Looking for the best handgun for elderly woman? Check out our list as we round up handguns that are available in the market to evaluate your options.
RELATED: Buying A Concealed Carry Gun For A Woman | The Right Way
11 Best Handguns for Any Elderly Woman Who Needs to Arm Themselves
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1. Smith & Wesson Model 351C .22 Magnum
If you prefer the reliability and simplicity of revolvers over semi-automatic pistols, a snub nose revolver like the Smith & Wesson Model 351C .22 Magnum will undoubtedly catch your eye. Smith & Wesson J-Frames are great for self-defense as well as concealed carry.
Such a lighter caliber guarantees you a soft shooting and has a low unloaded weight ideal for older women. What's more, it is easy to carry in your pocket or purse.
Note: Smith & Wesson J-Frames with higher calibers have a recoil that can make shooting unpleasant for matured people.
2. Ruger SR22 .22 LR
The Ruger SR22 makes an excellent choice for a self-defense handgun. Though it is inspired mainly by the Walther P22, it is more reliable, which we all want in a self-defense handgun. It comes with a ten plus one capacity, but it is small enough for EDC.
The slide on the Ruger SR22 is easy to rack to the pistol's rear. Thanks to the controversial .22LR chambering, recoil on this handgun is almost non-existent. This makes it an ideal choice for recoil-sensitive shooters.
3. Kel-Tec PMR-30 .22 Magnum
Nothing beats the 30-round magazine that comes with the Kel-Tec PMR-30, which is more than enough for self-defense. However, with such a large round capacity, you can expect that the handgun is somewhat large, making concealed carry rather tricky.
That said, the pistol has an easy-to-pull trigger, not to mention a slide that racks back effortlessly. The low level of kick produced by the .22 Magnum makes it an excellent choice for older women with conditions like arthritis.
4. Walther PK380 .380 ACP
Another excellent option for the best handgun for an elderly woman is the light-chambered Walther PK380. It is a single and double action hammer-fired pistol. And like other handguns in this list, it is designed to rack back smoothly.
What's more, the Walther PK380 comes with an eight magazine capacity. Due to the paddle-style release on the pistol, you can release the magazine with your index finger and thumb. Don't forget that the Walther PK380 comes with a slide-mounted lever for safety.
5. Walther CCP M2 9mm
This blowback-operated 9mm pistol comes with a commendable capacity of eight rounds. Besides having excellent ergonomics, the Walther CCP M2 also features a mounted thumb safety that is easy to operate for older adults.
The CCP utilizes ‘soft coil' technology and therefore produces minimal recoil when fired unlike the Smith & Wesson Shield and the Glock 43.
Tip: Consider purchasing the CCP M2 instead of the M1. The field stripping process of the M2 is much easier, which is ideal for seniors.
RELATED: Top 7 9mm Carry Ammo For Self Defense
6. Smith & Wesson Shield EZ .380 ACP
The Smith & Wesson Shield EZ chambered in .380 ACP is designed for people with difficulty operating controls on semi-automatic pistols or who have arthritis. With a .380 round chambering, the Shield EZ produces less recoil than the 9mm counterpart.
Besides having an outstanding 8+1 capacity, its stainless steel magazines feature tabs on either side, making them significantly easy to load for older adults. What's more, the slide on the Shield EZ is among the easiest to rack back on the market today.
7. Taurus TH9 9mm
You might be interested in the Taurus TH9 9mm pistol if you're an old-fashioned shooter. It comes with a double-action first shot, which most senior individuals are comfortable using. What's more, it is affordable, reliable, and guarantees excellent accuracy in single-action firing mode.
8. Glock 43
The Glock 43 comes chambered for 9mm ammunition in a single stack magazine. It weighs in at 16.23 ounces and 6.26 inches, making it lightweight and concealable without compromising power.
Ergonomically, its slim design makes the Glock comfortable for women with smaller hands. The grip also has a beavertail shape and a textured surface for a more comfortable and grippy pistol operation.
Its 3.41 inches long barrel enables accurate shooting at a close range. As far as cleaning and maintenance go, the Glock 43 doesn't require any field-stripping tools. All in all, the Glock 43 is a reliable and trustworthy self-defense handgun.
9. SIG P238 Nitron Micro Compact
The SIG Sauer P238 makes a great classic choice for the best handgun for any older woman. It comes with an all-metal frame but only weighs 15.2 ounces. What's more, its comfortable grip and caliber account for a lighter recoil, making the pistol comfortable to handle and shoot.
Though somewhat expensive, the SIG P238 is a reliable pistol in various colors and configurations to suit most shooters. However, its 2.7 inches barrel makes accuracy challenging, especially for beginners.
But its 5.5 inches overall size makes the SIG P238 easy to conceal in a purse or small bag. Lastly, it is easy to clean and maintain as it requires no field-stripping tools.
10. Kimber Micro 9 Micro 9 Rapide
This list wouldn't be complete without a Kimber Micro 9 compact handgun. The Micro 9 Rapide features lightening cuts on the slide that guarantee faster lock time for improved performance and accuracy. Its G10 grip features a front strap pattern with an excellent grip, which is ideal for older women.
With an overall size of 6.1 inches and 15.6 ounces, the Kimber Micro 9 Rapide is ideal for concealed carry. Due to a slim grip, novice and experienced shooters have no difficulties using the pistol.
The Kimber Micro 9 will set you back a few dollars, but it is built with a strong aluminum frame and stainless steel barrel, guaranteeing durability.
11. Smith & Wesson's M&P Shield
The most outstanding feature about the Smith & Wesson's M&P Shield is its lightweight, making concealing and shooting manageable for senior women. What's more, it features an ultra-slim grip which makes it ideal for small-handed shooters.
That's not all; the M&P Shield offers a more extended grip height that accounts for a tighter grip, improved recoil control, and overall shooting accuracy.
The Shield's slide and barrel are also coated with stainless steel for durability. As a striker-fired pistol, it comes with a consistent and short trigger pull and an audible reset.
Tip: The Shield has a 5.3-inch sight radius for easy target sighting.
There you go, senior gun lovers. Part of arming yourself goes beyond buying a handgun. Instead, it entails purchasing a pistol that is designed in a way that works for you.
Some important things to look out for include recoil, magazine capacity, weight, size, and reliability. Once your pistol checks these boxes, it is a worthy investment.
Here’s an infographic guide. Don’t forget to download, save, or share this handy infographic for reference:
Loading ...Which of these is the best handgun for an elderly woman, in your opinion? Let us know in the comment section below!
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Great guns, but loading the magazines up and then putting them into the pistol, how difficult is that? I got rid of my Bursa 380 because putting the bullets into the magazines was painful.
I guess nothing is perfect.