesn't like the trigger pull in double action, have a gun smith work it over.

If she has really small hands, then look for a small frame but a spring kit would really help.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Black Knight]

For a handgun the Model 10 with a pencil barrel is well suited for her. Also you may wish to consider a short barrel shotgun. In her condition I would recommend a 20 gauge instead of a 12. In the confines of a home there would be little difference in the effectiveness of each. If you are able to keep a dog, a good sized dog may be worth more than a gun. They can give early warning and many will defend their families to the death if need be. Hope everything goes well for you.

 

[Old Fuff]

Pre-World War Two, Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police revolvers had what are sometimes called "service stocks," which are better then the later "Magna" service stocks that came into the picture after the war, for folks with small/weak hands. They also had what was called a "long action" that allowed a lighter-but reliable double action trigger pull. These are usually found with 4, 5 or 6 inch barrels. For your intended purpose I think they are superior to anything made later, but most do not have a positive hammer block and should be carried with the hammer down on an empty chamber.

The slightly smaller Colt Detective Special (2" barrel) or Police Positive Special (4, 5 or 6 inch barrel) offer another possibility, but some work on the action might be necessary to reduce the double action trigger pull. It should be mentioned that to release the cylinder you pull the latch backwards, which is easier for some to do that pushing the latch forward, as is the case with Smith & Wesson's.

 

[Plan2Live]

S&W Performance Center Model 60, I think the current run is dash 15. Have them tune the DA trigger down to around 5 to 7 pounds and leave the single action stock. Load it with .38 hollow points. Done. I fired one this weekend. Very nice.

Or, see if you can accomplish something similar chambered in .327 Magnum. Lighter recoil with .357 like ballistics.

But if you go revolver, buy two so she has more round capacity and a back-up in just in case.

Or, as others have said, move her up to a carbine of some sort.

 

[denton]

Ruger Bearcat loaded with Velocitors.

 

[General Geoff]

An AR in .223 would be a better choice in regards to an urban background vs 9mm. .223 poses less of an overpenetration hazard, not to mention the vastly superior terminal ballistics.

 

[r1derbike]

12 ga., semi-auto, short barreled tactical shotgun. Alternate slug and shot.

 

[Rail Driver]

Why not a semi-auto with a tip up barrel like one of those .32ACP berettas? The tip up barrel means there is no need to rack the slide, eliminating the hand strength issue, it has an easier trigger pull than a double action J-frame revolver, and they're not terribly expensive.

The Model 10 isn't a bad idea either, since it's what your wife mentioned she likes - She will practice more and be more effective with something SHE is comfortable with than she will with something YOU are comfortable with her having. In the end it is HER decision, not YOURS. If you stick her with something she doesn't like or isn't comfortable with, she will likely just toss it in a drawer and forget about it or you'll end up keeping it and using it.

If you are just looking to get a gun for yourself and already have something in mind then by all means go for it, but if you're looking for a gun for your wife, you REALLY should include her in the selection process, preferably by taking her to a range that rents guns and having her try different things until she finds something she likes and is comfortable with.

 

[montanaoffroader]

Your wife has already answered your question, S&W Model 10 or something similar. Take her with you when you shop around and let her try them out for herself if possible. Perhaps some custom fitted grips and a maybe having a smith lighten up the action a bit would help as well.

If I were in your shoes, I would let her make the final decision on this one. After all, she is the who has to use it.

 

[medalguy]

I know you said no autos, but my petite daughter had the same problem, couldn't rack the slide. She tried out a Colt Government Model .380 and was able to rack that one. The barrel recesses that lock into the slide allow for a much weaker spring than any other semi using a full strength recoil spring, and less strength is required to rack it. You might want to look into that.

12 ga is probably too much for her too, so if a shotty is in her future, look at a 20 ga.

 

[mljdeckard]

I agree entirely with post #16. I have no idea why an AR in .223 is an unacceptable option, but one in 9mm would be fine, both carry all of the same risks.

