From the mouths of babes... (wife and gun story)

[ddc]

My wife and I are starting to look at what handguns might be appropriate for her. She has very little firearms experience and zero with handguns.

While I'm trying to give her a broad overview of caliber choices and revolver vs. autoloader trade-offs and discussing what sort of handgun she might be comfortable with for self defence she drops this pearl of wisdom:

"Well if I'm ever going to have to shoot someone I don't want to have to poke a bunch of little holes in them with a .22 or something like that. I want it to be something that makes them know they've been shot."

Now that is from someone who has never read an article in a gun magazine or perused a forum such as thehighroad or had a argument about some concept called "stopping power".

I think it shows a lot of insight into how things work in the real world.

That's my girl, I think I'll keep her.

 

[1911Ron]

Something that might help is to go to a range and rent several guns and see what she thinks also use a .22 pistol to get her used to a pistol.
P.S Good to see that there is some folks that can form an opinion with out all the hype muddying up the water.

 

[R.H. Lee]

 

[paddykern]

I love reading the debates about 9mm vs 40cal vs 45cal. I just shrug and vow to keep my 9mm.

Now I have been convinced to move to a 45 and by someone that doesn't know a thing about it.

 

[Preacherman]

I think it shows a lot of insight into how things work in the real world.

She's not mad at you, is she?

 

[Standing Wolf]

I want it to be something that makes them know they've been shot.

Concise, precise, and polite: what more could you ask for?

 

[ddc]

Standing Wolf:
I agree, very consise and to the point. She's dropped a number of those gems on me over the years. The last one prior to this was "all those guns in the safe aren't going to do me much good when they're down in the basement and I'm up here."

Preacherman:
Mad at me? My wife? Nah, when she's mad at me I know it. She's half Italian and half French.

Paddy:
Makes you think, eh? I'm pretty much a 9mm guy myself. Next time she wants to shoot my ParaOrd P13 .45.

1911Ron:
We did just that a couple weeks ago.

Started out with a rented S&W 617 .22 revolver.

Then she tried my 686+ loaded with generic .38 special ball. Commented that the gun was "big" and the trigger pull was "long". Recoil was not an issue (I was happy to see).

Then she tried my HiPower with S&B 115grain ball. Liked the trigger a lot better and recoil still not an issue.

Asked her if she wanted to shoot the .22 again. Not interested. Didn't want to go back to the 686, wanted to shoot the HiPower some more; I'm ok with that.

Problem with the HiPower racking the slide. She can do it but she said she would hate to have to do it under stress. (I think with practice she'd be ok; if she wanted to be)

So any suggestions for a 9mm autoloader that has a slide that is a little easier to rack than the HiPower?

I also think that with a little practice the "long" trigger pull of the revolver is something she'll adapt to. Maybe a S&W 65 Ladysmith. A little smaller frame than the 686+ with a shorter barrel won't seem so "big". (Heck, I've been thinking of picking up one of those for me.)

So, I guess I'll start searching all the threads for appropriate suggestions for a sidearm for her, this has to be a subject that gets a lot of exposure.

 

[Strings]

My wife occassionally has problems with the slides on our 1911's, had some trouble with her USP 40c, never had a single problem with the Beretta 92...

 

[ACP230]

Beretta has a .380, I think it's the M84, that has a barrel that tips up to load the first round. Racking the slide is not required, just load the barrel, load a mag and you're good to go. It's not a 9mm Para, but you might take a look at it.

The same system is used in the .22 caliber M21. I have a M21 and it works quite well for a small pistol.

 

[mustanger98]

Well, here's a though: if she likes 1911's and she likes 9mm Luger better than .45acp, she might want to look at a Springfield Armory 1911A1

9MM Service ModelPI9134L
Caliber: 9mm
Capacity: 9+1
Barrel: 5"
Sights: Fully Adjustable Target
Sight Radius: 7"
Size: 39 ozs., 8.5" overall length
Trigger Pull: 5 to 6 lbs.
Magazines: 2
MSRP: $923

or for something less pricey, she might like a Star Model B or B Super which are Spanish service pistols of the 1911 type in 9mm Luger. I've heard they function and perform quite well.

Oh, and while Beretta maybe be a good serviceable peice according to some, no way would I recommend the tip-up barrel models. The ones I've looked at didn't look to be so hot.

