What would be a good gun for my mother?

reply to post by AP-Chris

As I am sure you know the recoil on a 12 gauge is enough for it load the next round.

As for the spread get a 12 gauge with no choke and even consider cutting the barrel to
minimum length and or use a slug barrel.

Yes you can still miss, but the odds are lower.

Maneuvering with a 12 gauge is an issue, the semi autos are better than the pumps,
but they tend to cost more.

I should have fully explained the 12 ga setup on my post, not a hunting weapon,
a home defense modified rig, add a bayonet if you like, seen them here locally.

Originally posted by sabbathcrazy
Could you please recommend me some good pistol's and shotgun's for a 40 year old 110lb 5"8 woman?

Walther p22

My 81 yo mother has a .380 Walther PPK-S she bought for herself about 20 years ago. I had a lovely little stainless steel PPK-S with walnut grips. Pretty gun but it would slice the web between thumb and index fingers of my very large hands every time I shot it. We were having some work done on the house and when the contractor admired the gun I traded it to him for work.

reply to post by Ex_MislTech


I know peoples confidence in their shotguns somewhat clouds the issue on what's best for home defense. Usually if you are very confident with a particluar weapon then that is what you should use for self defense, but that is within reason.

You admit that "Maneuvering with a 12 gauge is an issue"

It is the issue. If it were not for that I would choose a shotgun over a hand gun inside. Speed and Manueverability is too important indoors to give up for heavier firepower. I have had too much close quarters combat training to believe otherwise.


You can't cut a shotgun down enough to limit exposure down to the level you can limit to with a handgun. Coming down a narrow hallway into a room where you have little room to pie the corner. That's a nightmare with a shotgun IMO. Or a Right Hander coming around a RH corner? Do u switch to a LH stance on the shotgun. Most wouldn't. For a RH person with a pistol all they have to do is turn the gun 90% (on it's side) to go around a RH corner and limit their exposure. All the attacker will see is your hand, a barrel and 1 1/2 inches of your head when done like this.

Back to the same things: A pistol is more accessable, faster, more manuevable and more user friendly for a woman than a combat shotgun. Not to mention more versatile for a 1 gun owner. She could get a concealed carry license (CCL) and carry it in her purse and it become more than home defense, it becomes personal defense at all times. Can't carry a shotgun everywhere


Again, I love shotguns but I think their place is outside at night with a red dot sight attached.


Great CCL gun: Kel-Tec 32
Lightest 7 shot semi auto out there. Invisible in my front pocket, looks like a wallet in my back pocket. Light! That's impotant. The 380 model's kick is a noticeably sharper and has one less round, that's why I favor the 32 even though the round packs less punch.

Kel-Tec PMR-30
Haven't shot one of these, but I think this suggestion would would out very well for home defense for women.

Can't tell me this wouldn't stop a bad guy:

Originally posted by wasco2
My 81 yo mother has a .380 Walther PPK-S she bought for herself about 20 years ago. I had a lovely little stainless steel PPK-S with walnut grips. Pretty gun but it would slice the web between thumb and index fingers of my very large hands every time I shot it. We were having some work done on the house and when the contractor admired the gun I traded it to him for work.

you mean she have kept the gun for 20 years? sounds so cool.

Ummm, I'm no expert, but I would recommend a pre-ban AK47, with a bayonet and some type of grenade launcher attachment. And make every 5th bullet a phosphorus tracer round. if you're lookin to save some money then forget the carrying strap. Make one out of a belt. You cannot skimp on the scope though... That will be at least a thpusand right there. And if you can't afford this, then I would ger her a killer bb/pellet gun.

reply to post by AP-Chris


Pretty much agree with this 90% of this post.

I would suggest taking her to the gun store and making sure she is comfortable with whatever you buy. It is her hand that has to hold it.

I would suggest looking at the Walther PK380. It is a newer locked breach .380 with a 3.8" barell. In other words it is softer shooting and more accurate than many of the other .380s. It is also easier to rack the slide on the PK 380 than many 9mms. Loaded with the right ammo it would be pretty effective. (Winchester Ranger T, Speer Gold Dot, Corbon 90gr JHP, and Federal Hydra Shok all have a good record.)

