My Staccato racks easier than my PDP-F but I’m not sure she would want to go that route.
What do you think @Jerzees 
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Maybe try a .22?
I know it’s a less than ideal SD round, but as is said in airgunning accuracy is lethal.
If she can’t rack a .380, it won’t matter how much more powerful the round is.
I wouldn’t want to get hit with a .22! Neither do most idiot criminals…. And if she’s got a single well placed shot, bad guy wouldn’t be back on the streets to try again! 
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I’m not sure if Staccato racks easier than 380… unless you think about XC. 
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I think nothing more to discuss here.
Everything has been told and explained.
Right now it’s time to think about testing handguns and find the one that actually does the job for weak hands with some limitations.
Remember… sometimes changing technique and habit is needed to achieve the goal. Do not stick to whatever seems to be a standard.
What I mean:
- If your hands are weak, find the way to operate handgun using them less. You need only a good grip and smooth trigger press.
- Use at least 12 rd mag so you don’t need to think about reload
- Learn gun fight tactics to avoid extra manipulation and if you need to do something, it’s always better to do it behind the cover with extra time
Good luck.
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I am almost your niece’s age and it sounds like I have the same problem that she has. I have very weak hands and upper body strength. I haven’t found a Sig Rose that I can rack or drop the magazine without much struggle. I also have a Glock 42 which sits in the safe for the same reason.
I have 2 EZ 380s that I have no trouble with. Also a Kimber Micro 9 but the hammer must be in the cocked position for me to rack it.
The EZs are easy to rack, drop the magazines and release the slide lock. I can’t say enough about how important it is to be comfortable with your EDC and know that you can manage all mechanical aspects of it without struggling.
So many times someone has told me “hold it this way” or “ push then pull” , “you can do it you’re just not doing it right”. etc.. The reality is that I know my strengths and hand strength isn’t one of them.
Now the EZ does have a grip safety but I don’t seem to have a problem with that at all. It is easy to engage. I’ve also shot an Equalizer 9 without a problem but there is enough recoil that my hands get tired after a few magazines. My 38 and 32 S & W long are great revolvers but I can’t pull the trigger with one finger. Must put them in single action and then I’m quite accurate with them. I’ve carried the 32 concealed and it’s ok but limited rounds and a quick reload isn’t going to happen in a stressful situation. Hope this helps.
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Thanks Jerzees. I didn’t think she would go through with it but she is and I am proud of her. There will be plenty of testing to see what she feels the most comfortable with. She shoots well with my 365xl but it makes her hands hurt alot more than the .380 does. I know if a gun fight occurred she would be good with a 9MM but I don’t think she would practice nearly enough.
Changing techniques and equipment is the biggest thing for her, I think. She is determined and will absolutely spend the time to learn what she needs to, so I’m not worried about that. I’m plan to send her to at least a couple of classes next spring to get her started and figure she can use the winter to go to the indoor range and get very familiar and faster with the gun that she chooses.
Thanks for all the help.
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Thanks @CandeT. Good info on the Rose and the EZ. From everything I’ve heard, I think she will gravitate towards the EZ. I’m really glad to hear from someone with the same type of problems. The try it this way or that way ran out after a couple of range trips, and I hoped beyond hope that her hands would just get stronger. While I’m with you on the grip safety it’s good to hear you don’t have a problem with it. All in all, I think the next trip will be a good time to go shopping. She will be going to CCW class, I think the first weekend in Dec. and so I figure a new gun will be a good Christmas present.
Thanks!
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@Doug101 ,
You niece must understand her limitations in certain situations. There is a time when most of us has to adjust and change habits and routines to keep life and its safety on the same level.
- Is 9mm hard to handle? Not a problem, switch to 380 and most issues are gixed
- hard to operate slide / lever? Stop doing so. Use sights or red dot instead. Use any leverage you may find instead of hurting your hand
- magazines hard to reload? Use higher capacity and learn how to manage the ammo, stop thinking about emergency reload… this is the last thing you want to happen to you. Weak hands are not fast, so you must learn how to fight and shoot smart, not fast.
Once again - Good luck with your niece. Hopefully she finds her tool that can be easily managed by her.
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I am looking for more speed and that will mean being able to properly operate the slide or the slide release. She can operate them now, but it takes her around 5 seconds or more to get it done. She lives in my original hometown and it definitely doesn’t win the safest town in America award. Many years ago her daughter was kidnaped and several years later she was robbed at a shoe store of all things by a gunman. He put the gun to her head and told her to give him her money. I want the fastest thing she can handle well. Yes, it will be a .380 with the easiest slide to operate in the quickest way possible and covering as many contingencies as possible. That includes malfunctions of ammo, magazines, and the gun. By time I am done with her, she will be much smarter and also much faster. Both have to work together to make it through a close up situation against a much younger attacker. Especially at our age.
I promised to finish discussion… but I see I must break that promise for now. 
if managing slide stop / release takes 5 seconds - stop using it
Looks your niece has a some kind of magic skill with bringing problems to herself… so carrying the firearm is a smart decision… however with the age and when manual capabilities and skills are limited, there is little you can do, once you are already held at gunpoint.
so…
let her train handgun manipulation skills, but in my opinion she should be more focused on situational awareness.
It is always better and safer to predict and avoid (having few options to act) than defend yourself when it’s too late (there is no other options).
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Absolutely! 
I will add in how does she plan on carrying?
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They make one in 9mm, also.
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She is good at situational awareness, probably because of the things that have happened to her in the past. Anybody can get better at it, but she is a lot better than myself and that was something I was good at in the distant past. Now, not as much.
I think over all she will do very well. She’s got a level head, good situational awareness, and knows the feeling when there is nothing she can do. I see her doing nothing but the right thing.
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That is the only problem I can see. She wants to carry in a purse and personally I don’t like that. Her reasoning is that she spends a lot of time with her grandkids and doesn’t want one on her body. I understand where she is coming from and we will get that straightened out before she gets her permit.
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She shouldn’t worry about having it on-body around children if she has the ‘right’ holster.
If she wants to carry it in her purse, setting it down anywhere around children isn’t the best idea since they could get into it when she is distracted.
Hth
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Yes, they do. I own a Sig P320 full size and a Sig P365 both in 9mm.
I don’t think she trusts on body carry. Especially when the kids are climbing all over her. I don’t think there would be any way to talk her into anything else. I’ve explained some of the problems with it so she knows. She’s real responsible so I feel like I can trust her to do the right thing for her and her grandkids. That’s all I can ask for.
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Sometimes for women, they have a little more challenging lifestyle than men. If she carries in her purse, there are special purses with EDC compartments in them, and also holsters for purses. Additionally, she may consider a fanny pack as well. Many accessories/choices for women to look into.
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Absolutely, women get all the accessories. Me, I was just glad to find a leather and kydex so it wouldn’t dig into my leg so bad.
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AS for the guys, They should make safety bullet proof underwear/long johns for when we carry appendix. 
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