New HG suggestions for wife

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Random 8

Random 8

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My wife is in need of a new handgun. Won't be for true conceal/carry, more of a range, camping, car, plinking gun. She's interested in shooting some informal ladies action training also. Not full blown IDPA, but a similar format geared towards teaching defensive handgun use.

Will be 9mm for ease and cost of ammunition. She can handle a full sized piece, not looking for a purse gun here, thinking more mid-sized Hi-Cap. She likes the CZ75/witness format. Not opposed to a striker fired gun either. Kicker is she's left handed, so mag release at the least should be ambidextrous with a hard paddle type holster available in LH. Looking for a price $500ish or less. Wondering what is out there that might fit this bill.
 
A VP9SK meets those criteria if she can get used to a paddle mag release. I love them myself.

Only 10+1 though. Not sure if she wants more ammo.
 
I'm left-handed, and my Ruger P95 fits me very well. Both the magazine and decocker lever (which can double as a safety, though I don't use it as such) are ambidextrous.

Other P-series Rugers should be similar.
 
Random 8 said:
She likes the CZ75/witness format.
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I don't know what her hand size is, but as a 5' 7" man, the CZ75B family has a long trigger reach in DA, and the thumb safety is also a long reach (compared to a 1911 or Browning Hi-Power).

If trigger reach is an issue, the polymer, striker fired guns offer a lot of options. The M&P, Beretta APX, already mentioned HK VP9, and others often are very small hand friendly.
 
The placement of the mag release is a total non-issue. As a leftie I can operate a mag release on either side exactly the same. I can’t think of a better choice than the Ruger SR1911 9mm Commander. For a few bucks get an ambi safety installed and enjoy.
 
If she likes the CZ75/Witness format... steel surplus CZ75's and Witnesses are easy to find and typically $400 or less (my 9mm's were under $350 apiece). My steel Israeli surplus Witnesses are among my favorite pistols.

I bought my two polymer Witnesses (full-sized) for $250 apiece used from Gunbroker. The 9mm's might be slightly more expensive (mine are 40 and 45).

I recently got a Walther PPQ (used, Gunbroker, $330). I think I might like it even better than my Witnesses, which have been my favorite service pistols so far. The PPQ is available with a paddle safety that is ambidextrous, or a reversible button safety. Mine has a trigger that is heavenly.
 
JTQ said:
I'm not sure why you'd recommend the SK over the full size VP9.
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It's middle of the road size gun is all, but not too small that recoil will be unpleasant. The full size would be the logical alternate if more ammo is desired.

There's a ton of options though. I just like HKs.
 
460Shooter said:
It's middle of the road size gun is all, but not too small that recoil will be unpleasant. The full size would be the logical alternate if more ammo is desired.

There's a ton of options though. I just like HKs.
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In the HK line-up it is a sub-compact. I'd always choose a full-size gun as an easier to shoot gun. Since the OP and his wife aren't looking for a concealment gun, I wouldn't pick the compact gun over the full size counterpart.
 
JTQ said:
In the HK line-up it is a sub-compact. I'd always choose a full-size gun as an easier to shoot gun. Since the OP and his wife aren't looking for a concealment gun, I wouldn't pick the compact gun over the full size counterpart.
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Sure, good suggestion.

I don't find much difference in recoil between my full sized VP9 and my P30SK, but I'm not the OPs wife. Being 6'3" with XL hands, my perception is undoubtedly different.
 
Random8: As a lefty, my support, right hand index finger (already on the left side of the gun) can easily reach a very tiny bit, push the button for the mag release on my CZ 75D 'PCR'.

Can your wife train to do so? Apparently she already likes the general ergos and recoil of the standard CZ 75? Possibly she can rent one in your area.
HKs are also ambi, but generally the USP 9mm's trigger is not the best for DA.

Fine Figure of a Man:
Walther PPQ: I rented one. Excellent shooter, rented side-by-side with the CZ P10 (also excellent).
 
My only fear about getting a surplus CZ75 or tangfolio, is I might take it over from her. I like old military guns. The Walther PPQ is on my short list of ones to put in her hands and try out. If only someone made an upsized CZ82 in 9x19, I'd be done shopping. She loves that one, but the indoor range we sometimes shoot at will not allow the 9x18 ammo.
 
