Pistol suggestion needed for my 75 year old mom

[RCS]

My Mom wants a pistol for home defense only. Meaning, she will be in her home, have 911 on the phone, and need something in her other hand while she waits 10 minutes or more for the police to respond.

I am thinking a revolver since it doesn't have a spring loaded magazine that has to be changed over time. I know nothing about revolvers. She is about 5'10" and weighs 108lbs. I would like to go inexpensive, dependable, not intimidating(recoil), but will get the job done and hopefully never have to be used in self-defense. I will likely spend many hours on the range with her so she can get used to the revolver.

Anyone have a very short list of a few revolvers that will fit the need?

[Brick]

Any used Smith & Wesson .38 Special with 4" barrel will do just fine.

Model 10 or Model 64 would be about perfect.

But, more important than the gun is the training and practice she gets with it. Be sure to get her a good LED flashlight and teach her how to use it with the revolver.

[streaker69]

Have you considered a 10gauge shotgun?





Positive rep to the first person to identify the actress and movie

[RCS]

Have you considered a 10gauge shotgun?





Positive rep to the first person to identify the actress and movie

Yes. My Dad has a 20 gauge shotgun that he has had since he was a young adult. Unfortunately, he suffered a stroke a few years ago and cannot be trusted with a gun so home defense is entirely up to my Mom.

If we had the shotgun handy, my Dad may think he can still use it. So, the shotgun is not going to be part of the plan. That shotgun is buried deep in the basement under so much stuff it has been "forgotten" on purpose. And, the old shells have been "lost" if you know what I mean.

The plan is to get a simple handgun and a small safe with a biometric lock that only my Mom can get into quickly in an emergency. I will also provide her with a Fenix TK15 LED flashlight and teach her how to use both at the range. I'll also enroll her in a woman only firearms safety and use course.

[Emptymag]

There may be good reasons to choose a revolver over a semi, but the one you stated regarding "changing the springs" in a mag is a weak one.

There are plenty of pistols from WWII out there with the original mags/springs that function just fine.

Note that while "revolver" is the go to answer for novices, they are sometimes more difficult to operate than a semi. That's why we ended up with a Glock - my wife had trouble with the heavy trigger pull on revolvers we tried.

[RCS]

Any used Smith & Wesson .38 Special with 4" barrel will do just fine.

Model 10 or Model 64 would be about perfect.

But, more important than the gun is the training and practice she gets with it. Be sure to get her a good LED flashlight and teach her how to use it with the revolver.

Excellent. That is exactly the recommendation I was looking for and will investigate both of these models. Thank you!

[Curmudgeon]

Ruth Gordon, Every Which Way But Loose?

[KBliz]

I have reservations about the trigger pull also. I had to use both index fingers to pull the trigger on an H & R .32. My mother (84 years young- don't tell her I told you her age or she'll beat the cr*p out of me) much prefers semi-automatic pistol. Right now she's just shooting .22' but tried my MDx 9 mm and could handle it fine. I think something with a shorter trigger pull would work well.

Ruth Gordon, not sure of the movie- My Bodyguard or Harold & Maude?

[PD25]

If she likes semi auto- look into a GLOCK 26 OR 19 in 9MM, simple to operate and more than effective for home protection or maybe a s&w m&p 9mm same basic concept...

[Connal]

Does she suffer from arthritis in her hands? Does she have any problem with her sight, aside from slight near/farsighted? Does she have anything dibilitating or injured that might not handle recoil well?

Just a suggestion. And I know it will sound crazy. Mak 82. Hardly anything for recoil. Highly dependable. Trigger guard is a little on the large side, in case of any hand arthritis, or joint pain. Trigger pull isn't the best, but for what it is, it is shockingly good. Price on one isn't bad at all. And, it is something that I don't think she would be too intimidated by.

Just my thoughts knowing my relatives who are around that age. And what they have found works for them.