Mom want's to start carrying, need some advice

[ree]

How about something like this?

I'll attest that these work pretty well...and allow one to easily practice at ranges with SOPs that disallow belt/table/shoe/between-the-knees
slide racking. They are a bit obtrusive for a carry gun, but can be ground down shorter. And you don't necessarily have to go with a glock. I adapted one of these to work with one of the easily replaceable rear slide plates on an M&P.

[mnglocker]

When dealing with RA hand strength is going to be an issue period. I don't think that you'll mom will be able to or want to try to rack a semi-auto slide. The DA trigger on most small revolvers will be too long and too heavy also.

Hence the Beretta suggestions.

[rugersol]

I don't think that you'll mom will be able to or want to try to rack a semi-auto slide.

Some auto's have much lighter-racking slides (my old HK USP .40, comes to mind) ... with a tall square rear sight (if one's available) ... and ya don't mind scratchin' it up a bit ... I don't know that it's that big an issue?

Sure, in the heat of battle, should she need to reload, havin' jest the right conditions to do that'd really be somethin' ... but vs. a 5rd revolver? ... I'd say speed-reloads are simply not a factor.

If ya know someone with a little shop, I don't think it'd be any great trick to get some properly fittin' sights 3/8 - 1/2in high. Otherwise, only such sights I know of would be a 10-8 fer a 1911 ... even then, good luck finding a tall 'nuff front!

Other thing'd be, auto's jam ... no matter who makes 'em ... if ya shoot 'em 'nuff, they jam ... clearing a jam is tap-rack-bang! Revolvers can fail, too ... but if tap-rack-bang is simply impossible (w/o a nice 3ft high wooden crate, handy) ... a revolver might help one get better sleep!

[DeanC]

The tip-up barrel Berettas are a good idea, also the Beretta Cheetah is a heavy doublestack 380 that would probably serve better than a Keltec.

[Rem700]

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.

+1

[Lady T]

Is she completely new to shooting or has some experience?

It's wonderful how you're taking her hand strength and RA in consideration-many people don't.

If she is pretty new, please start her out with a .22 and let her have some fun and get some confidence. Starting out, if she doesn't like the little larger cal's she's tried, don't be discouraged, you've "planted the seed" in her mind and chances are, she will let you know when she's ready to move up!
I personally do not like the KelTec's because of the grip pattern actually hurts my hands while shooting them, so if she has soft skinned hands, that's another thing to consider. Yes, I know I can change them, but I really like my 442

If you want her to try a .38, please start her out with a little heavier one and work her into the airweights.

Depending on how she does at the range, if she decides she wants to carry a .22 please let her!!! Like you said: at least it's better than nothing! She will practice with it because it's fun to shoot and I'll guarentee in the near future she'll be ready to move up in size! .22's kill people!! I get news clips from friends about this once in awhile (last one a couple of months ago in Duluth Georgia of a guy broke into her apartment, dragged her out of the shower and tried to rape her, would've love to see the look on his face when she pulled her .22 out from her pillow and started to fire-no he did not survive 9rds center of mass)
Yes, there is also the argument of rimfire carts having a higher misfire ratio than centerfire, but in weak or inexperience hands, chances are they are going to let that gun jump in their hands when fired and can easily get a stovepipe or other malfunction-therefore only getting 1 or 2 shots off!

I run Ladies Only Basic and Permit to Carry classes @ Bill's.
I know Tom T and would also recommend him 100%

Good Luck!!!

LT

[12smile]

Kel-Tec makes a .32 ...and it has a 10 rd mag option.

How about a cell phone gun in .22 ?

[rukwikenuf]

I guess my opinion would be for a .38 spc, but the double action trigger IS pretty heavy, no matter what you've done to it. however, for target shooting, my 59 year old mother (who has Parkinson's Disease) was kickin ass with my 6" 357 full of .38spc. that was back on Memorial day. i don't think i'll ever forget the look on her face, letting a country raised farm girl do what she did growing up, it was priceless.
no, my mother has no intention of carrying. i invited her to the range as a courtesy. she surprisingly took me up on my offer

[R.E.T.]

For an instructor, I would recommend Lady T. Women are more comfortable learning from an other woman. Plus Lady T would be very patient and could recommend many things that men would not think of.

[Darkness]

Thanks A LOT everyone for the responses. A lot of info to go over. I like the sound of the Beretta BobCat in .22, .25 and the Tomcat in .32. The tip up barrel would help a TON, since she will not have to rack the slide. I will have to take her to the range to see what she thinks as they are small and my kick a lil more than she would like.
I will be teaching her how to shoot again as its been a few decades for her. Once we feel she is comfortable handling/shooting a gun again I will be looking for an instructor.
When she get back from her trip, we will be going to the range with my buckmark.

Anyone have a Bobcat/Tomcat. Let me know what you think. How is the trigger pull?

[MissouriDave]

The Walther P22 has a good trigger, and one that can be touched up by a smith if necessary. The slide is easy to rack and it shoots pretty good. I used this to teach kids and it worked out well. I still like it.

My boy shot a cottonmouth 2 years ago at about 18 yds in 3 shots. I was impressed.

[mnglocker]

The Walther P22 has a good trigger, and one that can be touched up by a smith if necessary. The slide is easy to rack and it shoots pretty good. I used this to teach kids and it worked out well. I still like it.

My boy shot a cottonmouth 2 years ago at about 18 yds in 3 shots. I was impressed.

And it has a dismal reliability record. It's a fun shooter, but it's not for carrying.

[infidel]

The problem I have with the .22 Beretta Bobcat is in the event of a misfire, there is no extractor. I believe the centerfire Tomcat in .32 would be a more reliable carry weapon.

[mmarino]

+1 on the walther pk380 losw recoil easy to handle, but if she is set on .22 i would go with a revolver in .22 mag with a 2" barrel