Shooting and Shopping ..... For a Carry Gun

1435 Views 16 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Tommycourt, Jan 30, 2017

MagBlackhawk

Discussion Starter · Jan 22, 2017

My wife is shopping for a carry gun.
Due to her medical physical condition it has to be light weight, low recoiling and fairly small.

She's held All of the smaller Rugers, none felt good to her so....

Last week a nice couple at the range had a Sig P238 .380 and a P938 9mm.
She could shoot both well but the 9mm had too much recoil causing pain. Nope to it.

She was going good with the .380 and liked it but then .... it jammed.
A defective factory load was the cause. (Case bulging, could not go into battery).

Then ...... it jammed again due to what I'm almost positive was limp wristing.
She admits not holding it very tight when it happened.
Then she fired a bunch more, no problems.

Two jams, not the fault of the pistol has her thinking..... Nope for that one to.
Dang It! That little thing was going to be fun for me to play with......

Now she's asking about a Bersa! I've heard good and bad about them, not sure I wanna risk it?

Maybe I can talk her into renting a P238 and have her try it again, maybe.

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

phideaux

· #2 · Jan 22, 2017

Hey Mag,
I moved your post to its own thread ,from range reports ,so it would get better exposure ...its a good subject.

I don't know your wife's physical problem, but my wife has RA ,bad, and has no strength in her hands ,
We searched and searched for a Semi-auto that she could rack easily....none found.

She tried many Revolvers, DAO, so she wouldn't have to deal with a hammer (hanging on things), and couldn't find one with a trigger she could easily pull...
UNTIL she tried the LCR...AH HA!.. that was the one , if she could handle the recoil.

She could , so she has been carrying the LCR 38 for a long time, and , can shoot it accurately.

Just my .02.

Jim

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VThillman

· #3 · Jan 22, 2017

Never handled one, but the Bersa 380 is straight blowback, and has a rep for snappy recoil.

I'm wondering if an LCR in 327 mag - but shooting 32S&W - would please her. That cartridge gets no respect on this side of the pond, but some European cops carried it as their issue sidearm for decades. Better than saying 'please don't'.

buster40c

· #4 · Jan 22, 2017 (Edited)

I think Jim said he had a Kel-Tec 32. I have shot the 32 in an Sp101 and it has minimal recoil while being fun to shoot. Maybe in a mouse gun the 32 still might have a bit to much recoil.
I shot a friend's Sig P238 and was really surprised by it. It was the best shooting 380 I ever shot. If I was to have another 380 it would be the P238.

squirrelhunter

· #5 · Jan 22, 2017

I've had a Bersa Thunder .380 for years and haven't had any problems with it but I haven't shot it a lot either,I just don't shoot much other than working up loads and hunting. In my opinion it doesn't have much recoil but then again I'm use to shooting 44 magnums,35 Remington pistols and 40s too so when shooting something that small I really don't pay much attention to it either.
Sorry,that's probably not much help.

SHOOTER13

· #6 · Jan 22, 2017 (Edited)

Better than nothing... .32 ACP

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SHOOTER13

· #7 · Jan 22, 2017

My Bersa...but it's a .45

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Oldhand

· #8 · Jan 23, 2017

I used to shoot 32 S&W long thought it was the berries until I shot a bowling pin. It flattened out and fell off, no penetration, I know skin isn't as hard as a bowling pin, but I haven't shot 32 S&W since.

SavageGuy

· #9 · Jan 23, 2017

I've heard nothing but good things about the bersa thunder, but I've never shot one.

I know you said she tried the Ruger line, did that include the lc380?

MagBlackhawk

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jan 23, 2017

LC380...
Yes sorta. She put one in hand, didn't like the feel of the grip at all. She's never fired one though.

:usa:

MagBlackhawk

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jan 23, 2017

phideaux said:
Hey Mag,
I moved your post to its own thread ,from range reports ,so it would get better exposure ...its a good subject.

I don't know your wife's physical problem, but my wife has RA ,bad, and has no strength in her hands ,
We searched and searched for a Semi-auto that she could rack easily....none found.

