CCW Question

[whiskeytangofoxtrot]

My mother was wanting to get a handgun after she has acquired her carry permit. I was browsing around at the types of of handguns to see what would fit her well. I am pretty sure that she does not want to carry it in a holster, so going the way of the purse would be it.

Any suggestions? I was thinking more of a Makarov, since it is smaller and operates with the smaller round. She isn't very big so it would have to be light on recoil. I've tried to get her used to the bigger rounds, but she just will not shoot them. She is accustomed to the 9mm category.

 

[WaltonS]

How much you willing to spend? Beretta's got some nice "pocket/purse" guns: The Bobcat 21, which comes in both .22LR and the extra-crunchy .25ACP flavor or the 3032 Tomcat (32ACP) are worth a look.
The Tomcat is sometimes (sadly) mistaken for a Walther, but they're totally different pieces.
The Beretta mini-handguns have a tip-up barrel to compensate for the fact that manipulating the slide does NOT eject the chambered shell, and instead you must use the pivot pin to extract a defective/empty shell manually. However, this also means you can chamber a round without using the slide, which is a nice feature.


Here's the Tomcat and be sure to look at the Bobcat on your left.

 

[Ed Ames]

38sp or .357 revolver would be a good choice all around. Some of the light 38s are very light (less than a pound) and they pack more punch than a 32 or even a mak in most cases. Plus there are no issues with upper body strength or elaborate failure drills to practice.

 

[whiskeytangofoxtrot]

Cost is not an issue, since it will be for defense purposes for her. I appreciate all of the replies.

 

[Don Lu]

Why not a J-frame.... I have a lady friend who carries in her purse...just keeps it in a holster to cover the trigger. but the .38 spl is not harsh and she should be fine, even if she doesnt want +p

 

[WaltonS]

A snubnose .38sp ain't a bad idea either, but I haven't got much experience in that area. I assumed you wanted an automatic.

 

[doc2rn]

I would look for a good .380 like a Beretta, but you should take her to the store and let her choose.

 

[Snarlingiron]

She is accustomed to the 9mm category.

Perfect! Revolver, how about a Taurus 905? Auto, how about a Glock 26 (if it's not too fat in the grip) or maybe a Kahr or Kel-Tec? Lots of good choices, but if nothing is suitable in the 9mm, then there a lot of good .380 choices. Bottom line is training and shot placement are the most important items. The size of the hole is less important than where you put it.

 

[mljdeckard]

The truth is, a Makarov is not at all a bad piece. It's one of the few 'less expensive' pistols with a good track record for reliability and non-terrible performance for a slightly smaller cartridge. I used to draw the line at a .380 for being an acceptable DS cartridge, when someone really wants or needs a very small pistol, but when the sub-compact Glocks came out, it became possible to choose between 9mm, .357 sig, .40, or .45 in a package just as small, I changed my mind.

Like others have asked, why not a .38 snubbie?

 

[kd7nqb]

Kel-tec or Bersa .380 depending on the purse size some of the micro-9's could work.

 

[230RN]

I wonder about the noise and flash factor in a snubby*. She won't be using muffs if she has to use it for real or at night.

It doesn't affect a long-time shooter much**, who's perhaps fired many shots outdoors without hearing protection, but it might well be a temporarily incapacitating surprise for someone who hasn't. Especially indoors.

I don't know if many or any experts will agree with me, but a two or three inch snubby, even in .38 SPL, is surprisingly loud sans hearing protection.

I've got an S & W 10-5 which I much prefer for its pointability and quietness (relatively), and the only reason I don't actually carry it is because it's not "cool." I actually carry a much more cool 1911.

But it's relatively light, relatively quiet, and points like my index finger.

I don't know the solution on the noisy snubby if you choose that, except for warnings. One would hesitate to actually recommend practice outdoors without muffs and plugs, but one should maybe prepare her for that.

I would guess that sometimes just a warning might be preparation enough: get ready for the noise and try to ignore it.

However, I am told, not having actually experienced an emergency situation, some people do not even hear their own shots when the adrenalin is flowing.

What do you instructors think about this? Is it really worth worrying about?

------------
* I've got one and it is freakin' loud.

** Like me, whose nickname is, "Huh? What's that? Say again."

 

[MachIVshooter]

The Beretta 84 & 85 are good choices for purse carry. They are on the larger side of the .380 spectrum, which means more manageable recoil. That said, if you could find a Remingtom model 51, they are probably the nicest shooting .380 out there (all steel, locked breech).

 

[Autolycus]

I would suggest paying a visit to www.corneredcat.com and doing a little research on women and guns.

It is best that she makes the decision and tries out a few guns as she is the one carrying it.

I would look at some of the guns suggested and try to let her handle them.

A .38 Snubbie, a Glock 26, a Kahr in 9mm, and an HK P2000sk are some suggestions. I believe a Springfield EMP might also be a good suggestion.

 

[whiskeytangofoxtrot]

I appreciate all of the suggestions, I was thinking auto, but I realize the size that some revolvers give.

