This is a sincere request. Need advice for type of back up gun to buy to scare the meaness out of critters or creeps. I live out a ways, with woods around me. I have a 25. Went to Walmart today, no hollow points in stock. Went to a Survival store, they had only two boxes left for my 25, "Full Metal Jacket", whatever that means! Just know they were sooooo expensive. Too expensive to use for target practice. I appreciate your suggestions/experience. P.S. I do not have strong upper body strength. Ah, what the hell! I am old and weak!

-- Barn Broad Side (ShakeyGranny@badeyes.com), November 12, 1999

Answers

Hey there ShakeyGranny,

Many of the newer hand guns are light weight, but more expensive to buy and to fire. Just for varmits (2 or 4 legs), a semi-automatic or 9-shot revolver .22 would serve you well. Inexpensive and you can fire lots of rounds for very little $$. Depending on your aim, you could stop most of the varmits.

TA

-- TA (get@armed.now), November 12, 1999.

I recommend a titanium 38 as a minimum. Other recomendations include Glock Mini's in the .40 caliber or 9 mil

You need to be able to stop someone and your 25 wont.

It's that simple. Then get your granny butt out to the range and fire a couple hundred rounds over the next two to three weeks.

-- Gordon (g_gecko_69@hotmail.com), November 12, 1999.

double barreled .410 derringer... oh yeah.

-- (...@.......), November 12, 1999.

Full Metal Jacket(FMJ) are solid points as opposed to hollow points (JHP),they are designed to have more armor penetration capabilities than hollow point

-- rog (just@me.here), November 12, 1999.

I tend to favor a .22 Ruger automatic with about a 6" barrel. I do like the mini-mag ammo, with a hollow point to do the maximum damage. It does require some practice (as do ALL guns), but the low recoil makes it a nice weapon to shoot.

If all you want to do is scare, you might want to consider a big bore weapon (e.g., .45 cal.). But I never believed in making threats that I was unwilling to enforce...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), November 12, 1999.

You didn't mention how much $ you have to spend or your physical size, so I'll try to make my comments general.

The other posters are right in saying the .25 ACP is too weak to be a suitable self-defense cartridge.

If you are so frail that recoil is a big problem, may I suggest a .22 long rifle semi-automatic. Use CCI "stinger" high intensity hollowpoint cartridges. My first choice for a weapon in this caliber would be the Ruger semi-automatic. Stainless steel would be best. .22 long rifle would not be my first choice for a self-defense cartridge, but the low recoil makes it easy for petite or frail people to fire accurately. A hit with a .22 beats a miss with a .44 magnum. .22 rimfire ammo is a lot cheaper than than the larger centerfire cartridges. You can stock up and practice more.

I see where Mr. Gecko suggested the mini Glocks in .40 S&W or 9mm/P. For people with large hands, these two fine weapons take some getting used to. I prefer the .40 S&W to the 9 mm/P. If you have large hands, you might find one of the full-sized Glocks more comfortable. The Glock is an extremely rugged, dependable weapon.

Other centerfire semi-autos I like are:

Kahr 9 mm/P.

Browning Hi-Power 9 mm/P. This one has been around since the 1930s. There are alot of good used ones around at reasonable prices.

The Beretta 92, in 9 mm,is now the U.S. service pistol. You can't go wrong with military smallarms. Taurus makes a Beretta clone which is quite good also.

The SIG/Sauer handguns are excellent, very popular with police officers. Available in 9 mm/P and the somewhat less powerful .380.

Handgun cartridges are relatively weak compared to centerfire rifle cartridges. I would generalize by saying the best handgun for self- defense is the most powerful one that you can shoot rapidly and accurately, given your size, physical strength and experience.

Practice as much as you can!

-- Not Whistlin' Dixie (not_whistlin_dixie@yahoo.com), November 12, 1999.

Look around for a Walther PPK clone Bersa makes one. It's a .380 cal. easy to shoot, ammo is a little less expensive than a 9 mm., and it can do a better job than a .22. I would recomend using good hollow points or pre-fragmented rounds for self defense and FMJ for target practice. My wife can handle our .380 well. It fits in her hand and there is not much kick. If you have a range near you, call them and see if they rent guns to use when you are there. That is the cheapest way to test different types of handguns.

-- Bill (y2khippo@yahoo.com), November 12, 1999.

This granny got the .22 rifle and pistol. I figure it's a few steps above bb's and I'd hate to see one pointed at me. I just wanted something I felt comfortable with when I'm alone. M

-- Meandi (Meandi@got.it), November 12, 1999.

---broadside granny--do you have enough strength to use a pump shotgun in the small .410 gauge? tiny pistols-although better than harsh language-are hard to shoot well, especially with little practice. a .410 gauge shotgun is cheap, it does not kick very much at all, and will "impress" the critters and creeps. Most pawn shops have them for as little as 100 or 125 used, and even new they are only about 180 brand new, like say for a maverick brand or a mossberg. plus, it's a two handed weapon, and if you can get as little instruction as to proper tight-against-the-shoulder hold you will do quite well with it. good luck and see if you can maybe get some back up human type help for the end of the year fun and games. safety in numbers, most times. maybe free rent in a spare room you might have for a college student or something, help out around the house, that sort of thing. I started worrying about my older but still spry folks, then i realized my dad has always been a better shot than me.....hehehehehe...pity the fool looter gonna try and grab his beans!

-- zog (zzoggy@yahoo.com), November 12, 1999.

