Mom want's to start carrying, need some advice

[Darkness]

My mom, 58, wants to take a carry class, get her permit and gun and start carrying. There are a few issues I have. Normally I would say carry the biggest caliber you can comfortably shoot. But she has rheumatoid arthritis and some days does not have much strength in her hands. She said because of the RA she would like to keep the caliber small, like a .22(i know i know, I will work on this but its better than not carrying at all). I plan on going to the range with her and renting a few different guns so she can shoot them and see what she thinks. But I don't know what would work well for her. I am thinking a hammerless revolver in .38(if she can handle it) or .32 if I can find one. So keeping that in mind can you guys/gals name a few guns that might work for her. Also I need advice on where she should take her class. So where and why.
#1. Gun suggestions.
#2. Class/instructor suggestions.
Thanks

[Rem700]

My wife suffers from RA, She initially was able to shoot a Ruger jframe 38 ie SP101 she couldnt work the cylinder release on a S&W jframe. As her RA progressed she could no longer pull the DA trigger on the Ruger even with lightened springs and action work. She is unable to run the slide on any of the semi autos in the normal fashion because of the RA. Recoil does not seem to bother her so much so her two options are. I load and charge her semi autos for her she carries either a Browning HP 9mm and can run the slide if need be by running the slide on the edge of a table the curb anything she can hook the slide or sights on. Or 2 Keltec P3ATs if she runs one dry or malfunction/jam drop it and pull the second.

[tman]

How about something like this?

[Darkness]

My wife suffers from RA, She initially was able to shoot a Ruger jframe 38 ie SP101 she couldnt work the cylinder release on a S&W jframe. As her RA progressed she could no longer pull the DA trigger on the Ruger even with lightened springs and action work. She is unable to run the slide on any of the semi autos in the normal fashion because of the RA. Recoil does not seem to bother her so much so her two options are. I load and charge her semi autos for her she carries either a Browning HP 9mm and can run the slide if need be by running the slide on the edge of a table the curb anything she can hook the slide or sights on. Or 2 Keltec P3ATs if she runs one dry or malfunction/jam drop it and pull the second.

I like the 2 Keltec's. Nice. I am guessing she will be able to rack the slide with the sights. A mag loader should work for her to load?
Thanks a lot for the info Any other suggestions on guns?

[Rem700]

How about something like this?

Kinda of well I see two problems, IWB, Glock

[blizzard]

have her check out the Walther PK380, its fun to shoot, recoil is managable and the slide is very easy to rack.

[rugersol]

I hear a lot of grown men whining 'bout shootin' a .380 KelTec ... I'd have her rent one, first!

I don't picture her at the range practicing much ... if ever. I figure it'd be more like a "security blanket" ... God help anyone 'round, if she were to ever need to pull it out!

If I'm wrong 'bout her, that's great! ... more power to her!

Otherwise, I'll recommend a shorter bbl Ruger Single-Six 'er Bearcat (smaller/lighter easier to carry)!

Proper two-hand usage of a SAA-style would be such that she'd kock the hammer with her weak-hand thumb ... using a grip facilitating such ... this would be much easier than trying to use her strong-hand thumb w/o changing her firing grip.

It's a gun that's cheap/easy to practice with!

If she were to ever pull it out, it'll stop most encounters, w/o a shot fired!

If she were to ever fire it in mixed company, whilst not ideal, if she were to miss her intended target (likely to happen with most anything else, 'specially a .380 KelTec), innocent bystanders'd have a much higher survival rate!

Runner up'd be a Bobcat 'er Tomcat!

It's cute to say she needs a Glock 36 'er .357 J-frame fer better effect ... but closer to that end of the spectrum is simply not realistic, in this case!

... at least not 'til she can prove otherwise, at the range!

[Rem700]

One of the other reasons we choose the Browning it doesnt have a full length guide rod as many semi autos do thus she can run the slide buy pushing against the front of the slide against most objects with a open edge.

[rugersol]

have her check out the Walther PK380, its fun to shoot, recoil is managable and the slide is very easy to rack.

I'll make this and it's .22 sibling my new 1st runner-up, to any extent it's easier to manipulate, as I'm otherwise unaware!

[rugersol]

One of the other reasons we choose the Browning it doesnt have a full length guide rod as many semi autos do thus she can run the slide buy pushing against the front of the slide against most objects with a open edge.

Collapsible bbl?

[Rem700]

Definately do not purchase anything without having her try it first.
Depending on the severity of the RA some types of actions are not going to work or may work now but not into the future as the RA worsens.
My wife initially was able to work the cylinder release on a Ruger vs a S&W because of the way the release worked push in vs pushing forward but as the RA worsened she finally couldnt work the release on the Ruger or pull the trigger thru double action.
I now have a set of Ruger 32 single sixes that belonged to the wife that she could no longer thumb cock that I shoot on a regular basis and the hammers had been lightened to the point that they will only reliably set off Federal primers.
I/we are fully aware of the concepts of pushing pulling the slide on a semi auto useing your shoulders etc to run the slide on a semi but if because of physical limitiations you cannot grip the slide it doesnt much matter what other kind of gymnastics you go thru.

[Rem700]

One of the other reasons we choose the Browning it doesnt have a full length guide rod as many semi autos do thus she can run the slide buy pushing against the front of the slide against most objects with a open edge.

Collapsible bbl?

No
Depending on the length of dust cover and travel of the slide some not all semi autos are capable.
Its possible even with some with full length guide rods but because of the guide rod protrudeing from the front of the slide it doesnt leave as much of the slide exposed to hook on the edge of the object.

[mnglocker]

Take a look at the Beretta Bobcat and Tomcat series. They have tip up barrels so Mom won't have to operate the slide. .22LR, .25ACP and .32ACP are all easy rounds to shoot. The later two would be my preference do to centerfire primers they are more reliable.

[rugersol]

Depending on the length of dust cover

Oh ya ... first gun was a Commander ... self-taught ... never considered it, beyond that!

I'll hafta check it out with a 5in when I get home!

[mnglocker]

As far as instructors go, all on the board are very good. Ttoutsi comes to mind though since he sets up the local women on target clinics.