I have let her use my Glock 17 in her headboard of her bed. She likes the round, just not the thick grip of the Glock, I told her it was to her perogative.

I will take her to a few shops and let her pick like some of you guys advised.

Thanks for the help.

 

[antsi]

Any chance she will be willing to spend some time on the range?

If so, it would sure pay to get her a chance to shoot - not just handle - various guns.

Noise aside, .38 snubbies can have a sharp unpleasant recoil feel. My wife has one, but I would rather shoot 200 rounds of .45 ACP than shoot 50 rounds through her snubby. She also has a 6" full size revolver that she much prefers to shoot, so when she does practice she will shoot a couple boxes of ammo through her full size revo and then just 10 or 15 through her snubby.

The reason I bring this up is, if your mom is only going to have one gun, you want to be sure it's a gun that is pleasant/enjoyable for her to shoot. If she has just one gun and doesn't like shooting it, that will probably keep her off the range indefinitely.

People will scoff at the power of .32's and .380's and such. But she would be a lot better off with a smaller caliber gun she loves to shoot than a larger gun she never shoots.

 

[Ala Dan]

Agreed~!

that the snub nose revolver in .38 Special would be a wiser choice; unless
she is thoroughly familiar with the pitfalls of a semi-auto~!

 

[Linda]

Take her to a range that rents guns and let her shoot several different models in different calibers. And then....

LET HER PICK HER OWN GUN!

You are assuming she will purse carry. Chances are high that she will be smart enough to know that is the worst possible way to carry a gun.

Snubbies are not fun to shoot! Plain and simple. Don't underestimate Mom in thinking she wouldn't want a semi. If she is going to purse carry, she MUST have an external safety on that firearm. And she should carry the highest caliber gun that she can comfortably handle (meaning it should start with a 9 or a 4).

 

[btg3]

Some shooting is in order before making a purchase decision.

Also, when shooting various handguns, help her to realize that smaller/lighter handguns generally work against managing recoil. Maybe she already knows this?

 

[Super Trucker]

If her purse gets stolen then somebody will have a free gun! On body carry would be a better option.

 

[Elgin47]

LET HER PICK HER OWN GUN!

I agree 100% - might be the most important thing you do. That way, she has ownership in not only the sidearm but more importantly in the buying decision - attitude isn't everything in handling/shooting a handgun safely and well, but it does matter.

I would agree as well that if she's going to practice - a lot (and I'm not suggesting she won't) that a semi-auto starting with a "9" or a "4" (preferably a "4") would be just the ticket.

On the other hand, if for whatever reason(s) she can't/doesn't/isn't able to practice quite a bit; I think I'd be inclined to go the revolver route. Simpler, never (OK, almost never - less often than a semi-auto anyway) fails to operate. My wife has a stainless J-frame (640 hammerless) .38/.357+P with good rubber grips that isn't real punishing to shoot/practice - especially with .38 ammo. AND it's small and handy enough to carry in her pocket, purse or holster - the gun you left at home because it was too much of a hassle to carry isn't much good - unless you're at home....

Like a lot of stuff mostly a matter of personal preferences and trade-offs -- again the best reason to be helpful, and "let her pick her own gun!".

FWIW -

 

[Aguila Blanca]

+1 on "Let her pick her own gun." You may advise, but ultimately the choice should be hers.

The Makarov is a good pistol, but for your mother it's a lousy choice. It fires the 9x18 round, which is longer than a .380 ACP (a.k.a. 9mm Kurz) and shorter than a 9mm Parabellum. Ammo in 9x18 isn't anywhere near as universally available as 9mm or .380, and it's more expensive. That means it'll cost more for Mom to practice, and I hope she'll practice.

I'm a semi-auto person, myself, but for a novice I have to agree that a revolver is probably a better choice. Revolvers are more reliable, in general.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

If she has to use it for self-defense she won't notice the noise or the flash!

The 38 snubnose would be an excellent choice. But as has been said, "let her make the choice" after handling and if possible shooting a number of different types and calibers.

 

[WaltonS]

Yeah, Grizzly has a point. But the autos might be worth a look, I still stand behind my Beretta suggestion. 8 shells is better than 6, even if they are weaker. Chances are she'd be at a range where nearly anything is sufficient to incapacitate or kill.

 

[BobbyQuickdraw]

The Glock 26, in my experience, is not a good fit for people with small hands (women) or people with larger hands. It's too thick for small hands and not long enough for big hands. But if she likes it, go for it.

I'm in the revolver camp. Have her shoot a few at different lengths (3.5in barrel is nice) and she what she likes. 38spcl has a lot of good defensive rounds available and is my gut reaction.

Also, if the gun is just for defense and she doesn't want to make a hobby of shooting that particular gun, I don't see a problem with a snub nosed or anything that is loud and has some kick. As long as she is comfortable with it shooting it 6 times in a short period of time, that's probably adequate for her defensive needs.

 

[WaltonS]

Please do tell us what she decides on.