If you use an AR, you could use a tactical charging handle with an extended latch, and teach her to charge it with the palm of her hand pulled towards her face.

While I agree that the vast majority of the time any woman of any level of strength can charge any handgun, it's just a matter of technique, someone who is legitimately injured might not be able to. My mother had an accident several years ago and injured her left wrist, and it healed poorly. The only slides she can handle are of .22 handguns, but I also found she can rack the slide on a Walther PK 380, which was designed specifically with this intent. But I always steer people to long guns for home defense, and if it's someone who I actually care if they live or die, I will tell them not to use a .22.

And yes, if she has found something that works for her, it might be best to live with it and not overthink it.

 

[Noah]

An AR in .223?

An AK in 5.45 (same fragmenting as a .223)?

A Kel-Tec Sub-2000?

The Model 10 she likes?

Any other revolver, just use SA or get a SA only gun?

Semi Auto or Pump 20 gauge?

 

[MedWheeler]

Keep in mind that a revolver in .327 Federal Magnum will shoot any of the .32 caliber loads, so if the FM load is too much, step down to the .32 H&R Magnum, .32 Long Colt, or even the .32 ACP (yes, you can fire them from a .32 revolver.)
Or, just have her train with the Vaquero (or similar S/A revolver.) Countless cowboys and lawmen de-cocked them without shooting their now-captured adversaries. Finger out of the trigger guard, and the gun can be left cocked, as was mentioned, 'til the situation's over.

 

[Jaxondog]

Judge

 

[BSA1]

I feel alot safer knowing that she has an auot that she would have a hard time working the slide with one in the chamber knowing she wouldn't have too.

This is a bit over the top for me. What happens when the gun goes click instead of bang or the second round fails to feed after the first round doesn't stop the attacker? Semi-auto go click and fail to feed reguarly. I had two of them do both just last month.

Side by side shotgun?

My wife's and Daughter's favorite gun is a single shot H&R 12 ga. sitting next to the staircase. It sees regular use on our farm. Alas it looks like I am being forced to become a city dweller so a shorter barrel seems more useful for indoors. (City folk tend to panic when they see someone toting shotguns outside).

My friend bought a Taurus snub in 38 special...

She has a Taurus snub she chosed a long time ago. I agree, it is a nice gun but better suited for more experienced and stronger shooters.

For a handgun the Model 10 with a pencil barrel is well suited for her.

I am thinking it with a round butt will fit her hand better.

Also you may wish to consider a short barrel shotgun. In her condition I would recommend a 20 gauge instead of a 12.

This is not a one gun only defense. The house we are looking at moving too has three stories so I may open a thread discussing what guns for each different floor. ;-)

Contrary to what you may think with the wide variety of loads available the12 ga. has less recoil than the 20.

The slightly smaller Colt Detective Special (2" barrel) or Police Positive Special (4, 5 or 6 inch barrel) offer another possibility...

That is a most excellent idea. Thank You. The only problem is they are rare around here so I would have to buy one without her trying it out first...like that has stopped me before. ;-0

An AR in .223 would be a better choice in regards to an urban background vs 9mm. .223 poses less of an overpenetration hazard, not to mention the vastly superior terminal ballistics.

OK I'll put it back into consideration. I have never shot the 223 much except for qualification. I'll build some test targets, drywall, 2x4's, and visit the range.

Why not a semi-auto with a tip up barrel like one of those .32ACP berettas?
Tip barrel 380 would be a good gun but I have not see those in years.

Your wife has already answered your question, S&W Model 10 or something similar.

No she hasn't until she proves it on the range. It is a lot like buying a car. Until you take it for a test drive you really don't know if it is for you.

Take her with you when you shop around and let her try them out for herself if possible.

I told her that and she is trying to beg off going. (You don't supose she thinks I would buy something for me also...Naw! She wouldn't think that...would she...well, would she)?

Once we moved past the semiautomatic handgun solution for everything this has been a most useful thread. Thank you very much for giving me some more ideas.
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