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Handicap Question

derTotentanzderTotentanz Member Posts: 23 ✭✭
edited June 2002 in General Discussion
Greeting everyone.
I have a friend who is paralysed on one side of his body. He has adapted quite well, perhaps better than I would have.

Well my question is this. He must use his left hand for shooting. He currently has a .32 revolver as a home defence weapon. I took it out and besides it being a .32, it was not very reliable (a revolver not reliable!!?!?!?!). My question is this what would be a good weapon for him to look at. It must be ambidextrous and easy for one handed operation (he is left handed). My suggestion to him was a .357magnum revolver. But I would like to get some opinions on automatics. To me a DAO or DA on the first shot then it goes to SA type of action would work out nicely. What are your thoughts everybody?

-Eric

Your favorite gun sucks.
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Comments

  • varmit huntervarmit hunter Member Posts: 1,674 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Both are good. I would go with the revolver for absolute simplicity.

    The most important things, Are not things.
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  • pikeal1pikeal1 Member Posts: 2,707
    edited November -1
    if half of his body is paralyzed, wouldn't that severly hinder him from operating the slide? I think a revolver would be the best bet...i guess he can open the cylinder with one hand and place the empty gun in his lap if he needed to reload...would be pretty difficult to reload a pistol or even clear a jam God forbid that would happen when he need it most.

    Alex
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  • William81William81 Member Posts: 25,503 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    An older friend of mine who passed on a few years back had very little use of his right arm and almost no use of his hand (Accident, lost a couple of fingers also) He experimented with all types of handguns and finally settled on a S&W 66 2.5" barrel. He had the trigger worked on a bit.

    I watched that gentleman shoot a Colt Govt. model. He could do it all one handed, but had alot of practice over the 20 plus years following his accident.

    He had settled on the revolver several years ago as that is what he was most comfortable with...

    Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Liberals....
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  • Shootist3006Shootist3006 Member Posts: 4,171
    edited November -1
    pike pretty much said it all. I would look at any of the quality .38 specials, a .357 might prove to be physically challenging.

    Quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.Semper Fidelis
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  • derTotentanzderTotentanz Member Posts: 23 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well he is paralysed, but it doesn't quite affect him as you may think. I mean I have total respect for this guy. I would wager that you wouldn't be able to tell that he is paralysed on the right half of his body (cept after a few makers mark sours). But seriously this is testiment to the resiliance of the human mind and body. He walks and talks just fine. He can use his right hand, he just has no feeling so everything he does is by sight, not feel. Think about it. I was thinking the same though, however when I got my Steyr M40, I showed it to him (as we all do with our new guns and friends) he can operate a slide. He grips the gun in his right hand and operates the slide with his left hand like a right handed user. He just doesn't have the manual dexterity on his right side. That is why I thought maybe a DAO or something DA/SA would work. He is a big guy around 6'4" 220 and works out so I do not think he would have a problem with .357magnum. Pretty much, my philosophy is that if I ever had to use my weapon I don't want them living to talk about it. That is just why I choose the other larger calibers. I mean you don't really hear about someone getting shot by a .357mag and living. I hope this helps a little on background. I just think his .32 is really cheaply made, if doesn't perform and it is a .32. For home defence concealing isn't a priority.

    Thanks for all the input and please keep it comming.

    -Eric

    Your favorite gun sucks.
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  • derTotentanzderTotentanz Member Posts: 23 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you are ever in a situation where you have to reload, something has gone terribly wrong. At least that is my humble opinion.

    -Eric

    quote:
    if half of his body is paralyzed, wouldn't that severly hinder him from operating the slide? I think a revolver would be the best bet...i guess he can open the cylinder with one hand and place the empty gun in his lap if he needed to reload...would be pretty difficult to reload a pistol or even clear a jam God forbid that would happen when he need it most.

    Alex


    Your favorite gun sucks.
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  • nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,085 ******
    edited November -1
    I had a student in a CHL class, an elderly man who had had a stroke. He had little or no use of his right hand. He shot an old Smith & Wesson .38 revolver, and very well, left-handed. Though reloading is not part of this course, he managed to reload with only one hand as well.

    I recommend a good revolver. The high-capacity auto is not a bad choice...He might just have to get someone else to load and charge it for him.

    SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the best gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net
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  • gunpaqgunpaq Member Posts: 4,607 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    derTotentanz: Your friend can probably do more than you think. I only have partial use of my left side due to injuries from an auto accident. I am right handed but had to have it reconstructed and was forced to shoot lefthanded while recovering. Found with practice that I could shoot revolvers and semi-autos equally well, each had their advantages and disadvantages. Used shooting as part of my rehab and learned how to compensate for disabilities. My personal preference is a revolver for one handed use as it is not as complex as a semi-auto. I use a cane to amulate and have learned to use it in my shooting techniques and also create a tripod with it so I can stand to shoot clays. A Smith or Ruger 6 shot .38/357 revolver gets my vote for your buddies situation.

    Pack slow, fall stable, pull high, hit dead center.
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  • BlueTicBlueTic Member Posts: 4,072
    edited November -1
    Well - being limited with my deformed right hand - I can say that A good auto with an easy slide is fun. I have tried a few and the Smith 4516 has a remarkably smooth action and easy to jack the first round. If he wants something a little lighter try the Beretta 9ns or Walther 380s. My home gun is a revolver (Colt Magnum Carry .357) SA/DA, just because I don't want to dick around with an auto in a situation and because of my limitations I would want to point and shoot without any hessitation. I figure 6 rounds of .357 is enough - if it ain't I should have time to get the shotgun out - if that ain't enough - I should be able to reach the safe, then lookout.....

    IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY RIGHTS - GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY (this includes politicians)
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  • competentonecompetentone Member Posts: 4,696 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    OK, who knows their vintage revolvers?

    Wasn't one of the early cased ammo revolvers a "top break" model which the cavalry prefered because they could reload easily using one free hand?

    Anybody making a modern reproduction of that revolver which could handle a good modern defense round?





    Edited by - competentone on 06/12/2002 19:08:59
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  • BlueTicBlueTic Member Posts: 4,072
    edited November -1
    Was that the Smith&Wesson model 3 American .44 or .44 Henry rim fire. made 1870-72? Predicessor(sp) to the Russian and Schofield. I'd sure like to try one of those out!!!!

    IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY RIGHTS - GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY (this includes politicians)

    Edited by - BlueTic on 06/13/2002 07:11:13
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  • derTotentanzderTotentanz Member Posts: 23 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ohh no...if I gave that impression to you, that I was wrong. I believe there isn't anything he cannot do. I am not going to sugar coat either, he does have less dexterity in his right hand. So with that in mind, I was just trying to get opinions on what would be a good fit.

    -Eric

    quote:
    derTotentanz: Your friend can probably do more than you think. I only have partial use of my left side due to injuries from an auto accident. I am right handed but had to have it reconstructed and was forced to shoot lefthanded while recovering. Found with practice that I could shoot revolvers and semi-autos equally well, each had their advantages and disadvantages. Used shooting as part of my rehab and learned how to compensate for disabilities. My personal preference is a revolver for one handed use as it is not as complex as a semi-auto. I use a cane to amulate and have learned to use it in my shooting techniques and also create a tripod with it so I can stand to shoot clays. A Smith or Ruger 6 shot .38/357 revolver gets my vote for your buddies situation.

    Pack slow, fall stable, pull high, hit dead center.


    Your favorite gun sucks.
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