FL-NC
Member
Also forgot to mention the SR-9's have a safety- if you want to use it. May be a good idea for a "casual" shooter like who you mentioned.
Advice: HD lady gun
- Thread starter RPRNY
- Start date
- Status
Black Knight
Member
The 38 Special is a great place to start for a handgun. It is relatively light in recoil and with the right ammo is very effective for home defense is the shooter does their part. They are also in a size that is very comfortable for most people. Don't forget that a 357 Magnum can also use 38 Special ammo, two for the price of one should you want magnum performance later. Another thought on home defense is setting up a safe room with a cell phone in it (in case the phone lines is cut). Don't laugh I tried calling my wife at home one night and got no response. When I got home I found that our line had been cut just before it comes into the house. We were having problems with some other people so I had to go across town to my brother's to call the police. One thing no one has mentioned is a shotgun. I believe a short barreled 20 gauge shotgun in either a pump action or semi-automatic action may be useful. I would go with the pump action because it is simpler and easier to use.
OP
OP
RPRNY
Member
Thanks everyone who has taken time to contribute. The P238 is very interesting, at least to me. I had assumed that like many tiny 380 pistols it would be "snappy", so I'm interested to hear that it's not. The 32 and 38 special revolvers make a good deal of sense to me, though I hate a DA, but she might not.
I appreciate the advice on the larger 9 mm pistols but I think my miscues on having her shoot the 1911 may have ruined that chance with the Glocks and SR-9s probably "looking" too big.
10/22 and shotguns are great advice but it needs to be bedside lockable.
Again, I appreciate your time and advice.
I appreciate the advice on the larger 9 mm pistols but I think my miscues on having her shoot the 1911 may have ruined that chance with the Glocks and SR-9s probably "looking" too big.
10/22 and shotguns are great advice but it needs to be bedside lockable.
Again, I appreciate your time and advice.
toivo
Member
Not snappy because (a) they have some weight to them, and (b) they aren't blowback operated like so many little pistols. I specifically mentioned the HD model because its all-steel frame makes it the heaviest P238, and therefore the least snappy.
Here's one with the Hogue rubber grip and the extended magazine:
(Looks like the owner has done some polishing of the frame. Mine is nowhere near that shiny.)
redbullitt
Member
That p238 is a great gun to shoot. I put about 500 rounds though one I had for a while. Very mild recoil with full sights. Sold it a few years back, but I liked it. I could shoot it just as well as most anything else, which is an awesome feature for such a small pistol.
Steel frame makes it feel hefty, but not heavy. Points very well for me AND shares manual of arms with your 1911. Good to stay consistent right?
That little sig is definitely worth a look. Last I saw they came in all kinds of colors too, so maybe find one she likes the look of.
Steel frame makes it feel hefty, but not heavy. Points very well for me AND shares manual of arms with your 1911. Good to stay consistent right?
That little sig is definitely worth a look. Last I saw they came in all kinds of colors too, so maybe find one she likes the look of.
entropy
Member
There are too many variables to recommend one single gun until they are answered.
1.) Has she made up her mind that she will pull the trigger if necessary. Guns are not magic talismans.
2.)Will she put in the training and planning time for Home Defense? Not just range time, but retention, working out scenarios in the house, etc.
3.) Does she have long gun experience and the willingness to consider one for HD? This opens up many options.
With these questions in mind, here are my usual recommendations:
1. 4" .38 Spl./.357 Mag. revolver. Simple manual of arms, minimum maintenance required, rounds available from light target to hot defense loads. I don't recommend a snub for HD.
2. Glock 19. Again, simple manual of arms, easy to maintain, ball is mild for target, good HD loads available.
3. If yes to 3 above, SxS 12 or 20 ga. for an uncommited shooter, pump for a more commited shooter. Manual of arms fairly easy, powerful.
4. An AR, but only if she is commtted to learning the manual of arms. The advantages have been rehashed in many other threads.
1.) Has she made up her mind that she will pull the trigger if necessary. Guns are not magic talismans.
2.)Will she put in the training and planning time for Home Defense? Not just range time, but retention, working out scenarios in the house, etc.
3.) Does she have long gun experience and the willingness to consider one for HD? This opens up many options.
