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Choosing A Concealed Carry Gun (for seniors)

42K views 75 replies 56 participants last post by  LimaCharlie 
#1 ·
Just saw this in "Guns & Patriots". Its target audience may be senior citizens, but it has some good info for young/new shooters, as well.

Perhaps it may be of some help to someone.

~GR

P.S.: Ignore his condescending statements about "Bubba and Jethro". He just isn't a regular at my gun club.


Choosing A Concealed Carry Gun
by Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.D
08/10/2010

As a senior citizen, when you go to purchase your first defensive handgun for concealed carry, you may find yourself feeling nervous, confused, or "out of your element" at the gun shop. If this is what you experience, join the club! We've all been there and done that! After all, you've experienced a lot of things in your life, but this is a new experience for you. Know that this is where the value of a truly concerned and dedicated professional can shine through. That would be the gun shop sales person from whom you decide to buy your first gun, or second.

His or her role is to explain to you, in terms you can comprehend, with no condescension, the varieties of handguns available, and how they operate. It is important that you resist being seduced into believing that "cute", "sleek", "shiny", or complicated, make for a better defensive weapon. Three key rules of thumb to keep in mind are: (1) Form should follow function. (2) Function follows from a quality firearm chosen wisely by an educated, well-advised consumer. (3) Function follows when you purchase a quality handgun from a knowledgeable and reputable firearms salesperson who cares about your needs, and takes the time to competently explain the gun and how to use it.

When you go to a gun shop or indoor range, do you see other happy senior citizen's hanging around, looking at guns, shooting, and/or conversing about handguns, shooting and self-defense? Are the sales people friendly and helpful? On the other hand, if you go into a gun shop, and you see Bubba and his cousin Jethro, chewing tobacco and snickering at you, get out of there fast!

An ethical gun salesperson or firearms instructor wants to see you on a regular basis and to keep you as a customer or client, as he or she obtains satisfaction from observing you develop your performance skills with your chosen firearm/s. An ethical professional will never push you into buying a particular product. He or she will help you make a truly informed choice, which involves assessing the type of handgun you are most comfortable shooting, carrying and safely storing. He or she stays updated and honest with regard to the quality products on the market.

Try Before You Buy. I suggest that, when shopping for a defensive handgun, you find a range facility that other senior citizens frequent, that will let you rent different handguns, and that offers basic pistol, personal protection, and concealed carry classes taught by qualified, certified instructors. In such a senior citizen-friendly environment, you can best determine which type of handgun will best suit your particular needs, because you can try out different weapons andaccessories. It is always best to try before you buy.

The Choice Process. First, educate yourself by gathering information about the different types, makes and models of handguns available. Then, compile a list of your objectives based on your own personal attributes and needs, so that you can make an informed and personally appropriate selection of model and manufacturer. Remember that no one handgun is perfect for everyone, every situation, or for everyone's pocketbook. A handgun can be a great equalizer, but because all handguns were not created equal, you must choose intelligently. If you do so, you will acquire a personal protection tool that you'll be able to enjoy for many years, and then hand down as a family heirloom.


Essential Criteria For A Defensive Carry Gun
As we age, many of us tend to develop joint problems, arthritis, and hip, back and leg pain. Thus, a concealed carry gun riding on your hip, or in your pocket, that is too big and heavy, may place too much strain on your back, and it may also pull your pants down! Remember, as we age, gravity tends to pull us down enough, such that, sometimes, just carrying ourselves is a chore! So, think light and thin, which equals comfortable to carry concealed. However, also think about how you dress. Will the gun be easy to conceal?

Reliability. While the above criteria are important, we mustn't sacrifice reliability and durability in a carry gun. Remember, if you are going to carry your handgun everyday, and practice with it, it must hold up! So, choose a handgun with a reputation for reliability.

Good Fit. Now, in choosing your carry handgun, you must be the judge as to whether the gun you're considering provides a good fit for your hands. Does it point naturally? Is your trigger finger comfortably able to reach the trigger without your having to distort your proper grip?

Unless the gun is a point and shoot gun, are the sights usable? Can you see the front sight clearly with your corrective lenses on? Manageable Recoil. Is the gun comfortable to shoot? Is the recoil manageable? Seriously, if the gun is not comfortable to shoot, you will not shoot it, and then, you will not get your practice time in with the gun.

Controllable Trigger. Is the trigger controllable? That means not too heavy of a pull, but not too light either. Bottom line--does it feel right for you? That means, can you operate it without getting finger cramps, and conversely can you feel it when you press it? Can you repeatedly dry fire the gun without making figure eights with the front sight? Are you aware kinesthetically when you've pressed the trigger rearward far enough to cock and fire the weapon? Too light of a trigger spells, ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE.

