My wife needs a new handgun

[Rockydoc]

My wife’s current handgun is a Taurus M85, 38 Spl. This is a double action only revolver with a spurless hammer. It was a very practical choice, no safety to manipulate, just point and pull the trigger. Until arthritis. She can no longer pull the trigger. I have modified the trigger down to a little over 8 lbs DA. You can’t get it much lower than that. It’s still too much.

I am thinking one of those pistols with a tilting barrel for loading the first round directly into the chamber, thus no need to “rack the slide “ would work for her.

As to caliber, 32 ACP, 380 ACP, 9mm? I don’t know much about the 32 ACP, it may have some merit for this application. The difference between the recoil of the 380 and the 9mm is not commensurate with the difference in terminal performance.

So, my thinking is a tilting barrel 9mm semiautomatic pistol.

Suggestions and comments, please.

 

[oscarflytyer]

Sounds like both trigger pull and slide manipulation challenges. No experience with the tilt bbl varieties, but I would think trigger might be an issue there as well.

I would suggest taking a look at the S&W EZ Shield options. Lots of experience with the Shields, and a little with the EZ variety. The slide is the easiest to operate I have ever handled. It was designed with exactly that in mind. And as I recall the trigger wasn't bad either.

 

[smokeywolf]

I recently went through the search for a handgun that the Mrs. could use that had enough terminal effect to at least slow a threat down so she could retreat to the house. We have cougar, Panther, bobcat and a myriad of other predator level critters here. She's very petite, has to run around in the shower to get wet. Had surgery about 10 years ago to restore use of her thumb.

I narrowed it down to 380 ACP and the S&W Shield EZ (Performance Center) or the Walther PD380.
Because the Shield has an internal hammer you can't see if it's cocked or not. Also there are some complaints about the grip safety digging into the web of the hand between the thumb and forefinger.
Biggest downside to the Walther is, no external slide release.

 

[Uncle Grinch]

Check out the Girsan tilt barrel .380. It’s a well made Turkish semi.

Girsan MC 14T Tip-Up - EAA Corp.

The Girsan MC 14T Tip-Up pistol is the solution for everybody that has issues racking a slide. The easiest loading and unloading .380 ACP in the market.

eaacorp.com

 

[Petrol & Powder]

That Girsan pistol is effectively a copy of the Beretta model 86.
My ex had a model 86 and it was completely reliable and decently accurate but sort of big for its class. It was one of those giant 380 pistols that makes you wonder why you didn't just pack a 9mm pistol.

The problem with a tip-up barrel pistol is even after you get a round chambered, you still have to deal with the effort to fire the thing. Your choices become carry with the hammer down and still deal with the heavy DA pull (probably not a good option if arthritis is the reason for the tip-up barrel) OR carry with the hammer cocked and the safety on. I'm not a big fan of cocked and locked for pistols that are not really designed for that mode of carry. Some SA pistols are well designed for safe cocked & locked carry (like say a 1911) while others are not quite as safe. Plus if arthritis is an issue, you may not want to be fooling around with tiny safeties that require fine motor skills under stress.

I'm going to suggest door number 3, ......a Glock. and probably a Glock model 26.

A Glock is COMPLETELY safe with a round in the chamber, has an easy to manipulate trigger, a Fat-double stack grip to spread the recoil over a larger surface area and an effective cartridge that isn't punishing to shoot.
You still must get a round chambered but, wait for it......if you get a M.O.S. model with an optical sight on the slide - you have a great big cocking handle if you really need it.

If you want a little smaller pistol, there's the Glock 43

 

[BBerguson]

My wife’s current handgun is a Taurus M85, 38 Spl. This is a double action only revolver with a spurless hammer. It was a very practical choice, no safety to manipulate, just point and pull the trigger. Until arthritis. She can no longer pull the trigger. I have modified the trigger down to a little over 8 lbs DA. You can’t get it much lower than that. It’s still too much.

I am thinking one of those pistols with a tilting barrel for loading the first round directly into the chamber, thus no need to “rack the slide “ would work for her.

As to caliber, 32 ACP, 380 ACP, 9mm? I don’t know much about the 32 ACP, it may have some merit for this application. The difference between the recoil of the 380 and the 9mm is not commensurate with the difference in terminal performance.

So, my thinking is a tilting barrel 9mm semiautomatic pistol.

Suggestions and comments, please.

Tilt barrel is what I would do and the best option for people with arthritic hands. My wife has the same problems and I’m going to end up with one for her. I’ve handled them but never fired one.

 

[JWFilips]

My Wife can not rack any auto no mater how small. But she easily handles the double action on her Old 5 Shot Model 32 S&W 38 subbi ( Not Special)!
She even has problems racking my Ruger 22 autos
The good thing is she can shoot her S&W in double action better then I can single action but all in all it is a heavy chunk of metal to CC

 

[oscarflytyer]

So I have 3x 32 S&W L Revolvers. All have hammers. That might not be a preference or acceptable. None of the triggers have been worked to my knowledge (all second hand to me). I do know that a Smith trigger can be worked for DA only to prob 5 lbs - buddy has a 625 that is DA only, it is so light in SA mode.