In regards to PPQ, my wife has a Q5. She likes it very much, but the ejection -- although consistent -- seems to clear her head by a minute margin. Not the Glock's BTTF, but still, I'd be concerned if I were left-handed.

I have an XD(m), which features a typical fully ambidextrous release. That release is super tight if magazine is not empty and the slide is closed. Not sure the trade-off is worth it.

As for the paddles, they tend to fit some better than others. I always preferred the paddles on big HKs such as USP. But the same paddles on PK380 are awful. I'm afraid the risk is too great for a gift. She needs to try that VP9 before buying.
 
Canik TP9SFx.

Very accurate. Ambidextrous. 20 round mags. You can get it with a Vortex Red Dot and all the needed hardware in the box.
 
We are lucky now a days with so many great choices
For a full size I really like my cz sp01 tactical it is easy to shoot well
 
Make sure you look into the FN pistols too

The FNX-9 is a hammer fired pistol with all controls ambi. The slide mounted safety is also a decocker.

The FNS-9 is a striker fired pistol with all controls ambi.

The only control that's not ambi is the take down lever.

My wife is a south paw and I picked this for my easy access "house gun."
This pistol shoots good, low recoil, and it's very accurate.

Just my.02, hope it helps
 
tommy.duncan said:
Make sure you look into the FN pistols too

The FNS-9 is a striker fired pistol with all controls ambi.
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I'll note the following from page 38 of the FNS owner's manual only because a guy on another forum had FN pull it out on him during a warrantee squabble.

https://fnamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/1608-FNS_OM_R5_final.pdf

"NOTICE! YOUR PISTOL SHOULD BE INSPECTED EVERY 2000 ROUNDS AND/OR ONCE A YEAR BY A QUALIFIED GUNSMITH OR THE FN PRODUCT SERVICE CENTER BECAUSE DAMAGE, WEAR AND CORROSION ARE NOT ALWAYS VISIBLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MILITARY PERSONNEL SHOULD CONTACT THEIR DEPARTMENTAL ARMORER WHO WILL INSPECT THE PISTOL ON A YEARLY BASIS."
 
Witness Pavona in 9mm. I have one in 380 and it is an excellent firearm. For a compact it's a little on the heavier side and is just slightly smaller than the Springfield XD Mod2 4.0... I bought is to use as a range/training gun as I reload 380 and that makes it cheap. Mine was $315.00 out the door.
 
tommy.duncan said:
Make sure you look into the FN pistols too

The FNX-9 is a hammer fired pistol with all controls ambi. The slide mounted safety is also a decocker.

The FNS-9 is a striker fired pistol with all controls ambi.

The only control that's not ambi is the take down lever.

My wife is a south paw and I picked this for my easy access "house gun."
This pistol shoots good, low recoil, and it's very accurate.

Just my.02, hope it helps
Click to expand...
Interesting you bring that up. I have an FNS-9 that I love, very much. I literally trust my life with it when I pull security duty, and in qualification it blows the smirks off the Glocks and Sigs on the line, especially when they threw a curve ball at us and we had to engage 2 targets at 50 yards. My wife never really got into that one for some reason. It is very accurate, more so than a striker fired mid size 9mm should be. I'll have to look into the FNX. I think she's old school, having learned to shoot handguns with my single action military automatics. She still likes shocking the firing line with some fireballs and muzzleblast from the CZ 52 from time to time, and the Walther P-1 is her favorite gun to shoot. I think she likes hammers on her pistols.

As for the warning in the FN manual, I took it as armorer speak geared towards somebody who uses the handgun in the line of duty rather than as an indication of any particular flaw in the design, as the rest of the manual is written in this manner.

She did like the Pavona very, very much, but I can't find one.
 
Random 8 said:
As for the warning in the FN manual, I took it as armorer speak geared towards somebody who uses the handgun in the line of duty rather than as an indication of any particular flaw in the design, as the rest of the manual is written in this manner.
Click to expand...
All manuals are full of CYA statements, that's nothing new. But the point of the story was that FN allegedly used the referenced clause in order to deny the warranty work.
 
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