With these questions in mind, here are my usual recommendations:
1. 4" .38 Spl./.357 Mag. revolver. Simple manual of arms, minimum maintenance required, rounds available from light target to hot defense loads. I don't recommend a snub for HD.
2. Glock 19. Again, simple manual of arms, easy to maintain, ball is mild for target, good HD loads available.
3. If yes to 3 above, SxS 12 or 20 ga. for an uncommited shooter, pump for a more commited shooter. Manual of arms fairly easy, powerful.
4. An AR, but only if she is commtted to learning the manual of arms. The advantages have been rehashed in many other threads.
MedWheeler
Member
There are also quite a few hand-filling options in .380, including the Taurus PT58, the Beretta M85, those in the Bersa lines (Thunder and Thunder Plus), the Ruger LC380, and the new SCCY CPX-380.
The first three are DA/SA, the Ruger is a hybrid DA (partially-set hammer), and the SCCY is DAO.
The first three are DA/SA, the Ruger is a hybrid DA (partially-set hammer), and the SCCY is DAO.
cslinger
Member
Bring her to the store have her wrap her hands around the popular proven choices in 9mm or .38/.357 and go from there
Steer clear of subcompacts and itty bitty revolvers
Stick with as full size and weight that is comfortable.
Lots of good options
Gp100 or Smith 686 revolvers. Pussycats in .38 and have the ability to work up to more powerful stuff if so desired. Lots of grip options simple manual of arms. Make a good club if needed too.
Glock 17 or 19. Light weight might be an issue though.
Cz75. All steel, comfy grip, very low recoil impulse. They make them in various sizes.
SIG P226 or P229. Lots of flavors here as well. All metal and in some cases all steel
Beretta PX4 full size or compact. Decent grip and the rotating barrel action does alleviate recoil, although it can be susceptible to debris fouling the rotating mechanism but as a house gun should be just fine.
Beretta 92a1. Big gun. Fairly light recoil.
There are many other options but you need to start and end with what she finds comforting.
Steer clear of subcompacts and itty bitty revolvers
Stick with as full size and weight that is comfortable.
Lots of good options
Gp100 or Smith 686 revolvers. Pussycats in .38 and have the ability to work up to more powerful stuff if so desired. Lots of grip options simple manual of arms. Make a good club if needed too.
Glock 17 or 19. Light weight might be an issue though.
Cz75. All steel, comfy grip, very low recoil impulse. They make them in various sizes.
SIG P226 or P229. Lots of flavors here as well. All metal and in some cases all steel
Beretta PX4 full size or compact. Decent grip and the rotating barrel action does alleviate recoil, although it can be susceptible to debris fouling the rotating mechanism but as a house gun should be just fine.
Beretta 92a1. Big gun. Fairly light recoil.
There are many other options but you need to start and end with what she finds comforting.
FLNT4EVR
Member
i have a sig p238 for pocket carry, and a lcr in 38/357 i only use 38 in it, 'For hd indoors i load the lcr with 38 wad cutters .For hd I also have a charter arms in 45 ACP with a crimson trace grip loaded with 230 grn lead flat point. Any one of the three should be quite sufficient .
LeonCarr
Member
Let. Her. Pick. The. Gun.
Don't let her buy something like an RG or a Lorcin, but go to a store or range with a wide variety of handguns and let her pick 2 or 3 that feel good in her hands, rent them and let her shoot them if you are at a range, then buy her the one that feels and shoots best.
After that, get her the training she needs, training in the when to shoot/when not to shoot and the actual marksmanship. You attending that training with her will go a long way. Many male shooters, call it machismo or whatever, think they know everything and don't train. Don't be that guy.
I have lost count at the number of stories of guys buying their gals handguns and as mentioned 99% of the time it is the guys choice, the gal never carries it, which does her no good.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
Don't let her buy something like an RG or a Lorcin, but go to a store or range with a wide variety of handguns and let her pick 2 or 3 that feel good in her hands, rent them and let her shoot them if you are at a range, then buy her the one that feels and shoots best.
