Best small 'bedside' pistol for elderly woman

[KCJones]

My mother has a Ruger SP101 bought years ago for her 'nightstand' gun.

Dad never taught her a damned thing, she's never fired it (she's fired guns, just not this one). He had .357 mag SD ammo in it. She'd probably rip her hand off shooting it.

Dad's gone 3 years now: I took her to the range today. Put in some .38 special and went through basic safety fundamentals, basic shooting fundamentals, and set her up with 1 round to try her first shot.

She doesn't have the hand strength to pull the trigger in double-action (IIRC it's rated 10 lb). To do so, her hand is shaking so badly she couldn't hit a wall.

She definitely doesn't have the strength to cock the hammer to shoot single-action - it's a heavier pull than the trigger. WAY too much risk she slips and gets an unintended discharge.

I did have her shoot my wife's M&P Shield 9mm, and that went much better. But still maybe a bit big for her. She tried my VP9, and the trigger pull was fine, but definitely too big for her.

She's leery of a semi. Dad had her convinced revolvers are the way to go for reliability & 'point/shoot'. OTOH, we went to the nearest place and she tried several smaller revolvers, all basically suffered from the same issue: double-action pull too long and too hard, she can't safely/reliably pull back the hammer for single-action. She also tried the Ruger LCP .380, but despite being tiny, it's double-action only and the trigger pull is surprisingly long & hard on that. I also fear being so small it might be too 'snappy' even @ .380.

I THINK she's probably best served by a compact striker-fire. Probably 9mm or .380. But what do I know?

Don't get me wrong. She can grip okay, she's not shaky or feeble. Just has 80-year old grip strength. Yeah, I'll get her a racquetball to squish and build up her grip a bit, but it's only gonna go so far.

So any suggestions on a 'nightstand' gun for an 80 year old woman with reduced hand strength? Or should I find a gunsmith and try to get the Ruger (or another revolver) worked-over for reduced double-action pull?

PS - She's had a gun in her nightstand for ~60 years and I don't think "maybe it's time to forget the gun, Mom" would work - even if I was so inclined.

[Rural Ruger]

A vote for working on the one you got if she's set on a revolver. Great platform, and not likely to get a lot better without jumping to a factory tuned model (i.e. S&W performance center).

I'm not really sure "small" is the way to go here, but you know the circumstances better than anyone else.

If she's OK with a semi, then I'd vote Shield EZ as #1. Anything smaller than that will be hard to shoot, especially for a relatively inexperienced shooter. Or maybe one of the smaller steel frame 1911 style guns in 380?

Alternatively, what about a Mossy 500 in 410? More control, no worries about hand strength

[*Klutch*]

You can get springs and what not for the SP101 to help lighten the trigger but it won*t be that much different. Have her try a 3* LCR the 357 is slightly heavier to help reduce some recoil of a 38spl and also Hornady 110 ftx critical defense is a great load you can even get 90 gr light loads. The trigger on the LCR is quite a bit better for ease of pull.

There are some 380 guns that can be easier to operate as well the m&pEZ 380 since you mentioned the shield and even tho 380 isn*t a man stopper the lcp max and some of the bersa guns hold 10 or more.

It*s a short ride but Mechanicsburg Ordnance in Mechanicsburg would be an excellent place to take her and Randy will be more than happy to be helpful in the selection. Matt and Tom are great people too

[imashooter2]

The problem with anything semi is clearing jams, loading and unloading. A tip up barrel will solve the load and unload problem for small center fires. Not sure how to address the clearing jams. Perhaps she could manipulate a Ruger .22? Not the first choice for defense, but many burglars are adverse to being shot with anything.

[Daycrawler]

The problem with anything semi is clearing jams, loading and unloading. A tip up barrel will solve the load and unload problem for small center fires. Not sure how to address the clearing jams. Perhaps she could manipulate a Ruger .22? Not the first choice for defense, but many burglars are adverse to being shot with anything.

I agree with that^^


When I used to sell guns to the elderly, I always suggested a revolver. It's simple, easy and seldom do they malfunction. No stovepipes, failure to feed, eject and so on. All the problems associated with a semiauto disappear with a revolver. Even in the rare case of a failure to fire, you can pull to the next round.


In your mother's case with reduced hand strength, I would suggest a "Lady Smith" in 38. You can get reduced loads for help with recoil. If you need a gun smith to do a trigger job it could be done. Another option for your mother would be, pepper spray, increased home security. Home alarms are relatively cheap and affordable. Better locks on the outer doors and bedroom.


My go to gun for a bump in the night is a wheel gun and always will be. When you are tired and shook up fine motor skills go out the window. That's not the time to be fiddling with malfunctions.

[bogey1]

I gave my dad and his wife two 8shot .22 revolvers years ago. It's as simple as you can get.

[*Klutch*]

I agree with that^^


When I used to sell guns to the elderly, I always suggested a revolver. It's simple, easy and seldom do they malfunction. No stovepipes, failure to feed, eject and so on. All the problems associated with a semiauto disappear with a revolver. Even in the rare case of a failure to fire, you can pull to the next round.


In your mother's case with reduced hand strength, I would suggest a "Lady Smith" in 38. You can get reduced loads for help with recoil. If you need a gun smith to do a trigger job it could be done. Another option for your mother would be, pepper spray, increased home security. Home alarms are relatively cheap and affordable. Better locks on the outer doors and bedroom.


My go to gun for a bump in the night is a wheel gun and always will be. When you are tired and shook up fine motor skills go out the window. That's not the time to be fiddling with malfunctions.

If she is unable to pull the trigger on an SP101 a lady smith is not going to help at all. Jframe smiths come with 13-15lb double actions and I*ve had one hit 18 lbs many moons ago. Not trying to rain on your parade but seems trigger pull was a major concern

[JC Blauvelt]

I have recommenced the S&W EZ pistol as it was made for just this purpose. If she is convinced to stick with a revolver , Take the SP to a good gunsmith and have him do a trigger job and spring kit. If it is still to hard for her to pull the trigger the only solution is to teach her to cock and shoot the revolver. or work on her grip strength.

[MARINE DIVISION TWO]

Two issues I have with the SP101,They are heavy, Two suggestion of action trigger job is a good idea. I would even go with the S&W Airweight snub in 38spl.with action trigger job.

[W2MC]

with all the limitations mentioned, perhaps a tazer instead?