Pistol for Daughter

My vote would have to be for the Beretta 9m/m
92fs Centurion model.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

Just a suggestion. Have her try a used S & W 669/469/6906,etc. 12 rds.+1 of 9mm, manual safety, and magazine release safety. Lots of police trade ins, etc. available.

When my daughter finally left home, I gave her the choice to pick which weapon SHE wanted. She chose a square-butted, two-inch, pre-Model 10. She liked it, she could shoot it well (very well), and she was comfortable with it.

She had her choice of (and had shot) several automatics including 1911s (full-size and Commanders), Berettas (92 & 96), a really nice Browning HP, a S&W 3914 and several other revolvers (J, L and N frames).

FWIW, the only other weapon she even considered was the 3914, but she said she liked revolvers better. So she went off to Austin with my favourite K-frame and speedloaders.

The moral of the story is: don't write-off revolvers, and let her choose. (Have you even asked her and her husband if they want weapon?)

Revolver

I refer semi-autos but in some cases a revolver makes more sense. I have chosen one for my wife since she can't rack a SA slide very well. A hammerless snub nose Smith would make for a very dependable lady's weapon.

I think it's time to visit the gun store or show and put many types of handguns in her hand and see what clicks. If possible, take the best choice list to the range and rent them all for her to try. If a renting range isn't handy, go with the top choice on the list.

Pico

I have to laugh at some of this "ladies choice" revolvers, particularly the snub nose which you can't hit the side of the barn with if they don't kill your hands in the process trying to fire one. If it's really the ladies choice to use a revolver, which I discourage as they're only for close range, I urge her to fire one that's she's considering at the range or gun club. That may change her tune quick. I wish I had done this because believe me, I'd never have wasted my money on my snub nose revolver and just bought a third Beretta compact. If she really wants a gun, have her look into some of these smaller safes that can keep near her bed side. Some allow very quick access and even have devices that will alert her if one of her children has been fooling with the combination lock in an effort to look inside. Safety first, last and every minute of the day with children in the house...

I have to laugh at some of this "ladies choice" revolvers, particularly the snub nose which you can't hit the side of the barn with if they don't kill your hands in the process trying to fire one.

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You've obviously never seen my daughter shoot (and her two-inch snub at that)! The only way you'd be laughing would be if you could laugh at yourself.

I would mention Paxton Quigley, who I'm pretty sure knows more about women and shooting than you do, leans strongly toward the revolver.

The bottom line is you should let the her chose for herself and not try to pontificate based on your experience and prejudices.

BTW, based on what you posted "you can't hit the side of the barn with if they don't kill your hands in the process trying to fire one"), do you have any idea of what I'm describing when I said a "square-butted, two-inch, pre-Model 10?"

I never claimed to be an expert in revolvers and if you're daughter is able to hit the target with a snub nose, power to her. She's an exception. My revolver was so painful to fire I couldn't finish the ammo box with it and had to replace the grip to something rubber and larger. I still hate it, just as I resent it when men all jump on the revolver band wagon. Pistols are simply more accurate with less practice and more confortable to shoot. I've handled revolvers and pistols at the range so I know what a revolver feels like compared to pistols. The recoil for pistols is better too. I think if read my post I said if it is really her choice for the revolver, I recommend she fire the model she's considering buying so she doesn't waste her money with a revolver the way I did.

I think everybody is right Some women like pistols better; some women don't. Just like men. I love shooting revolvers; my twin brother doesn't, although he is a far better pistol shot than I am. Different strokes, and all that.

That said, my personal experience is that the new shooters I've taken to the range have almost universally preferred pistols. Go figure, more timme on he wheelgun for me

I never claimed to be an expert in revolvers and if you're daughter is able to hit the target with a snub nose, power to her. She's an exception. My revolver was so painful to fire I couldn't finish the ammo box with it and had to replace the grip to something rubber and larger. I still hate it, just as I resent it when men all jump on the revolver band wagon. Pistols are simply more accurate with less practice and more confortable to shoot. I've handled revolvers and pistols at the range so I know what a revolver feels like compared to pistols. The recoil for pistols is better too. I think if read my post I said if it is really her choice for the revolver, I recommend she fire the model she's considering buying so she doesn't waste her money with a revolver the way I did.

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Just out of curiousity, what snub nose revolver do you own?

I have one snub nosed revolver, a Ruger SP 101, and recoil is VERY mild even with .38 spl +P ammo. The rubber grips I'm sure help absorb recoil. Accuracy is very good for such a small gun--I routinely can hit beer cans as far as 18 yards with the SP 101. I think the gun has to fit the user for optimum performance.


