Certainly more intimidating appearance than most other handguns.

I think just about any handgun pointed at someone carries the same intimidation factor.

Now a shotgun pointed at someone...

That induces involuntary sphincter relaxation.

How about this?

Conventional 1911 with 10-12 lb spring and light ball or semiwadcutter loads.
And a few minutes of practicing the push-pull technique.
This would be more reliable than a lightened DA revolver.
Maybe about the same stopping power as a 380 but that would be a guess.
Certainly more intimidating appearance than most other handguns.
The only downside is a possible limp-wrist malfunction.

You have a 1911 that you can try this out with?

Nope. No 1911. There is a little part of my brain somewhere back there that says "Yeah! Let's get a 1911!" but nope... not for now. There is a slightly louder side that says "Glock! Another Glock!" but seriously, more likely I will buy a bolt gun and a CX4 this year.

Nope. No 1911. There is a little part of my brain somewhere back there that says "Yeah! Let's get a 1911!" but nope... not for now. There is a slightly louder side that says "Glock! Another Glock!" but seriously, more likely I will buy a bolt gun and a CX4 this year.

===============
I thought we were talking about a home defense pistol for someone with weak hands.

I know some people advocate a shotgun or rifle for home defense, but I think it is more difficult to deploy a long arm quickly.
Assuming the firearm is secured, as it should be.
My other thought is that in a typical home here, wielding a long arm is clumsier because of tight spaces.

Now a shotgun pointed at someone...

That induces involuntary sphincter relaxation.

====================
 

===============
I thought we were talking about a home defense pistol for someone with weak hands.

I know some people advocate a shotgun or rifle for home defense, but I think it is more difficult to deploy a long arm quickly.
Assuming the firearm is secured, as it should be.
My other thought is that in a typical home here, wielding a long arm is clumsier because of tight spaces.

Yup, you're right. Kinda got off topic.

And you're right again, handgun is usually the best for indoors defense. Even Massad F. Ayoob says so (in terms of handgun v. shotgun for home defense), mainly due to handling indoors and follow-up shot rapidity.

Well I guess there isn't really any "perfect" solution; i.e., a handgun that is easy to rack/cock that puts out a decent stopping power (otherwise we'd be talking about .22LR on a platform such as the Ruger Mark 3).

10 lbs rice should be fine. But I have found that somehow the twisting action, such as twisting off lids, bottle caps, etc. even ketchup bottles, most of the women I have encountered just cannot do it if the lid is even a little stuck.

I think if she can carry a 10# bag of rice which is basically upper body and forearm strength, she should be OK with proper training.  I've let a little gal (4'-10" maybe) shoot my 1911 (in 45acp) before and she had no problems racking the slide or handling recoil. 

Nope. No 1911. There is a little part of my brain somewhere back there that says "Yeah! Let's get a 1911!" but nope... not for now. There is a slightly louder side that says "Glock! Another Glock!" but seriously, more likely I will buy a bolt gun and a CX4 this year.

You might want to let her try and load up some of the 9mm magazines.  Some of those are extremely tough to load and give big guys trouble a lot of times.

I think if she can carry a 10# bag of rice which is basically upper body and forearm strength, she should be OK with proper training.  I've let a little gal (4'-10" maybe) shoot my 1911 (in 45acp) before and she had no problems racking the slide or handling recoil. 


You might want to let her try and load up some of the 9mm magazines.  Some of those are extremely tough to load and give big guys trouble a lot of times.

Myself I have found 1911 (I don't have one but shot some before) easier to rack the slide than on Glocks / SIGs. Not sure if this is always the case or I just happened to shoot 1911 that have been well broken in.*

On your second statement I am not sure what you mean. You mean putting 9mm cartridges inside the magazines? (Those are painful for everyone; I try to use the loaders when I can but only 1 or 2 mags, thumbs will be "OK" without the loader).

* Speaking of which... any recommendations on 1911 platform using 9mm? Something I might consider and put on the To Do list.

do a search
i asked that same question about 9mm 1911s a few months ago

Myself I have found 1911 (I don't have one but shot some before) easier to rack the slide than on Glocks / SIGs. Not sure if this is always the case or I just happened to shoot 1911 that have been well broken in.*

On your second statement I am not sure what you mean. You mean putting 9mm cartridges inside the magazines? (Those are painful for everyone; I try to use the loaders when I can but only 1 or 2 mags, thumbs will be "OK" without the loader).

