Pistol for the recoil sensitive

[Dakotaranger]

I'm looking for a pistol for my mom. She has a bad back and I have no grand dillusions she would carry 98% of the time. The parameters I'm looking for:

• No combat tupperware
• heavier is better so as to reduce recoil
• thinking of .38 or .357 and telling her to run .38's through it.
• It will probably be just a vehicle and/or only for hiking gun so it doesn't necessarily need to be a snubbie
• have recoil reducing grips

Mom and I discussed it yesterday and I know that she won't be putting millions of rounds through it, it would be mainly for putting a deer down or if she came accross a mountain lion.

[Flork]

I'd give her a 4" Colt Trooper in 357 and load her up with moderate 38's.  It's real simple to shoot(just aim, squeeze and bang) and nearly unjamable being a revo.

Just my recommendation.  Best of luck

[MaSIGshooter]

My wife has always been partial to my Ruger GP-100  (4" Blue) - they are already setup with the nice cushy grips...
Definitely go with some moderate .38's - I like the Winchester Winclean - good performance low smoke.
 

[gunman42782]

I will second the GP100.  It is an outstanding gun.  Or one of the Smith and Wessons would do just fine as well. 

[CDR]

I think a Smith and Wesson 686 4" loaded with .38 would be a great choice.  It comes with nice soft Hogue rubber grips to reduce felt recoil.  If she could handle .38+P then you have that option.  I'll assume that .357 Magnum is too much, but the revolver gives you a choice of all three and it has a nice weight and smooth DA/SA trigger pull.  You also have a choice of 6 shot or 7 shot models.  I love my 686 4" (no dash) from 1983.  Really easy to shoot .38s as well.

[Sponsor]

[MDaly]

For a defensive gun you might want to look at this  http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=54&category=Revolver

This is the Taurus 17 Mach2, 9 shot bobbed hammer snubbie.  There is very low recoil with this cartridge/firearm but the effect of the 17 on tissue is huge. 

Just a thought that might work out for her.

Mike

[Hazcat]

For a defensive gun you might want to look at this  http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=54&category=Revolver

This is the Taurus 17 Mach2, 9 shot bobbed hammer snubbie.  There is very low recoil with this cartridge/firearm but the effect of the 17 on tissue is huge. 

Just a thought that might work out for her.

Mike

Gotta disagree.  First the.17 is too  small for defense.

Second and more important..  I friend just bought two NIB Taurus .357s.  One in 6" and one in 3".  With less than 100 standard 38 rounds both have jammed due to parts shaking loose.  Yes the shop fixed 'em both free and fast but two guns BOTH falling apart cured me of ever owning a Taurus.

[Buckfever4Life]

anyone know where I can get an ankle holster for my Desert Eagle 50 cal.? LoL just joking. A friend of mine in a similar situation and she carries a Ruger Security Six .357. I have attached photos of my Ruger Security Six for reference, It has not seen daylight for 12 years...lol

[MDaly]

Most people who have not worked with the high velocity 17s would think they are not well suited to defense.  Having shot them a great deal into clothing draped ballistic gel I can say the little bullet will make a fearful wound that will discourage most folks pretty quickly.  Now, I would not say that the 17 is the best choice for self defense.  I would say that for the recoil shy it is an option better than a 22.  The wound it will make is very large and very devastating.  Will it crush bone?  No, but neither will any other load that is very ight recoil.  I will also state that I have watched a man shot in the butt with a 1 oz. 12 ga slug out run 3 yound officers. 

As far a Taurus revolvers go.   They are probably just like Colt or Smiths or any other.  Good ones and bad ones.  I can tell you that the ones I have shot are quite good.  I have a Model 85 2" 38 Spl. that has over 2000 rounds through it and it has never had any problems.  I could also tell you of the new Smith I just sent back which would not rotate the cylinder out of the box.  This does not mean I think all Smith's are bad, just this one.

I know Michael Bane also shoots some Taurus revolvers with no problems.

I just passed the 1,000,000 round mark from revolvers in '06 so I have a fair understanding of their use and potential.  If weight and transportation were not an issue and the lady could handle recoil, I would suggest a cartridge starting with a .4 .  If defense is from 4 legged animals such as bear, I would suggest a cartridge starting with .4  .  But, for a woman unfamiliar with shooting, who will not shoot much, who is looking to discourage two legged animals, I would suggest the most shootable firearm chambered in the most shootable cartridge so that she is most likely to obtain a hit  After seeing the results of shooting the 17 Mach2 into gel, I will stick to that recommendation.

Mike

[Hazcat]

MDaly,

I will bow to your superior knowledge concerning the 17.

My fear with the Taurus is 2 bought at the same time both failing.  Certainly ALL products will have failures, heck they're made by humans who I have heard, are not perfect. .  It just seems that MAYBE the quality control might be slipping as they attempt to keep up with demand.