Mom finally is beginning to see the need for a firearm...

[BlueHeelerFl]

That was my thought too, provided the 10/22 is clean and lubed and those mags work as they should, plus ammo the particular rifle functions properly with.

People who say .22LR is totally inadequate for defensive use have never been hit with one, let alone a 25rd mag dump or two. (I'm sure somebody somewhere will depart from context and argue for .50BMG as the minimum.)

A stock 10/22 is a nice lightweight handy sort of a carbine that'll do a lot for you in a variety of situations.

I saw where the OP mentioned sights... removing the red dot to simplify it... wonder how his mother would feel about a ghost ring... quick and don't get much simpler.

I agree with your assessment of 22lr and 10/22's. I don't see anyone hanging around after being it with multiple 22lr rounds.

After hitting someone 5 plus times would that be the same as them getting hit with buckshot?

 

[GEM]

One thing I've learned as a moderator, is that you cannot steer a lot of folks off a gun choice.
Derringers, Black Powder for CCW, has to be .GE. to 45 cal, Judges, can't be Glock, EDC a revolver or whatever.

The more you argue, the more that type of person becomes entrenched. That is because you devalued their judgment and if a male called their warrior credentials into doubt.

 

[230RN]

Several times on several forums I've touted the value of a plain 10-22 with several larger magazines for disabled or "non-gun-nut" people in household use.

I don't think the weak ballistics of a single round of .22 matters when you can pump out a fast 5, 10, or 15 rounds one-handed with either hand without breaking the windows from muzzle blast. Or your eardrums.

While maneuverability isn't very good, this is true of many of the other choices you have offered.

For outside EDC, I would leave it strictly up to her, but I would recommend a revolver.... again, for the disabled or "non-gun-nut" person. Or at least an auto with a tip-up barrel.

And it's a pretty good bet that once she gets to the range two or three times, she'll be buying another gun anyway, and in three more years will own four of them and a dresser drawer full of holsters.

Terry, 230RN

 

[JTHunter]

That was my thought too, provided the 10/22 is clean and lubed and those mags work as they should, plus ammo the particular rifle functions properly with.
People who say .22LR is totally inadequate for defensive use have never been hit with one, let alone a 25rd mag dump or two.

That's one of the reasons I'm happy to have multiple Ramline magazines that hold either 30 or 50 rounds. Right now, one of each size is loaded with LRN ammo and another pair is loaded with HPs.

 

[MacTech]

Once I find a local gun shop that has 10/22's in stock (right now KTP and Coyote Creek are closed due to the pandemic), i'll be getting another 10/22 to have for a backup rifle, most likely one of the older classic models, as the old ones seem like they're just built better, that way if another situation like this occurs, and Mom still hasn't gotten a firearm, i'll have a spare to loan her...

I've already told her that i'm holding her to her promise that she's going to buy her own once this current situation passes

Unfortunately, she's still partially in her pre-pandemic mindset when she saw the size of my .22LR stockpile, her first response was "you could sell that and make some good money now"

my response; "Mom, think about it, KTP is closed right now, and declared "non-essential", do you really think it's wise to sell any ammunition right now?"

she paused, and thought, and said "I guess you're right..."

I responded "see why it's important to stockpile durable goods *before* something happens?, not just guns and ammo, but any goods vital for survival?"

"I guess you're right, good point."

I've also told her that since i'm working for an *essential* employer (we build circuit boards for health care equipment, water treatment plants, some high end tech sectors, and a few others) and I have to be out anyway, let me know what she needs for shopping/supplies, and I'll pick it up for her and deliver it to her place, allowing her to shelter in place more effectively, no sense in both of us being put at risk, i'll be the family's dedicated shopper, as I need to be out anyway.

 

[choppertime]

I'd vote for a Ruger LCR in 22-magnum or 22 lr... easy to manage...my girlfriend panic shoots at silhouette targets with her 8 shot LCR 22lr and gets head and heart shots 90% of the time. We go in the backyard after dark and shoot, cause if we did it in the house,I'm not a drywall repair expert...lol....jk aside it's a good weapon for a senior, my g/f is in her 60's and no recoil to be gun shy from..... just sayin

 

[Jack B.]

Let her choose what she wants. She won't be comfortable with someone else's pick and she won't use it. Has she tried shooting anything? Been to a range where she can rent different types of guns?

 

[FlSwampRat]

One thing I've learned as a moderator, is that you cannot steer a lot of folks off a gun choice.

In many retail situations I have tried to inform people about a choice they're making and asking me about. What I've discovered is they're not actually looking for advice, they're looking for their selection/choice/opinion to be validated.

In stereo terms:
They: "I need 1,000 watt speakers."
Me: What's louder a 100 watt light bulb or a 60 watt light bulb?"
They "Hunnert watt light bulb!"
Me: "You can hear a light bulb?"
Aaaaand, they buy the 1,000 watt speakers that won't match their system anyway.

Presenting logical, well reasoned examples of why they're choice is ill suited for the use to which they intend to put the item doesn't work. If it contradicts what Cousin Joe or their friend down the street told them, well, who are you to say those "experts" don't know what they're talking about?

 

[zaitcev]

S&W Shield 9 2.0 (my CCW)
CZ-75b
. . .
the 9mm’s will be difficult for her to rack so they’re a less viable option
. . .
so what would you suggest?

Go with the 9mm and racking mitigation, like the gripper block. Don't forget a magazine loader. Give her the CZ if it's urgent, but try to find her a gun with automatic safeties, and make sure she understands to keep it holstered. I found it easier to wipe the holster off than fumble with safeties. I know that it sounds absurd, and it's hard for gun people to think like a complete beginner.

I found that for some older women, racking and handling of a handgun is mostly in the nervous system that's not used to give the right commands to muscles. Give them the gun and a handful of snap caps and have them practice loading every day after lunch, and in 2 weeks of persistent practice they rack their guns like John Wick. Of course, some do have conditions that prevent them from doing that, but much fewer than commonly thought.

Firing a double-action revolver accurately is actually harder than racking the 9mm. Remember that in most defensive encounters you fire under stress, but rack at your leisure. And I saw women literally unable to complete the trigger pull -- it was worse than racking! Although, admittedly, it happened on a Charter Arms revolver, but still, it is real.

With the invaders bunching together, a break-open gun is out of question. A 20 ga pump might be a decent idea but I have my doubts. Realize that it has significant over-penetration when loaded with 00 buck - more so than 9mm. The energy of pellets is the same as 12 ga, the only difference is that it fires 5 of them instead of 8. It's not as easy to handle as many believe. Students in shotgun classes take more time to attain acceptable proficiency. And people absolutely short-stroke them, all the time.