If you or someone you care about is physically impaired, selecting a gun can be a problem.
Throughout my life, I’ve helped many people with disabilities get a suitable shotgun. I make my proposals according to an analysis of the individual’s circumstances and the shooting area of focus.
I’ve compiled this guide to share my knowledge and experience with you so you can choose the best pistol for you or your loved ones.
Key Ideas
- Focus on a gun you can safely and confidently use for self-defense. Revolvers may be easier to handle due to lower recoil.
- Start with a .22 caliber revolver for low recoil. Progress up in small steps to higher caliber based on your ability to control recoil.
- For hunting, supports like bench rests can help control recoil from larger calibers. Practice shooting accurately.
- Try different guns when target shooting for fun. Seek help from range staff knowledgeable about assisting disabled shooters.
- Recommended revolvers: Magnum Desert Eagle (.44 Magnum), Ruger Super Redhawk (.44 Magnum)
- Recommended pistols: Glock 40 MOS Gen 4 (10mm), Bond Arms Bullpup 9mm, CZ P10 S 9mm, SIG P229 RX 9mm
- Tips for older shooters: Smooth, light trigger pull. Large, easy to grip surfaces. Low recoil. Good sights. Avoid repetitive motions that aggravate arthritis.
Choosing a Handgun for Self Defense
Regarding self-defense, the best gun for you is the one you know how to use and trust. Concentrate on the kind of firearm you can use securely and with assurance.
Better results can be obtained via meticulous planning and diligent work, regardless of the gun you use.
What kind of gun you can handle safely mostly depends on your physical ability and the caliber of the bullet.
Revolvers are more manageable due to their reduced kickback, and there is a lesser amount of action needed before shooting compared to other guns.
Maintaining and cleaning them is more straightforward than for most semi-automatics.
Starting with a gun can be simple if you choose a .22-caliber revolver, which produces little kickback.
Suppose you suffer from considerable loss of muscular power, cannot use your arm muscles properly, or experience slackened control. In these situations, you may be limited to a .22 caliber pistol that fires a .22 long rifle or .22 magnum rounds.
Because of their smaller size and lack of strong kickback, these guns are appropriate.
These rounds provide an excellent opportunity to learn and practice so that you can eventually use them .38 Special regular velocity ammo. This ammunition is more difficult to handle and manage with a light jolt.
In the second step, use a .38 Special + P cartridge or a .357 Magnum plum fired slowly (if you have a.357 Magnum revolver). Many disabled shooters may be unable to handle higher-powered ammunition due to the strong kickback it would produce.
You could advance in similar increments with a pistol in regards to caliber. In this case, you’d start with a .22-caliber semi-automatic handgun.
Afterward, progressed to the .32 Automatic Colt Pistol, then the .380 Automatic Colt Pistol, and eventually the 9 millimeters. If you progress to a cartridge with more power, you will experience intensified recoil when firing the gun. Ensure you can wield the weapon safely and precisely while shooting.
Handgun Hunting with a Disability
Individuals with disabilities who desire to hunt can utilize resources not available in a self-protection setting. The two forms of shooting are distinct from one another due to the distinct tools employed.
In a self-defense scenario, you won’t have your gun ready in a position from which to fire. The hunter can make use of various supports and accessories that enable them to have better control of recoiling and other issues.
The following are some considerations to remember while shopping for a hunting handgun accessible to someone with a disability.
Revolvers are great for self-defense, so if you use them for protection, you should stick with them for hunting. Select a pistol if you find that you do better with one.
It is possible to use a stationary stand at any time when hunting. To improve stability and control, adding a bench rest, a portable table, or a tripod to carry a pistol is simple. You’ll have access to a far wider variety of cartridges using these attachments.
The.44 Magnum, .45 Long Colt, or other large-caliber hunting revolvers may be appropriate for use as revolvers concerning handguns. Your options include 40 caliber, 45ACP, 10mm, and .44 Magnum.
The ability to shoot in small groups and accurately from various distances is essential. Accessories can compensate for control and recoil. Your ability to hit and kill with the first shot will only increase with practice.
