noahmercy
Blackhawk
Many moons ago, I read an article in a Shooter's Bible or Gun Digest (I disremember which) about an "orthopedic" handgun. The author was looking for the best choice for someone with bad arthritis, weak muscles, or other physical limitations which could make it difficult to manipulate a firearm. He also felt the usual recommendation of the time (a rimfire) lacked sufficient fight stopping ability. Double action revolvers require a strong trigger finger to fire double action, and dexterity to fire single.
The firearm he concluded was a best choice was the Beretta 86, a tip-up barrel 380 ACP pistol. Loading did not require retracting the slide, capacity was better than a revolver, recoil was mild, and the cartridge was on par with the 38 Special loads most law enforcement carried at the time. It could be fired DA/SA, or carried cocked and locked.
Seemed like a well-reasoned argument for that Beretta.
I occasionally take elderly individuals- many of them women- to the range, and some of them want a personal defense gun. Since a lot of them suffer from lack of strength or advanced arthritis, the thought occurred about a year ago that adding a Beretta 86 to the stable might make sense, so they could see if it was something user-friendly for them.
Yeah, no. Prices have gone through the roof in the last few years! Just not practical for them to fall in love with a pistol that is hard-to-find and potentially beyond their means.
So along comes EAA/Girsan. They just began producing a tip-barrel 380 that doesn't require selling a kidney to own, the MC 14T. Decent barrel length (3.8"), so the Hornady XTP I favor in this round will expand well and it has a good sight radius. 13+1 round capacity. Only a little over a pound and a half loaded, so not too heavy to hold comfortably, but enough weight so recoil shouldn't be an issue. Ambidextrous safety. Not nearly the beautiful finish as the Beretta guns, but for a nightstand or purse gun, it should be fine, and the ability to hang a light/laser under the frame might be nice for some.
I'm picking mine up tomorrow, and if there's any interest, I'll post up a review/range report...although the range report has to wait for the flood watch to go away and the mud to firm up a bit!
The firearm he concluded was a best choice was the Beretta 86, a tip-up barrel 380 ACP pistol. Loading did not require retracting the slide, capacity was better than a revolver, recoil was mild, and the cartridge was on par with the 38 Special loads most law enforcement carried at the time. It could be fired DA/SA, or carried cocked and locked.
Seemed like a well-reasoned argument for that Beretta.
I occasionally take elderly individuals- many of them women- to the range, and some of them want a personal defense gun. Since a lot of them suffer from lack of strength or advanced arthritis, the thought occurred about a year ago that adding a Beretta 86 to the stable might make sense, so they could see if it was something user-friendly for them.
Yeah, no. Prices have gone through the roof in the last few years! Just not practical for them to fall in love with a pistol that is hard-to-find and potentially beyond their means.
So along comes EAA/Girsan. They just began producing a tip-barrel 380 that doesn't require selling a kidney to own, the MC 14T. Decent barrel length (3.8"), so the Hornady XTP I favor in this round will expand well and it has a good sight radius. 13+1 round capacity. Only a little over a pound and a half loaded, so not too heavy to hold comfortably, but enough weight so recoil shouldn't be an issue. Ambidextrous safety. Not nearly the beautiful finish as the Beretta guns, but for a nightstand or purse gun, it should be fine, and the ability to hang a light/laser under the frame might be nice for some.
I'm picking mine up tomorrow, and if there's any interest, I'll post up a review/range report...although the range report has to wait for the flood watch to go away and the mud to firm up a bit!
