this is all crazy talk so I'd say a micro-Glock .40. one of those 27s.
You could probably put two in a handbag!! What she will do with two sprained wrists I have no idea.
What caliber?
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You could probably put two in a handbag!! What she will do with two sprained wrists I have no idea.
Any fight involving a gun is an all out gun fight, and you want to win.
Those who said let her try options and decide are right on track. As for shooting start her with a .22 and hopefully she ends up with a .380 for actual carry. The Smith and Wesson .380 EZ was a hit with both my wife and daughter. There is nothing wrong with a .32 either if the .380's recoil is objectionable.
Many, many men will suggest a small .38 snub for this task yet in an extensive study done with women, the .38 snub came in dead last for what they actually liked and could shoot. Let her shoot and test.
Those who said let her try options and decide are right on track. As for shooting start her with a .22 and hopefully she ends up with a .380 for actual carry. The Smith and Wesson .380 EZ was a hit with both my wife and daughter. There is nothing wrong with a .32 either if the .380's recoil is objectionable.
Many, many men will suggest a small .38 snub for this task yet in an extensive study done with women, the .38 snub came in dead last for what they actually liked and could shoot. Let her shoot and test.
How about a can of carburator cleaner! Ever get that in an eye?
MolaKule
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Mrs. Mola carries a .38 Special Derringer.
I bought her a S&W EZ .380 Auto before the Derringer but she wasn't able to rack the slide sufficiently.
So I gave my daughter the S&W EZ .380 Auto.
I bought her a S&W EZ .380 Auto before the Derringer but she wasn't able to rack the slide sufficiently.
So I gave my daughter the S&W EZ .380 Auto.
My Mom had a Colt Detective since the '70s, but a few years ago switched to a S&W Model 36 because she felt it was a little smaller and easier to handle as she got older. I think the Colts have been out of production for awhile.
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Maybe a squirt gun loaded with ammonia.
I haven’t seen anyone mention the Beretta 3032 Tomcat. This is a gun that she may want to try out. It’s a .32acp. It holds seven rounds. It’s a small semiautomatic pistol. The big plus is that you don’t have to rack the slide. Just pivot the barrel up and insert a round.
https://www.beretta.com/en-us/3032-tomcat-inox/
https://www.beretta.com/en-us/3032-tomcat-inox/
There's something about a Beretta. Bet that thing shoots great.
My wife decided to go with a 9mm Ruger LC9s. The .380s and .38 specials had more recoil than she was willing to deal with. You can get a 9mm semi-automatic or revolver, whichever she is comfortable with. Take her to a firing range and rent some different guns for her shoot. Let her decide what she is most comfortable with.
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this:
https://ruger.com/products/sp101/specSheets/5765.html
https://www.aguilaammo.com/ammunition/1b220298-22-supermaximum-hyper-velocity-copper-plated-30/
you want solids for penetration, 22 hollow points often don't penetrate enough to do critical damage
anyone newly starting into handguns at 66yo is unlikely to gain additional hand strength and dexterity in the coming years. racking a slide, loading a mag, dealing with stovepiped ammo are challenges enough. revolvers are simply simple.
caliber choice is also determined by locale and likely threats. hopefully a 66yo isn’t frequenting the habitats of nocturnal or apex predators. while a gun newby should always try a variety of platforms, starting out with a 22lr something is always best: cheaper and easier to shoot alot means alot of comfort with the task of being armed.
until centerfire handgun ammo incapacitates with proximity fused shrapnel or concussive shock waves, hits with multiple 850fps 22lr rounds are stabs with a 545mph icepick.
a s&w or ruger 22lr 2-3” revolver, preferably with a hammer to allow both single and double action shooting, is my initial suggestion.
caliber choice is also determined by locale and likely threats. hopefully a 66yo isn’t frequenting the habitats of nocturnal or apex predators. while a gun newby should always try a variety of platforms, starting out with a 22lr something is always best: cheaper and easier to shoot alot means alot of comfort with the task of being armed.
until centerfire handgun ammo incapacitates with proximity fused shrapnel or concussive shock waves, hits with multiple 850fps 22lr rounds are stabs with a 545mph icepick.
a s&w or ruger 22lr 2-3” revolver, preferably with a hammer to allow both single and double action shooting, is my initial suggestion.