Accuracy. In your hands, the gun needs to be reasonably accurate when you shoot it at 10 yards and in. Is the gun forgiving of the arc of movement created by your hand tremor? Are you able to place accurate follow-up shots? Bad guys have a nasty habit of not going down after just one shot. Good second shot recovery is essential. You must be capable of delivering more than one nasty surprise to Mr. Bad Guy!

Simple, Easy, And Safe To Operate. Your defensive handgun should be simple, easy, and safe to operate. If it is an auto-loading pistol, is the slide easy to operate? Do you have the hand strength to be able to pull the slide all the way back to cycle a round into the chamber, or to clear the gun? Can you easily operate the slide stop/release lever to lock the slide back? Can your thumb reach and operate the magazine catch to drop the magazine? If you have a revolver, can your thumb reach and operate the cylinder release latch? Under stress, whatever fine motor skills you do have tends to fly away. So, Simple Is Good (SIG).

Easy To Maintain. Don't choose a gun that's difficult to field strip for routine cleaning and maintenance. The end result will be that you won't maintain it, and it will eventually rot, or it won't work when you need it! As we age, many of us develop arthritis, which makes it difficult to disassemble and reassemble mechanical devices with many, stubborn little parts.

Affordability. The gun should also be affordable to purchase and use. If you're on a fixed income, you don't want to have to sell your firstborn grandchild to afford the gun, or the ammunition for it! If practice ammunition is too expensive, then you may become reluctant to practice. Choose a handgun in a caliber for which there's plenty of cheap, quality, target ammunition, and a good supply of affordable, defensive, jacketed hollow point ammunition.

So, What Handguns Fit The Bill? There are many excellent handguns that meet all of these criteria. Of these, several come to mind as worthy of recommendation for senior citizen concealed carry. They are: the .32 ACP, LWS Seecamp .32 and Kel-Tec P-32; the 9mm, Glock 26, Kahr Arms PM9 and MK9, and Sig Sauer P239; and the classic, lightweight, .38 Special, snub-nose, Smith and Wesson J-Frame revolvers. Each of these reliable, well-made handguns offers a low profile, concealed carry package that can provide discreet protection for the average senior citizen. No one but you will know you're carrying until they need to know.

Editor’s Note:
Thanks to our friends at the United States Concealed Carry Association for this article. To know more about concealed carry please click here.


Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist, NRA Certified Firearms Instructor, Florida and Utah Concealed Firearms Instructor, and a Professional Writer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a co-owner of Personal Defense Solutions, LLC, Bruce offers individual shooting instruction and teaches concealed carry and handgun safety classes that prepare people to apply for the Florida Non-Resident Concealed Carry Permit which is honored by 28 states. For more information, he can be reached by phone at 215-938-7283 and by e-mail at: Dr.Bruce@PersonalDefenseSolutions.net
 
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#2 ·
Good info and article. Maybe should be a sticky.
 
#9 ·
I am looking for a holster that will fit my walker to hold my North American Black Widow! Any suggestions?

...and maybe a strobe light to help find the end of the cord
 
#4 ·
Gunrnr, I agree with Big W. That piece is definitely worthy of becoming a "Sticky." Very well and clearly put.
 
#5 ·
Very good info! In my case, I would love to carry at 4-5 o:clock or middle of my back. My body is designed for that type of carry,with a rather large gut and severe sway back. However, with my advanced ostio-arthritis, I am unable to get either arm far enough around to be able to get a solid grip on a pistol with any sort of control. I envy youngsters with full range of movement.
 
#8 ·
O-Tay, Spanky. Consider it stucked.

Oh...and L2P and my other fellow geezers -- Get the kiddos to show you how to increase the font size.

I'd do so here, but I don't want to butt into your nap time.
 
#12 ·
I don't get the comment about "Bubba". All my friends call me Bubba. I never snicker though.

Alan
 
#13 ·
I don't understand the "Bubba" thing either! I get called Bubba a lot and I don't snicker or chew tobacco..... I got no teeth!

Don
 
#14 ·
Over in Tacoma at Bulls Eye Guns they have one of the few remaining indoor pistol ranges around. They rent different handguns there and I have been able to try things out a few times. That's how I came to own my CZ75 in 40sw. It's a real handy place to have around. Worth the drive
 
#17 ·
Being a senior and on the large side almost obsese.I wear looser clothes and can carry about anything.
Usually my cane,knife,and of course a gun.Some times mace,and or a 20 ft range can of hornet/wasp spray may be within reach.
A nice single shot pilot flare gun could also light up the wasp spayed & soaked bad guy.

