[B_Scott]

I bought my girlfriend a Taurus 650 with the hopes that she would get a CCW. She doesn't like the recoil, therefore doesn't practice enough.

She has informed me that she only wants a gun for her car and not to conceal. Therefore, size is not a concern (within reason).

I figured a heavy 9mm will do the trick. The problem is she is tiny and her hands will not comfortably grip a bigger heavy pistol.

Please, help me find the right gun for her.
She also doesn't like it too loud. How much louder is a compensated gun?

RECAP:
Low Recoil
Fit Small Hands
Max bbl Length 5"
Max Price $400

[TarpleyG]

Well, first off, I would discourage leaving it in the car unless you can secure it in a quality lock box. That set up leaves a lot to be desired when trying to defend yourself though.

If she is hellbent on that though, maybe something along the lines of a Browning HP or even a 1911 style in .40 although an all steel 1911 with a 4" bbl doesn't have a killer recoil as long as you aren't using +P ammo.

GT

[Berg01]

For a $400.00 budget, a used S&W 908, or CZ PCR would be guns to look at; let her try both & pick the one she likes

[braindead0]

What kind of ammo was she shooting?

If she has small hands, your choices are going to be limited and from what I've been able to find for my wife, you'll end up with a compact 9mm that kicks as bad as the 650 with .38's..

Can she handle failure to feed drills under pressure? A revolver may be the best choice, perhaps some non +p .38 special ammo.

[B_Scott]

38 special
120 grain (i think)
fmj

[Pilot]

For years, I have been trying to get my wife interested in shooting and having her own gun for protection. I have many, many pistols, in all shapes and sizes and she doesn't like any of them. This weekend we went to a friends cabin and she was able to try his Beretta Model 85, Cheetah in .380. Its the single stack, eight round mag version. Its light, slim and balances well in her small hands. She liked it immediately and now wants me to get her one. So I guess I'll have to.

[braindead0]

I presume you don't reload? My wife had problems with recoil, I starter her with .38 special wadcutter target loads and worked up from there. She's now comfortably shooting low-power .357's (158gr at 950fps).

As far as sound, a .22 with bb caps would be nice and quiet..but it's not going to do any good in a SD situation. Without a silencer I think the two goals are mutually exclusive.

If you were shooting 120/125gr, I'd suspect they are high-velocity. Try to find some 158gr practice ammo (winchester white box maybe).

My wifes other pistol is a Taurus PT-111, she also likes shooting Kahr K9 and they fit her small hands. The Kahr is pricey, the PT isn't..but it's very light and the recoil isn't bad but it's kinda stiff.

[braindead0]

Oh yeah, perhaps a Ruger SP-101... although the 2.25" model is only an ounce or so more than the 650..perhaps that's enough.. ;-)

[obiwan1]

It's best to start her with a .22 (in my humble opinion). Then work her up to wimpy .38 wadcutters. Keep her confidence level increasing as she improves in proficiency and recoil tolerance. Don't use a lightweight .38 gun because the laws of physics haven't been repealed. Light weight = kick.
She may never progress up to .357 loads, but don't push it.;)

[Preacherman]

If hand fit is a problem, look at the Walther P99 or the S&W equivalent. They come with interchangeable backstraps, in small, medium and large. I've found many ladies with small hands can easily grip the gun with the small backstrap fitted. Also, being a larger gun, it's got a better sight radius and is easier to control.

[B_Scott]

I was kind of thinking along those lines, obiwan. I thought about the walther p-22 and progressing to p-99 in 9mm.
Might be more expensive, but I get 2 guns out of the deal.

[braindead0]

3 guns if you don't get rid of the 650 ;-)

[Trebor]

Try a S&W Model 10 .38 with a four inch barrel. Have her practice with target wadcutters until she's comfortable, and then work up to full-power loads. If she's not going to shoot much, she'll be better off with the revolver than any auto.

[kalibear45]

Glock 19

[braindead0]

How about a 4" Taurus 627, the grip and trigger reach are suitable for small hands and it's got enough heft (and porting that works very well)..

[Trisha]

With your girlfriend at least showing some interest in a firearm for self-defense, I'm hopeful; but with what sounds like a self-determined set of limits on it's availability, I'm worried.