The difficulty in racking the slide may be effected by the angle an individual tries it from. I'm not the strongest guy in the gym, but I get it done. I use a combination of the overhand and slingshot method and it works real well for me. I wished I'd known that one when I was a kid because I thought they were tough back then, too.

 

[Stand_Watie]

Based on what I've seen on human sized animals (mostly hogs) keeping on moving after they should be dead by Hollywood standards I'm of the opinion that the difference between a person thinking "Oh I'm shot, call an ambulance" or not thinking at all and continuing agression towards you is largely psychological.

I think your wife is right that all other things being equal, a better stopper is a large gun (volume wise) that makes a big bang is better than a little gun that doesn't, even if ballistics are identical.

 

[nhhillbilly]

It might be how she is trying to rack the slide. Most people just pulll back with their weak hand. With females when they push out with thier gun hand and pull with their weak hand at the same time can rack just about any handgun. I find this works all the time. THey might have to rotate their body about 15 degrees to keep the handgun pointed down range.

 

[MAURICE]

Star model b without the magazine safety and making the mags drop free makes for a fun gun. Buddy has one that is a blast to shoot, and is cheaper to feed that my 1991a1.

 

[tex_n_cal]

to rack an autoloader slide, have her hold both arms straight, then pivot her shoulders to draw back the slide. That usually works even with petite ladies.

 

[fistful]

Now's when you suggest a REALLY BIG GUN. .500 Mag, or whatever you want. When she figures out it's a terrible self-defense gun, you have an excuse to buy another gun. Maybe get something a little lighter, like a .44 Mag, and by the time she settles on a .40, you've got at least 3 new guns in the household. Beautiful.

Don't thank me, I'm just happy knowing I've helped a fellow gun nut outsmart the wife.

 

[bobby68]

I bought my wife a ladysmith 357 and she likes it. It was her first gun. I also bough myself the 686 both so we could shoot the same ammo and because i've wanted a 357 myself. She hasn't fired the 686 and i haven't fired the ladysmith so i cant' say how the compare. I pulled them both out and the triggers seem to be comparable to me.

I'd recommend the ladysmith for a lot of reasons that i've seen other people put forward (ease and simplicity of revolver, S&W quality, ladysmith size, 357 power, 38 to practice with). But of course the final decision should be a personal preference.

 

[Strings]

fistful: that probably wouldn't work with my Spoon. She gets a gun, she tends to keep it. *I* get a gun, *she* tends to keep it. Gotten to the point they aren't really *mine*, until it's time to clean 'em...

 

[Kramer Krazy]

My wife shot a bunch of different handguns and preferred the autoloaders and really liked my father's S&W 5906. We found her a great deal on a slightly used 5903 over the weekend. As for racking a slide, if she has any problems with a gun, like my one Colt 1911, she cocks the hammer back. This makes it easier for her to rack the slide, but it all depends on the gun's design.

I usually just grab the rear of the slide with my weaker left hand, as the gun is facing down range, but it is actually a little easier for some people to grab the slide with their elbow pointing down range and racking the slide in an opposite motion as opening a potato chip bag (both hands going toward the oposite arm's elbow). It all depends on what the person is comfortable with.

 

[Remington788]

Like others have said, work with her on how to rack the slide and any autooader will do. My wife has a G17 and at first had trouble racking a round, but once I worked with her a little, she had no problem.

 

[ddc]

Thanks for the feedback on the various slide racking techniques.

We tried several of them and I agree with Remington788 and the rest of you that this is something she can handle.

I did forget the trick about thumbing the hammer back; we'll add that to the "technique arsenal".

It's as much (or more) a technique issue, or a familiarization issue, than it is a raw strenght issue.

Thanks again.

 

[Rickstir]

When my wife (who never held a gun, let alone fired one) told her mother she was going to learn to shoot, the MIL said "aim for the groin".
I always tread lightly around my mother-in-law.

 

[fistful]

Excuse me, Hunter Rose. Your Spoon?

 

[Strings]

Sorry Fistful... she's on here, and that's the handle she uses. SWMBO...

 

[71Commander]

Just remember that a hit with a .22 is better than a miss with a .45.

PS. I carry a .45

 

[cowboy]

Sti

My wife had the same problem, our fix was.
STI Trojan in 9mm with the light recoil master. It made it so easy to rack the slide, that I just had to have one also. About 5000 rounds and no problem with the recoil master. She is taking it to Gun Sight in Feb. Also the CZ has a very easy slide to rack, that is what she had first.
Keith