Pistol for my girlfriend

Has she shot a 9mm in any auto flavor? I like the M&P line by S&W. You might also consider a Ruger Mark II or III in .22 as a starter/range/target gun. Are guns available to rent at your range? If so, try all you can, and see what she likes.

If she wants a revolver, she should get a revolver. It's for her, not you.

Also, you should both spend a few hours reading http://www.corneredcat.com/

Kentucky,
First off, Welcome to THR.

For your GF, I suggest you take her to a range with rentals and let her choose a few more pistols and let her see what fits her hand best and what caliber she if comfortable shooting.
Looks like she has tried a few but hasn't really tried enough.

There are plenty of autos out there that can soak up some recoil better than others.
Which one those are, Well I have to leave that up to you two since recoil is perceptive.
I believe that is the correct term for it. If she likes something with a smaller grip, Maybe she can try Kahr Arms or something along the lines of the M&P line up.

My brother owned a Kahr CW9 and a M&P 9mm, They both manage pretty well but since the CW9 was a DAO and smaller, The recoil was a bit more than he cared in 9mm.
As for me, I prefer 45 ACP.

I have a Springfield XDs in 45 ACP and it is pretty easy to manage with my reloads.
However, My carry loads Speer 200 Gr+p HP are pretty snappy for me. I can shoot them well. Again, Recoil is perceptive.

Just my 2 cents and sorry for the long rant/post.
Point is, It is up to her to find the correct firearm since she will be the one to buy it and use it.

Take her to the gun counter.
Give her your credit card or wad of cash.
Take 3 big steps back.
Shut up.

That's what you'll hear 100 guys on this forum say, and it is good advice.
I've been there; I've worn your shoes; I heeded this advice; they're right.

What Josh and Optimus said.

The gun that most of the ladies I have taken shooting like the best is the 1911 .45.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

Pistol for my girlfriend,sounds like a great trade

SW bodyguard. Small .380 and has a laser so you can react faster if needed.

You have good suggestions here, there is also another thread ongoing with a very similar question and a sticky above. Check those out.

However, I took my wife to the rental counter a week ago and I'll tell you what she liked. The Ruger SR9c. Hands down after some brief instruction from the lady at the gun counter my was shooting tiny groups. For reference, my wife is 5' even (maybe a shade under) and 130 lbs.

There are lots of options out there, your gal should try them. But that is what worked for mine.

KentuckyCountryboy said:

an airweight smith & Wesson .38 and a Western Auto revelation 99 .22 (HS Sentinel). She likes the revolvers better, but it's just because of the smaller grips and lower recoil.

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Like said above, it's her gun and she should get what she wants. It doesn't mater if you shoot a revolver well or if you like revolvers, it's not your gun.

Just because you think 5 rounds isn't enough doesn't make it so. Fast reloads are possible with a revolver and a speedloader. If she gets something she doesn't like she won't carry at all.

I carry a J frame daily with one reload and I'm perfectly sure it will serve me well if need be. It's more important to hit what you aim at than having 15 rounds. I hit what I shoot at so I won't need to spray and pray. I'm sure your GF will do just as well if she practices.

makorov or 38 sw airweight?

I'll pile on here if only to reinforce the point: SHE needs to be shooting what SHE wants and likes, not what is convenient for you. If she likes revolvers, so what?
I can reload my 2-inch .357 faster than my P7 for what that's worth to you and I carry either one depending on my mood.

If endangered your girlfriend should need only worry about two things:

1. Aiming at the center mass of target.

2. Squeezing the trigger.

She should NOT have to worry about:

1. wracking the slide.

2. Adjusting the safety.

3. Aiming at the center mass of target.

4. Squeezing the trigger.

5. Possibly clearing and rechambering the weapon following a FTF etc.

She will be under enough stress without making her job more difficult. It is my contention that semis, being fine weapons, are for experienced shooters who take time to practice fairly often.

Is the gun for her or for you?

Pistol for GF

I bought my wife a S&W bodyguard and a Walther PK380 to try before taking her CCW class. The Bodyguard has a very ling trigger pull and the slide was hard for her to work, the PK380 was the go to pistol, decent trigger pull and the slide was way easier for her to work. She passed her class with flying colors usine the PK380.