I wonder if she could shoot a Ruger LCR in .22wmr or a S+W 351 in .22wmr.
Potent small round.
Potent small round.
I have taught many shooters on Basic Pistol. Men/Women in general shoot a semi better bc of the long trigger pull. But having said that...a 66 year old woman unless she is very special, will do poorly in a defensive situation. You need to get a good pistol instructor.
And truthfully arming a 66 y.o. woman or man who is not going to really train SD is "armed" in name only. In an actual confrontation it is 90% unlikely to end well. Best to take a course like https://rtbav.nra.org/.
And truthfully arming a 66 y.o. woman or man who is not going to really train SD is "armed" in name only. In an actual confrontation it is 90% unlikely to end well. Best to take a course like https://rtbav.nra.org/.
22wmr, even handgun specific ammo, fired out of a short barrel has way too much bark for not all that much more bite. the flashbang is truly off-putting for someone with little shooting experience, making accurate followon shots difficult. i got rid of a ruger lcr 22wmr in favor of a lcr 22lr. i still do like 22wmr through a longer barreled ruger single six or rifle when outdoors. the key to civilian defensive use of rimfire ammo is consistently putting many fast rounds into centermass. centerfire ammo works defensively for most civilians with fewer hits and on the extremities of the target. i have put 2000ish rounds through the lcr 22lr, practicing with speedloaders. i found that i can shoot, at 3 yards, 3 inch grouped double tap ammo dumps on-target, clean through 3 inches of telephone books and plywood backing. being a revolver the lcr 22lr can shoot a variety of ammo, important during ammo droughts or if seeking softer rounds, e.g. 22short or 22lr quiet. as a ccw, in my hands, in my tame locales, 22lr works for me.
while i am a revolver guy, this advice is spot-on excellent. also, the ruger sr22 is a very decent, easy, reliable, general purpose, rimfire semiauto pistol. it can be a ccw with the appropriate clothing and holster, but is too big for pocket or purse. many folks like the smaller, new, ruger lcp2 22lr for a pocketable rimfire semiauto pistol ccw. i really like the sr22, not the lcp2 22lr, ymmv.
Being armed is more than being in possession of a weapon.
The training, mindset, ability and weapon create the capability to defend yourself.
There’s an old concept in the military, that is validated and proven by combat experience over centuries; under stress, people don’t rise to the occasion, they sink to their level of training.
When the adrenaline hits, and the amygdala hijacks the brain - frontal cortex thinking goes out the window, along with fine motor skills, peripheral vision, and hearing, and you’re left with a reptilian fight or flight response, you’re in no position to perform or think. You’re only able to do what you’ve practiced, what is ingrained as muscle memory.
So, finding a caliber, and a gun that works is step one. The shooter/weapon/caliber has to be figured out first. Then, there is a lot more work to be done.
There are many more steps to be taken to create the capability of self defense.
The training, mindset, ability and weapon create the capability to defend yourself.
There’s an old concept in the military, that is validated and proven by combat experience over centuries; under stress, people don’t rise to the occasion, they sink to their level of training.
When the adrenaline hits, and the amygdala hijacks the brain - frontal cortex thinking goes out the window, along with fine motor skills, peripheral vision, and hearing, and you’re left with a reptilian fight or flight response, you’re in no position to perform or think. You’re only able to do what you’ve practiced, what is ingrained as muscle memory.
So, finding a caliber, and a gun that works is step one. The shooter/weapon/caliber has to be figured out first. Then, there is a lot more work to be done.
There are many more steps to be taken to create the capability of self defense.
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manicrodder
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Cindy has rheumatoid arthritis and the 38 ACR was good untill she spent 3 or 4 cartridges of them. She is pretty good with the LCR 22LR I got her next. I figure if she gets half of the 11 in'em. They may laydown.
Astro said it best: "Being armed is more than being in possession of a weapon".
I agree with Astro's reply as well.
I recommend the S&W EZ 9mm for ANY woman.
Revolver, she only has to pull the trigger. I love a 32 Magnum, just like a .38 with minimal recoil
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