Recreational Shooting with a Disability
It’s a wonderful chance to have fun and enjoy yourself while shooting. Take this opportunity to experiment with various handgun designs.
You can also look into more powerful ammunition in a secure setting. Now is the perfect opportunity to practice shooting with paper targets or steel silhouettes in various scenarios.
I advise seeking out a friendly nearby shooting range and inquiring if they have any range personnel or coaches knowledgeable in assisting disabled persons in shooting. It’s a wonderful approach to gaining the most out of your time at the range.
Handguns for Disabled Hunters
Magnum Research Desert Eagle Mark XIX (.44 Magnum)
At a hefty weight of 72.4 ounces, the renowned Magnum Research Desert Eagle is supplied with some additional bulk to assist in minimizing the felt recoil of the substantial handgun.
This rifle’s combat sights are fixed. There is a rail for a scope or alternative hunting sights to be mounted. If you possess strong or even excellent upper body musculature, you can hunt deer while seated in a wheelchair.
Glock 40 MOS Gen 4
This Glock 40 MOS has a 6-inch barrel that increases the speed of the round and has a capacity of 15 shots plus one in the chamber. This semi-automatic gun with a big bore is ideal for taking down whitetail deer or wild pigs.
This item is perfect for disabled hunters with substantial upper body strength who use a wheelchair. They are pre-configured with optics, which makes shooting easier.
Ruger Super Redhawk
The Ruger Super Redhawk is an esteemed firearm and carries six rounds of .44 Magnum. The barrel is 7 ½ inches and has adjustable sights, a pistol scope, and grips made of rubber.
It weighs 59 ounces, which helps control the recoil. This activity is suited for people with strong upper body muscles and no issues with their wrists or hands.
Tips for the Older Shooter
Selecting a handgun can be difficult for anyone, although it can be even more perplexing for those with limited hand strength or sight problems. Currently, the market is crowded with various choices, making the purchase process overwhelming.
It is without a doubt that the protection of elderly or handicapped people is necessary. Sadly, criminals often target the elderly and physically impaired when they commit crimes, making them more susceptible to such offenses. Seniors cannot dodge difficulties if they try to, and their physical handicaps stop them from using their firearms forcefully and precisely. It is essential to locate numerous firearms suitable for these folks.
An older, inexperienced, or disabled shooter still has to have a reliable sidearm, but beyond that must-have element, other factors come to the fore:
- Trigger action needs to be easier and smoother for seniors.
- The handgun should be physically easy to handle, so the slide and trigger may need extra surface area to ensure this.
- Minimized recoil.
- Sighting options are important.
As people age, ailments like arthritis, carpal tunnel, and other injuries may cause problems with properly using a gun. Repetitive movement may become difficult. Mentioning senior shooters is a convenient way to encompass a lot of individuals without being able to use popular firearms.
Nevertheless, it is not necessarily true that age also equals inability when discussing guns. Our rate covers a woman who is young in spirit even though her hands are affected by arthritis. A female shooter new to the sport is disadvantaged due to her tiny hands. Older individuals may find it more difficult to cycle the action of a self-loading gun. The individual might have a more difficult time pulling a double-action revolver trigger, which typically has more resistance.
Below are some suggestions for the new gun owner with limited physical abilities and advice on which guns to avoid when considering a weapon for home defense and general shooting. Choosing the right holster will address the issue of concealed carry. We focused on finding solutions when the chosen gun proved too unwieldy. We considered altering the ammunition before changing the caliber to maintain accuracy, but the bullets would have less impact and create less kickback. We also considered altering the hold on some of the guns to make the selection more beneficial. If the user desired to stay with the style of either a 1911 pistol or a short-barreled revolver, we looked into what fresh gun of the same type might be more effective than their initial weapon.
Specific Recommendations
Until now, we have been dealing with shooters having trouble utilizing pistols because of the issues with getting older. People had difficulty handling guns with strong recoil and had insufficient muscle mass to carry heavier handguns. We then investigated what kind of handguns are ideal for older individuals without any experience in using weapons, as well as those with a reduced ability to see. The aim was to discover a pistol that would be simple to prepare and handle and competent in use. Here are a few specific choices.
