Detritus
Member
Ok, after some deliberation, and to some extent revelation, my wife and I have decided to start over again with regard to the handguns we own. I need another 1911 (traded the last one away like a fool), and she needs a gun that fulfills her wants and needs better than the Bersa .380 Thunder she currently has.
So over the next few weeks we’ll be making visits to the various shops local to us and in Houston (an hour drive) to peruse, price, and in her case get a “hands on” feel for the various options available. And we (ok I) would like any advice, suggestions etc that you kind folks can provide.
I guess I should explain why the Bersa isn’t working out; first she has large hands and the bersa’s grip is a little small for her hands. Second and I don’t know if this is a characteristic of the design or just our example, but the DA trigger pull is rather heavy and there is a very distinct and noticeable (both audible and tactile) CLICK around halfway through the trigger stroke in DA, since this is the first DA/SA pistol that my wife has ever dealt with the combo of those two is distracting and detrimental to her accuracy with the gun.
The following is what she says she would like to have in a pistol, in no particular order
First, she does not at this time want a revolver; she has no real experience with one and would rather learn and be comfortable with a semi-auto.
Second, 9mm for inexpensive ammo, viable self defense round and less recoil than a .45 (this and the tiny sights on the Springfield WW2-GI were her only complaints about my 1911, btw)
Third, she is still open to SA or DA/SA, but a DA/SA type would have to have a DA trigger that was a significant improvement over that of the bersa (problems noted above)
Fourth, no stainless, hard chrome, or other “silvery” finishes, such remind her of the cap guns her and her brother play with as a kid and do not look “real” to her (even SS receivers on O/U shotguns strike her as a little off) so the finish has to be blued, parked, or other blue, black, etc type.
Fifth, must fit her hands. Frankly I think grip shape will have more effect in this than size, as she has rather large hands for a woman as large as or larger than many men I’ve known of a similar height/body size. And unless the shape is wrong I just don’t see much of anything short of a Desert Eagle being too huge to deal with.
Six, she wants something that “looks like it would be military (or police) issue”. May take on this is “no cutesy guns!” i.e. again it has to look real, not like a toy, or fashion accessory. Or it could just be that it’s a hold over from being an army vet.
Seven, it has to be concealable; we both plan to take the TxCHL course in early to mid 2007. And she’d like what she gets now to have maximum utility both at the range and to be carried, while fulfilling the other criteria; at this point I think this is one of the less “written in stone” requirements.
Lastly, the upper limit on price is around $550-600 and the only one on the prelim list I’ve thought of to look at (that I’ve found a legit price other than MSRP on) in that range is the Barretta 92FS, everything else is at or below the $500 mark.
These are the models that I personally have been able to think of that might fulfill what my lovely, caring wife is looking for. But as I noted at the top of the post, I’m looking for any and all advice or further info I can get my hands on, so please feel free to criticize or add to whatever you feel.
Barretta 92FS; one of the first thoughts for me when it comes to, “modern 9mm in a military looking package”. I know it’s a bit large for the concealability and with regard to grip size but won’t know how it feels/fits till we try and with care and creativity (or something like a Safepacker) just about anything can be a CCW piece.
CZ75; have always heard good things about these pistols and have known a number of people that were very happy with theirs.
A 1911 style pistol in 9mm; she likes the “normal” ones and the full sized 9mm versions tend to tame recoil rather well. Anyone know if there is a 9mm commander (I think it’s called that, the models with full sized frames and a 4 - 4.5” barrel) on the market?
Ruger P95; the first 9mm (and only “family owned” Vs. “friend owned”) I ever had experience with, I liked it and if it fit my wife, I would not mind having another (my father still has the one I used to play with).
Charles Daly or similar Hi-Power clone (can’t afford a “Real” Browning at $700+ and I haven’t seen an FN in 9mm in awhile); single action high cap 9mm, again if it fits her hand this would be something I could see as a very good match to most of her wants.