There was a saying back when Greybear was a cop:

NEVER carry a .25, NEVER

You might have to shoot at someone with it.

If you shoot at some one with it you might hit them.

If you hit them it might make them REALLY REALLY mad.

-Greybear

-- Get Beans.

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), November 12, 1999.

Do NOT buy a titanium .38. The recoil is vicious. Remember, the lighter the weapon (and bigger the cartridge), the more it bucks. You are far better off using both hands on a decent shotgun. If you must have a pistol, buy a revolver. Get a well-made "wheel gun" from a reputable manufacturer. The .38 special is easy to handle and plenty of gun to dissuade others. Buy several boxes of shells and go through a few boxes shooting at something very close. (Under 15 feet.) Be safe.

-- Ken Decker (kcdecker@worldnet.att.net), November 12, 1999.

Hello, Granny. My wife had a similar problem to yours in finding a suitable handgun for self-defense. Ultimately, after trying a number of different semi-automatic weapons in different calibers, she realized that because of her weak wrists and fingers, she could not hold the pistol firmly, as a result, it failed to function properly. (When you "limp-wrist" a semi-auto, the recoil may cause the gun to tilt sharply upward, sometimes preventing the slide from traveling all the way through its cycle to the rear, thus failing to cock and reload itself.) She also had difficulty pulling the trigger all the way back. The adrenal flow of a violent confrontation may override some of these problems...but one shouldn't depend on that.

She finally settled on an 8-round Smith & Wesson Model 317 double-action revolver in .22 caliber. It's a very lightweight gun with minimal recoil, and easily carried concealed, for which she has a permit. While the caliber is a marginal man-stopper, she is a good shot, puts her rounds where she aims, and understands the politics of using deadly force. That more than makes up for the limitations of the cartridge. Better to have a gun that she is comfortable with and has confidence in, than a larger, heavier, more-powerful unit that she cannot use.

I'd suggest that, if possible, you visit some local shooting ranges or dealers and see if they have some guns they will let you try out, before you decide. But based on your description of your physical limitations, you might want to stay away from semi-automatics, and concentrate on revolvers. Not much time left to obtain a weapon and get sufficient practice with it. Good luck with your preps.

-- Norm Harrold (nharrold@tymewyse.com), November 12, 1999.

Got me a 50 caliber, mounted on my wheelchair. After I fire, I end up 50 yards further away from my target!

-- 'Ol Codger (not@tellin.now), November 12, 1999.

ShakeyGranny; I should have read the sig. That derringer would be fine held between a strong pair of experienced hands... If you are a Granny better forget that idea. Get a revolver as they are slightly more reliable than automatics and less sensitive to dirt and grit. DO NOT USE THE RECOMMENDED STINGER AMMO BECAUSE it contains a SLOW burning powder and actually performs poorly in barrels less than about 12 or 14 inches long. That ammo is designed to perform best in rifles. Do go with a .22 or .22 Magnum (I recommend the latter). Purchase some 'snake shot' for the revolver. Load the weapon with a hollow point, bird shot, hollow point, bird shot... Thus you are equipped for both vermin and VERMIN. If you find it necessary to take on a two legged vermin aim high. A load of that bird shot in the face and neck will drop a big fellow quite nicely. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER pull the trigger once when you can pull it twice. That is an absolute taught to the US Border Patrol for many years.

If you opt for the standard .22 (vice the magnum) by all means get hollow points but stay with the standard hollowpoints not the 'hyper velocity' ones for the reasons mentioned above.

Throw the .25 in the trash or put is safely away where you might be able to grab it quickly if that were necessary and you could not get to anything else.

In your house keep a .410 or 20ga. shotgun. Preferrably a double barrel or a repeater (semi-automatic). I lean towards double rifles and shotguns where second shots are wanted because the darn things practically never fail to function. They have the problem that third shots can be difficult because loading time is relativly slow.

That said, It was not my intention to be flip on the derringer. That thing in the right hands, carrying a slug in one barrel and birdshot in the other is sufficient to any task out to about thirty feet, it is small, light, and concealable.

-- (...@.......), November 13, 1999.

The first defense weapon for home use is a shotgun.... prefer a 12ga but a 20ga youth or last choice a 410. Forget that 25 -- it just may get you seriously hurt or worse. My instructions to the better half is that if you raise the gun in a defensive manner, be sure you aim to cause serious damage.... a shotgun is hard to "miss" the target while a revolver or a semi auto is difficult to hit the target- particularly if not well practiced. Best bet is to rent several possible choices at a range & test fire for accuracy and your comfort level..but in my opinion, the first choice for home has to be the largest cal of shotgun you can both afford and are comfortable with. I repeat..get rid of that worthless 25 for your own good!

-- Johnah (jahalder@infinet.com), November 13, 1999.

To quote Masaad Ayoob: "A .25 is a nice thing to have when you don't have a gun." Never rely on anything less than a .38 to do squat to anything on 2 legs. Animals: depends where you are.

www.y2ksafeminnesota.com

-- MinnesotaSmith (y2ksafeminnesota@hotmail.com), November 13, 1999.

glocks are the only pistol I would carry and stake my life on right out of the box without testing.

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), November 27, 1999.

zoobie:

From experience, I'd also include SIGs in that category. Both are outstanding.

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), November 27, 1999.

sigs are nice,and they have beautiful smooth trigger actions.

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), November 28, 1999.