9mm for the wife?

[.357 magnum]

Ok gentlemen I want to get my wife into the semi-auto world. But she has shot both my .45 and .40 and has some recoil issues with both. She seems to prefer the .45 which of course has lower recoil then the .40 But overall she has problems with the semi-auto.[says its sloppy] She currently shoots an old beat up Ruger .357 magnum [mostly .38's ] but she is an experienced shooter [hell she can shoot .357 mag loads out of that Ruger with a three inch barrel and she is recoil sensitive with a semi-auto?] Go figure! Well I had a bright idea. Should I buy her a 9mm semi-auto? I only own .45's and .40's but I understand the 9mm has hardly any recoil and the ammo is cheap, and I am tired of cleaning her revolver! [rather clean a semi-auto any day!] So is the 9mm easy to shoot? Does it really have any recoil issues? I know there are a lot of 9mm owners on this sight what do you think?

Thank you in advance!

 

[legion3]

My wife had the choice of a Glock 19 or 26, to my surprise the glock 19 was the winner, she also really liked the CSW 9 from kahr, so no the 9mm is not too much gun for a wife

 

[cpaspr]

I must first ask

Why do you want to get her into the semi-auto world? Because I can just about guarantee that if she doesn't like them, she won't shoot them. Does she want to get into the semi-auto world?

If she does, then get her to a gun store that will let her fondle the merchandise and let her shoot some rental samples. My advice to you is to encourage her, but make sure she picks out what she wants to try and what she wants to buy. You get to simply stand back and let her be in control, maybe ask a few questions of your own if you must, but let her run the show. That way any gun she gets will truly be "her" gun, and she will be more willing to shoot it. If the gun store staff starts talking to you, politely but firmly inform them that she is the buyer, talk to her or you'll go elsewhere where they treat the buyer with respect.

You might even get lucky, and she'll refuse to let you clean "her" gun, and insist on doing it properly.

 

[possum]

yep! i agree, get her in a local shop and let her get the feel for what she likes and dislikes. but a few good places to start is the sa xd's, glocks, taurus, kahr, these companies make some great 9mm handguns, from subcompact to guns with 5" barrels they are all covered, there, she might not like any of the above but that gives you some Idea of where to start. my wife hates my xd, but loves the kahr k-40, i have noticed that most weapon do!

 

[Coyote3855]

My wife picked out the Glock 19 and a Browning Buckmark. Both as a result of what others have suggested. We went to gun shops and gun shows and she handled everything available. She then proceeded to appropriate my KelTec P11, my Glock 26, my Russian Mak, and my Kahr P9. Note that with the exception of the Mak, which lives in her office with the hammer down and the safety off, all the others have the same basic manuel of arms: Align the sights, press the trigger.

You're on a slippery slope. Know when to let well enough alone.

 

[Jkwas]

My wife definately prefers the semi auto world. Taurus PT111 9mm is by far the best she has ever shot. Very good ladies gun.

 

[redneckrepairs]

I have lost among other firearms a browning hp , and a detonics compact .45 to my wife . Once they start shooting , they seem to make a bee line for some of your favorite guns lol .

 

[Lonestar]

but I understand the 9mm has hardly any recoil

It isn't a .22, but it compares to the recoil of a .38. If she is good with a revolver, and she like it better than a semi, then sick with a revolver. If your worried about the lack of capacity, get one of those 7 shot .357 revolvers.

 

[sm]

What does the wife want?
Let her choose her gun.
Maybe she prefers another revolver?

This is like a wife wanting a "blade" husband to go to Electric Razors, Posting on a Forum "Which Electric Razor For my Husband?" and then going out , buying what others and she chose for you to use without consulting you.

 

[outofbattery]

Recoil is often subjective but I find the Glock 19 and SIG 239 9mm compacts to be much more gentle than moderate loads .38 from an Airweight J frame and about equal to a 3" Ruger SP101,though less than with feisty +P loads.Both the SIG and Glock are excellent weapons,if you wife likes the feel of either I'd highly suggest one of them.Of course the Glock holds almost twice as many rounds but the SIG is one seriously sweet shooting gun for its size.

 

[gandog56]

If anything I find the recoil of my .357 mag shooting 38 specials LESS than the recoil from my Ruger KP89D 9mm. The only way to answer these type of questions is to find a gun range that rents guns and see what type she prefers.

