Posted on 08/24/2020 7:32:46 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
My sister just turned 67 and wants to purchase a pistol for self-defense.
I do not think she has ever fired a weapon before in her life. She is sufficiently concerned about the crap going on that she wants to be able to defend herself. She works in downtown Baltimore and commutes from her home in suburban Maryland between Baltimore, Wash DC, and Annapolis.
What do the FR firearms experts recommend for the pistol, ammunition, and training? How do you evaluate trainers and their training programs? What do you look for?
Smith and Wesson 5 shot hammerless revolver. Very little training required for reasonable competency. No racking the slide (often hard for women). Very safe and as long as she doesn’t keep it in her purse with gummy bears for the grandkids, it will always be ready. And if necessary, she can fire 5 shots through her purse so she doesn’t have to draw it.
Smith and Wesson M&P .380 Shield EZ.
Hornady Critical Defense .380 rounds.
The pistol is the easiest to rack, easiest to load and gentlest recoil of almost any semi auto.
Find a trainer that the gun shops recommend who isn’t affiliated with the gun shop.
You don't want to get a new owner a semi that they have to remember if they racked it, or hand placement to not tear their hand up on the slide when shooting. Trying to teach my mother in law to shoot a semi scared me, she immediately placed her thumb at the back of the slide pointing up. It would have torn it off. Got her a revolver instead.
Just a thought.
BTW, the revolver is in .38 special.
My first question is this...does she have what it takes to pull the trigger in an extremely stressful situation? When someone is advancing toward you with the intent of doing bodily harm is not the time to vacillate. It’s for this reason I have never encouraged my wife to take up arms. She just doesn’t have what it takes to pull the trigger and possibly take a human life. Getting a firearm is the easy part. Coming to terms with using it is the hard part.
If she’s strong enough to work the slide, either the Ruger LCP or Smith Bodyguard in 380 are easily concealed little guns. I would be concerned that a CCP be valid across the distance she has to travel, unlike the states bordering the land of rocks and cows! Can’t comment on local training programs. If she’s not strong enough to work the slide, then I’d opt for a wheel gun... maybe a Smith LCR in 38 or something like it. .357 is too big for most women to carry. Other good guns out there, but with bigger calibers also comes harder to conceal and heavier recoil at the range. If the 380 or 38 is too much, there are some nice little 22’s and something is better than nothing.
Yep, a revolver is perfect for the inexperienced person who is unlikely to practice much.
You tried a
Ruger LCR in .38+P ?
.
Nice,Perhaps cheaper.
Lots of them have a "ladies night" where they will let you shoot any gun. Just have to pay for the ammo.
She needs a gun that she is comfortable with, one she will practice with and one with ammo she can afford. The last is really important. If you can not afford to practice at least once a month you will never become comfortable with the gun.
If you are not comfortable with the gun you will not be able to use it when it is needed.
Desert Eagle .50 AE
j/k........
I’m in the same boat. A friend that has everything from Colt 45 to AR-15 is supposed to take me out to the range to just play and see what I’m comfortable with. She suggested a Smith & Wesson revolver 642 but the guys at the gun shop suggested Smith & Wesson M&P Shield EZ 9mm.
Like my friend said, if I don’t get the target within 5 shots, it’s gonna be over anyway.
Good point. I used to teach the youngsters that worked for me “If you can’t look down the barrel of a gun and know in your hear you can pull the trigger, you’re in the wrong business!” If she don’t know that, she’s probably better off with a can of wasp or bear spray.
Ruger LC380. It is very easy to rack the slide. Even my wife can do it. Much easier than her Walther PPK/S. That one is a booger.
Nice ... what is the price tag?
My recently former liberal niece just bought a firestorm .380. Good chick gun.
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