Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

My wife is a small framed petite woman (with small hands) and has expressed an interest in a handgun.

She is also loosing strength in her grip. More difficult to open jars, etc.

In fact, I let her try and dry-fire my S&W 642 (revolver) and she is not able to do it. The 642 has no exposed hammer so is double action only. She can only shoot it (dry) with her middle finger, but that leaves her index finger hanging out by the cylinder where all the action happens. Not sure that would be safe for her index finger. Alternately she can fire it with two hands using BOTH index fingers together. Still not a very satisfactory solution.

I'm thinking a semi might be better for her because of the light trigger pull, but with a semi she still has to jack the slider back to cock it the first time, and I'm uncertain if she can even do that. Maybe, maybe not.

I will try to borrow a friend's .32 semi to see about that, but in the meantime...

Do you folks have any suggestions for a situation such as this?

Thx,
gpond :rose:

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

A revolver would be better for her than a pistol. When fired like that, the slide of a pistol would likely cut the web between her thumb and trigger finger. I know this because it happened to my father.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

http://standeyo.com/News_Files/Firea...ms_4women.html

I like the revolver (last on page)

Similar problem
 

Hi,I had a similar problem for an older lady.Problem with an auto is if you hold it loosely; commonly called" limp wristing" an auto may have a failure to feed.Beretta 25 cal. has a pop up barrel so no 'jacking' in a round but due to the failure to feed problem she went with a 3'' model 36 S&W. I did a trigger job and lightened up the trigger pull and she shot 38 Special reloads w/ 148 gr inverted hollow base wad cutters.Regards,Mike

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

GP,

Maybe you should talk to a smith and see how light they can make the trigger on a 642.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

PPK 380
Don't go smaller than a 380 or 9MM.
You should have a gun shop somewhere around that has a range where she can test fire some weapons.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

Hmm. Some suggestions:
-- perhaps see if a gunsmith can adjust the trigger pull to be light enough so she can use it.

-- try a S&W model 60. Same size as the 642 (but steel, so it's heavier) but with an exposed hammer so she can cock the hammer and pull the trigger single-action style, which is much lighter.

I really think if she's having that much trouble with grip, she'll find it extremely difficult to cycle the slide on an auto, as well as the limp wristing problem mentioned by others.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

A professionsl trigger job can lighten a revolver significantly, however I don't know if the 642 would benefit since it is DAO and uses a different hammer mechanism than normal revolvers. Perhaps a 638 with the exposed hammer top so she can cock it or fire it dA. A trigger job and spring tuning would make a lot of difference. She will still have to have some grip & wrist strength to handle the recoil of a 38. You might look into the new 32 Ruger Magnum (something like that) it was reviewed in American Rifleman a few months back and is more powerfum than 38 Spl but maybe a bit less in recoil. STAY AWAY from DIY or Bubba trigger jobs!!!

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

Get her something along the lines of the old H&R 922, a 22 cal "kit" gun. A 9 shot all steel double action that weighted about 20 ounces.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

She thinks it may be arthritis, but you make an intelligent point. We should look into it more deeply and not just shrug it off. Good point.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

I got the wife one of these for the same reasons -- semi-auto .380 with tip up barrel so no slide to rack... She handles the controls and shoots it very well!

Beretta 86FS Cheetah
http://www.lucasweb.net/firearms/ima...FS_Cheetah.jpg

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

Agreed, I think a .38 spl SA/DA revolver would do the trick. The lighter .380 Autos, like the Keltec P3AT, can have snappy recoil and you will have the issues with the slide. I'm not a big fan of .38 snubbies, so I'd recommend something with a 3-4" barrel.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

I much prefer the revolver for her.

The thought was that she would not need to fire a semi with her middle finger because it is already cocked and is a single-action fire each time.

With a revolver in a combative situation, it will almost always be double-action shooting. So, I like the idea of a trigger job if it can lighten the double-action trigger pull and not just the single action trigger pull?