Revolvers fit ME much better than semi-autos. I can shoot a typical revolver with much greater accuracy and more comfortably (less felt recoil) than a typical semi-auto. But, everyone out there is different and probably at least half of the users will end up shooting better with semiautos. Whatever works for the user, there is no right answer IMO. The key, IMO, is to try both out and determine which works best for you.

Take a look at the Ruger P95. Its light, simple to maintain and very reliable. Its not a target gun but it does just fine as a defensive pistol. There are models with a manual safety or a decocker.

I use, or rather I should say I DON'T use a S&W Model 442. I hate the gun and can't sell it as I probably wouldn't get anything for it. I bought it largely because of security work which I have been looking for (armed) require certain firearms for different assignments: the .38, 9mm, .40 or .45. I hope I find a job that does require it because it's a worthless gun as it stands. This isn't to say all revolvers suck, I'm sure if I bought a larger barrel gun I probably would have had a more pleasant shooting experience. Clearly, if the woman in question for this thread chooses a revolver, my arguement is only that she shoot it first to ensure she makes the right choice. Recoil can be a bitch with snub noses and I'd hate for anyone to buy something only off the advice of people on the Internet without having actually fired the gun.

I never claimed to be an expert in revolvers and if you're daughter is able to hit the target with a snub nose, power to her. She's an exception. My revolver was so painful to fire I couldn't finish the ammo box with it and had to replace the grip to something rubber and larger. I still hate it, just as I resent it when men all jump on the revolver band wagon. Pistols are simply more accurate with less practice and more confortable to shoot. I've handled revolvers and pistols at the range so I know what a revolver feels like compared to pistols. The recoil for pistols is better too. I think if read my post I said if it is really her choice for the revolver, I recommend she fire the model she's considering buying so she doesn't waste her money with a revolver the way I did.

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Hello Mastrogiacomo,

Unfortunately, you picked the wrong revolver as your first gun.

I have the Model 638...... the same size and weight as your Model 442. These Airweight S&W's aren't fun to shoot all day at the range, they're made for concealed carry....... when you can't carry anything larger or heavier.

If you had chosen a steel, medium-frame revolver with a 6, 4, 3, or 2 inch barrel, perhaps your opinions about revolvers would be different.

One nice thing about a revolver...... you can change the grips to fit many different hands.

As far as accuracy goes, unless you get into expensive, custom semi-autos, the modern, double-action S&W or Ruger will generally have a higher degree of accuracy out-of-the-box....... I have a Colt Combat Commander that I can shoot pretty well: 1.25 inch groups at 7-10 yards. My S&W Model 66 can shoot that kind of group at 25 yards.

I think that if someone is willing to learn a semi-auto and practice at the range with it, at least twice a month, then a semi-auto is a good way to go.

Many police officers don't practice that often, and I read about negligent discharges by police with their semi-autos.

Just curious, I changed the grip on mine to a larger Houge rubber grip. The small grip it came with was hard plastic, painful and too small for me to handle well. Did you do anything to your 638 to make it more comfortable to shoot? What was your reason behind your choice?

Mastrogiacomo, you're alright!

Just curious, I changed the grip on mine to a larger Houge rubber grip. The small grip it came with was hard plastic, painful and too small for me to handle well. Did you do anything to your 638 to make it more comfortable to shoot? What was your reason behind your choice?

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Hi Mastrogiacomo,

With some defensive rounds, these Airweights can be punishing to shoot..... If you want some non-painful practice, try shooting some 148 grain wadcutters...... You can even use these wadcutters for defense.

The M638 came from the factory with rubber (Uncle Mike's) grips.
I changed them for smooth, wooden, exposed backstrap "boot grips".

These grips don't make the gun more comfortable to shoot......They do make it a better concealment piece....... covering garments tend to "grab" on a rubber or checkered grip, giving away the fact that you are armed.......

The M638 can be carried much more easily than a heavier, larger gun....... which means I'm more likely to have it with me.

Mastrogiacomo has a point( perhaps Freudian) about taking advice from the internet. Pretty hard to say if it's Leonardo DeCaprio or Sean Connery on the other end hitting the send button.

Perhaps the best move is to shut down the computer and let the lady take an NRA class where at least the 'instructor' has credentials and his advice can be evaluated...

Excellent advice, Dienekes.

I think that everyone should take an NRA Handgun Safety class before buying their first handgun.