Please, forgive me if this is only reiterating something you've already gone over with her, but:

A person is the most vulnerable when they're getting into their personal vehicle. Their attention is almost completely focused tightly into a tight cone encompassing the car door - and the goblin knows that. Such a redirect of awareness is precisely the window of opportunity the predator waits for, enabling a strike from beneath the vehicle with a stun gun applied to the foot, or a grab-and-yank to drop the person, disorienting them and signaling the second goblin to attack.

Many women who believe that somehow getting into their vehicle constitutes them becoming far more safe actually panic and fumble keys/keyless entry remote when menaced, creating an even larger empowerment to the predator - and the person is found outside the vehicle (if found at the scene at all), never having made it inside.

As a responsible individual would necessarily secure a firearm that is unattended, I have a concern about your girlfriend obtaining the firearm when the car door window is being smashed with a rock/hammer/crowbar (assuming she makes it inside) - the explosive shattering of glass is almost uniquely disorienting and elicits a powerful wave of fear with not only the sound and the involuntary protective reflex of turning the face away from the exploding glass fragments, but the ephemeral concept of the vehicle being a refuge, a zone of remarkable security is destroyed - exponentially increasing a fear reflex. And a focused, timely retrieval of the secured firearm is nigh impossible. . .

Your designation of her having small hands means she is petite in stature - and she likely has some ongoing awareness of feeling vulnerable in the presence of physically intimidating, stereotypical bottom-feeders; recognizing the acutely one-sidedness of any envisionable attack/conflict. To see her empower herself with tangible and legitimate confidence pretty much necessitates unarmed combat training - and soon, as well as in-depth.

That she is bringing an interest in self-defense to light may well signal that she (unconsciously or substantively andf definitively) deems herslef to be in danger - and even if only on an intuitive level, it is to be taken with absolute seriousness (and comprehensive, thoughtful action)!

She will only come to a full awareness of her strengths when she has been empowered to tangibly know her own effectiveness in a fight unarmed! Only then will she know from first-hand experience the reality of tactics, and the mandatory tools of the mind and body necessary to see her living with competence - and much less un-named fear and dread.

You have your work cut out for you; and I am worried, but hopeful that she and you can see her to the attainment of a reasonable, comprehensive skills set ASAP.

She needs to get padded up and into a ring, to confront her fears of attack and her lack of such skills, as well as to learn the techniques to overcome said fears.

You say that she dislikes the loud sound of firearms? That begs the question of giving her electronic muffs. To me, it also implies a dread of edged weapons (I have found the two to be congruent) - and that is a terrible vulnerability bourn of ignorance.

Small caliber preferences/pretences are a sure sign of a low threshold to pain, as she intuitively does not wish to inflict a disparate measure of pain to an attacker than would surely see her flee/quit, and that can be addressed at a dojo (I've been down that road myself).

Stay in touch, OK?

[Akurat]

SIG P230 or P232 in .32 or .380 would be a good choice. Slim and easy to conceal. A .380 provides a bit more power than .38 AND a .38 snubbie has slightly more recoil just due to the fact that it is a revolver (no compensation as in autos)

My girlfriend has a P230 and carries it in her purse everywhere she goes. She's not the best shot in the world but the SIG is extremely accurate in my hands and is fun to plink with. It also has some sleek lines...a very good looking pistol, which is always a good selling point when it comes to women :rolleyes: :cool:

[Rich357]

The SIG P239 9mm would likely work well for her. It has a slim grip and weighs enough to dampen the recoil. A frined's girlfriend is small and has no problem using my P239 9mm.

The SIG P239 9mm has less felt recoil than the P232 .380auto or PPK/S .380auto, even though the P239 9mm has more muzzle energy.

If you or your girlfriend cna find a way to spend a something over $500 you should be get a SIG P239.

You might want to find a defensive pistol class she can take. Some of the classes are just for women. The women I know who
have taken these classes enjoyed them.

Good luck,
Rich

[Sheslinger]

What Trisha said.

[Destructo6]

I'll second the SIG P23x.

You might also look at the CZ-83 in .380 or .32.

[braindead0]

How about a makarov in .380...

[B_Scott]

I have read that a lot of .380's recoil as much, if not more than, many 9mm due to blowback vs. locked breech designs.

Let me ya'll's opinions on this.

[Trisha]

:D

My Colt Government .380 is softer than my Walther PPK/S. . .

