alwims
Member
Heck, buying handguns for my wife is easy. All I gota do is buy a pistol I really, really want for myself, take it home and show it to her, she falls in love with it and I'm stuck with all the old stuff.
Advice on pistol for my wife....
- Thread starter The Goose
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Brass Balls
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I recently went through the process of my wife picking out her own gun. After firing several different models she chose a Glock 34 in 9mm. I think it's a good choice too for several reasons.
First she is accurate with it and the recoil is manageable for her which will encourage more frequent practice.
Second is I have some old high capacity magazines that hold 20 rounds which eliminates the need to grab extra magazines in a home defense scenario.
Third and perhaps most important is that this gun has been perfectly reliable with over 8k rounds through it.
Fourth is that it has a light rail on which an M3 weapon mounted light rides.
Fifth is the manual of arms is as simple as possible so that under a stressful situation all she has to do is point and pull the trigger.
Good luck!
First she is accurate with it and the recoil is manageable for her which will encourage more frequent practice.
Second is I have some old high capacity magazines that hold 20 rounds which eliminates the need to grab extra magazines in a home defense scenario.
Third and perhaps most important is that this gun has been perfectly reliable with over 8k rounds through it.
Fourth is that it has a light rail on which an M3 weapon mounted light rides.
Fifth is the manual of arms is as simple as possible so that under a stressful situation all she has to do is point and pull the trigger.
Good luck!
I've carried the Sig P232 for 8 years now and absolutely love it. I've tried the 9mm and .40 and, while I enjoy shooting them at the range, my hands are just too small for them to be really comfortable. I think that is important with something you may have to use when you are under pressure. Also, I have a Galco purse and my .380 fits inside quite nicely.
Good luck - to both of you!
Shannon
Good luck - to both of you!
Shannon
Mastrogiacomo
Member
Lady shooter....
Swing by the Four Seasons for the very best prices - www.fsguns.com
If you ask Carl, the owner, in advance you can order the Beretta compact type M. It's a single stacked 9mm which is perfert for carry too if she's ever comfortable with that idea. The Sig 239 in a 9mm is another way to go if she's O.K. handling a gun that doesn't have a manual safety. If she's not planning to carry, a Sig Pro in a 9mm or Walther P99 are nice choices. Don't over look the Glocks -- Carl has several 19 models for sale at great prices. I believe the 9mm is the best caliber for easy recoil and personal defense, but I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the revolvers. The Ruger SP101 is hardly an ugly gun and Smith and Wesson has a Lady Smith in different barrel sizes that would make a terrific carry piece. Swing by Carl's and ask. I wouldn't rush the purchase; take your time to see what works for her, and I'm sure you'll find Four Seasons will have what you're looking for. Good luck.
BTW -- I got my 92FS Brigadier, standard 92FS, compact type M, Ruger Single Six and S&W 686 from the Four Seasons. I have small hands too so don't be fooled into thinking a carry gun has to be small, and never encourage her to keep it in her purse. It should be carried on her person.
Swing by the Four Seasons for the very best prices - www.fsguns.com
If you ask Carl, the owner, in advance you can order the Beretta compact type M. It's a single stacked 9mm which is perfert for carry too if she's ever comfortable with that idea. The Sig 239 in a 9mm is another way to go if she's O.K. handling a gun that doesn't have a manual safety. If she's not planning to carry, a Sig Pro in a 9mm or Walther P99 are nice choices. Don't over look the Glocks -- Carl has several 19 models for sale at great prices. I believe the 9mm is the best caliber for easy recoil and personal defense, but I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the revolvers. The Ruger SP101 is hardly an ugly gun and Smith and Wesson has a Lady Smith in different barrel sizes that would make a terrific carry piece. Swing by Carl's and ask. I wouldn't rush the purchase; take your time to see what works for her, and I'm sure you'll find Four Seasons will have what you're looking for. Good luck.
BTW -- I got my 92FS Brigadier, standard 92FS, compact type M, Ruger Single Six and S&W 686 from the Four Seasons. I have small hands too so don't be fooled into thinking a carry gun has to be small, and never encourage her to keep it in her purse. It should be carried on her person.
tankertom
Member
Check out the CZ75 compact or PCR. My wife has small hands and this is what she chose. Very reliable and quite accurate.
tt
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Mastrogiacomo
Member
The SP101 is a .38 revolver. I wouldn't go with too light a revolver though. I had an airlight S&W 442 snubbie. Hurt like Hell and got rid of it in record time....
