Gun for my mom

[stiletto raggio]

I want to get a gun for my mom, and she says she wants one, but I haven't been able to get her to actually work with me seriously. Neither she nor my dad shoot too much when I am not home, but he shoots a lot more than her. She is not at all averse to guns; in fact, her father was an avid outdoorsman, and she used to go on the yearly trip to Wyoming to shoot big critters.

I want to get her something that is big enough to shoot comfortably and well in an open environment, but also something she can slip in her (rahter large) purse if she wants to carry. We have a Taurus Pt99, a G23, G35, USP45, and I'll be getting a 686 and a 340PD soon. I want a .38+P at a minimum, and I know she can handle recoil just fine. It is really an issue of interface.

What has worked well for you or your ladies?

 

[Jammer Six]

What has worked well for you or your ladies?

REMOVED. Message was meaningless and rude.

Stephen A. Camp

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

Just tell her you are taking her out to lunch and stop at the gun shop on the way there or back. If she picks one out, get it, if she doesn't like any or has no interest in going, she probably has no interest in her own.

My wife liked the looks of the Walther P99, so when she showed interst in getting her own I showed her a picture of the P22, and then began the 3 month search for one. She continually asked me if a shop had called to say they had one, if we were going to the gun show, etc. That's interest!

 

[stans]

You really need to let her choose her own firearm. It is even better if she can shoot a few before buying. My mom eventually settled on the same gun I carry, a S&W 640-1. She also likes 110grain magnum loads and she is very accurate with this combo.... out to 25 yards!!!!

 

[stiletto raggio]

Okay, I guess I ought to clarify. I wasn't going o go out and buy her a gun, I jsut wanted to know your recommendations based on past expereince. I am looking for a place to start. Everyone says "snubby" but snubbies seem more like an experts gun to me than ever before. Being good with a tiny, lightweight full power revolver is not easy.

So, midsized auto? 3" revolver? I was thinking a Smith and Wesson M60-3". Steel, longer barrel, 24 ounces.

 

[Rich357]

The S&W M60 is fine, so are the S&W M640 and M649. But, I agree I find the small revolvers harder to shoot well than any of the small autos listed below.

The Mini Glocks with a finger extension on the grip are also worth trying.
And, while she is looking at autos, take a look at Kahrs and SIGs. Most of the Kahrs should be fine for her needs. The SIG P230 or P230ST would also be fine. Maybe even the SIG P239. The P239 is a pleasure to shoot.

Good luck,
Rich

 

[RandyB]

If you are looking to a revolver I'd recommend the Ruger SP101 with a 3 inch barrel. I loved mine and was a fool to sell it. It is on my "gotta get" list.

 

[Sean Smith]

I'd consider pretty much any medium sized, single-stack 9x19 gun or a STEEL 3-4" .357 revolver loaded with .38 Specials to start. Only problem with DA revolvers and many women (or small-handed men) can be the long trigger reach and relatively heavy pull.

What has worked well for you or your ladies?

Most of the women I've shot with LIKE blast and recoil, so I dunno if they'd be a good example or not.

 

[alwims]

When my wife picked up my Bersa Thunder 380, she fell in love with it and took it away from me for her own. But I still wear the pants around here!

 

[Carbonator]

But I still wear the pants around here!

After she picks them out for you huh?

For the original poster - I'd get mom a 342pd or a 340pd and shoot 38's if she's going to carry all the time. The lighter weight will mean that she'll likely not leave the gun at home. 38's out of the 340pd is good, and the extra bullet room lessens chance of bullet pulling and thus revolver jamming. And if she's as hard core as you say, .357's are always an option.

The 296 is nice too. .44 Special, light weight. A few THR's here have them.

 

[OneShot]

My wife also ripped off my Bersa. Shame on her, I went right out and bought another one....That'll teach her...---Oneshot

 

[ARperson]

Well, I have great fondness for the Glock 26 (9mm). I really like Glocks and only go with the super small for concealability and grip. I could move up to the mid-size frame, but my short fingers can't manage the full-size frames very well. And the 9mm cartridge is tame enough for even the newest shooter.


And the Taurus M85 ultralite 2" barrel is fun to shoot (once I got rid of those icky rubber grips). Yeah, it's light and the muzzle flip is hellacious, but it's still a joy and I don't have a problem with it. The double action isn't fun but still "handle-able." The steel frame and a longer barrel would ease its use, but I opted for as light as possible due to my carry options.

Of course, I love the Ruger autos, the 1911s. It would probably be easier to list what I don't like.

Just put a bunch of different options in her hands and let her decide. That's really the easiest way.

 

[stiletto raggio]

My mom is no recoil wuss; she fired a .44 magnum with her dad as a teenager. I do want recoil to be reasonable, just so that she will practice.

Also, if you think a big bore snubby is the way to go, we already have 2 .45 Colts.

 

[Bill Hook]

My mom bought a Ruger SP101 3".357. I'd have to say this gun is "just right" in that it is simple, rugged, reliable, reasonably priced and sized and can fire a wide range of loads. I'd also consider a S&W model 60 3" as well.

Recoil can be a problem for older folks (assume mom is mid-late 40s to mid 50s) as things like arthritis, etc. become more pronounced and likely to be exacerbated by a lot of shooting. Shooting a medium frame .357 seems like the ticket, as it won't wear your mom out from holding it for a while with a lot of weight, yet it has enough weight to dampen recoil and, again, the loads that can be fired are wide. Shooting .38 spl. wadcutters would be just the ticket for practice.