* Speaking of which... any recommendations on 1911 platform using 9mm? Something I might consider and put on the To Do list.

do a search
i asked that same question about 9mm 1911s a few months ago

Found! :-)

http://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=8706.msg83708#msg83708

good job!

Found! :-)

http://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=8706.msg83708#msg83708

Hey, OK, so actually that thread woke me up a bit. (But also was a bit hard for me to follow because my brain had to SWITCH GEARS to go between automobiles and firearms; dang!).

So, Browning Hi-Power.

What do you guys think? Anyone have it?

Is this "basically" a 1911 design except purpose built for 9mm?

Any bad review on the Hi-power?

PS - Hi-power can be Cocked & Locked, yes?

The BHP is John M Browning's last firearm design.  He never finished because he died, but a designer from Fabrique Nacional (FN) in Belgium completed it using his Browning's old patent designs.

So, the BHP is supposed to be Browning's latest masterpiece, taking what he learned from the 1911's design and putting it into the BHP. I would consider the BHP to have a place in a gun collector's inventory.  Some 1911 purists say that the BHP is the only 9mm they would consider owning.

The BHP is John M Browning's last firearm design.  He never finished because he died, but a designer from Fabrique Nacional (FN) in Belgium completed it using his Browning's old patent designs.

So, the BHP is supposed to be Browning's latest masterpiece, taking what he learned from the 1911's design and putting it into the BHP. I would consider the BHP to have a place in a gun collector's inventory.  Some 1911 purists say that the BHP is the only 9mm they would consider owning.

Interesting. I noticed the trigger is not like the 1911 straight pullback.

On your second statement I am not sure what you mean. You mean putting 9mm cartridges inside the magazines? (Those are painful for everyone; I try to use the loaders when I can but only 1 or 2 mags, thumbs will be "OK" without the loader).

* Speaking of which... any recommendations on 1911 platform using 9mm? Something I might consider and put on the To Do list.

I say try to put rounds into a 9mm magazine because if that's what she's shooting she should be loading her own mags.  If you're not there and her life depends on it, she better be able to do it.

1911 9mm.......Dan Wesson.

I say try to put rounds into a 9mm magazine because if that's what she's shooting she should be loading her own mags.  If you're not there and her life depends on it, she better be able to do it.

1911 9mm.......Dan Wesson.

OK I see, thanks. Makes sense.

Haha, is a 1911 in .22LR even worse blasphemy?

 

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/family.asp?webflag_=028B&catalog_=B

Anyway it will have to be in 9mm. I do not want my wife to be confused with .45ACP, .40S&W and 9mm in an emergency. 9mm is the only handgun ammo I have for that exact reason.

45 too much, lets get a 9mm, no that's too much, lets get a 22lr.

STOP THE INSANITY
 

20 gauge coach gun.

Crazy joe's double barrel of justice ? 

( I just love sayin' that )

Crazy joe's double barrel of justice ? 

( I just love sayin' that )

Problem with that is, you have to shoot it into the air (twice) on your porch. Then the bad guys will scurry away (after they hear you shot both your barrels empty, that is).

I don't got no porch.

Or porche.

:-D

Hey, OK, so actually that thread woke me up a bit. (But also was a bit hard for me to follow because my brain had to SWITCH GEARS to go between automobiles and firearms; dang!).

So, Browning Hi-Power.

What do you guys think? Anyone have it?

Is this "basically" a 1911 design except purpose built for 9mm?

Any bad review on the Hi-power?

PS - Hi-power can be Cocked & Locked, yes?

I have a Hi-Power and I like it a lot.  Very comfortable grip, very reliable with good ammo and generally quite accurate.  The stock trigger sucks--it's heavy and creepy.  The magazine safety usually prevents the mags from dropping and it adds to the bad trigger pull.  Removing it usually improves the trigger but it's totally up to you if you want to remove a safety feature.

Cocked and locked is an option with the HP--whether or not it's practical depends on which model you have.  The older, classic versions have a very small safety lever that is difficult to operate.  The newer versions have a larger lever that's easier to manipulate.  Since I only use the HP for target shooting, cocked and locked is moot.

HPs are pretty hard to find and an older one usually commands a high price, so I imagine it's difficult for a person unfamiliar with the design to handle/shoot one enough to form their own opinions.

I also have a Kimber and a Springfield 1911 in 9mm and those are really nice shooting guns--very soft on recoil and reliablilty/accuracy is good.  Accessories will be much easier to find for the 1911 as opposed to the HP.

Either pistol will be easy to sell, should you find that you want to get rid of it for any reason.