I wouldn't go with too light a revolver though. I had an airlight S&W 442 snubbie. Hurt like Hell and got rid of it in record time....Omega_7
Member
I don't agree that she should pick it
A beginner lady picking her own gun is like Pee Wee Herman teaching martial arts. Do this: Try FIRST a S & W 3 inch heavy barreled .38 J frame , before anything else. They have half the recoil of a 2 inch IMO.
Flame on but an auto pistol is not a good choice for a new lady shooter. My wife still to this day carries her .357 S & W M65s, although she is very profecient with her AR15s, she feels much more confident with a simple reliable powerful revolver. Ladies (99% of them) are not going to become Rambette, no matter how much we might want them to. Most women want a simple, reliable defensive piece that goes BANG every time and is easy to shoot. If the trigger is too heavy have a trigger job done by a pro 'smith.
If we left it to most ladies they would carry a .22 auto, perhaps one of the worst defensive choices one can make. We need to make informed experienced decisions when life is at stake...
A beginner lady picking her own gun is like Pee Wee Herman teaching martial arts. Do this: Try FIRST a S & W 3 inch heavy barreled .38 J frame , before anything else. They have half the recoil of a 2 inch IMO.
Flame on but an auto pistol is not a good choice for a new lady shooter. My wife still to this day carries her .357 S & W M65s, although she is very profecient with her AR15s, she feels much more confident with a simple reliable powerful revolver. Ladies (99% of them) are not going to become Rambette, no matter how much we might want them to. Most women want a simple, reliable defensive piece that goes BANG every time and is easy to shoot. If the trigger is too heavy have a trigger job done by a pro 'smith.
If we left it to most ladies they would carry a .22 auto, perhaps one of the worst defensive choices one can make. We need to make informed experienced decisions when life is at stake...
Well, my wife and I went to a local gun shop to verify what she liked. She looked at a Kahr 9MM , Beretta Cheetah .380, Sig 232 .380, Glock 26 9MM, S&W Airweight .38 Spl revolver. The bottom line is she still likes the Beretta and I do too. She will get the proper training to handle a semi-auto and I know .380 is a "marginal" caliber, but that's what she will shoot and feels comfortable with. I tried to sell her on one of my many Makarovs, or one of my HK P7's, but they are just too heavy in her opinion.
Son of John
Member
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2003
- Messages
- 30
Kahr or Glock
When I went through this with my wife, the only two pistols she picked up and liked were a Kahr K9 and Glock 26. I said OK, we walked out and I bought her a Kel-Tec P-11 instead. She rejected the Kel-Tec immediately when I gave it to her and it's now in my glove compartment.
Bottom line is, buy them what they like. True for anything, not just firearms...
When I went through this with my wife, the only two pistols she picked up and liked were a Kahr K9 and Glock 26. I said OK, we walked out and I bought her a Kel-Tec P-11 instead. She rejected the Kel-Tec immediately when I gave it to her and it's now in my glove compartment.
Bottom line is, buy them what they like. True for anything, not just firearms...
Since you live in the land of Ted Kennedy, it would be easier to know which guns are approved, and then downselect from there. For a .380, you already picked one of the best (Sig P232), so you need not go any further. She MIGHT be better off with a 9mm, and so here's my recommended list;
Sig P225
Sig P228
Sig P239
CZ P01
CZ PCR
S&W 3913
Glock 19
Sig P225
Sig P228
Sig P239
CZ P01
CZ PCR
S&W 3913
Glock 19
You just never know about women; and if anyone does, please give me a clue! I let my wife shoot my HP's, P7, 1911's, Maks, Berettas, and various revolvers. She was never much of a "gun" person, and not particularly mechanical, so I gave her a Colt Det. Spcl. Couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it. Out of all my pistols, guess which one she picked? A Sig 229 40S&W!! I would have bet money she couldn't get her hand around that fat grip; I would have been wrong. I would have bet she wouldn't like shooting the hot 40's; I would have been wrong. Anyway, she stole my nice Sig; and now the only time I get to play with it is when she lets me clean it. Yeah, thats still "my" job! Only pistol I have ever seen her been able to shoot. That was ten years ago; she still likes the Sig, but now shoots Glocks, XD's, etc quite well. Still can't hit *&%$ with a revolver. Along the lines of the Beretta 380; you might want to let her try the Browning BDA380. Nicer safety set up, and the thick grip spreads the recoil; really sweet.
