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Looking to help a friend with pistol choice

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  • malladus

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    Okay TGT braintrust, I need some advice to help a friend out, any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

    Friend of mine wants to get into handgun shooting and also use it for self protection. He has limited use of his right arm and hand. He would like a semi-auto if possible, so we tested out a few of my Glocks. He has enough grip strength to handle things with the hand, but not enough to allow him to rack the slide of a stock G17. He however, has enough strength in his arm that with some sort of mechanical advantage (i.e. a slideracker or other slide projection) he can rack the slide.

    So question is, any recommendations for a leftie friendly gun that is easy to rack?

    He isn't opposed to revolvers, but he would like a semi-auto of some sort first if possible.

    malladus
     

    Texsun

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    The revolver may not be sexy to him but it may save his life.....difficult question.
     

    Shorts

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    Well me and my one hand I use a 1911. Fullsize and Commander the slide is easily manipulated with one hand and the slide is big enough that you can get a full grip. Also depending on the rear sight, you can use it to catch the edge of your belt, jeans, shoe or table/ledge and rack the slide in a pinch. I don't know if any of the guys have watched me work my Commander but I rack the slide, if need be by placing the butt of the gun against my abs/ribs and rack the slide. At the range you never have to rack the slide unless you need to do clearing drills. Count the shots in the mag, drop it when you have the last shot in the chamber and reload a new mag. The slide never needs to lock open or run the risk of being out of battery.

    As for reloading, that will need to be practiced in the way that your friend finds best. The technique will be different at the range versus in trouble on the run.

    Another firearm I'm used is the Beretta Cheetah 86 with the tip-up barrel. It is a .380 so ammo availability and cost should be considered.

    This one armed gal doesn't like shooting revolvers. If the shooting grip is only one handed, you friend may find a single action pistol more accurate. Maybe not, but I do.

    I have shot some polymer guns. I have found them more difficult for me to work the slide, especially the compact models. I think it's the shape and size of the slides. I'm just use to 1911s so that's what I trust.


    Unfortunately when dealing with firearms, a one armed person will have to make compromises in action, capacity and size of the gun they choose. Your friend needs to decide which characteristic he can place more or less risk on and go from there. We can't use the same standards as 2 armed people because we aren't 2 armed people. I don't believe most folks realize this. You're friend may get criticisms for the choices he does make. But he needs to make the choices that are best and right and good for him. No one else.

    Good luck
     

    Big country

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    will this be a CHL weapon or a night stand weapon?
    This is something that needs to be considered. If he plans on getting a CHL then IMHO he should try to take the test with a semi-auto if at all possible. That way he can experiment with wheel gun vs semi-auto latter. I'm by no means an expert in handguns but that is the approach I would take. Just my .
     

    Shorts

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    Umhm CHL go for the semi auto. There is the distinction made on the license.


    Reliability is the biggest risk IMO in regards to one of 'us' using a semiauto. If the gun is reliable without a doubt, you know the ammo you use and what runs, then that lessens the chance of needing to clear jams. Am I saying you don't ever need to practice those clearing drills? Not a chance, practice practice practice!. But it means that the semiauto is a viable option for carry because it will run. I put a lot of faith and trust in my gear that it will run right when I need it. That's a risk I acknowledge. In turn I keep up with maintenance and ensure as best I can that the gun is reliable. The more you shoot, the more you'll trust it.
     

    Texas42

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    Revolver first for his protection then get pistol for fun. My $0.02


    not be be semantic, but a revolver is a pistol. An automatic is a pistol.

    They are all pistols.

    I know this is picky, but it bothers me. . . . . I need a life.
     

    CJS3

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    I'm running into this same situation with my Daughter In Law. She wants a handgun for the nights when my son is on duty (military, stationed in Fla.). I suggested a revolver, but she wants a semi auto. The best thing to do is to take your friend out and let them shoot with a lot of different firearms. That's what I'm planning on doing with my DIL the next time they come home. That way she can pick for Herself.
    My DIL is from a firearms friendly family, but untill recently, she's never shown a real interest in shooting. That was always something "daddy and her yucky brothers" would do.
     

    Scott_F

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    I'm running into this same situation with my Daughter In Law. She wants a handgun for the nights when my son is on duty (military, stationed in Fla.). I suggested a revolver, but she wants a semi auto. The best thing to do is to take your friend out and let them shoot with a lot of different firearms. That's what I'm planning on doing with my DIL the next time they come home. That way she can pick for Herself.
    My DIL is from a firearms friendly family, but untill recently, she's never shown a real interest in shooting. That was always something "daddy and her yucky brothers" would do.