But train with what you have, simplify,and always keep the element of surprize.

Make him tell the LE officer who is taking his staement at the hospital! That he didnt know a mean old, fat man could move like that,and be such a evil son of a b----!
 
#18 ·
If you are buying a pistol for the first time YouTube is a great tool to learn about all the types, calibers, problems, and prices. High $$$ do not always mean better guns, but do be careful of the "budget specials". Watch all the videos and read as many reviews as you can. One thing to find out is if there is a new model coming out soon. There may be problems that the improved model fixed (or not ), and you might be able to save a bit of money if you know a new model is coming out and the dealer wants to make room for them. Try shooting a few different weapons. Most of the small "pocket pistols" are not range pistols. They are designed to be "broken" in and carried for self defense. They are not take to the range every weekend to run 100 rounds thru them. If you want a home defense gun...larger, easy to grip full size might be better for you. Take a person with you that knows guns if you can, there are a some dealers that will rip you off if they can. Most of all....know the gun laws. Many laws differ from state to state, or even like here in NY,,,county to county!!
 
#19 ·
Well my dads happy at 75 carring a colt 32-20 and a convertible 22 mag from N/A..As he puts it the 32-20 is for good days and he can see you from a distance...That 22 mag with rat shot on a bad day when his vision aint so much as he puts it evens the score...The bad guys will ID him but it will be braile
 
#21 ·
Does being 66 years old qualify me as being a 'senior'?

I do not own, nor do I have any desire to own, any handgun chambered in .32 ACP, .32 H&R Mag or any other .32 named caliber. I carry a Ruger LCR chambered in .38 Special because of the reduced weight of the revolver, not because of the caliber.
 
#22 ·
Popeye, you're never gonna qualify to be a senior.

Regardless of age, I'd never recommend a caliber smaller than .38 special for protection. For close range defense, target wadcutters have little if any recoil and will get the job done. If the individual can handle heavier loads there's a huge assortment of defense loads available.
 
#23 · (Edited)
i'm a 38 man myself..........but to each his own.......

we as "shootists" are in the minority.

The majority of gun "owners" will buy a handgun for "protection", maybe take it to the range one time, and then pocket it or put it in a desk drawer for the next 40 years.....

i have no idea how many times i have gone to a house to unload a gun for a recently widowed woman and be directed to a drawer with a revolver or auto that has the same box of shells that they had bought with the gun.........30 or 40 years prior.....

in this case the merits of the caliber are almost meaningless. And if for some reason they do decide to shoot and practice, i would rather see them encouraged by the light recoil of a sub-caliber to keep practicing than be scared off by blast and recoil.

the 38 wadcutters make great sense.......i know, that is what is loaded in my wife's gun. But a lot of folks equate smaller size in caliber with less recoil and more control........about 80% of the time that is correct as they will not look for load alternatives.
 
#25 ·
Excellent article.

I'm 69, and I carry a SIG Sauer P239 9MM, or a Beretta 950 in .25 ACP depending on what I'm wearing.

While I do not consider the .25 a very good SD weapon, it's better than a walking cane!:cornut:

And in 90 percent or more of occasions, the mere presence of a gun, ANY gun will solve the problem without a shot being fired.

Several years ago, an elderly woman in my home town shot and killed two knife wielding young thugs with two shots from a little Colt .32 revolver.
 
#26 ·
I am no "expert" in the civilian sense, but- I would recommend the Ruger LC9 or the Ruger LCP... Although I would say that there is a lot of talk about them being over rated, I have range tested them both and for their unbelievably compact size they have a ridiculously manageable recoil.
Ruger LC9- Is a 7+1 9mm Luger. 3.12" barrel length with a total of 6" overall length. The just under an inch width (.90") has a thin grip, but I personally feel that it is just enough to really wrap around, if you buy the pinky extension for the magazine base it almost has a standard feel. It feeds and fires wonderfully, and the re-track to get back on target is almost seamless to a moderately-to advanced shooter. I would arm my grandfather with one if I had the 450.00 they are going for right now. (although- the piggy bank is growing fuller with the hopes of owning my own in the near future, to replace my glock 19 gen 2 IWB carry ive been using)

I hope that little "tid-bit" could help in your search!
 
#29 ·
I am going to 60 but fo sometime now I have been getting a senior discount for coffee at McDonalds, I found out about the discount from my wife. I not really sure what that means. My Mother in law is 82 and father in law is 85 they still farm orange and asked me to get them a box of 38 special shells which I did and upon further thought I probably should offer to take them to the rang.
 
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