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alxone
09-27-2011, 08:44
so i keep thinking about getting a gun for my dad but he is sick (cancer ) and kinda weak from the radiation treatment . so what would be a good lightweight firearm that is not gonna knock him down when he shoots it?
he is over 6 feet tall and weighs next to nothing (135 ,remember the man is sick).
guns iv tried
ruger p series (he said it was too bulky )
norinco 213 (jumps around too much for him )
sks (too heavy )
ak (also too heavy )

kinda thinking about tossing a m1 carbine in his closet but i think he would feel better with a pistol. so any suggestions on a full sized pistol (thats not gonna break the bank ) ??

sneakerd
09-27-2011, 08:46
Get him a .22, like a S&W K22. Great revolver with lots of history, holds its value.

Zundfolge
09-27-2011, 09:17
A .22 would be good for plinking, but maybe not enough for home defense.

You should be able to find a used S&W model 64 in .38spec pretty cheap and easy (if nothing else you can order one from J&G Sales for under 300 for a square butt (http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php/smith-wesson/revolver/p/smith-wesson-model-64-38spl-4in-stainless%2C-square-butt-w-bobbed-hammer-very-good-condition-s-w/cPath/16_211_431/products_id/3103) and right at 300 for a round butt (http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php/smith-wesson/revolver/p/smith-wesson-model-64-38spl-4in-stainless%2C-round-butt-w-bobbed-hammer-very-good-plus-condition-s-w/cPath/16_211_431/products_id/3104) Only problem with the J&G guns is that they're bobbed hammer DAO).

Really any S&W J or K frame in .38 would do him well.

If $500 isn't too much (not sure where your bank breaks) there's a nice Colt Agent on Armslist (http://www.armslist.com/posts/200749/denver-colorado-handguns-for-sale--colt-agent--38cal---second-issue-2--blue--wood-98-)up in Denver (I don't know the seller ... usual disclaimers apply).

KevDen2005
09-27-2011, 09:17
Man I just feel bad that he has cancer. My prayers are with him.

sneakerd
09-27-2011, 09:25
Zundfolge's idea would have been my 2nd choice if self defense was the object.

JohnTRourke
09-27-2011, 09:49
.38spl revolver

no manual of arms, just squeeze the trigger and keep squeezing.

even put a crimson trace on it if you want.

bodyguard 38. (laser included, brand new about $400), really light, not technically a J frame, but the same physical size.

bchase75
09-27-2011, 10:02
A .38 seems like the way to go, but I'd steer clear of the ultra-light models. A buddy of mine bought a LCR for his wife, and recoil with standard 158 grain ammo is sharp to say the least. Tolerable with lighter bullets, but still not a gun for a novice or anyone with any sensitivity to recoil.

Ruger SP101 with a three inch barrel might be a good choice. Not heavy in the hand, but you can shoot .38 special all day comfortably.

Mazin
09-27-2011, 10:05
Ruger SP101 with a three inch barrel might be a good choice. Not heavy in the hand, but you can shoot .38 special all day comfortably.


The Sp101 is a good gun and low felt recoil but is a little heavy (trying to put it in perspective of a weak hand). Very good shooter and resonable cost.

bchase75
09-27-2011, 10:17
Yep, the Ruger website lists the 3 inch SP101 as weighing 27 ounces, which is about 3 ounces more than an unloaded M&P.

Zundfolge
09-27-2011, 10:18
A .38 seems like the way to go, but I'd steer clear of the ultra-light models.
110% agree here.

I have a S&W M&P 340 (J frame, airweight .357mag) .... even with .38s it bounces around a bit.

A steel frame .38 with a 4" barrel will make an excellent home defense gun (that could be carried if need be ... if he's going to CCW than maybe a 2 or 3 in gun would serve him better).

Another advantage of a .38 revolver is that you can get a wide variety of stocks for it, so you can really tune how the gun sits in the hand.

BlasterBob
09-27-2011, 10:34
Alex, my vote would be for a nice little .22 handgun. Recently, I picked up a little Beretta Bobcat, Model 21A which shoots the .22 Long Rifle cartridge. It is a double action and/or single action and if you so desire, the barrel will tip up to chamber the first cartridge instead of having to pull the slide back for the first shot - IF pulling the slide back is a difficult thing to do. A .22 LR Hollow Point can still do some damage and is still capable of discouraging the bad guy to leave Pop alone! Also, a guy can get pretty proficient with the little .22 due to a lot of practice will not break the bankroll.
This is just a worthless opinion of another "old" guy also fighting cancer, which does take a whole lot of power out of a guy. Been there, done that!
[Beer]

hghclsswhitetrsh
09-27-2011, 10:36
Sorry to hear about your father. My suggestion would be the s&w 380 bodyguard. It weighs 14 ounces loaded. Has a conveniently located button for the laser.

JohnnyEgo
09-27-2011, 10:41
Not meant to be a silly question, but does he have the hand strength to pull a DA trigger or cock a hammer? I have an acquaintance with MS who is confined to a wheel chair. He cannot work a DA trigger. He chambers a round a semi auto pistol by pushing the front sight against his wheel chair arm rest using his body weight. He is a young man with a sharp mind and no mental issues, but has a great deal of difficulty manipulating things. A small gun is out of the question for him for this reason. He uses a 1911 chambered in .38 Super.

