Poll Best Handgun for Elderly New Shooter

[Darqhelmet]

P365-380 softest shooting center fire I have until you jump up to full size all metal guns.

S/W has an entire EZLine for her. Like to many models for me to list. Made for old/ill/disabled people.

No mods it’s fine, drop p365-380 it into a x/xl grip module and you can burn that down all day.

VP9 for the cocking ears, easy mag release, lower snap compared to other plastic 9mm.

92 or P01/PCR for all metal guns.

This is what works for me. The reality is she needs to go and shoot guns and pick one.

 

[MysteryScienceHeater3000]

Honestly I would try to work backward from their hand stamina: how long can comfortably they hold a gun of 2 vs 3 lbs. From there curate some choices until they find something they like to hold or think looks cool.

 

[Wolkenflieger]

P365-380 softest shooting center fire I have until you jump up to full size all metal guns.

S/W has an entire EZLine for her. Like to many models for me to list. Made for old/ill/disabled people.

No mods it’s fine, drop it into a x/xl grip module and you can burn that down all day.

VP9 for the cocking ears, easy mag release, lower snap compared to other plastic 9mm.

92 or P01/PCR for all metal guns.

This is what works for me. The reality is she needs to go and shoot guns and pick one.

I also love the PCR. Fairly soft-shooting and accurate.

 

[Gawernator]

All this discussion and this lady will never use this gun. lol

 

[M_N04H]

If nothing else, I learned there's a Beretta 86 clone available to us

 

[irongunner]

All this discussion and this lady will never use this gun. lol

Considering how the stereotypical gun owner is portrayed as a white, racist, misogynist, homotransphobic, cisgender, far-right, toxically-masculine, compensating, gymbro... we really came together (pause) for this lady.

 

[RustVendor]

All this discussion and this lady will never use this gun. lol

The important thing is everyone argued online

 

[Nomad]

Taurus Public Defender with 410 shotgun shells. 5 projectiles every pull of the trigger. Plus the ease of a revolver. Just joking….sorta

Judge Public Defender - Taurus USA

CHECKERED GRIP, ADJUSTABLE SIGHTS, STAINLESS STEEL, 357 MAG, 6”, 6-RDS

www.taurususa.com

 

[Gawernator]

Considering how the stereotypical gun owner is portrayed as a white, racist, misogynist, homotransphobic, cisgender, far-right, toxically-masculine, compensating, gymbro... we really came together (pause) for this lady.

Hey now, I never claimed to be a gymbro.

 

[HarleyLowRiderST]

Looking to recommend a basic handgun for an elderly lady new shooter for home defense. Late 60s/Early 70s. Active, reasonably fit, and will train with it, but brand new to shooting.

I think sometimes people can over estimate what it will take for a new shooter early 70s to use a HD handgun.

My thoughts for what they are worth. I would suggest a smaller 380 auto. Consider her use case. 6 rounds of 380 fired on target is better than 10 rounds of 9mm bouncing off the floor, walls, and ceiling if she can't handle the firearm. Toss on a laser pointer for when she doesn't have her glasses on in the middle of the night. Having said that, she could always start with the above and move on to a something else after.

The gun that I would recommend to an elder that asked would be the Ruger
Ruger 380

 

[Gawernator]

I'm starting to lean towards a good estate attorney to write the will

 

[RustVendor]

I think sometimes people can over estimate what it will take for a new shooter early 70s to use a HD handgun.

My thoughts for what they are worth. I would suggest a smaller 380 auto. Consider her use case. 6 rounds of 380 fired on target is better than 10 rounds of 9mm bouncing off the floor, walls, and ceiling if she can't handle the firearm. Toss on a laser pointer for when she doesn't have her glasses on in the middle of the night. Having said that, she could always start with the above and move on to a something else after.

The gun that I would recommend to an elder that asked would be the Ruger
Ruger 380

That's the thing though, that 10oz gun with a 380 load of 90 gr at 1000 has 50% more recoil at 3 ft lbs than a 90 grain 9mm load going 1100 out of a 25oz gun at 2ft lbs. a 115 blazer going 1100 out of the full size pistol has the exact same recoil as the tiny 380 at around 3ft lbs. Considering the 380 fuse which is 22oz, a 90gr 380 load has 2.5ft lbs of recoil while the recoil from the 9mm 100gr hornady defensive load going 1100 fps in a 25 oz 9mm... Is 2.5 ft lbs. These are just numbers from an online calculator but the point is there's a lot more factors than the load and cartridge.

