Which One?

Don357 · 02-01-2008, 09:18 AM

I have my own opinion about this, but since I haven't posted on this section of G&G forums, or any other as far as that goes.(and the banner above is incouraging me to do so)I'll pose this to ponder. My cousin who is a 50ish disabled lady in a power chair, is considering a CCW and asked my opinion. She really likes my wife's Kel-Tec P-11, but she's on a fixed income and thinks that $250-$300 is more than she is able to spend, although she could lay-away. I suggested a PA-63. She seems OK with that, however I told her to go to a pawn or gun shop that has one and see if it "fit" and if she could work the slide. She already shoots, I helped her get a Rossi .38spl revolver for home. Only 5 shots but a 4" barrel. She says it's to much to carry and want a ITW type. OK, now its your turn.

Dakk · 02-21-2008, 05:06 AM

Hi Don!
I'm new here, and saw your post and thought I'd give my 2 cents. I own a PA-63, and although it's a great gun, I wouldn't recommend it for a 50ish disabled lady. The slide is stout when putting a round in it. Not impossible, but very stiff. The safety takes some work to get it where it's easily moved with just your thumb. The stock double action is a beast, something like 16 lbs. or so. If she keeps one in the chamber all the time with the safety off, relying on the double action trigger for safety, that's her call, but she'll have a rough time getting that trigger to function. Recoil, though manageable, is rough on the hand unless you get a firm, and I mean really firm grip on the gun.

Now, all that being said, you can modify the gun on your own, and get everything operating very smooth and easily, but there's more money and time involved with that. If she's on a fixed income, I'd recommend her doing a lay-a-way on a concealable revolver. Point and shoot. No muss, no fuss. If she's insisting on a slim semi-auto, then I'd recommend either the Taurus Millenium Pro, or the Kel-Tec.

BTW, this is my first post here. Hi everyone!

squirrelbaster · 02-21-2008, 07:54 AM

first id like to say HI dakk! second good post i completly agree.

+1

DrBoomBoom · 02-21-2008, 08:24 AM

I agree also, you might check into a Beretta Tomcat, it's a .32, recoils a bit, but less than the PA 63 or a snub .38. It's a tip up barrel, meaning the slide never has to be racked, just keep the safety on, drop and load the magazine, tip the barrel up and put a bullet in the chamber, click the barrel back down and click in the magazine, all with the safety on, and all without racking the slide. You can find them used for under $300, I think it would be worth an extra $70 or $80 for her to get a gun that's easy to handle.

Cyrano · 02-21-2008, 09:34 AM

You might take a look at a Bersa Thunder in .380 ACP. The slide is not that stiff. The safety/decocker does take some getting used to, but it's not hard to use. The owner of a nearby gun shop calls it a Walther PP with an Argentinian accent.

If you can find one, there's nothing that beats an Ortgies for a light concealed pistol because the entire backstrap is the safety. Just grasp it firmly, as you would in a personal defense situation, and you're ready to go. Load it with jacketed hollowpoints and a crook will lose interest really quickly. But there are two flies in the ointment.

The first is the price. Deutsche Werk and Ortgies (the designer left Deutsche Werk and went into business for himself before World War II) pistol do show up fairly regularly on gunbroker.com, but they hover right around $300 with 1 mag. Aftermarket magazines are about $35 each from Numrich and will need to be worked in to insure reliability. The originals were nickel-plated but the aftermarkets are powder-coated. It makes them a little harder to seat until they've been worn in.

The second is the caliber. Most commonly seen is .25 ACP, aka 6.35mm. I would not recommend that. The next up is .32 ACP, aka 7.65mm. With hollowpoints at close range it will work for personal defense. What you really want is the .380 ACP, aka 9mm Kurz or 9mm Short. That has enough power at personal defense ranges to get it done, but not so much recoil that a lady who might be a bit frail can't handle it.

It's just a suggestion, but if you can swing the cost an Ortgies might be just the thing for her.