After that, get her the training she needs, training in the when to shoot/when not to shoot and the actual marksmanship. You attending that training with her will go a long way. Many male shooters, call it machismo or whatever, think they know everything and don't train. Don't be that guy.
I have lost count at the number of stories of guys buying their gals handguns and as mentioned 99% of the time it is the guys choice, the gal never carries it, which does her no good.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
Last edited:
Furncliff
Member
She will benefit from going here:
http://www.corneredcat.com/
http://www.corneredcat.com/
MedWheeler
Member
^^ As would her husband. 
TruthTellers
member
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2015
- Messages
- 1,075
If we're talking handguns here, then she clearly has recoil issues and if it's "too big" she likely has small hands. If the lady can handle 9mm, introduce her to the Glock 43. If she can't take 9mm recoil, see if there are any shops around with a Bersa Thunder Plus, a 15 round capacity .380 pistol, bring her there and have her handle the gun and see if she likes the way if feels in her hand.
That's the only .380 I would bother with because while .380 is not a powerful round, 15 rounds in the torso will be quite effective.
If she doesn't even like the .380's recoil, then Charter Arms .32 H&R Magnum or a Taurus Tracker 991. The Taurus is a 9 shot .22 Mag revolver and being a somewhat larger revolver, will have next to no recoil.
If she doesn't like any of those options, give her some pepper spray and a rape whistle.
That's the only .380 I would bother with because while .380 is not a powerful round, 15 rounds in the torso will be quite effective.
If she doesn't even like the .380's recoil, then Charter Arms .32 H&R Magnum or a Taurus Tracker 991. The Taurus is a 9 shot .22 Mag revolver and being a somewhat larger revolver, will have next to no recoil.
If she doesn't like any of those options, give her some pepper spray and a rape whistle.
OP
OP
RPRNY
Member
Seriously? Are so many of you married to ex Special Forces operators or have you just been cooped up in your Mom's basement too long?
Advice on firearms is welcome. Suggestions that my wife not touch a firearm until she's qualified at the HRT course in Quantico, not so much.
Advice on firearms is welcome. Suggestions that my wife not touch a firearm until she's qualified at the HRT course in Quantico, not so much.
Jim NE
Member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2011
- Messages
- 1,888
If money is a factor, one of the guns that I would look at is one of the SARs in 9MM, imported by EAA. I really hear a lot of good things about them, and discounted online prices seem to be under $250. If racking a slide is difficult EAA also has the Pavona designed a bit more for women.
If those prices are still to high, even a Hi Point is better than nothing. They hardly kick at all (even in .45) and can be accurate and reliable. Just put 100 to 150 rounds through it first to verify it's reliability.
If those prices are still to high, even a Hi Point is better than nothing. They hardly kick at all (even in .45) and can be accurate and reliable. Just put 100 to 150 rounds through it first to verify it's reliability.
entropy
Member
OK. 4" .38 Spl./.357 revolver, load it up with whatever, stuff it in the dresser drawer and be done with it. 'Scuse me for offering the same advice I have given for both men and women while working at several different gun shops. And no, my wife is not former SpecOps, and I haven't been cooped up in my Mom's basement since 1981.
Let her choose
YOU MADE A BIG MISTAKE BY ASSUMING WHAT YOU WANT WILL WORK FOR HER.
The bet gun for a woman is the one SHE CHOOSES and WANTS TO SHOOT.
I suggest you take her a the range which rents guns and let her handle both revolvers and pistols. See which fits her hand, then go from there.
My wife wanted a J-frame revolver. It was what everyone told her she needed until she fired one. FORGET THAT!
She is petite and while she finds guns interesting, she can no longer shoot the GLOCK 19 I gave her many years ago. Now she is using a .32ACP BERETTA Tomcat.
I know, it has no knockdown power and will not put those big holes some think are so important. However, I do know of anyone who wants to get shot with one, do you?
It is small enough and light enough that she can shoot it without any problems and the COR BON ammo will do a lot more damage than any .22lr round, even from a 6 inch barrel.
It is also small enough that she can conceal it, a big plus.
She choose this gun after finding she could not longer shoot a 9m.m. without causing problems for her arthritis. She saw me take it out to put it back in the safe after carrying it concealed all day and asked if it was a .25ACP. I told her it was a .32ACP, that worked like her BERETTA .25ACP and she ended up taking it away from me. No problem, I bought another.
