Top 5 Guns for Seniors, Women and Men with Reduced Hand Strength
I am Senior with Arthritis in my hand. I have experimented with all types of Guns and gun accessories and believe I have the answers that can really help you comfortably carry and shoot a handgun. If the gun is not comfortable or if it hurts when you shoot most people will stop carrying or quit practicing. I carry my gun all day and rarely notice it is there. I will discuss the top 7 guns and the pros and cons of each and then pick one or two I think you should get. Let's get started...
My name is Steve
I am 66 years old and have shooting guns since I was 12. 15 years ago, I decided to carry a gun every day. I was strong then and manipulating guns and racking a bullet into the chamber was easy for me. I carried a 9 MM Smith and Wesson Shield, a very good handgun. We will talk more about handgun caliber later. Five years ago, I came down with a serious disease and spent about a month in the hospital. My weight went from 175 lbs. to 135 lbs. When I got home, I could not walk or put my shoes on. I pretty much lost all muscle in my hands and arms.
After 6 months of rehab, I was back on my feet and could do physically what I needed to do. However, I had developed neuropathy and arthritis in my right hand, my dominant hand. When I pulled out my Shield carry gun, I could not rack the slide to place a bullet into the chamber. Over time I regained enough strength to barely do so, but it was very painful due to the arthritis in my right hand.
I decided to look at some other options. I have a number of .380 Caliber handguns. They are less powerful than 9 MM guns and typically have weaker recoil springs which means the slide is easier to rack and being less powerful they don't kick as much for a handgun of equal weight to a 9 MM. Although, less powerful than the 9 MM caliber, the .380 with modern defensive ammunition is still strong enough for self-defense.
So, I realized I would have to transition to one of my .380 Caliber, less powerful handguns. The following guns are based on my experience and study, literally watching hundreds of YouTube videos to back up my own experiences. If you are a senior, a lady, or just have painful hands I am confident that one or more of these handguns will get you back in the game. And if you are a beginner to guns this will be an excellent tutorial to get you started the right way.
Glock 42
The Glock 42 is Glock’s smallest and lightest pistol, designed with concealability and ease of use in mind. Weighing just under 14 ounces unloaded and featuring an overall length of 5.94 inches, the Glock 42 offers a compact profile without sacrificing the reliability Glock is known for. Its slim frame—only 0.94 inches wide—allows for comfortable carry in pockets, purses, or holsters, making it really easy to carry a high quality and reliable handgun for self-defense. My carry rig is very comfortable, and I no longer notice it being there. I have found that if it is not comfortable, you will quit wearing it. I have customized my gun and holster to improve on the comfort, handling and accuracy of the Glock 42. I will go into detail on these improvements that I believe transfers the Glock 42 from good to GREAT!
One of the standout advantages of the Glock 42 for seniors, women, and those with limited hand strength is its remarkably manageable recoil. The .380 ACP chambering provides softer recoil than 9mm, and the pistol’s slightly longer grip (compared to many micro-.380s) allows the hand to get a strong grip which gives better control and stability. I recommend getting a magazine with an extended pinky-grip so you can get a full 3-finger grip on the gun. This combination reduces muzzle flip and aids in managing recoil, making follow-up shots more accurate and less physically taxing during practice sessions When a gun is comfortable to shoot you will practice more. For shooters who may experience joint stiffness, arthritis, or reduced grip power, this softer shooting experience can significantly improve both comfort and your confidence with the gun.
Equally important is the Glock 42’s slide operation. Many ultra-compact pistols use stiff recoil springs to manage pressure, but Glock engineered the G42 with a slide that is notably easier to rack than typical small carry guns. This makes chambering a round, performing press-checks, or clearing malfunctions far more accessible for individuals with limited hand strength. The slide serrations are pretty good for racking the slide, although sometimes my hand would slip or somedays when my arthritis acted up, I had to grip it so hard it hurt my hand. But I have a fix for improving the grip traction on the slide.
The Glock 42 does not have a safety. Some like them and some don't. I prefer a safety if I am carrying with one in the chamber (occurs when a bullet is racked, moving a bullet from the magazine into the chamber of the pistol, ready to fire). I carry the G42 without a bullet in the chamber. So, before I can fire a round, I have to pull the gun from the holster and rack the slide, moving the bullet into the chamber. The G42 has GLOCK's SAFE ACTION system with its multiple integrated safety features surface strike a balance between comfort and control. The trigger maintains Glock’s consistent and predictable pull weight, helping those who struggle with heavy or gritty triggers found on many small firearms. The trigger pull takes about 5.5 lbs. of pressure to depress the trigger, release the striker and fire a bullet. Combined, these features create a firearm that feels stable and forgiving in the hand—crucial qualities for shooters who may no longer have the dexterity they once did.
Ultimately, the Glock 42 stands out as an excellent choice for seniors or anyone with weak or painful hands due to its blend of light weight, mild recoil, easy slide manipulation, and reliable Glock engineering. It delivers serious defensive capability in a platform that is approachable, user-friendly, and comfortable to operate. For individuals who want personal protection without the strain of handling heavier or harsher-recoiling guns, the Glock 42 offers a good balance of power, comfort, which leads to more confidence in carrying and shooting the gun.
The Glock 42 is good, but it is better with modifications. The two main improvements are adding recoil absorption to the grip and a hand grip activated laser for easier targeting. A third improvement is adding traction to the slide for easier racking. All of these are available from Amazon.
ArmaLaser TR5G is a green laser that is attached to the front of the trigger guard. It is unique because you do not have to put a button to turn on the laser. The laser is activated just by gripping the pistol. It senses your finger at the top of the grip and comes on automatically
You can improve the grip with an Hogue HandAll Beavertail Rubber Grip Sleeve. This rubber sleeve slips on the grip and helps in gripping the Glock 42 and also adds some additional dampening to reduce the recoil felt by your hand.
I also recommend the TALON Grips Adhesive Slide Grip. This is basically tape with a sandpaper like finish on the top side that perfectly fits the slide indentions. It allows for easier cycling of the slide. It helps those with painful or reduced strength hands.
Stay tuned for more guns that are good for Seniors, Women and those with hand problems. Sign up for my blog to get this free and useful information.
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