Looking for the best handgun for an elderly woman? Check out our list as we round up handguns that are available in the market to evaluate your options.
11 Best Handguns for Any Elderly Woman Who Needs to Arm Themselves
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.
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.
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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5 Comments
5 Comments
Tina Webb
July 25, 2023 at 1:17 PM
I have either owned or currently own a couple of the listed firearms. I don’t completely agree with several on the list.
At age 68 and an avid marksman and NRA pistol, rifle and shotgun instructor, I do own but do not care for shooting the Kimber Micro 9. It is a beautiful firearm, but not easy to rack. The grip is very short and even with my small hands, it is difficult to manage the recoil.
The Smith & Wesson EZ’s have many good points and we use them frequently for Ladies Beginner Pistol students. Good points are that it is very easy to rack, recoil is not bad and the tabs built into the magazine to help load the magazine is great. The main negative especially for older hands is the grip safety. If your hands lack grip strength, this is not the pistol for you. Without sufficient grip strength to activate the grip safety, the gun simple will not fire.
As a personal opinion as all of the above is, any pistol that is so small that you cannot use your pinky finger in gripping the handgun is to small to get a really solid grip and control the recoil.
380 caliber recently came up at our club meeting. I no longer own a 380, not even as my extra ankle carry (I say that in jest as that is what my male counterparts would say.) Most of the research I did call a 380 as a close distance caliber. And, the recoil for small frame 380 would be just as much or more than a little larger, heavier 9 mm.
Lastly, a comment about using a 22 caliber for personal protection. Of course those won’t have the stopping power as a larger caliber. But it can be an option for the much older lady that just cannot handle a larger caliber. If you make that decision, please also do your research and buy more expensive, high quality 22 cal ammo. There are several great YouTube videos on the subject.
It’s perfectly okay to disagree, these are simply personal opinions that I have through teaching ladies classes and seeing them try to use firearms that they have bought with out trying first.
Visit a range that rents pistols and try some before you buy. If you think you like one, come back a second time and try it out again before you buy. I have bought and sold so many pistols that I thought I really liked but after a few times shooting it changed my mind. And make sure it fits your hand.
Thanks for your article on handguns for elderly women. I wanted a different handgun than the one I have but I have arthritic hands and have trouble racking some slides. Some of the handgun are also harder to conceal carry. You have given several very good choices.
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Tina Webb
July 25, 2023 at 1:17 PM
I have either owned or currently own a couple of the listed firearms. I don’t completely agree with several on the list.
At age 68 and an avid marksman and NRA pistol, rifle and shotgun instructor, I do own but do not care for shooting the Kimber Micro 9. It is a beautiful firearm, but not easy to rack. The grip is very short and even with my small hands, it is difficult to manage the recoil.
The Smith & Wesson EZ’s have many good points and we use them frequently for Ladies Beginner Pistol students. Good points are that it is very easy to rack, recoil is not bad and the tabs built into the magazine to help load the magazine is great. The main negative especially for older hands is the grip safety. If your hands lack grip strength, this is not the pistol for you. Without sufficient grip strength to activate the grip safety, the gun simple will not fire.
As a personal opinion as all of the above is, any pistol that is so small that you cannot use your pinky finger in gripping the handgun is to small to get a really solid grip and control the recoil.
380 caliber recently came up at our club meeting. I no longer own a 380, not even as my extra ankle carry (I say that in jest as that is what my male counterparts would say.) Most of the research I did call a 380 as a close distance caliber. And, the recoil for small frame 380 would be just as much or more than a little larger, heavier 9 mm.
Lastly, a comment about using a 22 caliber for personal protection. Of course those won’t have the stopping power as a larger caliber. But it can be an option for the much older lady that just cannot handle a larger caliber. If you make that decision, please also do your research and buy more expensive, high quality 22 cal ammo. There are several great YouTube videos on the subject.
It’s perfectly okay to disagree, these are simply personal opinions that I have through teaching ladies classes and seeing them try to use firearms that they have bought with out trying first.
Visit a range that rents pistols and try some before you buy. If you think you like one, come back a second time and try it out again before you buy. I have bought and sold so many pistols that I thought I really liked but after a few times shooting it changed my mind. And make sure it fits your hand.
Anonymous
May 25, 2023 at 8:07 AM
Thank you …. A good report I will be using to try and buy .
Penelope Piper
May 18, 2023 at 10:19 PM
Amen, sister!
Fluffy Burns
April 2, 2023 at 6:25 AM
Would have been nice if there were “elderly women” videod using the gun….not men!!!
Sandra Lasater
December 3, 2021 at 1:57 PM
Thanks for your article on handguns for elderly women. I wanted a different handgun than the one I have but I have arthritic hands and have trouble racking some slides. Some of the handgun are also harder to conceal carry. You have given several very good choices.