The point is, that this is the gun she choose and CAN SHOOT ACCURATELY without discomfort. Those who think you will not notice recoil or how uncomfortable a gun is to shoot, do not know what they are talking about, as far as I am concerned.
Jim
YOU MADE A BIG MISTAKE BY ASSUMING WHAT YOU WANT WILL WORK FOR HER.
The bet gun for a woman is the one SHE CHOOSES and WANTS TO SHOOT.
I suggest you take her a the range which rents guns and let her handle both revolvers and pistols. See which fits her hand, then go from there.
My wife wanted a J-frame revolver. It was what everyone told her she needed until she fired one. FORGET THAT!
She is petite and while she finds guns interesting, she can no longer shoot the GLOCK 19 I gave her many years ago. Now she is using a .32ACP BERETTA Tomcat.
I know, it has no knockdown power and will not put those big holes some think are so important. However, I do know of anyone who wants to get shot with one, do you?
It is small enough and light enough that she can shoot it without any problems and the COR BON ammo will do a lot more damage than any .22lr round, even from a 6 inch barrel.
It is also small enough that she can conceal it, a big plus.
She choose this gun after finding she could not longer shoot a 9m.m. without causing problems for her arthritis. She saw me take it out to put it back in the safe after carrying it concealed all day and asked if it was a .25ACP. I told her it was a .32ACP, that worked like her BERETTA .25ACP and she ended up taking it away from me. No problem, I bought another.
The point is, that this is the gun she choose and CAN SHOOT ACCURATELY without discomfort. Those who think you will not notice recoil or how uncomfortable a gun is to shoot, do not know what they are talking about, as far as I am concerned.
Jim
Letting her pick the gun (from an approved list of "good" models ) is a wise decision. The only thing I would push for is a mid-sized gun over a small one. If she isn't going to carry it, no need to take the bite a small gun will deliver. For a different reason, I imagine a full sized gun (like the Beretta 92FS) would intimidate her because it was similar in size to your 1911.
So ideally?...a heavy mid-sized 9mm, plus or minus from there. Steel frame, rubber grips and normal (non +P) 124gr ammo would be a good compromise between shootability and stopping power. Just make sure she can rack the slide. If not, then go down to a .380 or revolver.
CZ, Kahr, SIG P229, etc. Many choices.
) is a wise decision. The only thing I would push for is a mid-sized gun over a small one. If she isn't going to carry it, no need to take the bite a small gun will deliver. For a different reason, I imagine a full sized gun (like the Beretta 92FS) would intimidate her because it was similar in size to your 1911.So ideally?...a heavy mid-sized 9mm, plus or minus from there. Steel frame, rubber grips and normal (non +P) 124gr ammo would be a good compromise between shootability and stopping power. Just make sure she can rack the slide. If not, then go down to a .380 or revolver.
CZ, Kahr, SIG P229, etc. Many choices.
Corpral_Agarn
Member
I teach mostly Ladies classes and private lessons.
Sig 238 is by FAR the most popular gun for women I work with.
That being said avoid any J frame revolvers larger than .22 LR.
Not enough weight to make it nice to shoot.
Sig 238 is by FAR the most popular gun for women I work with.
That being said avoid any J frame revolvers larger than .22 LR.
Not enough weight to make it nice to shoot.
Corpral_Agarn
Member
yep that little .380 is pretty nice.
My experience is a relatively small sample so take it with a grain of salt. Other areas, influence by other instructors, will undoubtedly show different results.
After that its pretty much equal parts on everything else, but other popular choices include (in no particular order):
Sig 2022
XD9
Glock 19
Ruger SP101
Many ladies (I have worked with) feel more comfortable with DA/SA and many do not like the DA trigger pull on a revolver. Which is how it will be used when needed in a hurry.
Most every shooter I work with starts off with a Browning Buckmark (fantastic piece). We work upward from there.
toivo
Member
SAO manual of arms is pretty easy to figure out -- especially since you can rack the 238 with the safety on.
Chevelle SS
Member
K frame Smith with a 4" barrel
- Status
