Little gun advice.

Crazy Carl

are ya freakin' kidding me?
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I need something small for the missus for carry (at her request). Small hands, weak grip/hand strength, 2 artificial thumb joints & arthritis. She's at the point where she's afraid she won't be able to run/operate her P238 & is very recoil sensitive..

She's thinking about a .22lr or .25ACP in something Beretta 21A sized- her mom has a model 20 in .25ACP that she thinks would be the bee's knees. She wants something she can easily carry all the time & doesn't like futzing with her NAA Mini.

What say ye? I'm leaning .25 over .22 for reliability purposes, but know nothing about these little things. I'm okay with .22 if there's a model out there that's reliable with them. Manual safety a must, for Condition 1 carry. What should I look at? One of the little Berettas? Colt 1908?

Missus wants to keep packin' & shootin' despite her health issues & I need to get a reliable pea shooter back in her hands.
 
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It might be too large but have you considered the M&P Shield 380 EZ? VERY easy to rack, has a grip safety (ala 1911) and available with/without a thumb safety. If I understand their Black Friday ad, Academy will be almost giving them away (sale price, $50 S&W rebate, $50 Academy gift card).
 
Kel-Tec has a 22 WMR/Magnum PMR 30, FN 5.7 mm.

One thing to consider is a Sig Sauer P 238 380 ACP HD. It’s heavier and less recoil.




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LCR in .327 Fed Mag, running .32 S&W wadcutters.

The trigger is much lighter and smoother than the rimfires, it holds 6 rounds instead of the five of the .38/.357; and the little wadcutters don't kick much, but they punch nice, clean little holes.

And when Carl needs to perform a function-check on mama's revolver, full-house .327 Fed Mags make big 'ol fire balls.
 
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LCR in .327 Fed Mag, running .32 S&W wadcutters.

The trigger is much lighter and smoother than the rimfires, it holds 6 rounds instead of the five of the .38/.357; and the little wadcutters don't kick much, but they punch nice, clean little holes.

This man has it figured out ^.

The heavier trigger on the rimfires was the one thing I couldn't figure out a way around. I forgot about the .327..... That's the way to go.
 
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It might be too large but have you considered the M&P Shield 380 EZ? VERY easy to rack, has a grip safety (ala 1911) and available with/without a thumb safety. If I understand their Black Friday ad, Academy will be almost giving them away (sale price, $50 S&W rebate, $50 Academy gift card).
@Crazy Carl
If you want her to handle one, I have a NIB example.
 
It might be too large but have you considered the M&P Shield 380 EZ? VERY easy to rack, has a grip safety (ala 1911) and available with/without a thumb safety. If I understand their Black Friday ad, Academy will be almost giving them away (sale price, $50 S&W rebate, $50 Academy gift card).
+1 for the EZ
 
@BatteryOaksBilly has a sweet J frame in .32 Magnum that shoots about all .32 ammo. I forget the Model number.
 
Under the circumstances list in the OP this is a most definitely a try before you buy thing. A 15 minute fondling at the LGS is not enough for her to make a good informed decision. The manipulation of controls and trigger could be but the actual firing is just as important to make sure the recoil impulse is in her wheelhouse especially when it’s a small lightweight handgun.

I will say I’d rather have a .22mag especially loaded with 45 gr Hornady’s Critical Defense load) over a .25acp. It has a jacketed bullet and is manufactured under more stringent control than bulk rimfire ammo so reliability is less of a question. A choice in other than a Ruger LCR in .22mag would be a S&W 351. It’s an alloy framed snubnose revolver with a decent trigger pull. It comes in 2 carry setups ... a standard exposed hammer style or a shrouded internal hammer for more snag free carry. The size and weight (under 12 ozs) make it very easy to work and the .22mag recoil tame.
 
It might be too large but have you considered the M&P Shield 380 EZ? VERY easy to rack, has a grip safety (ala 1911) and available with/without a thumb safety. If I understand their Black Friday ad, Academy will be almost giving them away (sale price, $50 S&W rebate, $50 Academy gift card).


^^ What Mr Jeppo said!

My wife can't rack most of my guns, but her EZ she's got no problem with. It's a compact gun but enough there to comfortably hold onto, if that makes any sense.
 
^^ What Mr Jeppo said!

My wife can't rack most of my guns, but her EZ she's got no problem with. It's a compact gun but enough there to comfortably hold onto, if that makes any sense.
How can you go wrong with a $200 gun that’s guaranteed for life (the life of S&W :confused:)?
 