I took the class some years ago..... it was an eight-hour class taught at an outdoor range.
Several of the students had never fired a handgun before taking this class.
The 3 instructors were NRA certified.
Safety was the number one topic. They got into the technical (what makes a gun work), the legal aspects, firing the guns at the range, and cleaning the guns afterward.

The time and the money for this class was well spent.
The instructors provided our lunch, the guns and the ammunition.

The guns? They brought along a dozen Smith & Wesson 4-inch police trade-in revolvers.

A bit off topic...

but I absolutely love my S&W 642, which is the stainless version (more or less) of the 442. It is so concealable that I am rarely without it, and it is also quite accurate. I'm sorry yours didn't work out for you, but I wouldn't trade mine for anything (that's a bit of an exaggeration, but you know what I mean). That revolver probably just isn't for you, Mastrogiacomo.
DAL

I agree with you DAL but, this wasn't a buy for personal protection as it was for job purposes. I'm currently going for an orientation with a security firm Monday that has armed guard positions. For some armed positions, guards aren't permitted to carry a pistol. Some companies prefers that the guards already own a variety of calibers so they can be considered for whatever assignments comes up. I made it clear to them when I applied that I had not only own the gun permit, but 9mms and a .38 too. This just tells them that there won't be a delay in me starting a position because I don't have the required firearm. On a side note, I imagine the 442 would make a great backup choice and I'd like to try and get used to it especially as it cost me to buy it in the first place. I'm sure there are better revolvers for home defense, but that wasn't the reason for the purchase of mine. Give me a Beretta any day...

Mastrogiacomo:

Since you're interested in a snubby, but don't like the way the S&W handles, you may like Ruger's SP-101. It weighs a bit more, but it's easier to shoot. And the factory grips seem to take away a lot of recoil. I'd suggest a .357 version so you'll have the longer ejection rod to work with.

As for the lady in question, a good K- or L-frame sized revolver in .38spl would probably be ideal, but it's best to let the lady try out several types to find what she likes. And I especially like the idea of her taking a shooting class. Some classes are set up esp. for women & run by women to create a comfortable learning environment. Pay for one for her as an early Christmas/Birthday/Easter/Presidents' Day gift. And encorage her to practice--even if you have to reload ammo for her!

Good luck!

Take her to a shop and let her play....get a small list of her favorites and then find them to shoot, borrow, beg, rent etc.
She may like the feel of a certain gun and hate the way it shoots/feels in action. Its the only way she will get the gun she likes and will want to shoot enough to become proficient with.
shoot well

I agree with taking her to the store and letting her handle a few different models. Personally, I think a revolver is great for someone who doesn't shoot regularly. No slides to pull and safeties to remember under stress. I had a Bersa 380 that 'spoke' to my girlfriend. Took her out shooting a few times, worked on her handling skills and familiarity and now, that's her handgun of choice for ccw and home defense. If it's for defense, try to take that stress factor into account.

Gary G,
May have missed it, but you didn't mention how much experience (if any) your daughter has with firearms, makes it tougher to recommend a firearm and remember no one gun fit's (or is liked) by everyone.
Your best bet is to take her to a shop, let her handle as many as she can, even better would be if you had a local range with a good selection of rentals available (but a lot of people don't have that option) and then let her decide which one works best for her (no matter the design and caliber)

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I did see the HK P7 mentioned, and while it is true the M8 could be considered pricey, the PSP version can be had for a fair amount less. Some differences between the two versions, but essentially the same gun.

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Also, is this gun intended to be carried or for home protection? If it's for the house, a shotgun or other long gun might be a better option, as would getting a dog (big or otherwise) they make good early warning systems!

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Mastrogiacomo,
While your experience with revolvers hasn't been positive, again not everyone is the same and there are lot's of women who shoot revolvers (including snubbies) very, very well.
One lady (in her 50's) that was in my CCW class used one for the shooting portion, wasn't a snubbie (4" Taurus iirc) but she was shooting .357's out of it and did quite well with it, not only was it her first revolver, it was her first gun period.
Also, while you may have small hands and have no trouble racking the slide on an Auto, some people, no matter what their gender can have problems doing it (even with practice) not to mention that not everyone is going to put the time in with an Auto to become proficient with clearing jams, breaking them down for cleaning etc......and for them a revolver could/would make more sense.

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I think one of the biggest mistakes people make with snubbies (talking about those with little/no revolver experience) is they go with the ultralight/airweight version, because they are light and "so comfortable to carry" Unfortunately the light(er) weight makes then less comfortable to shoot (for some) which in turn can make them tougher to shoot well.