She tried many Revolvers, DAO, so she wouldn't have to deal with a hammer (hanging on things), and couldn't find one with a trigger she could easily pull...
UNTIL she tried the LCR...AH HA!.. that was the one , if she could handle the recoil.

She could , so she has been carrying the LCR 38 for a long time, and , can shoot it accurately.

Just my .02.

Jim

Jim,
Thanks for moving my post. Bet you could tell I had trouble figuring out where it should go.

She loved the SP101 she had before her hands started giving her problems.
She carried .357's and practiced with my midrange loads along with a few magnums each session.

After hand problems developed 38's were OK but finally the trigger pull became too much for her.

She is of the opinion that any D/A revolver would be about the same as the SP101.
(Heavy gun, heavy trigger pull).
That's why she's been thinking it has to be a small, light auto-loader.

I'll show her your post.... Next gun show we make, we'll see how the LCR feels to her.

Then rent one if she likes it...

Thanks,
Mag

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phideaux

· #12 · Jan 23, 2017

I'm bettin the trigger on that LCR will sell her on it.

My wife has sold several ladies on it, with hand strength issues.

Jim

buster40c

· #13 · Jan 23, 2017 (Edited)

I suggest you have her check out both the LCR +P and the LCR 357. The +P is feather light but I am guessing the felt recoil is more than the 357 version has. Of course I am comparing 38 spl or +P not saying shooting 357 would be comparable.
The LCR+P literally felt feather light and the 357 being only 4 OZ, heavier sure felt totally different to me.
If you want to make a trip to my place she can shoot my LCR357 here. I have a couple other guns she could shoot for comparison also.

EasyCZ

· #14 · Jan 24, 2017

Oldhand said:
I used to shoot 32 S&W long thought it was the berries until I shot a bowling pin. It flattened out and fell off, no penetration, I know skin isn't as hard as a bowling pin, but I haven't shot 32 S&W since.

"...thought it was the berries..."
That's awesome. I've never heard that phrase before.

EasyCZ

· #15 · Jan 24, 2017

I would go old school and take a serious look at the Walther PPK and CZ-83. Both are very accurate and well-made steel-framed .380s.

Here's a good read on the subject...

http://chuckhawks.com/handguns_handicapped_shooters.htm

MagBlackhawk

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jan 30, 2017

:threadbump::
About one week ago I showed my wife the LCR in .357 on Ruger's web page. She would carry 38's.

She didn't like it, said see didn't want an enclosed hammer.
(Something about S/A accuracy testing off the bench).

I was pushing .357 cause I can load Mild wadcutters for her practice in .357 brass without readjusting dies, plus I could play with magnums in it.

I wished they made an external hammer .357 LCR. Now they do. The new LCRx model #5460. :Cooltu:
Like buster said, it's only a little less than 4 oz more weight.

Tommycourt

· #17 · Jan 30, 2017

Mag,

This may not be much help but my wife has neuropathy throughout her hands and legs where she has to have injections every 2 weeks ($7600.00 per shot***thank God for insurance) but I got her a .38 special Smith and Wesson Airweight revolver, hammer less and the trigger pull is light. I have only had her shoot some reloads through it but she is comfortable with the pistol. The pistol is the forerunner to the 442. Aluminum frame, weighs 15 ounces, 5 shot, ramp sites, and some Hogue grips that I installed. It does not have the trigger lock feature. Barrel is just shy of 2". I test fired it with some reloads and @20 feet it had good grouping. The pistol is capable of +P rounds although she can't handle the recoil. Personally I would rather have her shoot light reloads rather than not have anything. It's small enough to carry in her purse and she can fire through the purse should conditions arise. Just having the pistol at least gives her some confidence that she has some protection. I would like to have her move up into a heavier load but I know that is impossible as her pain will extend into her arms and legs where she needs a walker.
Jerry, this is just my personal opinion, understanding your dilemma however it will at least deter an attacker. Most attackers are cowards and just the idea of being shot will and should deter anything bad happening. I bought it a while back and paid about $380.00 I believe. Good luck in your search! BTW this is a J frame pistol

Tommy

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