BlasterBob
09-28-2011, 07:35
Alex, be sure to let us know what you finally decide to get for your Dad. OK?

Seamonkey
09-28-2011, 07:50
Have you thought about or looked into non-lethal products like mace or a tazer?

alxone
09-28-2011, 07:56
Alex, be sure to let us know what you finally decide to get for your Dad. OK?
im leaning toward a 22 if for no other reason than round capacity and loading . although a 38 does sound fun id be concerned about trigger pull ,recoil and reloading . being as he is not much of a shooter, its mostly so he feels safer when me and the lady are out .
yeah ill pick up a 22 for him and just toss a m1 carbine in his closet for the zombies

Byte Stryke
09-28-2011, 08:18
I would go with a 22lr

as far as a home defense round, placement over power. it wont do him any good at all to have a 38 or higher if cannot control it. However if he pouts 2-3 .22lr Hypers into an intruders center mass it will be more than effective at dissuading the intruder.

Little Byte Handles the P22 with a little help, recoil isn't bad for him... might check that out.
Let me know if you want to borrow it for trials.

Zundfolge
09-28-2011, 08:33
Well if .38 is too much for him, maybe look at a KelTec PMR30 (http://www.keltecweapons.com/our-guns/pistols/pmr-30/)

Its light, more powerful than a .22lr and 30 rounds of .22mag should hold off the zombie horde.

http://www.keltecweapons.com/uploaded_files/ourguns/gallery/b_15d179e7dd7ca525dc1c44dda16dcdf9PMR4.jpg



And of course FN has been marketing the FiveseveN as a self defense gun for folk that can't handle the recoil of a larger centerfire caliber (but that may get into "bank breaking" range).

alxone
09-28-2011, 08:44
im sure most days a 38 would be fine but after a big ole dose of kemo and the mountian of pills ...uggg .... i can only imagine how defeating and powerless it would make a guy feel .

i might just take you up on that byte stryke

stevelkinevil
09-28-2011, 08:48
I know its expensive, but a FN FiveseveN may be ideal. Extremely light even fully loaded, very low recoil, high capacity, and can get the job done.

alxone
09-28-2011, 08:51
I know its expensive, but a FN FiveseveN may be ideal. Extremely light even fully loaded, very low recoil, high capacity, and can get the job done.if anybody in this house gets a five seven its me [LOL]

Byte Stryke
09-28-2011, 09:03
I Really have a problem with any HIGH VELOCITY RIFLE Cartridge used in a home defense scenario.

at best you are only sued for shooting through the perp, your house and jacking up the neighbors car.

worst case... the neighbors kid.

I vote 22lr HP




Ballistic performance summary for various 5.7×28mm cartridges
_______________ SS190_____________ SS195LF________________SS197SR_____________EA Protector________EA Varmintor__________EA S4
Projectile weight__2.0 g (31 gr)________1.8 g (28 gr)_____________2.6 g (40 gr)_________2.6 g (40 gr)________2.3 g (36 gr)__________1.8 g (28 gr)
Muzzle velocity___650 m/s (2,130 ft/s)__625 m/s (2,050 ft/s)______520 m/s (1,700 ft/s)___610 m/s (2,000 ft/s)__640 m/s (2,100 ft/s)___770 m/s (2,520 ft/s)
Muzzle energy____424 J (313 ft-lb) _____350 J (260 ft-lb)_________350 J (260 ft-lb)______480 J (355 ft-lb)_____480 J (355 ft-lb)_______535 J (395 ft-lb)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_Five-seven

alxone
09-28-2011, 09:09
I Really have a problem with any HIGH VELOCITY RIFLE Cartridge used in a home defense scenario.

at best you are only sued for shooting through the perp, your house and jacking up the neighbors car.

worst case... the neighbors kid.

I vote 22lr HPyeah id probably stick with 22lr for a few reasons , one being 500+ rounds for 20 bucks

DavieD55
09-28-2011, 09:14
HD = 20 Gauge or .410

EDC = .380 .357 with .38 spl rounds

stevelkinevil
09-28-2011, 10:19
I Really have a problem with any HIGH VELOCITY RIFLE Cartridge used in a home defense scenario.

at best you are only sued for shooting through the perp, your house and jacking up the neighbors car.

worst case... the neighbors kid.

I vote 22lr HP




Ballistic performance summary for various 5.7×28mm cartridges
_______________ SS190_____________ SS195LF________________SS197SR_____________EA Protector________EA Varmintor__________EA S4
Projectile weight__2.0 g (31 gr)________1.8 g (28 gr)_____________2.6 g (40 gr)_________2.6 g (40 gr)________2.3 g (36 gr)__________1.8 g (28 gr)
Muzzle velocity___650 m/s (2,130 ft/s)__625 m/s (2,050 ft/s)______520 m/s (1,700 ft/s)___610 m/s (2,000 ft/s)__640 m/s (2,100 ft/s)___770 m/s (2,520 ft/s)
Muzzle energy____424 J (313 ft-lb) _____350 J (260 ft-lb)_________350 J (260 ft-lb)______480 J (355 ft-lb)_____480 J (355 ft-lb)_______535 J (395 ft-lb)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_Five-seven

actually unless you are using a super hot or AP round it does not overpenatrate, in fact the FBI decided it did not penetrate enough. Your standard hot 9mil will penetrate more than a 5.7. The round distorts and or tumbles and actually has less chance of over penetrating than standard SD loads.