Best 1911 for a woman

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F-Body Demon

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Hey guys, I got my wife signed up for a conceal carry class and before she goes I want to get her a good 9mm to carry. Now keep in mind she is about 5' 2" and 100lbs soaking wet. I want it to be a 1911 for a couple of reasons: 1 is the weight will help trim recoil, 2 it will last forever and 3 because they fit her hands very well. I had her try Glocks Sigs and XD/XDMs she didnt like any of them.

So what im looking for is some personal experience on carry size 1911s in 9mm. If you have some good info that we should know I would really appreciate it!
 
Rock Island 9 mm would be a good starter 1911.

Have you tried 38 super? For some reason my wife is more accurate with it. She has a nickel RIA - pretty and deadly.
 
BIG Plus 1 on the 38 Super over the 9mm, but I would say just about anything in a Commander size. Might even look at a bob/tail. If you go with the Rock Island, get the Tactical for sure.
 
At 5'2" and 100#, weight of the gun will likely become a factor.

The weight you are happy with to trim the recoil, may very well become the WEIGHT :what: of the gun she's trying to carry. A gun someone finds too heavy & uncomfortable to carry will become the gun that doesn't get carried. :banghead:

The Kimber Ultra CDP-II is available in 9mm with a lightweight aluminum frame at about 25 oz., although I believe the frame is standard depth (front-to-back), while the Springfield EMP has a smaller sized frame at about the same weight.
 
EMP +1

saemp_02.jpg
 
Now keep in mind she is about 5' 2" and 100lbs soaking wet.
Click to expand...

I've dated a few women that size. With any that I have spent time shooting with, which is most of them...size and cliber were never a determining faacctor. The only two factors were:

1. Is she willing to dress around the gun? If you are going to attempt to conceal a commander or full sized 1911 on your waist, clothes that flatter her figure might make it stick out like a sore thumb. She'll need advice from women that carry in that respect. My last girlfriend wanted to carry a 1911. Once she started wearing one daily, she had to move to something LC-9 sized. Carrying my glock 26 resulted in her looking like she had 3rd cheek despite it disappearing on me under a light t-shirt. Anything that flattered her mid section made my commander sized 1911 look like a 2x4 under there. The end result before moving to a sub-sub-compact was that she had a nice weapon that she loved shooting, yet rarely or never carried unless it was off-body. I honestly don't blame her.
2. Is she strong enough to rack the slide? I've dated women that size were fit and physically active who had zero trouble racking the slide. I've dated women who kept that size by dieting and cardio who couldn't rack the slide very well.

Advise her to spend some time talking to women (several on here) who have carried for years and reading sites like corneredcat. Our hips are just built different, so any advice on holsters and carry position is tricky.

Other than that, read through the sticky:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=564531
 
For a "commander size" 9mm in a 1911 I would choose from:

1. Dan Wesson Guardian
2. Kimber Pro Ageis
3. EMP
 
Nighthawk T3 is the way to go.

The T3 is the best pistol mentioned so far but its also twice the money. I have one and its a great shooter.
 
Both my Kimber Ultra Aegis II and Springfield EMP 9mms are hand to conceal and are accurate and reliable with good triggers and light recoil. Dennis
 
My wife likes her Stainless Combat Commander in .45 ACP. Her favorite handgun to shoot. She doesn't carry it, though. She's tried 9mms but prefers .45s.

Have your wife try a few different sizes/calibers if possible.

15c770cf.jpg
 
I know this is a dumb question ...
But does *she* want a 1911 in 9mm or do *you* want her to have one? Alright, yes. She doesn't like XDs and the like.

Be careful though that in all your "filtering" you let her still choose her gun. A lot of folks have already listed most of the good 1911 9mm guns, and I'd add the Colt New Agent to the list but please, please be careful you're not picking her gun. It'd be a great disservice to her.
 
Like Nushif said

WHATEVER SHE WANTS and you can afford.
SO...
if *SHE* doesn't want a 1911, don't be an idiot and force one on her.

There are PAGES of threads of 'what gun for my mother daughter wife girlfriend'

Heres a synopsis

Whatever THEY choose. Your job is to provide the money and keep them away from complete crap. That and to make sure the gun counter monkey isn't trying to foist something on her like a micro .380, that are often more DIFFICULT to shoot than a compact 9.
 
docnyt said:
Rock Island 9 mm would be a good starter 1911.

Have you tried 38 super? For some reason my wife is more accurate with it. She has a nickel RIA - pretty and deadly.
Click to expand...
38 Super is my personal choice over 9mm, but if recoil is a concern, it will have a sharper felt recoil than a 9mm (not to mention a huge muzzle flash), especially in a LTW frame. My daughter is 5'8" and prefers a 9mm XD over my LTW Commander. She shoots the Colt well, but the 9mm has a softer recoil.
 
Slim 1911's

The OP doesn't mention budget but if a 1911 is the ballpark, either the Nighthawk Ladyhawk or the T3 deserve a look. The "Lady" in particular can be dressed up real purty.
 
I would take her to a range that rents guns and have her handle a few of them, see which one fits her best, let her shoot it, and then buy her a new one just like it. As a previous poster mentioned, whatever she wants and you can afford.

"If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"

And a big thank you to the OP for not going out and buying her an airweight .38 or .357. Everybody I know that buys a gun for their wife/girlfriend without consulting her buys her a snub nose lightweight, she shoots it once, doesn't hit the broad side of a barn due to the muzzle blast and recoil, and never shoots it or carrys it. 1911s IME are much easier for ladys to shoot.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
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Nushif nailed it.

Mine loves to shop. I took her out thinking she'd get a PPK or something small... she feels everything up and gets a Sigma because she LIKED THE TRIGGER!

She suggests range days without my dropping hints too.

Take her somewhere, let her feel everything up and she'll be more likely to keep it close.
 
pix531821187.gif

pix290650983.gif

This one!! (not trying to sell it, it is already sold) Just had some good pics. Nighthawk LadyHawk 9mm. If she can't put em in the same hole then its her fault!! :D


Thought the pink was nice for the ladies gun!

Oh, you mean something that isn't 3K? I'd say EMP.
 
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