Colt Police Positive
SA pull - 5-5.5 lb pull
DA pull - >8 lb

Smith Regulation Police - has the smallest grip/might be more comfortable
SA pull - 4.25-4.5 lb
DA Pull - >8 lb

Smith Model 30-1 - IF the hammer and SA is not an issue, I would pick this one or its derivations
SA Pull - 3 lb - feels very light and very crisp
DA Pull - >8 lb

 

[Rockydoc]

I am seriously considering a Walther CCP M2. It has a gas operating system which reduces recoil and since you are not fighting a recoil spring, less effort to rack the slide.

With less recoil, we can go for a 9mm instead of a 380.

Rocky the OP

 

[Petrol & Powder]

A Walther CCP M2 may be a very good solution.
Gas retarded blowback, like an H&K P7.
It has a passive firing pin safety (firing pin block) and a manual safety. Striker fired (should be a light trigger pull). Chambered in 9mm Luger. Concealed carry friendly (no sharp corners, small size)

That might be a winner !

 

[beagle]

I faced the same problem with my wife. I knew she wouldn’t be safe with a semi-auto. It’s not that she couldn’t learn. The problem is, a lot of women don’t have the shooting interest to retain the mechanics. They learn well, can shoot but don’t have the interest in firearms like men. Each range session is a new learning experience. When it’s over, it’s back to the cell phone or whatever is holding her interest.
Now, they’re not all like that. Some have the interest to shoot and probably outshoot me. Mine is not one.
When the urge to carry came, I bought a pair of .32 Long Smith snubs. A 31 and a 30. I load a good semi wadcutter and they do the job.
No racking the slide, no safeties and no magazines. Just point and pull the trigger if you forget to cock the hammer.
There are drawbacks. If I’m out back and she comes out and wants to shoot, I always get the question, “do I have to pull the hammer back on this one or can I pull the trigger”. Forget the High Power or M1911.
So depending on how much your wife likes guns and shooting will depend on her interest in learning the trade.
My choice was to keep it simple in my case./beagle

 

[Brad]

What does she want? What fits her hand?
I would lean towards a double action revolver but that is just me.

Biggest mistake most men make is pickin a handgun for their spouse instead of letting them pick.

 

[beagle]

Well, there are those considerations too.
But, I also considered safety and her ability to get a gun into action in a crisis and chose the DA revolver.
Naturally, they want a fast firing, light semi-auto. That’s when the safety considerations come in.
Will they have the dedication to practice until they’re comfortable to use it. Maybe 25% will. The rest carry it as a “peace of mind” piece.
My preference is a M-60 machine Gun with a hundred round belt but that’s not practical but highly effective.
You just have to weigh the options and help them choose based on their dedication to the task at hand and the individual./beagle

 

[sundog]

"My preference is a M-60 machine Gun with a hundred round belt..."

Rock and roll, baby! Yeah, a little tough to conceal.

 

[Rick H]

Yeah, a little tough to conceal.

With a M-60 there is no need to conceal. Nobody will want to mess with you. ....at least not for long!

 

[Winelover]

The DAO sub-compacts (sans safety) operate like a DAO revolver but have an additional 1-3 rounds, depending on the magazine. They are faster than a revolver on reloading or topping off. Unless you have a rare malfunction, there is no need to rack the slide..............just put in a fresh magazine while the last round is still in the chamber. They do offer slide-racking devices that are also magnetic (to retain the firearm, in place of a holster) that you can mount in your house and vehicles. In a pinch, you can place the rear sight on any hard object to help rack the slide, in emergencies.

 

[Ian]

In a pinch, you can place the rear sight on any hard object to help rack the slide, in emergencies.

That was my thought. I think a lot of females (and young shooters, or anyone who's had a stroke or injury that weakens one hand) have a hard time racking slides because they are taught to do it wrong by instructors or husbands that worked for a living and have strong hands. Rather than pinch the back of the slide, wrap all four fingers around the top of the slide with the thumb pointing straight up and cup the whole slide. The rear sight will catch the side of the index finger. Bring the pistol in close to the body and just push the web of the strong hand against the stack of fingers over slide on the weak hand. It is of course imperative to keep the trigger finger outside they guard when doing that.

That said, a .38 revolver is probably the best option there is for non-enthusiast carriers. Get one with a real hammer spur. Even hand-crippled people can fan back the hammer with the palm of the weak hand, then it's an easy single-action pull. Also, consider that TWO index fingers can be used to pull the trigger double-action.

 

[462]

Ian has it right -- push on the grip frame while holding the slide, not the opposite way round. My sister has wrist problems and I showed her that method, to load her SIG .380.

My inherent contrariness says: A short barreled single action revolver is a simple mechanism with a naturally light trigger pull.

 

[Winelover]

Thumbing back a hammer is slow and could be the difference in life or death situation.

 

[462]

Thumbing back a hammer is slow and could be the difference in life or death situation.

Same-same if you aren't able to pull a double-action trigger.

A self-defense or concealed carry handgun is a matter of how much you are willing to give up in, the way of brand and quality of gun, platform, caliber, cartridge, firepower, number of on-board rounds, ease of reloading, how much and method of carrying extra ammunition, and any number of other features, in order to feel safe and secure.

Given the state I live in and several other factors, I had to make some compromising decisions regarding which carry gun to buy. In the end, I chose a .40 S&W Glock 27. Sure, I would prefer something else, nonetheless the Glock gives me that certain warm and fuzzy feeling. If all my compromises were to be narrowed down to a short barrel single action revolver, I'd feel much warmer and fuzzier than going about unarmed.