Autoloader for the lady?

[40SWHero51]

I am looking to find a concealed carry autoloader option for my ladyfriend that packs a punch, but lacks a lot of recoil. I have taken her shooting several times and she is deathly afraid of my friend's Beretta PX4 Storm .40 but seems to tolerate my S&W M&P .40 just fine.

She enjoys shooting and I want to make her feel at home doing it. However, I want her to be comfortable with a firearm enough to carry it for protection as well as enjoy it for recreation. She has shot a Walther P22 during one of my trips to the range and she loved it - but said it reminded here of a raygun. I think my next purchase will be a Sig Sauer Mosquito to ease the pain at the register of .40 ammo - so she will definitely enjoy that. She likes the curb appeal of the Mosquito but I know this packs far less than a wallop.

She is deathly afraid of very powerful weapons but shows great courage in wanting to pursue an activity that I enjoy so that we can spend more time together. I want to find her something that she can feel protected by and enjoy at the range.

Does anyone out there have any advice as to what we should be looking for? I think that she will be open to any caliber as long as the recoil can be controlled/non-existent, but I want something that will provide needed stopping power if the situation lends itself towards that type of resolution.

Let the bombardment of ideas commence.

 

[JackCrow]

You might encourage her to try a few different 9mm pistols. The recoil is less sharp than the .40S&W and the ammo is much less expensive.

 

[larry starling]

It's not a .40 , But this is what I got my wife a Beretta Model 84f...

 

[RickW]

I just went through this with my wife. I had taken her out shooting for the first time just a few weeks ago. She really liked shooting my Ruger MK3 and did quite well with it. Next up I had her try a S&W 642 Airweight, that was a big no go. The recoil was way to much for her liking.

I took her out shopping just this past weekend and after looking at dozens of different pieces she picked out a CZ 75B. She really likes the way it feels in her hands and we hope the recoil will be more manageable the what the Smith was. We will see this weekend.

 

[btg3]

The few women that I've introduced to shooting get along fine with an autoloader until there is a malfunction. The reactions vary, but essentially they either:
1. have a mindset that they aren't interested in dealing with "fixing it"
2. physically can't rack the slide

On the other hand, I've shot IDPA with some women that handle autoloaders with extreme proficiency.

My point is that for self-defense, the search for the right gun for a woman involves some factors that us men may overlook. A revolver may be a better choice at the end of the day, but not necessarily.

Also FWIW, my wife recently shot several rounds handily with a 642, but:
a) it was not her first time shooting
b) she uses a proper grip
c) she was already comfortable dry-firing the 642 and was experienced with a K-frame .38 spl
Even so, some men don't like the recoil with a 642, so YMMV.

 

[kwelz]

I have a lady friend that is looking at getting a pistol soon. She is quite small framed and for her it seems like the Skyy pistol fits her best.

 

[belus]

This is required reading and needs to be mentioned http://www.corneredcat.com/

 

[BlindJustice]

Perhaps a trip to a range with a wide variety of hadguns for rental
would be in order here:

WHat is the physical stature - general height & weight, and hand size
of the lady in question?

Handguns:


Revolvers.
THe 642 is the alloy framed snubbie - what 14 or so oz.and a
1 7/8" barrel. How about the model 60 LS - the Ladysmith has
grips built for the smaller palms in relation to finger length for a woman
as well as it being steel frame and cylinder, around 23 oz. Start with
.38 SPcl wadcutters and work up to .38 Spcl +P

There's also the new S&W Nightguards with Scandium frame and
Stainless steel cylinder with Pachmayr rubber grips in the mid 20 oz weight
range. from the K-frame 315NG .38 Spcl +P to L and N frame versions.

Semi Autos

A quality single stack avail. in 9mm or .40 S&W / .357 SIg is the
SIg P239 - it also has a mag. of 10 rd capacity with a plastic extension
for the pinky finger at the range whereas in carry you have a flush mag.

I've read other threads where men admit women find the curve of the grip
and frame of the CZ 75 and variants comfortable and shoot them well. THe
Compact alloy frame PCR might work in 9MM luger.

just some thoughts,

Randall

 

[nambu1]

CZ-82 in 9 X 18 is a good compact gun for women.

 

[40SWHero51]

WHat is the physical stature - general height & weight, and hand size of the lady in question?

BlindJustice:
My lady is about 5' 6" and has a thick frame. Her hands are not all that big but I wouldn't call them small either.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

An East German Makarov or a Cz 82 would be a good choice, 10 bucks for 50 rounds of Russian hollow points allows for a LOT of practice.

 

[3KillerBs]

If she's comfortable with the M&P .40 why not stick with that?

Or maybe the M&P 9mm? Maybe the compact to make it easier to conceal?

Or, if recoil is bothering her, maybe try some of the steel-framed guns instead of the polymer?

 

[Claude Clay]

all differences aside.....the 642 (or 332) a person trains into. i have yet to have a women who did not take to, and shoot well the bersa 380 immediately. concerning safety, the key lock and decocker are frequently mentioned. as is the 'soft' recoil for controlability. for the experienced shooter this much size and weight equals a 40 (or a 9). but out of the gate, the bersa is a front runner. priced low also. the P239 is expensive, but if she like it get the da/sa with decocker in 40 and then buy a 9mm conv bbl. seems the hogue grips are favored by the ladies 4:1 over the stock plastic, 2:1 over the wood.