Opinions - concealed carry for small female

What about a revolver? No slide to rack, very simple to operate (especially when the adrenaline is pumping) There are some pretty small ones like the SW model 36 or 37. With 38+p it packs a wallop and the grips are pretty easy to replace to better fit her hand and cut down on felt recoil. It shouldn't be hard to find someone in your area that has something similar so she can try one on.

If she is comfortable with 22 mag, I would suggest that she take a look at a S&W 351C.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...57767_757751_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

Or if she wants to step up in caliber and weight, to a stainless steel 327 mag, there is the 632 http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...57767_757751_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

If she can handle a bit of recoil, maybe a ruger LCR 357 or S&W 640 or 649, loaded with 38's might be a better choice. Even a 3 inch model 60 with 38's would be a good candidate to consider.

Snub .38.

You ought to have her try a Sig P239 and Walter PPS on for size. Both are nice small, slim, lightweight pistols that can be had in 9mm of .40 S&W and they should both be stupid easy to for a smallish person to conceal.

Heck, I'm 5'8" and 125 lbs and have no issues concealing a full size 1911 fitted with a S&A magwell. I've also concealed a USP Compact with no issues.

The Cornered Cat is a good place for info

http://corneredcat.com/

First piece of advice:
http://www.corneredcat.com/

The slide racking can very probably be overcome with technique and practice. A healthy female, even a petite one, can generate the force needed to cycle a slide.

I've found that many of the women that I've taught to shoot, especially the smaller ones, end up hating DA weapons because the longer, heaver trigger takes more practice to master then they're willing to do. In fact my mom is looking to dump her P250 for this very reason. Of course your friend's MMV.

Many of my female friends like small SA or Pre cocked strikers for a combination of small size, easy concealment and easy to learn 6ish lb triggers. Of the pistols that I have been able to lend out, amongst smaller shooters my P238 is a hands down favorite. Small, easy to cycle and shoot, and light recoil (especially when compared to other .380's) Yes it's SA and needs cocked and locked carry and the practice to facilitate that, but it's a joy to shoot.

As always your friend should try as many different types of handguns as she can to find what works for her the best.

And read Kathy's website.

dogmush said:

As always your friend should try as many different types of handguns as she can to find what works for her the best.

And read Kathy's website.

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Best advice so far!

snubby 22 mag would be perfect. No slide to rack, no real recoil, and decent stopping power. It will be loud though.

I've had the chance to help out a fair number of very small asian women that came out for their first ever gun shooting expierience. Once shown how to hold the slide with an overhand four finger and heel of palm hold and to commit to really racking the slide hard they all did well.

The biggest problem was that at first they were afraid to really put any power into racking the slide for fear of breaking the gun. Yep, honestly. When I asked a few of them this is the answer I got the most. And the rest just looked nervous due to it being their first time ever to even hold a real gun.

So get her to read that Cornered Cat website. It really is very good and done from a perspective that is right up her alley. Then get her out and try a bunch of guns at some sort of rental range. And assure her that she's NOT going to break it...

Amusing side note: A pair of these very small and light first timers got all giggly and nervous at the idea of shooting a 12Ga shotgun. Someone at the next station was shooting one while I was working them through a 9mm semi. They were shocked at what looked like a crazy gun and all the noise. I told them that I could show them how and it would not hurt them. The reluctantly agreed. By the end of a shared box of target loads they were happy as could be. Two weeks later they came back... For the shotgun...

So get her to read that Cornered Cat website. It really is very good and done from a perspective that is right up her alley. Then get her out and try a bunch of guns at some sort of rental range.

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This.

If there is no rental range, get a bunch of shooters to bring a big pile-o-guns to an informal outdoor range. Hell, if you're near me, I'll open up my range and bring a selection of guns if I can squeeze it into rotating shifts, and I'm sure someone close to you would be willing to help out in a similar way.

These aren't cheap, but they're a cool concept:

http://www.511tactical.com/All-Products/Shirts/Undergear-Shirts/Holster-Shirt.html

Basically, a tshirt with pockets under your arms on both sides. One side for your CCW and the other for your MP3 player.

