Help me choose a weapon for my handicapped father in law.

[Sam1911]

he's out of the fight.

If he makes it to the fight to begin with.

That's part of the larger concern I'm seeing here. I've known quite a few very elderly and disabled relatives at different times in my life and when most of them got to the point of having lost nerve or muscle control, they didn't do ANYTHING fast or very securely. A defensive gun would have to be largely right at their fingertips at all times to have a prayer of being accessible and useful in a timely manner.

As discouraging as that sounds, I mean it to say that a strategy discussion and taking steps to harden the home against invasion seem to be at least as important as choosing the right gun. If the gentleman is going to put this on a shelf in the closet or in a drawer somewhere thinking that he might hear a break-in in progress and have time to go retreive his gun, there's probably little but psychological value in the idea.

 

[NMGonzo]

sig sauer makes a colt mustang look alike in .380

VERY light slide

 

[texas bulldog]

I went to a ruger single action revolver. I like big bore revolvers, so my choice for a long time has been a 45 Colt Vaquero or Blackhawk. I also have one in 357 Mag that I figure someday is what I will use.

The hammer sets high enough that I can bring it over with either hand. Compared to a double action revolver the position of my hand on single action grip gives me the ability to cock it. I have a 45 convertable, and with the ACP rounds it is easy on your hands. With style grip and barrel placement the recoil impulse does not drive back into joints.

This is exactly what my father-in-law does. He has arthritis in both hands and nerve damage on his left side. He can't work the slide on almost any semi-auto. And since he has lots of experience with single-action revolvers from his younger days, he's a good shot and not that concerned with the relatively slow rate of fire. While it wouldn't be my choice, I certainly feel better about a .45 Blackhawk than any .22 he might go with.

Trying to put myself in that situation, I tend to think that I might just prefer to go with a BHP or 1911 that I've personally verified to be dead reliable, have someone put it in condition 1 for me, and take my chances on a malfunction. If I need to reload, the slide will be locked back anyway.

Obviously, you would have to have an extremely high degree of confidence in the gun and ammo in question. But I've seen 1911s and BHPs that would fit this category for me.

 

[KodiakBeer]

Hello? Again: http://www.palmpistol.com/

 

[jon_in_wv]

I didn't think of a 9mm 1911. Than might actually be a possibility. I'll have to check one out and see how it handles.

 

[Manco]

So what hasn't been ruled out thus far?

A Ruger Blackhawk in .357 Magnum (shooting .38 Special) would seem to fit the bill, although it is kind of heavy, which is good for recoil and bad for lifting.

If the Blackhawk is too heavy, then there is the Single-Six Convertible (shooting .22 Magnum).

Is the PMR-30 still a consideration? Obviously it isn't proven and has yet to even hit the stores, I think, so maybe we could rule it out.

I think it'd rule out striker-fired pistols because even their trigger weights could be marginal in this case.

A 9mm 1911 might work, though (personally, I'd have trust issues like I do with the PMR-30, since 1911s seem to work best within the original design parameters).

Hello? Again: http://www.palmpistol.com/

It's an intriguing concept, but what I don't like is that it doesn't look like a gun, and when you've only got one round (unless you have more than one of these Palm Pistols) psychology could play a major role. Almost anybody can shoot a scary-looking Blackhawk, especially with .38 Special cartridges.

 

[KodiakBeer]

A blackhawk has to be thumb-cocked.

Personally, I'd think something that can be carried cocked and locked in 9mm would be the answer - a a CZ 75 or 1911 as you suggest. An aluminum framed 9mm 1911 (since it has a slimmer grip) would probably be the best answer. He doesn't have to rack the slide himself, just keep it in condition one and snick off the safety. If even that is a problem then this palm pistol is the only real answer.

 

[popbang]

38 Special Wad Cutters are loaded nice and light.

A single action revoler can be cocked with very little dexterity. Using the thumb to cock is one way, but you can also use your off hand palm as well.

You might want to look at those 3-3/4 inch New Vaqueros.

What does your father-in-law think? What does he like? Did he shoot many handguns before he had problems?

 

[2ndwind]

If your father-in-law is still Mobile.... take him to the biggest gun shop you can find and let him handle as many of them as he wants....even an old disabled guy is likely to enjoy a trip to a gun emporium.