If she is less than proficient at clearing jams then I would suggest a Smith and Wesson Model 10 or Model 64. Both are "service" size .38spls. They hold six shots and are highly reliable. If you have a miss fire just pull the trigger again. There is no need to stop and clear the jam. The down side is you get 6 shots instead of 9. On the upside you can get a used Model 10 for about $270 with shipping and transfer fees.

Id say a Desert Eagle,Magnum,RPG or a minigun.

reply to post by AP-Chris


The problem with the new Kel Tec is that if you don't load those rim fire cartridges just right they fail to fire. What I have been told by owners is that loading it is something of a science. So, that may limit the viability as a defense weapon. I would hate to be standing there trying to figure out why the gun didn't shoot. Even more so if a quick mag switch might not fix the issue.

I just wanted to add, I like my .40 cal. slim ...It leaves a bigger hole.

reply to post by sabbathcrazy


A snub nose .38 special or a Beretta Mini Cougar... they both fit nicely inside most purses. My Mom carries the later of the two.

lol.. its funny to read about americans and guns.. do all you rednecks have firearms ?

I predict next thread would be, what weapon should my dog have installed.

Check with local clubs for an event called "Women on Target" or something similar.

Every club has them occasionally and it's an instructional day for women to be introduced to firearms.

Either on that day or on a nearby day there is usually a "Try a Gun" day geared toward the Women on Target class they just had where the students can go and try out just about any firearm she'd want to usually for just a small cover charge like $15 or so.

Dont push a gun on somebody who doesnt know what they want. You risk turning that firearm into a forgotten closet piece that she wont use even if she needs to.

Originally posted by Vandalour
lol.. its funny to read about americans and guns.. do all you rednecks have firearms ?

I predict next thread would be, what weapon should my dog have installed.

I am thinking a 30 odd 6 would do the trick but if you aim straight for the temple you might be able to take the old lady down with something as light as a 22. How big is she? I know I have mother problems myself.

reply to post by Vandalour


If you lived near where I live you'd have a gun attached to your hip too!
p.s. I'm not a redneck at all, but if need be, my redneck friends are who I'd search out in an emergency situation. The song Country Boy Can Survive says it all pretty well.

reply to post by sabbathcrazy



A good gun is one that you can actually use. I've seen too many people relying on their guns for safety and only have a perp turn that same gun against the owner. With a gun comes plenty of training and responsibility, please do no assume that because your mother will have a gun that she will be safe.

Same applies for knives and any other weapon, just make sure that you know how to used them and are always willing to do so.

Good luck and happy shopping.

PS. I personally prefer a Glock 9mm, although not a precise gun for long range shooting, it is real effective at making nice clean holes in a$$h0!e5 ....LOL

Originally posted by Vandalour
lol.. its funny to read about americans and guns.. do all you rednecks have firearms ?

I predict next thread would be, what weapon should my dog have installed.

And it's funny to us redneck Americans that you in other countries have no understanding of natural rights. The reason you live in a socialistic nightmare is because you have never had the means of standing up to your tyrannical government. I would buy my dog a gun, but the 2nd amendment only states that it is "the right of the people" to keep and bear arms. This is clearly racist against dogs.

Originally posted by Vandalour
lol.. its funny to read about americans and guns.. do all you rednecks have firearms ?

I predict next thread would be, what weapon should my dog have installed.

I think it is hillarious when Europeans and Aussies come here and lecture us about guns. England's violent crime rate (including firearms crimes) is 400% higher than America's. You are actually more likely to be attacked, raped, or robbed in England, France, Holland Scottland and a few other EU countries than America. Yet, Europeans keep thinking they should lecture us about how to be safe and how dangerous our guns are.

As I have said else where. Address the plank in your own eye before the splinter in mine.

A 9mm pistol would be great. Has no greater kick then a 38, but better ballistics.
A 20 gauge shotgun would work as well.

Just remember, the heavier the gun, the less of a kick produced.

Originally posted by Vandalour
lol.. its funny to read about americans and guns.. do all you rednecks have firearms ?

I predict next thread would be, what weapon should my dog have installed.

Yep, any redneck worth their weight should have an operational firearm.