 

[pax]

You should be asking your wife for her opinion, I think.

If that's not an option, then buy whatever gun you yourself prefer. That way, at least you know one of you will like it.

pax

 

[DogBonz]

I agree with cpaspr on this one

If SHE wants a semi, have her *fondle* a SIG 229. I lost mine to the girlfriend the first time that she picked it up. I don't know why, but every guy I know that has let a woman shoot his 229 has had it confiscated.

 

[MeanStreaker]

As has already been said... if possible, let her shoot a few and decide on her own.

If you need a place to start, I can relay my own experiences. After a lot of "dry handling" at home, I took my (then fiance) wife to the range for the first time. I loaded up my Ruger 22/45 and my XD9 Service (only 9mm I had at the time).

She didn't like the XD at all and said the recoil was too sharp. We later went to a buddy of mine's and she shot about 15 different handguns and absolutely loved the Hi Power in 9mm. She quickly had one of her own.

Obviously, the non-polymer and full size makes a big difference in recoil. She doesn't mind my XD now that she knows recoil doesn't hurt, but she still prefers the Hi Power.

Our $0.02. Good luck!

 

[NVMM]

Have her look at a Beretta PX4.

 

[Froggy]

So is the 9mm easy to shoot? Does it really have any recoil issues? I know there are a lot of 9mm owners on this sight what do you think?

I have guns chambered in .45", .40" and 9mm. In any given gun size, the 9mm are the easiest and most pleasant shooting of the bunch. And, as you know, ammo prices in that caliber are hard to beat.

A caveat.... compare apples to apples.... a small and light 9mm might have as much felt recoil as a big and heavy .45". If you want to minimze recoil, don't shop for a small framed alloy or polymer gun.

Here are some figures borrowed from Chuck Hawks (link below):

- a 9mm gun that weighs 1.5 lbs has a recoil energy of 6 ft/lbs;

- a .40" gun that weighs 1.5 lbs has a recoil energy of 10.6 ft/lbs;

- a .45" gun that weighs 2.25 lbs (heavier gun) has a recoil energy of 7.9 ft/lbs.

- and the .38 S&W special fired from a gun that weighs 1 lb has a recoil energy of 5.9 ft/lbs

http://www.chuckhawks.com/handgun_recoil_table.htm

 

[GRIZ22]

My wife is a pretty good shot and likes revolvers. She doesn't like the idea of having to ensure her support hand is out of way of the slide no matter what I have tried to show her. If your wife is happy with the Ruger why force something on her?

The agency I retired from as a LEO issued Glock 19s. One of my better shooters was a 4-11, 85 pound agent. She also was extremely skilled with a SW 640. Size really has little to do with being a good shooter and handling recoil.

 

[cherryriver]

My wife, not really a shooting sports enthusiast, after learning on rimfires, went centerfire with .38 revolvers. With only six, she got frustrated with the lower capacity compared to the target .45 1911 I set up for her. However, she found the 1911 heavy and somewhat tiring.
At a manufacturer's shoot at the local indoor range, we had her try several 9mms and she settled on the Glock 17.
A few months later she gave up shooting altogether. The Glock never ran well in her poor grip with her unlocked elbows. Yes, training was added but it never helped. She also objected to the chunky, weird grip, felt recoil and supersonic blast.
We tried an Advantage Arms .22 rimfire top end and while she liked shooting it (but not as much as my alloy-frame 1911 rimfire), it ran quite poorly for her no matter how much we tried to get her to improve her grip.
And don't forget about the force required to rack the slide. Racking an auto slide is a far more important consideration for some people, especially those who make their livings with telephones and keyboards. Always test the slide rack effort before buying a newbie gun.
So, after almost a year off, I insisted she give the Colt D-frames a try. First, an older Detective Special and then a four-inch Diamondback.
Results. Now she'll go through a hundred wadcutters and not complain at all.
She even did a "Bill Drill" (six as fast as possible on a very close silhouette) with them and thought it was fun. Six good hits, too.
Both guns have superb DA triggers, far better than any J-frame Smith, and she hits pretty well with both. The D-frame is certainly the best size for smaller hands of any wheelgun, in terms of the size/weight balance.
Maybe a Kahr T9...
Bill

 

[distra]

My wife likes the BHP, H&K USP compact, and XD9. I let her pick out her own and she choose the H&K. She shot the HP at the range and loves the way it shoots as well. She is not that comfy with the cocked and locked thing that's wy she likes the H&K. It can be carried cocked and locked or traditional DA/SA. The controls are easy for her to reach and it is fairly light albeit a touch thick compared to a 1911 or HP. She's found a Mitch Rosen IWB holster that works great for CCW with jeans.

