Pistol for the recoil sensitive

[m25operator]

I think we need a little more info. Will your mother carry it on her person. Does it matter if it shows? A car gun legally carried can be a 8'' to 12'' inch behemoth. If that is the case, I would recommend a 6'' . 357 magnum, practice with .38 midrange wadcutters. Carry 125 grain magnum hollowpoints ( hydra shocks my favorite). If carrying on your person and concealability is a concern. The  3 inch guns give a bit more weight and recoil reduction. If you can still find one, the 32. magnums are not a bad choice. If you had not mentioned mountain lions, all of the above recommendations have merit. Especially the cailber beginning with .4.

[Mike McLaughlin]

Many people who are "recoil shy" have not yet felt recoil from any gun. As an instructor I have found a number of people who mistakenly associate size of the gun with force of the recoil. I had one man who understood some basic physics, and merely telling him of the inverse relationship between gun size (mass) and felt recoil was sufficient for a head-slap, and a realization that the "big" revolver I was starting him with (K-38) would not recoil as much as the snub J-frame he had purchased, and was concerned with.

Another student had to watch me demonstrate different size handguns and different calibers before she would even pick up a Hi Standard 103 that I hoped would eventually lead her down to the little 22 popgun that her husband had purchased for her to use as a purse-gun (his term, not mine).

There is no need to explain Einstein and Relativity. Just let the student handle different size guns, and see different caliber ammo, and then start them out on decent size gun, mild caliber, to get started on learning the basics.

PS: Be sure you explain and demonstrate safe gun handling while you are doing it!

[MtnHermit]

It's probably most important to get a gun in her hands and do a bit of shooting. Borrow some suitable candidates and shoot a few rounds. Then go to the gun store and let her feel some more. If she finds one that she likes the feel of she'll ignore any of its shortcomings. Or, even better, she'll come back for a second one.
Of course training can't be underemphasized.

MtnHermit

[Hazcat]

I recently turned my GF a true "California Liberal" (no offense intended) into a gun gal.  It took about a year to get her to the range.

At first she was very afraid of guns.  I and my son (13) would come back from the range and talk about how much fun we had and the good people we met and the challenge of getting better.  Then I bought a new 22 for him (Ruger MKIII).  She asked to see it.  I brought it over and of course went through a complete "unload" drill before I sat down beside her and gave her a quick lesson on how to be sure it is unloaded and NOT to point it at anyone or anything she did not mind shooting whatever it was pointed at even though it was 'unloaded'.

Next I brought over a little 22 snubbie I have and asked if I could leave it at her place.  She said sure as long as it was not loaded.  I left it there but would load it while I was there and unload it when I left.  Then I started to show her more about that gun and how it was a very simple thing to operate and that it could give her some protection when I was not there.

She asked more and more questions and I gave her more and more instruction.  Finally she asked to go shoot. 

Of course I started with a 22 (my Ruger Single Six).  Now she is a gun owner (Sig Mosquito).

It takes time and patience and NEVER push them.

[Dakotaranger]

Many people who are "recoil shy" have not yet felt recoil from any gun. As an instructor I have found a number of people who mistakenly associate size of the gun with force of the recoil. I had one man who understood some basic physics, and merely telling him of the inverse relationship between gun size (mass) and felt recoil was sufficient for a head-slap, and a realization that the "big" revolver I was starting him with (K-38) would not recoil as much as the snub J-frame he had purchased, and was concerned with.

Another student had to watch me demonstrate different size handguns and different calibers before she would even pick up a Hi Standard 103 that I hoped would eventually lead her down to the little 22 popgun that her husband had purchased for her to use as a purse-gun (his term, not mine).

There is no need to explain Einstein and Relativity. Just let the student handle different size guns, and see different caliber ammo, and then start them out on decent size gun, mild caliber, to get started on learning the basics.

PS: Be sure you explain and demonstrate safe gun handling while you are doing it!

She shot as a kid, and over Christmas I had my Mom and sis out shooing.  Because of an alcky mom has a bad back and my XD9 hurt her back.

She was pretty scarry with the .22 though (she out shot me ).  I'm wanting to get something that she can take with her traveling to put a deer down or when she's hiking that will put down a mountain lion.

[Sponsor]

[2HOW]

You may want to check out Charter Arms, they are well built (heavy) and many variations, even the .44 spl isnt so bad.

[texcaliber]

I would point out first things first here. Budget! If money is not a concern then something from the Performance Center @ S&W which has a power port. If bags of hundreds are not laying around then the regular production PP's are still well made. I happen to use a 629PP for bowling pins and the gun feels like a light 357 or even 38+P going off w/ 270gr.@1100fps. Yes i know, far from a elk load but it is magic on pins. If after looking into the bigger PP 357's and finding out they are not a fit i very much suggest a .22mag revolver. If it is good enough to go though a vest then it will be better than the .17 and ok for defence. Downside ammo cost. But before you turn to the .22Mag look very hard at the airlite's in .22LR would be great stoked w/ a couple of CCI shot shells then veloceters or stingers(which almost mimic the mags velocities from pistols) and your mom has a perfect setup. You never know, she may even show up at the range once and a while packing.
Just my 2cents.
Tex

[Hazcat]

You may want to check out Charter Arms, they are well built (heavy) and many variations, even the .44 spl isnt so bad.

Charter makes a .38 that only weighs 12 oz.  You don't even notice it in your pocket.  Comes with or without the hammer spur,  Good reliable gun at as reasonable cost.

[Rastus]

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

"No combat tupperware"....I like that....hope you haven't trademarked that or otherwise made it your own...I'm gonna steal it. 

It's a shame the 5.7 x 28 MM round doesn't come in something other than "combat tupperware".  The little 5.7 round in a pistol approximates a .22 WMR rifle, which sounds appropriate for what your Mom needs (and a bunch of other older Americans).  I wish I could get a 5.7 x 28 in something that wasn't semi-auto for my mom.  She lives alone and has arthritis....that little 5.78 x 28 in a small revolver could be very light (composite frame ?) due to light recoil.  It needs to be a bit more than a .22 mag snubbie to begin to provide reliable self-defense protection.

Hey...Sig, Ruger, Charter Arms, S&W, etc....are you guys listening?   Sounds like a market to me.  People who want light, simple revolvers...people that have physical constraints against recoil and weight but need something to stop a predator....the 5.7 x 28 sounds like a good compromise round to me....pretty big market with the baby boomers getting older.  Maybe there is finally a place for the 5.7 x 28...other than just being fun (and expensive) to shoot. 

Just in case you guys (manufacturers) heard it here first...I'd like first dibs on a low serial number.

[2HOW]

Rastus, from what ive read the  5/7 is an over penetrating beast that should only be used on the field of combat and not suitable for CCW or home defense. Plus the fact that the cost is way out there. correct me if Im wrong, I really like what ive heard but the application for this round is marginal.