IDPA gun for wife

Let her pick her own gun.

As always, it is up to her, and no one else. Nothing wrong with offering suggestions, as well as letting her look at anything that strikes her fancy. On top of the XD and Glocks, I would also suggest she look at a S&W M&P .45.

She'd shoot a Glock best but I don't like Glocks

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So was this for you or her? Have to decide that first.

Lot of assumptions there about the Little Lady's needs.
I would get her in touch with some of your friends with guns and let her try out some different models.

A set of dies and a sack of brass for something that would not kick her around as much as a Plastic .45 would be a good investment in domestic tranquility.

My wife loves her 9MM S&W M&P. She has small hands and the changeable backstrap allows her a comfortable fit. She shoots IDPA regularly and, started when she was 58

Not that they will be checking at a local match, but "typically", .45's go in CDP and have to make "major" power factor. Power factor is (sort of) a momentum calculation; weight times velocity. The floor for major is 165000.

180gr*800fps = 148000, which doesn't meet the major minimum, but it does exceed the floor for minor (125000 minimum).

A 200gr at 800 would be close to major, but still below the floor.

Ideally, you want a gun that is not too far over the floor for the division you are in.

CDP is the only division that mandates major (it also mandates .45). So for CDP you want something that is shooting roughly 170000 power factor.

For any other popular division like SSP or ESP, you want something that is shooting around 135000 power factor, ideally. This is easily done with 9mm. It MIGHT be possible to load a .45 down that far and shoot it in those divisions with a 10+1 capacity. You CAN load it hotter than 135000 and be legal, but every bit over that is adding more recoil that is not needed by rule.

The best rule of thumb for picking a gun is to shoot the biggest one that is ergonomically comfortable for you (big in terms of size of the gun, not cartridge necessarily). That is going to lead, obviously, to a smoother shooting gun that is easier to manipulate vs. something that is very small and designed only for concealed carry.

Agree with others, that depending on her upper body strength, .45 may not be the best choice, though there are plenty of women who can shoot it fine.

You can just get a 9mm, and if you don't want to load for it, factory ammo is relatively cheap and most of it will make the minor power floor.

The minor power factor divisions were basically designed with 9mm in mind.

I shoot 1/4 to 1/3 of my IDPA with .45 Minor ESP.
My arthritis and flinch don't like Major but I did not want to retire the guns and loading gear, so I load .45 ACP WAY down to the old bullseye short line level. Power factor 135 or not much more. It calls for a softer recoil spring, 10 - 12 lbs in a G.M.
I once looked at a S&W Plastic M&P .45 but was told that it would not go down that light. But I later saw one that did.

If Mrs BB can shoot 75 rounds of .38 +P from a dinky fiveshooter like a T605, she ought to be able to shoot .38 sub-minor (power factor 105 where a midrange wadcutter 148@750 is doing pf 111) in a Model 15 all day for REV-S IDPA. Does she shoot DA ok and manage the speedloader?

Get a 9mm 1911 for you and see if she likes it I have a Springfield loaded ad tow of my friends wives want on after shooting mine,
Both were king of hoping their wives you like the XD better sine they are cheaper.

stop thinking like a gamer. Idpa is geared toward defensive shooting, in other words your carry gun. When i start idpa, nest year i will be running my carry gun.

kitsapshooter said:

stop thinking like a gamer. Idpa is geared toward defensive shooting, in other words your carry gun. When i start idpa, nest year i will be running my carry gun.

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IDPA is a sport, played for fun, and they keep score. You haven't even started yet and already pushing your opinion on others. You are free to to whatever you want, but so is everyone else. The "I use my carry gun" bit is usually just an excuse for why you shot badly anyway.

"...I'm not a Glock fan...to my collection..." What you like or dislike is irrelevant. The pistol is for her. Not you. It's not for your collection either.
"...the only revolver shooter..." Ever see Miculek shoot? It requires practice.
IDPA and IPSC are shooting games and nothing more. They are NOT training or practice for any kind of defensive anything.

waktasz said:

IDPA is a sport, played for fun, and they keep score. You haven't even started yet and already pushing your opinion on others. You are free to to whatever you want, but so is everyone else. The "I use my carry gun" bit is usually just an excuse for why you shot badly anyway.

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yes IDPA is a shooting sport. I am very familiar with it. Just haven't shot any matches, but i have shot practice stage And your excuse for poor shooting with your carry gun is on you.

kitsapshooter said:

I am very familiar with it. Just haven't shot any matches

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Waldog said:

My wife loves her 9MM S&W M&P. She has small hands and the changeable backstrap allows her a comfortable fit. She shoots IDPA regularly and, started when she was 58

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My wife's experience as well; and started even older. 9mm M&P with small backstrap. I sincerely doubt she would have ever put more than a magazine of .45 downrange regardless of what gun she was shooting.

And the "let her choose it" advice is well worth listening too. I doubt if there is a single handgun that I have ever suggested she look at that she ended up buying and liking. That is true of IDPA. That is true of concealed carry. That is true of just for fun.