[arinvolvo]

Steyr M9 hands down...

lightest recoil of any 9mm that I have ever shot
299 at cdnninvestments
Excellent quality, reliability, and finish.
Heavy cut backstrap that is friendly to very small hands.
Advanced safety features, glock style trigger safety, manual safety bar, and keyed lockup safety.

Here is my 110 pound fiance shooting the Steyr M9 with a smile on her face.:D And she doesnt even like guns all that much.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=272956

[GitSome45]

I know that this is off topic,

BUT...

:evil:
I have been married for 7 years, and my wife was at first exited about learning to shoot, and now she is Indifferent to guns in general (after having 2 kids)....

I would love to play a joke on her by taking her out to shoot, handing her the new ".500 Maximum" (NO I do NOT own one...:( )
and telling her to "Just gently SQUEEZE" the trigger dear... :what: :what: :what: :what:

:D

Howard

[arinvolvo]

That is a good way to involuntarily abstain from sex for a few weeks.:rolleyes:

[GitSome45]

arinvolvo,

I know, :D :D :D

Howard

[David4516]

I would recomend a Makarov. They are thin, and fit small hands well (I know cause I have fairly small hands...). Recoil shouldn't be too bad, as the gun is fairly heavy for it's caliber (they come in .380 or 9mm Makarov, aka 9X18 Makarov). The best part is the price tag: about $150.00!

Now I know you're going to say "how good can this thing be if it's only $150?". Well just because it doesn't cost alot of money doesn't mean it's a 'cheap' gun. It is very similar to a Walther PPK, and even has some advantages over the PPK. Some people I know say that it is "ten times the gun for one tenth the price". I don't know if I'd go that far, but I agree with the general idea.

The 'Mak' is a russian design, and like most firearms the russians make, it is very dependable. My Makarov pistol has NEVER jammed or misfired.

Anyway, for more Mak info, go here:

http://www.gunboards.com/forums/UltraBoard.cgi?action=Headlines&BID=42&SID=439436

or here:

http://www.makarov.com/

[braindead0]

As far as I'm concerned, the Mak is the only .380 caliber handgun worth owning. Tough as nails, shoots everything (even some pretty hot .380 +P loads) and never complains.

[OneShot]

Look at the Springfield XD Subcompact. My wife shoots the Hell out of ours and she hates recoil. I shoot it all the time and the recoil is really manageable. It doesn't meet the quiet criteria though, as it's quite loud.

Maybe shoot one if you get the chance.

[arinvolvo]

Here is more fodder for my Steyr M9 vote. Here is a 13 year old girl shooting one. Notice the correct grip and finger placement, even with tiny little hands.

And remember, $299 from CDNNInvestments.:D

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=301135

[w1mnk]

My 5' petite small handed wife shoots a Glock 33, S&W Scandium 357 (I forget the model), Taurus PT111 Millenium and a SIG Mauser M2. The last 3 can be bought for $400 or less.

[braindead0]

Except the darned PT111 is a pain to find good magazines for, and they don't come with the 'finger rest' so you have to order tha seperately ($5-$7 each)... Gets pretty expensive accessorizing a PT111.

[w1mnk]

Yup, can't argue that point on the Taurus. Same thing with the Mauser. $50 a pop for magazines.

[pax]

Saturday I was at the range with a group of about a dozen women shooters. I was gratified to note that 7 of the 12 were carrying subcompact Glocks, such as the G26 which I dearly love.

Most of the women commented that these little guns are good for small hands. I wouldn't know -- my own hands are big for a woman and I've always thought the Glock butt is a bit too fat for women with smaller hands. But some of these women had truly tiny hands and still fit the baby Glocks.

pax

I have always believed that a true gentleman provides covering fire while a lady is reloading. – Tamara

[yzguy]

I just picked up a S&W 1913 used at a gun show for $340 out the door for my girl. She did not like any of the double stacks (which most of the 9's were), but the S&W single stacks fit her pretty good. We will see how she (and it) does Friday at the range!! :)

[obiwan1]

Try the Kahr K9 or K40. Great grip for smaller hands. My wife has a S&W 36 with a slightly slicked up trigger, and a Kahr K40. She's 5'1 and 105 lbs and both are perfect for her.

[valnar]

I second the recommendation of the Kahr K9. Heavy enough for 9mm in the recoil department, single stack, and fits most small-to-normal hands like a glove.

DAO is great for self-defense.

Robert

[Benton]

The .32 Magnum revolvers from S&W or Ruger would be an option. I like the ones with 3-inch barrels best.