 

[boldkharma]

I gave my wife a Kahr K9 originally. After watching her have difficulty racking the slide and being able to clear it, she now has a Taurus 85 .38 Special revolver. I feel better now

 

[shadowalker]

I agree it is her purchase and about what she wants, besides she should be cleaning her own gun. When my wife bought her gun the first thing we did was go home and she cleaned it.

When she was shopping for her gun we went to a gun show and a few of the bigger dealers and found the models that fit her hand comfortably, then selected the caliber. She went with the 9mm because it had lower recoil meaning she can put more shots in the right area faster and is cheaper to shoot.

She is an amazing shot and has a blast shooting, she got her CWL a few weeks ago. She currently has a Springfield XD 9mm but after shooting my Sig 229 40 S&W also wants a Sig P229 in 9mm.

 

[JohnKSa]

The Ruger P95 and the 9mm Beretta PX4 are light on recoil and are both pretty solid guns. The H&K USP is also reasonably low recoil.

 

[10-Ring]

I have a friend who shot all of my guns & did the entire Goldilocks thing...too big, too small, slide to difficult to rack, too much recoil, too ugly, too this, too that :argh!: :banghead:
Finally tho, somehow, by the grace of God, she picked up my j frame mod 60. Fit was good, she could load & reload w/o any problems and she shoots it like it was made just for her.
Moral of this story - don't sell wheelguns short

 

[weregunner]

Since everyone seems to have hit on the "let her pick the gun" statement and I agree there is a possibilty here. If her hands are small to medium size the Smith& Wesson 3913 Ladysmith and 908 are good picks as are the K9 Kahr series. All have single stack magazines which means that hiding the gun and spare ammo are easier than double stack models. Then there is the fact all the mentioned above have 3.5 inch barrels. This gives a little more sight radius as well as ballistic boost over 3 inch barrels of smaller semi autos.Women's holsters are made for the above mentioned semi- autos. The 3.5in. barrel split the difference between the 4 inch and 3 inch models. Less recoil for the Ladysmith and Kahr as well. Stay away from the polymer version if recoil is a problem even if she is a seasoned shooter. Recovery time between shots is longer than with the metal ones. Not by much, but every split second may count. With the metal frame models the gun will sit rock steady in her hand when she pulls the trigger with little perceptable movement.Have the Taurus PT111 Mil/pro and heve had sterling seervice from this pistol. It may be a recommendation for her to try it.Have her stay away from purse carry if she uses it for CCW. Criminals are attracted to purses like flies to garbage. It will be the first thing they go for or try to steal.Have gain as much knowledge about semi-autos as she can. Even reading books by women shooters or other sources. My daughter bought a CZ85 and then after much research and experience decided she wants a DOA action trigger for consistant pull from shot to shot without changing from double to single action. No Glocks though for her. SIGS and HKs are supposed to have triggers that are more user friendly(outside of Glocks) than other makes and models. Many of the periodicals and books out there testfy to this. So it is documented evidence. Good luck on her choice.

 

[.357 magnum]

Thank You Gentlemen!

We have made somewhat of a decision. My wife wants to learn to shoot a semi-auto, but for now she prefers the revolver. I am going to buy her a new Taurus model 66 .357 mag it has a seven shot capacity. We also decided since Taurus is not a high priced gun, to get a Taurus 24/7 9mm that I can teach her to shoot a semi-auto with. So even though we will get two new guns she likes the idea of learning to shoot a semi-auto with a gun that has lower recoil. It is just a matter of becoming familar with semi-autos for her. We are not a young couple, I am 50 and she is 48. So it's a little harder to change. But I have been teaching my oldest daughter how to shoot a semi-auto and that has gone fairly well, so my wife is encouraged by that. Again thank you all very much!

The best to you and yours!