My wife is wanting her first pistol. Any suggestions on affordable pistols for a very petite woman's first gun? Obviously my wife will be deciding since it's going to be her gun so any suggestions OTHEr than "Let her decide" etc?
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Good first gun for my wife to use?
- Thread starter bryskee
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My suggestion is to not go buy something based on what we think. Take her to the gun shop/range and let her handle and or shoot some until she can make up her on mind what she wants.
Also, visit www.corneredcat.com. Kathy has created the definitive learning center for women about firearms.
Most every decision I have made about what my wife would like to own or shoot has been wrong. On the other hand, when she makes her own decisions, they have been 100% correct, for her.
Also, visit www.corneredcat.com. Kathy has created the definitive learning center for women about firearms.
Most every decision I have made about what my wife would like to own or shoot has been wrong. On the other hand, when she makes her own decisions, they have been 100% correct, for her.
Younggunner
Member
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M1 carbine??? Or to answer your question go to jgsales.com and get a smith and wesson model 64 revolver. It's a 38 spl and it's a 4 inch with a bobber hammer.
rbernie
Contributing Member
Whatever she likes.
Her tastes will change as she shoots, so I'd recommend finding a range that has some rentals and letting her try out as many handguns as possible.
We won't be buying a gun just because someone on a website tells us it is a good one for her but it's nice to have a direction to start. So far she likes my .22 but it's a bit heavy for her, although she had no problem firing a couple hundred rounds today. She's not fond of the glock 9mm because the recoil. Thanks for the suggestions.
bigfatdave
Member
Wise words. Let HER choose, and don't be surprised if it takes a few pistols before she gets one she's comfortable with. This is what rental ranges are for. Or getting a bunch of friends together for free (dry) BBQ, so long as they help make a pile of guns to try out.
Now, as far as practical pistol training goes, I assume you have a few .22 handguns for her to start out on. If you don't, I'd really recommend picking up one or seven. (there are dozens, if not hundreds of "what .22" threads in the archives ... now that I think of it, there are as many "what pistol for new shooter" threads, too)
Now, I can pass on the choices of two women with petite hands I personally know who CC, and their choices. MrsBFD packs a Springfield XD9sc, and is quite proficient with it ... and I recently learned that my mom packs a 2-shot .22mag derringer rather frequently.
(let's not get into that, please, I'm not gun-shopping for mom)
mesinge2
Member
I wanted my girlfriend to buy a Ruger SR9. I figured relatively thin grips for a double stack, lighter recoil, and since she has a hard time loading mags, a large capacity.
She rented one like it fine and then bought a pink Sig mosquito because it was pretty. Hey, for me, lesson learned. Now, she wants to go shooting all the time.
I have no complaints.
The best advice has been said, "let her choose"
She rented one like it fine and then bought a pink Sig mosquito because it was pretty. Hey, for me, lesson learned. Now, she wants to go shooting all the time.
I have no complaints.
The best advice has been said, "let her choose"
DeepSouth
Random Guy
xXxplosive
Member
Kahr CW9............light weight, simple to use, very comfortable grip, almost no recoil, very concealable, accurate out of the box.....overall great little pistol for the price. Would reccomend it to anyone. My wife's buying one.
Are you all kidding me? Really.
Look, my wife likes shooting. She shoots my guns. She wants one for her. She's not sure what to get. She will make the choice because it is she that wants the gun, not me wanting her to get one. Can't you just point someone in a direction? She like's the .22, she doesn't like the 9mm, and no one's forcing her to buy a gun. She doesn't want one for armageddon or self defense. She doesn't want CC permit. She just likes plinkin with me when we go. Relax will ya and just give someone a suggestion please. Dang. It's like pulling teeth here.
Look, my wife likes shooting. She shoots my guns. She wants one for her. She's not sure what to get. She will make the choice because it is she that wants the gun, not me wanting her to get one. Can't you just point someone in a direction? She like's the .22, she doesn't like the 9mm, and no one's forcing her to buy a gun. She doesn't want one for armageddon or self defense. She doesn't want CC permit. She just likes plinkin with me when we go. Relax will ya and just give someone a suggestion please. Dang. It's like pulling teeth here.
