Conceal carry for the wife?

[joneb]

I'm sure this has been gone over and over here but... after initial training with 22lr handguns she graduated to a S&W M-10 w/a 6" barrel and did well with SA and DA fire with standard 38 spl. Then went to a 2" Taurus m-85 and a 1 7/8" S&W m-36 and she did well with those. These two snubs for me are well suited for conceal carry but they both weight in at over 21 oz unloaded. I'm thinking something lighter that would be more likely carried. She is LEFT handed
My thoughts so far for a revolver are a Ruger lcr or lcrx 13.5 oz or a S&W 638 or 642 15 oz.
Of the semi auto options in this weight class the pistols are getting small and maybe difficult to shoot? Moving into the 17-18oz range there seems to be some good options the Sig 238 and the S&W M&P bodyguard seem like good options.
I'm right handed so any input from left handers would be welcome.

 

[94045]

LCR/LCRx with .38 Spl Wadcutters
Lowest Recoil, Effective Bullet Shape, 14" of Penetration.

LCR/LCRx with .38 Spl Fed HST Micro 130 gr (Modest Recoil)

LCR/LCRx with 9mm Fed HST Micro 150 gr
(Modest Recoil)

LCR/LCRx with 9mm Fed HST Std Press 124 gr (Snappy)

My little sister went through the same thing and chose to simply go with a larger pistol in a mild caliber.

Shield .380 EZ with Critical Defense 90 gr FTX (This round sometimes under penetrates in short barrels but the petals fold back at higher velocity resulting in deeper penetration with longer barrels).

She is considering transitioning to the Shield 9EZ now that it's available.

I don't find any of the small .380 at all pleasant to shoot. Would much rather shoot my .45 Shield.

 

[.455_Hunter]

My wife is not a "gun person" and wanted nothing to do with semi-autos. She is completely capable, competent and effective with her 60's vintage Colt platform guns (Police Positive for HD and Agent for carry). Also, some women DO want their husbands to pick their gun for them- mine sure did.

 

[joneb]

My wife is not a "gun person" and wanted nothing to do with semi-autos. She is completely capable, competent and effective with her 60's vintage Colt platform guns (Police Positive for HD and Agent for carry). Also, some women DO want their husbands to pick their gun for them- mine sure did.

You are confirming my gut feeling, I now carry a Sig 938 Legion mostly but I've carried a J frame sized revolver off and on for almost thirty years and they have been a flawless no brainer point and shoot gun.
Thanks

 

[JERRY]

LCR .22 Magnum. 6 shots, J frame sized, lowest recoil. or the same gun with all the same attributes but in .327 mag loaded with .32 S&W.

 

[joneb]

LCR .22 Magnum. 6 shots, J frame sized, lowest recoil. or the same gun with all the same attributes but in .327 mag loaded with .32 S&W.

That is a interesting option, I do reload but not for 32 cal but I can fix that. I have shot a short barreled 22 mag. and it is one loud mofoe.
My carry load for a 38 spl snub is a 148gr WC flat base, the 32 cal does intrigue me.
My wife does hike and run and a cougar threat is not out of this picture. I am afraid any gun to heavy or bulky will not be carried. I understand a ideal way to holster or carry the weapon will be very important.

 

[stonebuster]

The LCR is supposed to have a very nice trigger from all the reading I've done. It's light and easy to CC but will be snappier than a gun with more weight. Hiking and Cougars considered, I'd want something heavier and 357 capable like at least a K frame 357/38. Paired with the right holster a K frame should be good for hiking. The LCR is relatively inexpensive so maybe a LCR for CC and a K frame 357 for hiking.

 

[Paul Toms]

My wife carries a M&P9c. It was her first gun and she says it's still her favorite, despite many additions to her collection since. She frequently loans it to other women shooters at the range, & they all also claim to like it. Just my tuppence.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I'm sure this has been gone over and over here but... after initial training with 22lr handguns she graduated to a S&W M-10 w/a 6" barrel and did well with SA and DA fire with standard 38 spl. Then went to a 2" Taurus m-85 and a 1 7/8" S&W m-36 and she did well with those. These two snubs for me are well suited for conceal carry but they both weight in at over 21 oz unloaded. I'm thinking something lighter that would be more likely carried. She is LEFT handed
My thoughts so far for a revolver are a Ruger lcr or lcrx 13.5 oz or a S&W 638 or 642 15 oz.
Of the semi auto options in this weight class the pistols are getting small and maybe difficult to shoot? Moving into the 17-18oz range there seems to be some good options the Sig 238 and the S&W M&P bodyguard seem like good options.
I'm right handed so any input from left handers would be welcome.

I'm surprised that no one has said this yet but if you want your wife to actually carry the gun you need to let her pick it out.

 

[Zendude]

If she likes revolvers, the Charter Arms Southpaw has the cylinder release on the correct side for left handed shooters.

 

[GEM]

corneredcat.com is a good reference. Best thing is to find a female friendly training class. Since the OP is in Oregon, look up
https://firearmsacademy.com/. Seattle isn't that far.

Look for folks like https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/understanding-and-training-the-female-shooter

Male hardware advice from random posters without serious instructor creds isn't the best starting point. As with anyone, good training trumps the usual hardware discussion. Good training is more that just shooting at the square range.

 

[George P]

SHE needs to shoot these and see; the lighter the gun, the more vicious the recoil. In a semi, have her try the SIG 365 and the S&W Shield; both are not unpleasant to shoot and carry more ammo

 

[herrwalther]

You will always be wrong when it comes to her firearm of choice. I recommended my wife carry a PPK/s, she didn't like it, too heavy. She ended up carrying a Bersa Thunder (almost direct copy) for a few years. She also really likes my 1911 and her Beretta M9 service pistol. But her Taurus M327 revolver (26oz) was too heavy for her. Go to a range that offers rentals, and let her shoot whatever she wants. Go from there.

 

[George P]

You will always be wrong when it comes to her firearm of choice. I recommended my wife carry a PPK/s, she didn't like it, too heavy. She ended up carrying a Bersa Thunder (almost direct copy) for a few years. She also really likes my 1911 and her Beretta M9 service pistol. But her Taurus M327 revolver (26oz) was too heavy for her. Go to a range that offers rentals, and let her shoot whatever she wants. Go from there.

Yep, for years my wife thought my G26 was hers. Then I got a SIG P365 and thought she might like it so I bought a second. Lo and behold, she likes that better than the G26 and an older Beretta WWII 380 she had gotten from her dad. If you don't pick their shoes or lingerie, don't pick their gun

 

[Thibaut]

I am curious that she is left handed and wonder if she would need an ambidextrous gun for carry. Is she left eye and hand dominant? It is something I have not really thought about before until reading this. Good luck.

 

[doubleh]

Here we go again with the husband making the choice of what gun his wife needs. LET her decide. After all it is HER gun and SHE has to like it, not YOU.

Put the shoe on the other foot and let her make your carry gun, or any other gun for that matter, choice for you. How's that situation going to fly?

 

[GEM]

That's about it. A person (male or female) needs good training. Random folks who are not experienced trainers with females offer hardware solutions that aren't really useful. A few shots at the square range isn't a good evaluation.

I see no use in continuing a list of firearms.

Closed.