    I've taken my son in law out to shoot and he's a great shot (eagle scout with a good amount of long gun experience, little to no handgun experience until I came along). I'd love to buy him a pistol for x-mas, but my grandson is 1.5 years old. I'm hesitant. I think he needs a handgun to protect my daughter and grandson, but I do not want to force it into that situation.

    I'll test the waters a bit more next time he comes to town and we go shooting again.
     

    Texas42

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    I've taken my son in law out to shoot and he's a great shot (eagle scout with a good amount of long gun experience, little to no handgun experience until I came along). I'd love to buy him a pistol for x-mas, but my grandson is 1.5 years old. I'm hesitant. I think he needs a handgun to protect my daughter and grandson, but I do not want to force it into that situation.

    I'll test the waters a bit more next time he comes to town and we go shooting again.

    You could always mention throwing in one of those quck release, handgun safes. The non-biometric ones are about a hundred bucks at Academy.

    PS-I wish my future father in law was thinking about buying me a gun. . . . though I think he is just a little annoyed that I'm taking his daughter to Texas with me. . . . and weddings aren't exactly the cheapest affairs.
     

    wrtanker

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    "not be be semantic, but a revolver is a pistol. An automatic is a pistol.

    They are all pistols."



    I read somewhere that there was a difference between a pistol and a revolver. I checked the Webster and found this definition for pistol:

    1: a handgun whose chamber is integral with the barrel

    So, a revolver is technically not a pistol but a semiautomatic is a pistol.

    In common usage, though, they are all called pistols.
     

    Texas42

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    "not be be semantic, but a revolver is a pistol. An automatic is a pistol.

    They are all pistols."


    I read somewhere that there was a difference between a pistol and a revolver. I checked the Webster and found this definition for pistol:

    1: a handgun whose chamber is integral with the barrel

    So, a revolver is technically not a pistol but a semiautomatic is a pistol.

    In common usage, though, they are all called pistols.

    This is actually kind of interesting. but wikipedia has an section on this.

    [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handgun[/URL]

    cause wiki is the best place to get your knowledge. . .. . but it is worth reading (the part about multiple useages of "pistol")
     

    Shorts

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    Revolver and semiauto language aside, it's important the guy pick for himself.

    Head to the range, select a couple, hopefully one of each. Shoot them. Operate them. And overall try to live with them for an hour. What's the perspective now?

    I don't like that "get a revolver" is suggested just because a person has one good hand. I think it is short sighted to suggest it based on its cycling/firing action. Has anyone here ever tried to reload a revolver with one hand? Moon clip or speed loader aside, can you swiftly hold the gun, open the cylinder, grab the reloads and drop them in?

    It's real easy to make suggestions as an armchair quarterback. Walk a mile first then think about it again.



    For what its worth (look out, soap box) I think oversimplifying for us gimps is condescending. I find it personally offensive and frankly I can shoot and do whatever the heck I want because I won't be lumped with what you might consider the lowest common denominator. Its up to me to make it happen. (ok, I'm stepping off now) I probably should pay a professional a lot of money to sort that out huh? ^^^
     

    DoubleActionCHL

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    Revolver and semiauto language aside, it's important the guy pick for himself.

    Head to the range, select a couple, hopefully one of each. Shoot them. Operate them. And overall try to live with them for an hour. What's the perspective now?

    I don't like that "get a revolver" is suggested just because a person has one good hand. I think it is short sighted to suggest it based on its cycling/firing action. Has anyone here ever tried to reload a revolver with one hand? Moon clip or speed loader aside, can you swiftly hold the gun, open the cylinder, grab the reloads and drop them in?

    It's real easy to make suggestions as an armchair quarterback. Walk a mile first then think about it again.



    For what its worth (look out, soap box) I think oversimplifying for us gimps is condescending. I find it personally offensive and frankly I can shoot and do whatever the heck I want because I won't be lumped with what you might consider the lowest common denominator. Its up to me to make it happen. (ok, I'm stepping off now) I probably should pay a professional a lot of money to sort that out huh? ^^^

    I doubt anyone was really intending to be condescending. I'd probably recommend a revolver from the simple standpoint that it is easier to shoot and it rarely malfunctions. This does not, of course, take into account the act of loading or reloading either weapon type. It simply recognizes that the likelihood of a stoppage with your semi-automatic is significantly greater than the revolver.

    We can argue both sides of the fence here. Lower ammo capacity, difficulty reloading, etc., but the fact remains that when you pull the trigger, the revolver will fire. We can't always say that about the SA, and a one-handed stoppage recovery is an advanced skill.

    Having said all that, if your skill level is such that you can proficiently and safely clear stoppages and perform mag changes, then by all means; go with the SA. But if that was the case, I doubt he'd be asking for advice.
     
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