Is that so?

I think that is the best direction to head in.

She is not very mechanically inclined, so the revolver is probably the better choice.

Thanks for your responses so far.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

How does that work, Luke, (or anyone)? I have never seen one of these.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

It is somewhat like the Beretta 21A design .25 auto or .22LR in .380 auto. You insert the magazine then pull the little lever to release the barrel, it tips up, insert a round in the pipe and latch the barrel closed and your ready to go -- you can even pull back the trigger for a lighter pull on the first shot.

Description

Although similar at first glance, this differs from the 84FS Cheetah considerably in its mechanism since it has a tip-up barrel. The barrel is pivoted beneath the muzzle and by pressing a catch, the breech end is released and allowed to rise under spring pressure. This simplifies cleaning the barrel without having to dismantle the gun, it also permits an additional cartridge to be loaded into the chamber when a full magazine has been inserted into the butt. Other features are as for the 84FS Cheetah, including double-action ambidextrous safety, firing pin safety device, loaded chamber indicator and mate black finish, though the barrel is longer and the trigger guard is not shaped for a two-handed grip.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

My girlfriend also has a weak grip (but I still keep her around), as far as a hand gun goes I got her a 9mm a few years back. She had a little trouble with the slide until we ran a couple of boxxes of ammo through it. She has had less trouble with the Glock slide than the Keltec.

No problems with the trigger pull on either one.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

This is perfect for weak hands---you do not rack the slide to get it running. Tip up and load.

I would still think a standard revolver with a hammer so its operable with both hands would be best.

Lightening the springs on the 642 would probebly help.. Brownells has spring kits for less than $20 for a J Frame if memory serves.

38 Special with good Ammo sounds like the ticket.

E-A

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

Thanks, Luke. That makes perfect sense.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

How about a Colt Cobra. It is a double action snub nose revolver with a 2" barrel alloy frame 6 rounds, chambered for the .38 Special cartridge. It weighs 16 ounces.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

357 Taurus 7 shot titanium snubby shooting lighter .38

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

I am a smaller female with potential grip issues, and my favorite gun is a Sig Sauer 232 (.380)
http://www.sigsauer.com/upFiles/cata...2-detail-L.jpg

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

a short little 32 hr would work good

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

LukeNM:

That Beretta is a great little gun. I purchased the same model for my wife, and she does like the tip up feature. She can insert the magazine, then put a round in the tilt-up barrel, and be ready to go. BTW, if for whatever reason you want to rack the slide on it, you can, it's just one option of several for loading a round. You can also fire one round via the tilt-up barrel, even without the magazine inserted.

Tallships makes a good point on watching out for the action cutting the webbing between thumb and forefinger. My wife has small hands as well, and she came pretty close to getting cut.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

I personally would subjest starting any new shooter on a Rimfire cartrige .....it builds confidence helps them learn good habits they learn to enjoy shooting not fear it...learn to shoot without squiting and flinching etc

in my opinion the worst thing you can do is over caliber a new shooter

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

No semi-autos for someone as you describe.

http://dailygunpictures.blogspot.com...volver-38.html

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

http://www.ohgizmo.com/2008/10/27/pa...-to-pop-a-cap/

http://www.palmpistol.com/

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

YES! Years ago, an acquaintance at work caught a 9mm bullet in the shoulder during a robbery. This resulted in enough weakness where he could no longer use his .357 revolver, or rack the slide of a regular semiauto pistol. I'm not sure if he got the Cheetah (.380), or the Beretta Tomcat (??.32ACP??), but he found the tip-up barrel to be exactly what he needed.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

GPond,
If your wife is having an arthritis issue in her hands, buy her a small bottle of Arnicated Oil. You will find it at a health food store. A couple of drops per hand and then rub it into the places that hurt. It's made from flowers so it's an all natural blood flow stimulator. I've used it for years. It works great when I wake up and my hands are killing me from using them all day the previous day.