My wife 5'0" and 93lbs loves her LCR. I got her the 357 for the extra weight to soak up recoil, she only shoots .38's through it though. She has the same problem with racking the slide, but it is more of apprehension. Her friend got glock bite the first time she went out so now she thinks slides are going to hurt her just touching one.

ChopChopGirl
Opinions - concealed carry for small female
Hello,

I am a new female subscriber who is a shooter and own several guns. I have a female friend who wants a gun to conceal while hiking and running. She is 5ft. 4 inches, and only weighs 106 lbs. Has her heart set on a Beretta Tomcat, and I've advised her of all the cracked frame issues.

The real challenge for someone that tiny as I see it - not much can be concealed easily and she cannot rack the slides with most small guns. I've taken her to shoot the Ruger LCP, the S&W bodyguard and others, and she doesn't like any of them.

The real appeal for her is the tip up barrel on the Tomcat, and I suppose an INOX is a better bet, but clearly not a winner from all I've read here and other places.

Any ideas? I'm about to suggest she get and American Arms .22 MAG -no racking, but no real protection either, or get the Tomcat and pray for success. Thanks, in advance for any advivce on this.

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One main issue with tip-up barrels is the lack of an extractor. If the gun has a failure to eject or fire, it would require more than a quick tap-rack-bang to fix.

I would also not recommend the North American Arms mini revolvers since they are single action and are awkward in a panic situation. Also, they are 22LR or 22 Mag, neither a good caliber for self-defense from an extremely short barrel.

While a small DA revolver is always a good choice, it is much bulkier than the guns you'd mentioned, especially on a petite person.

Take a look at the Kel-Tec P32. Less than 10 ounces fully loaded, 7+1 shot, extremely thin, and also in 32 ACP. I have 3 of them and they all have worked well. I load Buffalo Bore +P 32 ACP in the chamber and another 7 Foccohi FMJ in the mag. Much lighter recoil than the Ruger LCP or S&W Bodyguard, too!

See also

http://www.youtube.com/user/faliaphotography?feature=watch

the p32 would be a gun I would bring to such a test-firing event ... but I really think that some trigger time will narrow down the choices, as will talking to women who actually carry on a regular basis.

First read corneredcat's website, then shoot a bunch of guns, then worry about hardware

My vote, Ruger SP101 chambered in the .327 Federal Magnum. Can shoot 32 S&W and 32 H&R magnum as well. Just have to dress more for concealment there are many options.

I found that the s&w 500 is the perfect conceal gun. Then again I am 10ft tall.

Size doesnt matter for her to conceal... She could put a revolver in a purse or any other gun for that matter. There is ankle carry iwb shoulder and on the inside of your upper leg. I find women have it easy because of their purse. There is a YouTube girl that she's ways women can better conceal u should check her out I'll edit this post with her user name. - Faliaphotography is her name shows different ways for different types of dress.

All the women in my family have settled on the P-32 for all arounf shooting and carry. The beretta to thick and heavy . The tip up barrel is fine if everything works as suppose to. Other wise its trouble

A good friend had sever arthritis and was about to give up on semi-auto pistols because he could not rack the slide. THEN he found the Sig P238 Rosewood. That little gun looks like a shrunken 1911, it fires the 380 Auto and most importantly the slide is very easy to operate. I've shot that wonderful pistol and it is great although it is metal and it's not as light as the new crop of polymer pistols that are all the rage. (yet still only 15.2oz which it's all that heavy) You really can't tell how small it is on the web site but it is small. It's well worth a look...

She said hiking and running therefore size and weight considerations are very important. Top choices are 10% Peppergard along with Ruger LCP pistol. The LCP is wonderful short range defensive weapon that is small, reliable and inexpensive to buy especially second-hand market.

People that keep suggesting the LCP must have missed the OP: "I've taken her to shoot the Ruger LCP, the S&W bodyguard and others, and she doesn't like any of them."

I will suggest a Taurus .380 revolver. I just bought one and it is amazingly easy to conceal. It is also very light which aids in concealment. It is pleasant to shoot so maybe your friend will practice enough to shoot well. I know it is a .380 so anything worth shooting is worth shooting five times. Also, my wife says it is "cute".