1. Welcome

2. Read the Sticky

3. She needs to pick what fits her, what she can handle, and what she wants.

4. Snap reaction, S&W J-frame, Ruger LCR, LCP, LC9, Springfield XDs in 9mm, Kimber Solo, and I think your best option based on your criteria ia a Walther PPK. She really needs to pick though, and learn that recoil is not really a big deal. What matters is proficiency and ability to handle the weapon effectively. If she is serious about a carry gun, then discomfort of shooting it should be secondary. If she won't carry, then get her a bigger gun that is more fun to shoot on the range.

I bought my wife a Browning 1911 .22. She loves the small size and it fits her hand well. It's not a revolver of course so she may not like it. BTW, it shoots great.

Hey, welcome to THR. Best message board on the net for civil discussion and firearms education.

Things to keep in mind: The smaller and lighter the gun, the greater the recoil, and typically the harder it will be to shoot accurately. Everyone who has said "let her choose" is right on. If you haven't already, start here
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=564531

My wife got started shooting my Browning Buckmark and Ruger .22. They are "full size" guns that fit her hand nicely and she was able to practice a lot without her hand hurting or flinching.
Of course she eventually wanted to move up to a "big girl" gun so we started the process. She did not enjoy shooting ANY of my smaller sized semi autos. .380 or 9mm had more recoil than she wanted. She DID like the fact that the pocket pistols I have are basically point and shoot with no manual safeties so, as someone else posted, she didn't have to do a lot of thinking.

She really enjoyed shooting a variety of 1911s that I and some friends own but that was not practical for purse carrying which is what she was heading for. The full size 9mms we tried were also acceptable to her with minimal recoil. After shooting probably 50 different guns,semi and revolver, she eventually went with a S&W 642 with the Crimson Trace laser grips. Point and shoot of a revolver, lightweight with manageable recoil and fits nicely in her purse(Hell an AR-15 would fit in some of her purses). I wasn't sold on the laser until I shot the gun a few sessions and really began to understand the attraction people have to them.

Wheelgun.

period.

Like a fool, I tried to sway my wife into buying a semi-auto that I LIKED. I rented a Glock, Springfield XD, even bought her a Sig P228, and she tried a few others. She limp wristed every one, and couldn't get through a mag without a failure. In the end she chose a S&W 642 revolver .38 Spl with Crimson Trace laser grips. Totally surprised me. Guess what? It was a great choice for her.

I agree with everyone else that it has to be what SHE likes. That being said, my wife shoots a Springfield EMP. It has the smallest grip of any 1911 I know of, as the gun was designed around a 9mm/.40 round. She has small hands and loves the grip. Of the 13 handguns we own, it is by far my favorite gun to shoot, as well as hers. She has it in 9mm. I liked hers so much I bought one in .40. I still like shooting hers better.

I liked hers so much I bought one in .40. I still like shooting hers better.

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Why?

(I'm trying to decide between them currently)



And OP listen to everyone else unless your trying to bolster your own collection.
My wife who hated semi's ended up choosing a Glock 19 after shooting countless handguns and getting professional training.

Also, you should both spend a few hours reading http://www.corneredcat.com/

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Very good advice

Take her to the gun counter.
Give her your credit card or wad of cash.
Take 3 big steps back.
Shut up.

Click to expand...

But first, check out the corneredcat.com, then with some inkling of carry method go to the huge gunstore rental place and try a few. I like the wheelgun suggestions, but my wife went with a semi (I guess I shouldn't have loaded her mags when she was starting). If she's going to carry in a purse, a regular snubby might be better than an airweight (more fun to train with, etc).

Good luck,

Tarosean,

It is so smooth to shoot, I could shoot it all day (if there were enough ammo around!) The .40, as you might imagine, has just a bit more kick. For a range gun I prefer hers, but for carry, I guess I prefer a little more oomph.

That being said, right now I carry a Sig P238 since it fits in a wallet like back pocket holster and is so easy to carry. So much for oomph.....