As a gunsmith, I recommend a light weight 2" snubbie .357 - perferably one that is NOT DAO. You should be able to find several examples at any quality gunshop. Load it with .38 spl light loads or target loads.

S&W 327 Nightguard Scadnium 8 shot .357

Taurus CIA 850 Titanium 5 shot .38 spl

That gives you a place to start. The S&W is just short of $1k, while the Taurus is a barely over $300.

For making it easier to pull the trigger, you can probably find a lighter replacement spring (flat bar spring stock) OR I suggest you take it to a gunsmith and find out the ft/lbs needed to pull the trigger as it comes from the factory. Normally that's in the 12 - 15 ft/lbs trigger pull range.

Have them smooth everything up and that will drop it down in the 5 - 8 ft/lb range. DO NOT GO below 5 ft/lb range, because it's a LEGAL LIABILITY.

A good trigger job should smooth the action up (similar to shoot 1000 rounds through it) and it should lighten the trigger pull.

I've done them to all MY handguns. Mine break like glass. And are smooth as a babies butt. Any good gunsmith should be able to provide you with the same work for around $50 - $100. Also find a set of grips that fit your wife's hands. The ones out of the factory are OK, but are a compromise. Some folks need a thinner grip. Some of us like a thicker group as I do. I personally like a nice rosewood grip on a 2" snubbie, though I've thought about the faux ivory grips, because they do look really nice.

If you have any other questions, drop me an email or pm.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

This 9mm has been classified as a "medical device" for people with arthritis. In fact, some insurance will actually pay for it!

http://www.palmpistol.com/

http://www.palmpistol.com/images/hero_photo.jpg

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

Thanks, everyone for the great suggestions.

I will probably persue wallew's suggestion of a snubbie revolver with a trigger job to lighten the pull. I know my wife and this makes the most sense in my situation.

Thanks much!

gpond :rose:

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

Why do you want a pistol for someone who is not physically qualified to handle it?

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

But I can shoot it with deadly aim!

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

My girlfriend has trouble racking slides, and pulling triggers in DAO.

The Bersa Thunder is another way to go. A 2 year old could rack the slide on one of these, and the new ones with the double stack mags can handle 16 rounds of .380 acp. All of this for less than 400 buckaroos.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

Ruger now has a 38 +P entry at 13.5 ounces, lighter than the competition.

http://www.ruger.com/LCR/specs.html

http://www.ruger.com/EmailBlast/LCR/header.jpg

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

Incorrect. The S&W 642 Titanium framed airweight weighs in at 12oz and isn't made of plastic. It costs about $150 more, though.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

For a weak-handed person I would NOT recommend any Airweight or Titanium 38 spl....Recoil will be brutal even with standard loads. A steel version would be much more recoil-friendly. You could even load it with target wadcutters.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

Did some looking, the S&W 342PD in titanium is 10.8 ounces.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

Yeah, I wasn't suggesting the gun for use in weak hands. Nor would I suggest that plastic Ruger. I was just dispelling the untruth. Fact is, lighter = more recoil.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

It's a fact that more people in America are killed with a .22 than any other caliber. Give her a semi-auto .22. There is no recoil and there are some very lightweight models easily concealed. My wife and I score in competition fairly well with a Ruger. And, they're cheap and so is the ammo (so far). Put 8 or 10holes in someone and there's less difference in hole size.

The larger question is about the will. If she's not absolutely certain that she WILL shoot a bad guy, it's becomes a very tricky question.

p.s. Put LR hollow points in it. That'll fu@k up anyone's day.

Re: Suggestions: Handgun for small lady, weak grip
 

I had a ultra in .38 and the wife hated it. Way to much recoil.

I suggest that no one get into hangman's wife's sights. She could prolly out shoot 50% of the people here. I stay on very frendly terms with her.:biggrin: