Looking for recommendations for a new carry gun that my aching hands can enjoy shooting

[Draal]

I'm in my mid fifties and have a bit of arthritis in my wrists and elbows.  My 9mm M&P Shield pops like a firecracker more noticeably these days LOL!  I'm debating whether to get something in .380 or stick to 9mm and get a larger framed gun to absorb some of that recoil.  Any help is appreciated!

[Capt_Destro]

Shield EZ in 380 might be a bit more tolerable.

 

G19 or G26 also tames recoil pretty well. Not sure if racking the slide causes issues for you though.

Walther also makes a CCP in 380

Edited February 6, 2024 at 10:42 PM by Capt_Destro

[yurimodin]

Shield EZ PERIOD.......either 380 or 9mm

 

Also be sure to avoid the 124gr 9mm rounds.....those are usually NATO spec and tend to be pretty hot for use in SMG's

Edited February 6, 2024 at 11:03 PM by yurimodin
added

[Draal]

On 2/6/2024 at 4:40 PM, Capt_Destro said:

Shield EZ in 380 might be a bit more tolerable.

 

G19 or G26 also tames recoil pretty well. Not sure if racking the slide causes issues for you though.

Walther also makes a CCP in 380

Racking the slide is still ok. My thin fingers and wrists take a beating with the recoil though.

[cherryriver]

What we've found in our classes, quite a few of which are women's classes, is that to get any serious recoil reduction in a gun anywhere near carry-size, you'll have to go down to .380 Auto caliber.  Even the Smith Equalizer doesn't get as much reduction as might be needed.

We've recently had considerable success with the Ruger Security .380.  It is slightly larger than a Shield but still should be manageable. 

The recoil is modest indeed and it's a very easy-shooting gun.  And, as long as you avoid the Fiocchi ammunition we've been seeing lately, it runs stone reliable.  And the price is right.

The smaller-statured students we've had shooting these have done surprisingly well.

If GAT is convenient to you, they have a newish one in the rental rack.

Bill

[ragsbo]

I know this is thinking way out of the box, but if recoil is a problem even with the 380, a 22 might fit the bill. Sure the round is NOT optimal but I have yet to find anyone who would allow me to shoot them with one! With the right ammo and practice it could work. There are several newer pistols in the caliber too, and some in 22 magnum too. Like I said, way out of the box but still better than nothing.

[Smallbore]

It is difficult to give good advise over the internet. Too many unknowns. In your mid fifties a hand exercise ball could help especially with arthritis. My 70 year old hands do better with constant exercise. Though I believe the 9mm is for strong hands. I can still handle the 9 but there will come a day I can't. Then I will carry a 38 special revolver.

[solareclipse2]

Glock 19 or one of the various gen 3 clones would be my recommendation, maybe you want to go rent one of the Sig P365 X-Macro Comps if anyone has one available for rental. That thing is surprisingly flat shooting and I don't think the recoil is bad on it. 

[cnwfan3]

A Glock 25 has very very little recoil.  It's the same size as a Glock 19 but in .380.  Also the Glock 28 is very low recoil as well and that's the size of the Glock 26 but in .380.  Both were just made available in the US within the last year as a special production run from Talo in Glock's Smyrna GA plant.  I just bought them both as range toys and they are about the mildest recoiling guns (outside of a .22) that own.  I could shoot them all day with no hand fatigue. 

[soundguy]

I picked up a used Ruger LCPll in .380 because it was a great deal. It shoots surprisingly soft. I prefer to carry the Sig P230, also .380, for it's single action trigger. Both would be (are) easy to carry.

 

In 9mm, I am a fan of the Browning High Power with an alloy frame (for weight) and a Detective Slide. Girsan is supposed to be offering exactly this later this year... I will pick one up even though I have two already set up this way (FN Alloy Frames with FM Detective and Girsan PI short slides). The alloy frame combo is about 8 ounces lighter and 1 inch shorter than a full size High Power. Mine both like a not overpowered 124 grain round. These are also single action, which I prefer, and rather slender in the hand and on the holster.

 

I also have some CZ Compacts. The CZ PCR (Alloy Frame/Short Slide) is my favorite of the four with the smaller lower capacity CZ Rami coming in second. All of them are fat, thicker in the hand than my High Powers and are all DA/SA with pretty nice triggers. A range buddy really likes shooting the CZs but I prefer the feel of the single action High Power and Sig P238.

 

I might someday consider something reliable in .22 caliber... with no recoil, it should be easy to stay on target.

 

Good luck in finding your new perfect pistol!

 

Cheers,

Tim

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 7, 2024 at 04:49 AM by soundguy

[ealcala31]

I second the Ruger Security .380acp. As an FFL, I spent a couple of bucks and rented quite a few of the micro compact and small carry guns. Customers always asking me, "have you shot it?" Each one has "snout" recoil. People love them because they are small, but they have recoil. I still carry my Glock 19, Sig P229, and my Beretta 81BB .32acp. Don't pass on a .32acp, with ball ammo or the Hornady XTP Critical Defense 60gr, they both pass the FBI Ballistic gel test. I listened to a podcast with a firearm instructor talking about self-defense calibers. He said he had a woman who shot horribly. She hated the recoil and after multiple attempts, finally passed his CCL class. Later on, she swapped calibers and went to a Beretta .25acp w/tilt barrel. He said she shot perfect. After that, he said he trained students to shoot a caliber they can be comfortable and accurate with, vs the training standard of 9mm. 

[Jeffrey]

There was a recent thread related to some new .22 ammo coming out that showed decent results of fire power for the small caliber it is.  Anybody with feedback on it?  There are some nice options for .22's that are very easy to conceal and/or shoot.  

[Vodoun da Vinci]

Beretta Px4 compact has a rotating barrel and super mild recoil in 9mm but finding one to test will be tough.

 

Quote

Another big highlight of the PX4 Compact is the soft recoil. I mean, it’s a compact 9mm, so there’s not a ton of recoil to begin with, but when you start running strings of rapid fire, that front sight really just seems to pop right back on target. Beretta would probably tell you this is because of their proprietary rotating barrel design. I don’t know if that’s got anything to do with it or not but I think if you’re used to shooting any other compact polymer handgun, you will notice a difference.

 

https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/review-beretta-px4-compact-part-1/

 

VooDoo

Edited February 7, 2024 at 04:01 PM by Vodoun da Vinci
added content

[Glock43]

I have a friend that bought one of the smaller Springfield compacts in 45.  The new one back in 2015 ish.

 

I have shot it, and although I normally shoot 9mm, I do agree that 45 does feel less “snappy” than 9mm.

[John Q Public]

Depending on where you are, I have a Beretta PX4 you can try in 9. Shoot me your location via PM

[Draal]

Thanks for all the recommendations!  

[Dumak_from_arfcom]

Is it flip or the reward recoil impulse that is hard on your hands?  Both?

 

If flip is the issue, then maybe try a ported gun with low bore axis.  If it is recoil (the rearward impulse) then polymer is the way to go because polymer grips flex. 

 

If the issue is both then a ported Staccato P or C2 (steel frame not alum) would be the way to go.  You've got weight and polymer grips and a port. 

 

You could also try shooting a 5.7 pistol.  You'll be limited to 10 round mags though. I'm not sure if any company makes 15 round 5.7 mags.  

[John Q Public]

A note on the 5.7, a lot of ranges with steel baffles, won't let you shoot them. Basically, it's a rifle type round. They are so small and fast they tear up steel. They are however a very sweet shooting gun with low recoil and crazy AR type ballistics. 

[jsg-07]

If you like your M&P Shield, definitely consider trying the ported barrel. I personally like my 380 bodyguard but my wife feels like the trigger pull is too hard and because of the short barrel has more "recoil" in her mind than the Shield I had. I got her the ported barrel version and she likes it much better. Very little kick. 

 

[mousegun6]

My suggestions are, in no particular order:

Shield EZ 9mm, easy to load mags, easy to rack slide, shoots soft, holds 8 rounds

Springfield XDM Elite Compact 9mm, best trigger I own, shoots soft, holds 14 rounds

Ruger SP101 9mm revolver, great gun with a smooth trigger, easy to shoot, hold 5 rounds

Charter Arms Pitbull 9mm revolver(I think also available in 380), holds 5 rounds and no need for moon clips

Ruger LCP II  22lr, no recoil, fits in your pocket, very reliable, holds 10 rounds but 4 round mag extensions are available (great back up gun)

 

I taught my former assistant to shoot the Shield EZ 9mm and she is about your age and has issues with arthritis and her hands are tiny.

She shot the EZ 9mm like she was born with it in her hand.

 

The Springfield XDM Elite Compact 9mm is the 9mm pistol that I can shoot the best, including full sized and carry sized guns and it is still legal in Illinois.

 

Good luck in your search and I hope the arthritis improves soon.

[Draal]

You all have been incredibly helpful and it's truly appreciated.  I'm adding a ported Glock 19C to the mix for the time being.  I may not be at the end of my search  - there's always another reason for a new gun .  After more range time, I'll give an update.

[soundguy]

On 2/8/2024 at 5:49 PM, Draal said:

I may not be at the end of my search  - there's always another reason for a new gun

 

Even when you've found your perfect fit!

 

Cheers,

Tim

[spanishjames]

Sig P365 in 380 is the bee's knees. 

[SiliconSorcerer]

The new GIRSAN MC 14T Tip-up 390 looks interesting I wanted a friend of mine who had problems racking a slide to try it.   

I think they really made a HUGE mistake advertising this as a ladies gun.  

 

There's also 2 brands now off defensive ammo that are a lot lighter and fast, the one goes like a bat out of h... but the recoil is also sweet.  That would mean however  you would have to be picky about you plink ammo to because that ... isn't cheap.  

I like the prefer ARX even in the little lcp flipper it's mild.  

[RandyP]

On 2/15/2024 at 4:53 PM, SiliconSorcerer said:

The new GIRSAN MC 14T Tip-up 390 looks interesting I wanted a friend of mine who had problems racking a slide to try it.   

I think they really made a HUGE mistake advertising this as a ladies gun.  

 

There's also 2 brands now off defensive ammo that are a lot lighter and fast, the one goes like a bat out of h... but the recoil is also sweet.  That would mean however  you would have to be picky about you plink ammo to because that ... isn't cheap.  

I like the prefer ARX even in the little lcp flipper it's mild.  

My sole knock on the new Girsan is that the slide cannot be removed to thoroughly clean the gun. Don't know why their designers chose that approach but it was a deal breaker for me.

[SiliconSorcerer]

On 2/15/2024 at 7:03 PM, RandyP said:

My sole knock on the new Girsan is that the slide cannot be removed to thoroughly clean the gun. Don't know why their designers chose that approach but it was a deal breaker for me.

Ah... never had my hands on one.

I'll second the 5.7 is a nice round.

A small 5.7 if anyone made one would be interesting although a 30 round 5.7 is just a concealable s some things I've seen some people carry.  

[FriendlyCitizen]

Glock 29

Glockn30!

2 wonderful handguns 

 

[3ddiver]

On 2/7/2024 at 8:01 AM, Jeffrey said:

There was a recent thread related to some new .22 ammo coming out that showed decent results of fire power for the small caliber it is.  Anybody with feedback on it?  There are some nice options for .22's that are very easy to conceal and/or shoot.  

Federal Punch. I have ordered some and am going to shoot it into gel when I have a chance to see what it does. It is a flat point and not designed to expand as far as I can tell.

[FriendlyCitizen]

On 2/16/2024 at 7:07 AM, SiliconSorcerer said:

Ah... never had my hands on one.

I'll second the 5.7 is a nice round.

A small 5.7 if anyone made one would be interesting although a 30 round 5.7 is just a concealable s some things I've seen some people carry.  

5.7 is wonderful yes expensive to practice with

[FriendlyCitizen]

On 2/7/2024 at 7:20 PM, mousegun6 said:

My suggestions are, in no particular order:

Shield EZ 9mm, easy to load mags, easy to rack slide, shoots soft, holds 8 rounds

Springfield XDM Elite Compact 9mm, best trigger I own, shoots soft, holds 14 rounds

Ruger SP101 9mm revolver, great gun with a smooth trigger, easy to shoot, hold 5 rounds

Charter Arms Pitbull 9mm revolver(I think also available in 380), holds 5 rounds and no need for moon clips

Ruger LCP II  22lr, no recoil, fits in your pocket, very reliable, holds 10 rounds but 4 round mag extensions are available (great back up gun)

 

I taught my former assistant to shoot the Shield EZ 9mm and she is about your age and has issues with arthritis and her hands are tiny.

She shot the EZ 9mm like she was born with it in her hand.

 

The Springfield XDM Elite Compact 9mm is the 9mm pistol that I can shoot the best, including full sized and carry sized guns and it is still legal in Illinois.

 

Good luck in your search and I hope the arthritis improves soon.

My brother is and will bet his life on xdm elite