[ponygirl]

You will probably not be able to operate the slide on an auto. My wife can't due to arthritis. You will need a revolver.

I was going to say the same thing. If you have no thumb grip, there is no way you're going to be able to pull the slide back on a Glock or other semi-automatic pistol. You need to look at a revolver, but I would stay away from the S&W Airweight or Airlite models. (Not sure if the Ladysmith is an airweight model or not.) People recommend them to women all the time, but they have a kick like a mule. I tried the S&W .38 and when I was done shooting 50 rounds, the back of my hand was so swollen I could hardly grip my car keys afterwards. I had severed a tendon on the back of my hand years ago, and I guess the recoil was too much for the scar tissue on my hand.

Later, I was taking a beginner handgun class and our instructor, a woman, held up the same model revolver I had been shooting and told us to avoid the gun. "I will not shoot this gun," she told us. She also said she has women show up all the time with the Ladysmith that some well-meaning husband or boyfriend had purchased, and that they usually had trouble with it. It's too lightweight for the kick it gives you. She actually recommended the .357 revolver over the Ladysmith.

Just my 2 cents worth... since I recently went through the first time purchase process.

[Spktyr]

“If you have no thumb grip, there is no way you’re going to be able to pull the slide back on a Glock or other semi-automatic pistol.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn27yj-oXAk

[mylife]

L0L I have an air weight SW .38 and it kicks like a mule

[Soliton]

The ladysmith is steel and the airlites are titanium. The .357 model is heavier, but takes .38 specials. It is designed for the ladies

[Wilhelm Tell]

That confirms my concern with a lightweight titanium revolver having too much recoil. I think a revolver in stainless steel would be better — heavier so less recoil and stainless steel is low maintenance. Also, a gun with a very short barrel will have sharp recoil.

[Uri’el-2012]

, but I would stay away from the S&W Airweight or Airlite models. (Not sure if the Ladysmith is an airweight model or not.) People recommend them to women all the time, but they have a kick like a mule.

You are absolutely correct.

The problem was too heavy a bullet.

Great ammo for a S&W j-frame airweight is Corbon DPX 110gr .38 special +P