Bond Arms Bullpup 9mm
Previously, the Bond Arms Bullpup obtained top-level ratings based on multiple criteria. The rotating-barrel design helps mitigate 9mm recoil. The smooth double-action trigger isn’t difficult to manage. The pistol is simple to hide. The Alien Gear holster chosen maintained the gun in the ideal alignment for an effortless smooth draw. One of the greatest benefits of the pistol is its convenience in being racked. It is the simplest full-powered pistol to be tested in our evaluation due to the roller-bearing smooth rotating barrel. No recoil spring is present; a minute slide return spring is in place. The pistol is reliable.
It is the perfect solution if your hands are too weak to do certain things. Some bad things about regular handguns become less important when thinking about comfort.
CZ P10 S Optics Ready 95170 9mm Luger
We then deliberated on the most suitable polymer-framed, striker-fired handgun. Many are available, affordable, and reliable. Rather than assessing the CZ P10 S Optics Ready against other handguns, our seniors examined it in a one-time evaluation. It did very well.
The CZ P10 S has pre-drilled and tapped plates that can fit a variety of optics. The P10 S is a tad bigger than the Glock 26. Raters generally agreed that this handgun was easy to utilize effectively. The magazines hold 12 cartridges. Our senior shooters and our volunteer with small hands had an excellent experience shooting Winchester USA 115-grain FMJs with the pistol, which made it ideal for any type of shooting. The ridges on the forward part of the slide provide enough grip for the user to pull it back easily. The trigger is pleasant enough to use well. The handgun doesn’t stress the shooter. We attached a Leupold Pro Point, which we purchased, to the CZ P10 S. A swift-operating gun was created, which is favorable even for impaired vision. The CZ P10 S includes a mounting base for attaching a tactical flashlight. We incorporated the TruGlo combat light, which also offers a laser. The illuminator and laser can be employed either together or separately.
The CZ P10 S 9mm is a fantastic selection for elderly persons due to its lightness, low kickback, and its inclusion of a dot sight, laser, and light. We will not assign a formal evaluation of the handgun right now, but we feel confident in giving it our stamp of approval if it’s needed straight away by either you or a person you are aware of.
SIG P229 RX 9mm Luger
Several older shooters prefer a double-action-first-shot handgun. They are wary of the recently developed semi-automatic pistols and do not favor ready-to-fire carry. It is understandable, especially for home defense. Many people are drawn to the double-action-first-shot handgun for its superb maneuverability and equilibrium, even if it does not fare as well in an armed conflict setting. In contrast to the CZ P10 S, the P229 does not feature any grip inserts, which allow the handgun to be adjusted to fit comfortably into the user’s hand, and it also has a longer trigger reach. We consider the P229RX to be an excellent option for seniors. This pistol has a 12-pound double-action trigger pull and is as functional and handy as any other gun. The 4.2-pound single-action trigger is especially crisp. The gun has a Romeo 1 red dot right out of the box. As the gun moves, the view will turn on and cease after a few minutes of not being in motion.
A SIG P229 RX was tested using Winchester Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) ammunition. The evaluators believed that the ergonomics were exceptional and the item was suitable for most people’s hands. Those familiar with a double-action pistol saw it as an excellent selection. Nevertheless, the individual with little hands could not access the trigger.
An older person accustomed to the P220 45 ACP, and having difficulty managing the kickback, would determine the SIG P229 RX in 9mm to be a much-needed help.
Conclusion
Selecting the right handgun is a personal journey that depends on your unique abilities and needs. With some thoughtful planning and expert guidance, people with disabilities can find confidence and enjoyment in shooting sports. The most important thing is choosing a gun you can use safely, comfortably and with confidence.
Don’t get discouraged if your first attempts are frustrating. Progress may be gradual, but the rewards of mastering marksmanship are immense. There are supportive communities and adaptive technologies to help you achieve your goals. With practice and perseverance, you’ll be hitting your targets in no time. The freedom of the range awaits! Just take it step by step, have patience with yourself, and remember that you have so much to gain.