I'd prefer not to have my mom have to fiddle with the complexity of a semi, since she really doesn't practice enough and nothing is simpler than picking up a revolver and pulling the trigger. No mags to worry about when cleaning and the possibility that she'll forget to check the chamber, no safety, and a reasonably weighted trigger pull to protect against NDs (why I wouldn't get a Glock). Also, the arthritis aspect means that she need not rack a slide. A semi would be good second gun if she warms to the wheelgun.

 

[Black Majik]

From my experience, the girls I've taken either really liked the 1911's or the Sig P series.

They've tried the glocks, the revolvers (SP101, GP100), XD- 9 and XD- 40, Beretta's... and they always come back to wanting to shoot the Sig or 1911.

Maybe look into a P228 in 9mm or if she wants some more punch the .357 sig or .40

The P220 would be fun too since she used to shoot her dad's .44

 

[stiletto raggio]

Well, I don't know if my mom is "hardcore," but she is certianly not a wuss. She is 5'10" and her hands are big engouh to use anything I use. I do, however, ahve a higher recoil tolerance than most people. I intend to carry my 340pd with .357s, albeit the more mild ones (158 at 1150).

Anyhow, I was looking through the CDNN catalog, and I did see the Smith 296s. I held one at a gun show, and they are cool guns, but the ballistic os the .44 special are not impressive, and the gun weighs a lot more than the 340pd. I have also considered getting a Taurus Ti in .45 Colt, but I wasn't really thinking that it would be for my mom. I don't know that I like the idea of my mom carrying a more powerful piece than me...

 

[Rich357]

That's great your mom shoots high power handguns. However, since this handgun will be used part of the time for SD, I wouldn't go for the hardest kicking handgun she can shoot at the range. Go for the hottest one she can shoot really well in SD situations. She may well have to shoot a bad guy more than once to stop an attack. Good shot placement is more important than a few more fpe in a particular round.

I'm a good sized guy. I enjoy shooting my .44 Magnums. I also have a S&W M340SC. It is a special purpose handgun, not IMHO a dual use handgun. I don't find it much fun to take to the range. Even with .38Special +Ps it really slaps my hand, and I'm not as fast and accurate with follow up shots as I am with my other SD handguns. I'm not a bad shot with it but I find the others easier to handle. I believe an all stainless snubby would hold up better in a lot of range use than an aluminum alloy framed snubby. An all stainless steel snubby would be closer to a dual use handgun.

I have several of the small Glocks, the G29 10mm is the hardest kicking of my small glocks and it much easier on my hand, and I shoot it better than my M340SC. The Glocks are also rugged. They will will take lots of shooting.

A Kahr PM9 or P9 are pretty light weight and easy to control. Since your mom has good sized hands, I'll bet she would enjoy a Kahr P9. She may even fall in love with a Glock 36 or Glock 30. The G33 "Pocket Rocket" is fun.

I would certainly have her try a SIG P239 although it may be a little large carry in her purse. The P239 comes in 9mm, .40S&W and .357SIG.

Good luck,
Rich

 

[Checkman]

My mother has a S&W Model 65 with a four inch barrel. My mother in law own a Ruger GP 101 with a three inch barrel. Both carry +P 38's but they have the flexibility of the .357 magnum. They don't have CCW. My mother has it has a house gun and my mom in law has it in her RV - which is her house.

 

[redbone]

My wife, who might be old enough to be your mother if you are under 30, generally carries a S&W 442. Started by taking my Glock G27, but she didn't like it nearly as well as the 442

RBH

 

[Bill Hook]

I've shot Colt Det. Spl. that I used to have and it was uncomfortable with .38 +p, let alone +P+, and it weighs a good bit more than the smaller Smiths. Snubbies aren't that much fun to shoot, IMO, which means practice might be sacrificed.

 

[berto]

Stilletto:

Get her one of those great looking new PC .45acp snubbies from Smith and wesson......they look awesome BTW.



...seriously,a K frame in .357 with a 3" bbl or maybe a compact CZ75 or 85.

 

[Tupperware]

"something she can slip in her (rahter large) purse if she wants to carry"
Sorry for taking this thread in a different direction but please try to persuade your mother NOT to carry in her purse.
Besides the fact that it's probably the main thing a bad guy would want from her, would she be able to maintain control of the purse/firearm 100% of the time? Would there be times that it was slung on the back of a chair, or sitting on the floor or a desk at home, etc? Would she be able to find and deploy a firearm from the deep recesses of her "rather large" purse quickly and mechanically without having to search for it?

 

[tone]

I'm with Rich

Model 60. Just my 2¢

 

[Wedge]

My grandmother (74 or 75 I can't remember) carries a Ruger Security Six in .357 mag. 4" barrel, very nice gun. She carries in a cross-draw holster.

She doesn't mind my .45 either.

 

[Bob F.]

Wedge: Awesome ole gal, huh? My kinda woman.

I've not shot the S&W snubbies in a long time. Wifey has a DAO SP-101 which I think is a real pocket rocket! Anything but FULLHOUSE mags are very manageable! I'd personally prefer the 3" DA/SA with the hammer bobbed. She still carries PMC Ultramags: the original all- copper 66gr HP; not much for range, but up close and personal, rather get hit with a chain saw!

.45ACP really kicks a lot less than my everday carry G19 (with 124 +p Speer Gold Dots or 115 fed +P+ LEO's!) Beginning to understand why a lot of women seem to prefer 1911 45's.

I envy you guys who live where you can rent guns at the range. Well, not really, rather live here!
Stay safe!
Bob