need good revolver for 70 yr old

[BOOSTED12A]

im looking for a revolver for my mother. she had an old .32 revolver that was meant for black powder rnds, i took it away cause im afrade it will explode if she shot it. her hand strength isnt much any more so im looking for something that isnt to hard to cock or has a lighter DA pull. i let her try to cock the hammer on my judge but she had a hell of a time doing it and she couldnt hold it up with one hand. i think an auto is out of the question due to the weight of the slide pull but i dont have much experence with the samller cal pistols other than my 1903 and she cant pull the slide on that but she can shoot it. thanks for any help
jake

[DragonLibra]

You might want to ask this question of Mas Ayoob up in the GATE Self Defense Forum - he really know revolvers & their trigger pulls and calibers and probably as a police officer and a self-defense instructor knows what to recommend to senior citizens.

If you can take her to a gun store to try out the trigger pulls of various revolvers, better yet if they rent the guns & have a range. Or if you can't take her go out and try them yourself.

I understand the Ruger LCR has a nice trigger pull but you can't cock it. You might want to go out and check out some of the single action revolvers and see if light enough for her to hold, cock and shoot.

Also a gunsmith that knows revolvers can smooth out the trigger for you.

And make sure the caliber you select is comfortable for her to shoot. Better to be able to shoot a 22 well than a 38 or higher caliber you can't handle.

[vafish]

My wife isn't that old, but she hates double action revolvers.

Get your mom a semi auto, load it up for her and just let her pull the trigger when she needs it.

[1 old 0311]

J frame, in .38, with rubber grips and some Silvertips.

[Mr. Blandings]

BOOSTED12A,

You may certainly get some good ideas/recommendations via the web, but the real answer is going to be found LIVE FIRE, ON THE RANGE, shooting with your mom. You should try to find a range with the largest selection of rental guns - or try to "shop" what your friends & shootin buddies may have.

You will likely do best trying several different revolvers in a few different calibers with a variety of ammunition. You may need to make more than one trip if your mother's endurance/strength is not great.

Are you just looking for a "house gun" or does mom carry? That answer will affect whether she wants a lighter weight firearm (easier to carry) or a heavier firearm (easier to shoot).

Is her strength, or lack of, enough of an issue that you may need a smaller, lighter firearm just so she can handle it (hold it steady, aim, etc/)?

The good news is there are more revolvers available in a larger variety of weights, calibers, and with the widest selections of grips, sights & accessories than ever before.

My first thought would be something in a steel framed, .38 special, 2-3" bbl, oversized rubber grip (possibly Crimson Trace laser-grips) and a mild load (148 grn mid range lead wadcutter, factory new ammo or a non +P hollow point like the ATK-Federal Nyclad or Winchester Silvertip).

[pennlineman]

Get your mom a semi auto, load it up for her and just let her pull the trigger when she needs it.

This, I love my revolvers. But if she is having problems cocking the judge she'll more than likely have trouble cocking any revolver.

[BOOSTED12A]

thanks for all the responses. problem solved tho. i went for a visit this weekend and took a few pistols since there is an indoor range about 10 min from her house. while i had my case open she was taking a look. first thing she looked at was my feg p9r and picked it up :shocked:. she liked how it felt, had her pull the triger and see if she could handele the da triger. not to much troubble but it want smooth either. so i had her cock the hammer. she didnt have much troubble with that and obviously the triger was no problem after that. i then had her attempt to rack the slide. no luck, but she got it about half way back which suprised me. i then handed her my tokarev. i had her cock the hammer, no problems. then i had her try to rack the slide. she had prety much no problem at all with it. so now she has the tok under her bed, one in the chamber with the hammer half cocked. i was suprised that she had no problems with it. guess all the polishing and deburring ive done to it payed off. as far as her shoting she wont have a problem, she didnt have troubble with my 1911 other than saying that it was to loud and hurt her hands so shes good to go. now i just need to get another tokarev. mabe ill try a romanian this time....

[wrenrj1]

I'd suggest a Ruger LCR, but also consider where she lives and consider a place where there's some security. Additionally, consider practicing with any weapon. My folks are also in their 70's and I am concerned about home invasions as well.