Yeah, I was perfectly happy until I realized I needed an LCR in 327 FedMag :mad:
It is a great gun. I love mine and shooting .32 shorts in it is a hoot.

Edit: The DAO trigger is a bit long. It may be uncomfortable for someone with manual dexterity issues. I second/third... the S&W EZ in this instance.
 
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What's the primary concern here? Recoil or manual of arms?
32 ACP doesn't recoil much in an all metal gun. What about a Beretta Tomcat or 81?

All of the above, as well trigger pull & overall weight/size. She really struggles with the DA trigger pull on her S&W 3913, so I don't think she'll do well with a DA revolver. That & she doesn't want a revolver. I've shot the BIL's .32 Tomcat & she will NOT like that at all.

MIL also gave her a Jennings .22 that she ended up with somehow & 'used to work', but is having some sort of issue now. She's dead set on a pistol in that size range & yes, I know the Jennings is a POS. I just don't know anything about the little Colts, Brownings & Berettas. I know .22lr or .25ACP are less than ideal, but light years more effective than any of her 9mms or .380s that will get left at home when she has to run out on an errand.

Her autoimmune issues play havoc with her joints & cause all kinds of neuropathy & weakness. I think one of the little tip-up Berettas would work well for her. I just don't know what's out in that kinda territory or what to shy away from.
 
Has she shot a Ruger SR22?

And if not , does she want to?

She has not, but it's the same size as her Walther P22.

I gotta catch a break in the weather & get her out to the range. She hasn't shot since her thumb replacement surgeries & is afraid she won't be able to shoot the pistols she already has anymore. I'd love to get lucky & find out she's GTG with her (still unfired) P238 or her Walthers. I'll still get her a Baby Browning/Colt 1908 or little Beretta if she just wants one, but we gotta figure out what we're really working with.
 
or her Walthers.
Which Walthers?
My daughter has some of the handstrength issues you describe as well. She has a Walther PK380 that does a great job for her. Easy to manipulate and virtually no recoil.
I could arrange a loan if Mrs. Crazy wants to try it.
 
@Crazy Carl, I have an observation. Note some of the guns suggested here and take her to your LGS or a gun show. Encourage her to handle and manipulate them. If allowed by vendor, handle them side-by-side. If she lands on 2 or 3 she is semi-comfortable with, post up. I am sure those of us within reasonable distance would be happy to loan a gun for her to tryout in live fire.
 
Which Walthers?
My daughter has some of the handstrength issues you describe as well. She has a Walther PK380 that does a great job for her. Easy to manipulate and virtually no recoil.
I could arrange a loan if Mrs. Crazy wants to try it.

She's got a P22, PK380 & a CCP. 'Preciate the offer, but she's got damned near as many pistols as I do. Lol! She's got her heart set on a mouse gun & health/strength issues aside, is as stubborn as a mule.
 
Honestly, she sounds like the exact market the S333 volleyfire is trying to appeal to.

Its a gun that isn’t for everyone, but might be just right for her.
 
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After hearing your addt’l details I’m liking the pepper spray idea a lot more, maybe in addition to whichever tiny pistol she settles on.
 
Is a S&W M&P 22 compact too big?
 
Beretta 950BS
.25 ultra reliable
Soft shooting
Single action (sweet trigger)
Tip up barrel , no slide manipulation
The BS has an external safety (B model relies on hammer decock recock as safety)
8 in the mag one in throat 9 rounds in a tiny package!
It should fit all the requirements
Very similar to model 20 just not double action on the first round so it is much easier first shot
BTW the model 20 is quite hard to find in .25 (as opposed to the much more common .22lr)
 
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If you could find a Beretta Bobcat (I think that is the 22) with the popup barrel would work. If you can not find the Beretta then look for the Taurus with the popup barrel.
 
Beretta 950BS
.25 ultra reliable
Soft shooting
Single action (sweet trigger)
Tip up barrel , no slide manipulation
The BS has an external safety (B model relies on hammer decock recock as safety)
8 in the mag one in throat 9 rounds in a tiny package!
It should fit all the requirements
Very similar to model 20 just not double action on the first round so it is much easier first shot
BTW the model 20 is quite hard to find in .25 (as opposed to the much more common .22lr)

I was eyeballin' that 950BS. Seems like exactly what she's wanting.
 
@Crazy Carl Taurus makes the Beretta copy in a tip up .25. And, I agree on the .25 ACP over a .22LR. The ammo is too unpredictable in the rimfire.
 
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