 

[shermanatortank]

Unpopular opinion: 3" revolver loaded with .38. Very easy to load for weak hands and less complex for a new shooter to operate.

I'd take her to a range and rent a semi auto and revolver. Let her load the mags too and see which way she leans.

 

[MrWilly]

Had to double check no one mentioned earlier in thread...

Sig Sauer?

1 - Sig P365 Luxe.
2 - S&W Shield EZ .380.

My wife (cancer survivor, muscle loss), owns the Shield EZ and loves it. It's easy to rack, isn't heavy, and has low recoil. Plus, it's a Smith!

I've shot the P365 Luxe and it was incredibly easy to rack and had very little recoil. It is, comparably, heavy as well as very expensive..

 

[Maaartin]

Considering how the stereotypical gun owner is portrayed as a white, racist, misogynist, homotransphobic, cisgender, far-right, toxically-masculine, compensating, gymbro... we really came together (pause) for this lady.

Sorry I let you down guys… I’m not a gymbro! Lol

 

[NewbieDoo]

All this discussion and this lady will never use this gun. lol

Considering how the stereotypical gun owner is portrayed as a white, racist, misogynist, homotransphobic, cisgender, far-right, toxically-masculine, compensating, gymbro... we really came together (pause) for this lady.

Sure did. Helping older ladies is a universal right. Helping older ladies get into firearms is nothing short of angelic.

I hadn't considered the difficulty of magazine loading (a maglula will be necessary - I'll show her some hickok45 videos for encouragement), but that's something she'll have to do to train...which I overlooked (silly of me to do so, as even my wife hands me her mostly-full mags at the range to load the last 1-2 rounds). The revolver and break-action ideas are a new possibility.

Either way, I promised her son 1 "classroom" day at least 3 range days of drills before getting the bill of health (which I realize looks a lot like recent legislation, but it was agreed, not imposed). She'll know how to be safe and how to operate it.

Thanks for the all recs!

 

[Darqhelmet]

1 - Sig P365 Luxe.
2 - S&W Shield EZ .380.

My wife (cancer survivor, muscle loss), owns the Shield EZ and loves it. It's easy to rack, isn't heavy, and has low recoil. Plus, it's a Smith!

I've shot the P365 Luxe and it was incredibly easy to rack and had very little recoil. It is, comparably, heavy as well as very expensive..

yeah. I turned mine into a luxe minus that stupid color. it’s great.

 

[Wolkenflieger]

That's the thing though, that 10oz gun with a 380 load of 90 gr at 1000 has 50% more recoil at 3 ft lbs than a 90 grain 9mm load going 1100 out of a 25oz gun at 2ft lbs. a 115 blazer going 1100 out of the full size pistol has the exact same recoil as the tiny 380 at around 3ft lbs. Considering the 380 fuse which is 22oz, a 90gr 380 load has 2.5ft lbs of recoil while the recoil from the 9mm 100gr hornady defensive load going 1100 fps in a 25 oz 9mm... Is 2.5 ft lbs. These are just numbers from an online calculator but the point is there's a lot more factors than the load and cartridge.

She wanted simple, remember. This is way more complicated than just buying .380 ACP rounds.

 

[Wolkenflieger]

Sure did. Helping older ladies is a universal right. Helping older ladies get into firearms is nothing short of angelic.

I hadn't considered the difficulty of magazine loading (a maglula will be necessary - I'll show her some hickok45 videos for encouragement), but that's something she'll have to do to train...which I overlooked (silly of me to do so, as even my wife hands me her mostly-full mags at the range to load the last 1-2 rounds). The revolver and break-action ideas are a new possibility.

Either way, I promised her son 1 "classroom" day at least 3 range days of drills before getting the bill of health (which I realize looks a lot like recent legislation, but it was agreed, not imposed). She'll know how to be safe and how to operate it.

Thanks for the all recs!

Maglula ia the way even for .380 and there's no need to load all 10 rounds. Good luck!

 

[SDDAVE56]

A new shooter - a 22.