A revolver seems like a fine idea... not sure why folks are suggesting a single action model though... a double action cocks just as easy and something like a K or L frame Smith and Wesson might have a light enough double action pull to be in the running...

 

[Deaf Smith]

jon,

May I suggest a "Sheriff's" model Single Action Army revolver in .357 Magnum?

No I am not suggesting loading it with magnum ammo, but .38 wadcutters ought to do.

The 3 inch snubnose versions made by Ruger, Buffalo Arms, and others ought to do. Just load it with light .38 specials (or the .44 version with .44 Specials.)

They look like this:

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/2,387.html

Deaf

 

[geologist]

Older SW model 10s have very slick, low trigger pull weight DA triggers and their SA trigger is very, very light. I'm talking about 4", older used revolvers say 1960 - 1980 vintages. They are common and cheap.

They also made Airweight, aluminum alloy K frames but a 4" model 12 would be very expensive s they are rare. A 2" model 12 airweight weighs only 20 oz and would have the light, smooth DA/SA triggers as well.

 

[Sam1911]

not sure why folks are suggesting a single action model though... a double action cocks just as easy

SA revolvers have slightly larger hammers and I perceive them to be a bit easier to cock with a simple "gross motor" sweep of the support hand.

If he is confident/capable to do the same thing with a DA revolver, then that's even better.

In an adrenaline-amped moment of stress, he may just find a hidden strength to simply squeeze the DA pull which is simpler yet (though harder).

Certainly some great old Smiths that were shot a lot do have fairly light, smooth DA pulls which he might be able to manage. Some, of course ('specially J-frames) do not.

 

[oldfool]

http://www.berettaweb.com/Beretta 80/Beretta 86.htm

label both me and rc as offering useless suggestions
but since when is a tip up barrel that can fire 1st shot and every shot thereafter in single action only (and in a relatively mild yet effective caliber) somehow a useless suggestion ??

vs a Ruger single six in 22 mag ??

both have to be cocked
the Beretta hammer is no more difficult to pull back than the Ruger hammer
the Beretta only has to be cocked once, and loading it takes no hand strength

go figger

 

[brabham78]

I mentioned the semi-auto Beretta Tomcat earlier. The tip-up barrel seemed like a logical choice for him. But the more I think about it - I have to believe that man with this much weakness in his hands would be a prime candidate for limp-wristing ANY semi-automatic. As a matter of fact, you could probably bet on it happening to him, and once his semi auto jams? He'd probably have no hope of clearing it. If this were my search, I'd be crossing semi-autos off the list.

I agree with member 2ndwind.....
.................................
Quote:

A revolver seems like a fine idea... not sure why folks are suggesting a single action model though... a double action cocks just as easy and something like a K or L frame Smith and Wesson might have a light enough double action pull to be in the running...
.................................

Take him to the gun shop and let him try out some SA/DA revolvers. He might even be able to do a double action pull on a few of them, and that'll be the gun for him. And if not, he can then narrow his search down to finding the revolver that is the easiest to cock. I think it needs to be your father-in-law that makes the final decision.

 

[jon_in_wv]

I agree. I've kind of ruled out the semi autos. Thanks for the link Deaf Smith.

 

[jon_in_wv]

label both me and rc as offering useless suggestions
but since when is a tip up barrel that can fire 1st shot and every shot thereafter in single action only (and in a relatively mild yet effective caliber) somehow a useless suggestion ??

vs a Ruger single six in 22 mag ??

ok. Since you apparently didn't read any of the above posts. The Beretta involves a lot of issues that don't seem very friendly to someone with small hands. Cocking a single action revolver is VERY different than a Beretta. The Beretta has a very small exposed hammer that couldn't be cocked with the palm of the off hand nearly as easily as a single action revolver. Also, there are issues of recoil, also mentioned. It is likely his grip wouldn't be strong enough to let the auto function properly and the smaller grip of the revolver would be much easier for him to hold onto. ALSO, I'm sure loading the revolver would be much easier than trying to force rounds into a magazine, which I'm about positive he couldn't do. Also, I've settled more on the .38 special than the 22 mag. I hope this recap of the last 40 or so posts has cleared things up a little for you.

 

[Sam1911]

Seeing as all minds are apparently closed on this matter, lets allow this to fade away before the tone degrades any further.

Sic terminus.