Sean Smith
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- Dec 28, 2002
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- 4,925
But a beginner gent can pick a gun just fine, right? Must be the balls...
The stupidest gun buyers I've seen are other guys, because they THINK they know something, but are still stone cold ignorant. Most women don't think they ought to pretend to know about guns like alot of guys do, so at least they "know what they don't know."
Nobody said you should let her shop "blind" without the advice of somebody who knows more about guns than her. But the same could be said of a guy buying his first gun. There is a world of difference between being a patronizing twit and just giving her a gun because women are too stupid to figure them out, and helping her select one herself (for instance, by steering her away from inappropriate calibers or junk brands).
Lupine
Member
From a lady
Okay boys, here's from a gal's experience.
1) A woman CAN make her own choice. But let her shoot as many guns as she can before she actually thinks of buying one. That process alone will help educate her and get her jazzed about guns--or will show you whether or not she's truly interested at all.
2) A woman CAN handle an autoloader. Most of my female friends have had no problems with mine or any other that I've seen. It may be tough during the break-in period, but give her a chance.
3) Men, help your ladies find third-party instruction. Don't drag your ego to the range, let her learn stuff on your own--later on you can share your hobby and your combined knowledge. Make it a sport you can share, not one in which you automatically have the upper hand. She'll respect your experience if you don't shove it down her trachea.
4) Women have their own reasons for picking a gun. I admit that part of my attraction to my firearm of choice is lines, feel, size, thinness, reputation and such. Respect that women are often attracted to things for different reasons. Which is why many of you boys like boobies on your partners and many of us ladies like big strong arms on our men.
5) I love my Kahr P9. I don't carry on a regular basis, but the gun's comfortable enough for me to love taking it to the range weekly. I've worn it holstered and it's concealable enough for me. It's simple enough for me to break down and clean (though I needed some help during the break-in process, as it was pretty tight, like new guns tend to be). It looks and feels delicious in its Little Black Dress (velvety A-grips). I also liked the XD9 and Glock 26 a lot, but felt more comfortable with the Kahr. I thought about the smaller guns (Kel-Tecs, Maks) but for my first purchase, the p9 made the best all-around sense. Later I'll get a pocket gun, and probably a 45, then a shotty and so on...but that's a different story.
Don't force it, respect her attitudes, give her breathing room, and you just might have a shooting buddy for life.
Okay boys, here's from a gal's experience.
1) A woman CAN make her own choice. But let her shoot as many guns as she can before she actually thinks of buying one. That process alone will help educate her and get her jazzed about guns--or will show you whether or not she's truly interested at all.
2) A woman CAN handle an autoloader. Most of my female friends have had no problems with mine or any other that I've seen. It may be tough during the break-in period, but give her a chance.
3) Men, help your ladies find third-party instruction. Don't drag your ego to the range, let her learn stuff on your own--later on you can share your hobby and your combined knowledge. Make it a sport you can share, not one in which you automatically have the upper hand. She'll respect your experience if you don't shove it down her trachea.
4) Women have their own reasons for picking a gun. I admit that part of my attraction to my firearm of choice is lines, feel, size, thinness, reputation and such. Respect that women are often attracted to things for different reasons. Which is why many of you boys like boobies on your partners and many of us ladies like big strong arms on our men.
5) I love my Kahr P9. I don't carry on a regular basis, but the gun's comfortable enough for me to love taking it to the range weekly. I've worn it holstered and it's concealable enough for me. It's simple enough for me to break down and clean (though I needed some help during the break-in process, as it was pretty tight, like new guns tend to be). It looks and feels delicious in its Little Black Dress (velvety A-grips). I also liked the XD9 and Glock 26 a lot, but felt more comfortable with the Kahr. I thought about the smaller guns (Kel-Tecs, Maks) but for my first purchase, the p9 made the best all-around sense. Later I'll get a pocket gun, and probably a 45, then a shotty and so on...but that's a different story.
Don't force it, respect her attitudes, give her breathing room, and you just might have a shooting buddy for life.
ksnecktieman
Member
Can I ask you some questions lupine? How old were you at first contact with "the gun culture"? Were you anti, or neutral before that? Is there anything we guys can do to bring more women into the shooting sports? Is your attraction self defense or entertainment?
I just looked at your profile, and I do not know if you are my age or my daughters age. Are your parents pro or anti gun?
I just looked at your profile, and I do not know if you are my age or my daughters age. Are your parents pro or anti gun?
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