380 for my girlfriend to carry?

[dgjester]

so my girlfriend has decided she wants to get her ccw, and now needs a pistol to carry. qualifications are as follows:

1. that t fit small hands.
2. be. 380 or larger caliber
3. small enough that she'll keep it with her
4. around $600ish max
and 5. that it be "pretty"--i.e. no plastic or tacticool. the fact that this is silly has been argued many a time.

any suggestions?

 

[doc2rn]

Sig 238 or Sig 232

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Too bad about the "no plastic" or I would have recommended a Kahr CW or P9.

 

[rcmodel]

Or a S&W alloy J-Frame DA revolver.

No mags to juggle or safetys to switch.
Just pull the trigger on the Son of a B----- Eh!

Nevermind! You get the idea.

IMO: A revolver is the safest most reliable handgun made for non-shooters who probably won't practice gun drills as often as they should.

rc

 

[kowenjr]

Sig 232. My wife's first gun. She loved it until she bumped up to her Walther PPS. They do have one that has the blued rainbow look that I guess if I were girl I could possibly say was "pretty". As "pretty" as a gun can look.

 

[Rabbitcreekok]

Look at the Walther PPK/S. The S carries one more round than the PPK. That is the gun that Sean Connery carried as James Bond in the movies.

I have one made by Interarms, but Smith & Wesson currently manufactures the PPK/S. I am pretty sure you can find one for less than your limit. Be sure and buy extra magazines. I like the extended magazine for the feel and comfort in my hand.

 

[harmon rabb]

no plastic?

bersa thunder 380 cc.

 

[KodiakBeer]

 

[DeepSouth]

Raspberry LCP
It's plastic, but "Pretty" put a laser on it and she'll be in love, and you'll still be under $600.
I just ordered one for the wife last week.

 

[Storm]

SIG 232 (or 230) or a 238.

Either would be great but I'd give the 232 the edge.

 

[Nushif]

Or you could let her pick her own gun.

 

[schnarrgj]

My wife loves her Bersa Thunder. It is accurate, easy to shoot, and completely reliable. Usually it is her main carry piece. With over 2000 rounds through it without a hiccup, she loves it. Actually, I bought it for myself until she got to see and shoot it--well it is hers now. Being inexpensive, and a life time warrantee, you will have more money for ammo to get used to it. Be sure that she is a big part of the selection. In that way, she will be more likely to use and carry it. http://www.bersachat.com/ will give you a lot of information on the pistol. Also have her look at http://corneredcat.com/ which is a very good and informative site for women.

 

[dgjester]

Or you could let her pick her own gun.

i'm going to let her pick her own, just looking for suggestions to narrow down the field, rather than throwing her a copy of janes infantry weapons and saying have at it.

 

[meytind]

The fact that she doesn't want any plastic makes it tough to find anything in your price range that I would trust, unless you buy used, if you want an auto. Maybe the Bersa if new, or the SIG if used isn't a problem. My vote goes for a S&W J Frame revolver in 38 Special or .357 Magnum.

 

[Deleted member 66305]

Given your specs, I'd recommend the S&W 640, or 642 if she's not particularly recoil sensitive.

I have the 640, loaded with Buffalo Bore .38+P LSWCHP 158-gr -- though I may be switching to Cor Bon's .38+P DPX 110-gr.

Why no polymer? Many great semiautos have polymer frames.

If you're willing to flex on the 'no polymer', I'd suggest a Kahr PM9. I've got small hands, and even with the 6-rd mag, I can fit my whole hand on it.

Both weapons I suggested can be pocket-carried (I recommend a DeSantis Super Fly pocket holster), which is how I carry.

 

[SigP229R]

That Walther looks a great deal like my Bersa thunder TT. and at a lot less money.JMHO.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Bersa Thunder or the Bersa CC CC is trimmed down Thunder

 

[Robert101]

I purchased a Browing 380 DBA in the 80's. I just yesterday purchased a 380 Bersa Thunder 380 for my daughter. The fit and finish of the Bersa is terrific and astonishing for the +-$350 price. I'd buy the Bersa and about $200 of ammo and let her really shoot the gun to become familiar with its function. All total you will be under the $600 and she will be well prepared to use it.

 

[Shadow 7D]

It's pointless to buy her a gun, and if she doesn't shoot much, you would be much better served to take her to a range and let her shoot a selection first, otherwise, give her your credit card and let HER shop, don't be an "expert", offer advise, and give her the first shot to crush the "gun counter monkey" when encountered. Don't push her into a gun or caliber, but don't let her get pushed, it isn't about caliber or even size, it's about what she CAN, and WILL carry, and how well she shoots it.

Do you realize that.380 in a small package is known to be rather snappy, a full size or compact 9 is just as good. Any gun can be sent off for the "pretty", hell you can get a Hello Kitty collection if you want.

 

[sidheshooter]

Hard to say. In .380, I'm pretty sold on the Sig P238. Lots of good ideas here though.

 

[metalax]

Smith and Wesson 3913 lady smith pistol

Only problem, you'll want to steal this back from wife.
Almost a work of art.

 

[DustyVermonter]

Get her a 9mm and just tell her its a .380. I did kind of the same thing at first, I got my wife a Ruger LCP, figured hey, small caliber, small woman, perfect. I really ended up regretting it because I'm a decent enough shot but I can't hit the broad side of a barn with the damn thing. She loves it in terms of 'cuteness' and likes to carry it and feels confident with it but I'm not too crazy about her carrying it. That double action is a long, stubborn, unpredictable draw. I am now in the market for a KEL-TEC PF9. I think it would be a great gun for her and you should definitely take a look at it with her, its just over $300 and packs a harder punch that the .380 and is undoubtedly more accurate and more controllable. Those pocket .380's are good for up close and personal confrontation, to tell the absolute truth, aggh..ahem.....I only got on paper twice out of 6 shots at 10 feet away. W/e its not a befitting option for me. Go with a good ol .38 or a 9mm. Just my opinion

 

[DustyVermonter]

Oh crap, I forgot to add that I was only kidding about telling her the 9mm was a .380 so just calm down....take a breath and resist the urge

 

[postalnut25]

That Sig 238 that Kodiak Beer posted sure is a good looking gun, if you are going for "pretty"

 

[loadedround]

Since your GF has small hands, have you considered a Seecamp 32 or 380? They're both in your price range and are great for small hands and are the easiest pistols to conceal I have seen. For me I follow he old TV commercial "don't leave home without it". I forget I have my Seecamp in my pocket.