02-01-2008, 09:18 AM	#1
Don357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Semmes Alabama Posts: 270	Which One? I have my own opinion about this, but since I haven't posted on this section of G&G forums, or any other as far as that goes.(and the banner above is incouraging me to do so)I'll pose this to ponder. My cousin who is a 50ish disabled lady in a power chair, is considering a CCW and asked my opinion. She really likes my wife's Kel-Tec P-11, but she's on a fixed income and thinks that $250-$300 is more than she is able to spend, although she could lay-away. I suggested a PA-63. She seems OK with that, however I told her to go to a pawn or gun shop that has one and see if it "fit" and if she could work the slide. She already shoots, I helped her get a Rossi .38spl revolver for home. Only 5 shots but a 4" barrel. She says it's to much to carry and want a ITW type. OK, now its your turn.

02-21-2008, 08:24 AM	#4
DrBoomBoom Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 93	I agree also, you might check into a Beretta Tomcat, it's a .32, recoils a bit, but less than the PA 63 or a snub .38. It's a tip up barrel, meaning the slide never has to be racked, just keep the safety on, drop and load the magazine, tip the barrel up and put a bullet in the chamber, click the barrel back down and click in the magazine, all with the safety on, and all without racking the slide. You can find them used for under $300, I think it would be worth an extra $70 or $80 for her to get a gun that's easy to handle. __________________ NRA member Gun rights voter Moderator at Pro Guns forum Last edited by DrBoomBoom; 02-21-2008 at 08:27 AM.

02-21-2008, 05:06 AM	#2
Dakk Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1	Hi Don! I'm new here, and saw your post and thought I'd give my 2 cents. I own a PA-63, and although it's a great gun, I wouldn't recommend it for a 50ish disabled lady. The slide is stout when putting a round in it. Not impossible, but very stiff. The safety takes some work to get it where it's easily moved with just your thumb. The stock double action is a beast, something like 16 lbs. or so. If she keeps one in the chamber all the time with the safety off, relying on the double action trigger for safety, that's her call, but she'll have a rough time getting that trigger to function. Recoil, though manageable, is rough on the hand unless you get a firm, and I mean really firm grip on the gun. Now, all that being said, you can modify the gun on your own, and get everything operating very smooth and easily, but there's more money and time involved with that. If she's on a fixed income, I'd recommend her doing a lay-a-way on a concealable revolver. Point and shoot. No muss, no fuss. If she's insisting on a slim semi-auto, then I'd recommend either the Taurus Millenium Pro, or the Kel-Tec. BTW, this is my first post here. Hi everyone!

02-21-2008, 07:54 AM	#3
squirrelbaster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,235	first id like to say HI dakk! second good post i completly agree. +1

02-21-2008, 09:34 AM	#5
Cyrano Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New York Posts: 2,288	You might take a look at a Bersa Thunder in .380 ACP. The slide is not that stiff. The safety/decocker does take some getting used to, but it's not hard to use. The owner of a nearby gun shop calls it a Walther PP with an Argentinian accent. If you can find one, there's nothing that beats an Ortgies for a light concealed pistol because the entire backstrap is the safety. Just grasp it firmly, as you would in a personal defense situation, and you're ready to go. Load it with jacketed hollowpoints and a crook will lose interest really quickly. But there are two flies in the ointment. The first is the price. Deutsche Werk and Ortgies (the designer left Deutsche Werk and went into business for himself before World War II) pistol do show up fairly regularly on gunbroker.com, but they hover right around $300 with 1 mag. Aftermarket magazines are about $35 each from Numrich and will need to be worked in to insure reliability. The originals were nickel-plated but the aftermarkets are powder-coated. It makes them a little harder to seat until they've been worn in. The second is the caliber. Most commonly seen is .25 ACP, aka 6.35mm. I would not recommend that. The next up is .32 ACP, aka 7.65mm. With hollowpoints at close range it will work for personal defense. What you really want is the .380 ACP, aka 9mm Kurz or 9mm Short. That has enough power at personal defense ranges to get it done, but not so much recoil that a lady who might be a bit frail can't handle it. It's just a suggestion, but if you can swing the cost an Ortgies might be just the thing for her.