Well if you can see any holes in my logic or other options to try, please let me know. Quite frankly all feedback is appreciated.
So over the next few weeks we’ll be making visits to the various shops local to us and in Houston (an hour drive) to peruse, price, and in her case get a “hands on” feel for the various options available. And we (ok I) would like any advice, suggestions etc that you kind folks can provide.
I guess I should explain why the Bersa isn’t working out; first she has large hands and the bersa’s grip is a little small for her hands. Second and I don’t know if this is a characteristic of the design or just our example, but the DA trigger pull is rather heavy and there is a very distinct and noticeable (both audible and tactile) CLICK around halfway through the trigger stroke in DA, since this is the first DA/SA pistol that my wife has ever dealt with the combo of those two is distracting and detrimental to her accuracy with the gun.
The following is what she says she would like to have in a pistol, in no particular order
First, she does not at this time want a revolver; she has no real experience with one and would rather learn and be comfortable with a semi-auto.
Second, 9mm for inexpensive ammo, viable self defense round and less recoil than a .45 (this and the tiny sights on the Springfield WW2-GI were her only complaints about my 1911, btw)
Third, she is still open to SA or DA/SA, but a DA/SA type would have to have a DA trigger that was a significant improvement over that of the bersa (problems noted above)
Fourth, no stainless, hard chrome, or other “silvery” finishes, such remind her of the cap guns her and her brother play with as a kid and do not look “real” to her (even SS receivers on O/U shotguns strike her as a little off) so the finish has to be blued, parked, or other blue, black, etc type.
Fifth, must fit her hands. Frankly I think grip shape will have more effect in this than size, as she has rather large hands for a woman as large as or larger than many men I’ve known of a similar height/body size. And unless the shape is wrong I just don’t see much of anything short of a Desert Eagle being too huge to deal with.
Six, she wants something that “looks like it would be military (or police) issue”. May take on this is “no cutesy guns!” i.e. again it has to look real, not like a toy, or fashion accessory. Or it could just be that it’s a hold over from being an army vet.
Seven, it has to be concealable; we both plan to take the TxCHL course in early to mid 2007. And she’d like what she gets now to have maximum utility both at the range and to be carried, while fulfilling the other criteria; at this point I think this is one of the less “written in stone” requirements.
Lastly, the upper limit on price is around $550-600 and the only one on the prelim list I’ve thought of to look at (that I’ve found a legit price other than MSRP on) in that range is the Barretta 92FS, everything else is at or below the $500 mark.
These are the models that I personally have been able to think of that might fulfill what my lovely, caring wife is looking for. But as I noted at the top of the post, I’m looking for any and all advice or further info I can get my hands on, so please feel free to criticize or add to whatever you feel.
Barretta 92FS; one of the first thoughts for me when it comes to, “modern 9mm in a military looking package”. I know it’s a bit large for the concealability and with regard to grip size but won’t know how it feels/fits till we try and with care and creativity (or something like a Safepacker) just about anything can be a CCW piece.
CZ75; have always heard good things about these pistols and have known a number of people that were very happy with theirs.
A 1911 style pistol in 9mm; she likes the “normal” ones and the full sized 9mm versions tend to tame recoil rather well. Anyone know if there is a 9mm commander (I think it’s called that, the models with full sized frames and a 4 - 4.5” barrel) on the market?
Ruger P95; the first 9mm (and only “family owned” Vs. “friend owned”) I ever had experience with, I liked it and if it fit my wife, I would not mind having another (my father still has the one I used to play with).
Charles Daly or similar Hi-Power clone (can’t afford a “Real” Browning at $700+ and I haven’t seen an FN in 9mm in awhile); single action high cap 9mm, again if it fits her hand this would be something I could see as a very good match to most of her wants.
Well if you can see any holes in my logic or other options to try, please let me know. Quite frankly all feedback is appreciated.