WRGADog
Member
My suggestions
See if you can find someone who owns either a S&W J-frame 38 special, Kahr PM9, or Kahr P380 who will let your wife try them.. All are excellent guns, easily concealed, and very reliable. My wife is small and she can handle these three easily.
See if you can find someone who owns either a S&W J-frame 38 special, Kahr PM9, or Kahr P380 who will let your wife try them.. All are excellent guns, easily concealed, and very reliable. My wife is small and she can handle these three easily.
mesinge2
Member
For plinking, a Ruger .22, a Sig Mosquito (my girlfriend loves hers), a Walther P22.
If you have a 1911, you could even buy a conversion kit and make it a .22
If you have a 1911, you could even buy a conversion kit and make it a .22
tasco 74
Member
if she likes .22 cal a ruger mkII is hard to beat..................................
LIFE IS SHORT.....
LIFE IS SHORT.....
xXxplosive
Member
Geeezzz..........was only tryin to help with a suggestion as you requested.
Calm down will ya.
Calm down will ya.
xXx I appreciated the suggestion. I just wasn't looking for "let her decide" (which you did not say). I mean obviously she will decide, it's her gun. She's looking for suggestions because when looking around she'll actually has a clue what to be asking for. So your suggestion along with several others on here are very beneficial and appreciative. Thank you.
orvpark
Member
My wife loves her P22. If you really want her to have fun, get a target style .22 with a red-dot. That and a box of golf balls makes everyone giddy.
She doesn't much care for shooting her snubby .357, but carries it religiously with some low recoil Hydrashock .38's. She only shoots just enough to feel proficient with it.
She doesn't much care for shooting her snubby .357, but carries it religiously with some low recoil Hydrashock .38's. She only shoots just enough to feel proficient with it.
bang_bang
Member
A Ruger or S&W .22 will do the job. In my area, the Ruger runs just a bit higher than the S&W, but both are around the $250-ish mark.
I own a S&W Model 22A...basic version. Shoots wonderful with Federal Bulk pack...going to try some CCI Stingers sometime soon. Great shooting...accurate as hell.
Either will be great pistols...and .22's are slowly seeping back into the market.
I've actually pondered the thought of acquiring a Ruger .22 for my collection.
One day...
I own a S&W Model 22A...basic version. Shoots wonderful with Federal Bulk pack...going to try some CCI Stingers sometime soon. Great shooting...accurate as hell.
Either will be great pistols...and .22's are slowly seeping back into the market.
I've actually pondered the thought of acquiring a Ruger .22 for my collection.
One day...
BullRunBear
Member
My wife is tiny and has small hands. Her two favorite pistols are a Ruger MKII with a 6" bull barrel and a CZ Kadet conversion kit for her CZ 75B 9mm. I thought the 6" Ruger would be muzzle heavy for her but she is very comfortable with it, and damn accurate.
But there can be surprises. I recently helped a young woman pick out a handgun at her father's request. They are a family of rifle shooters but no handguns. The girl is tiny: I doubt she weighs much over a hundred pounds and has small hands. After letting her try my arsenal we visited some guns shops for her to get the feel of a lot of different models. She ended up getting a Ruger GP100 with a 4" barrel. Using 38 specials, she is very comfortable with it.
Over the years I've taught several young women the basics of safety and gun handling. These were college age interns working in my wife's office and most would qualify as petite. I thought they would like the Single-Six or some other 22. They almost all preferred an old Taurus 431 in 44 special with a three inch barrel. (Wish I still had it.) It was a fairly heavy piece but there was something about the balance and grip that worked for them. You never can tell.
Have fun with the search. Time spent around guns is never wasted. And let us know what she ends up with.
Jeff
But there can be surprises. I recently helped a young woman pick out a handgun at her father's request. They are a family of rifle shooters but no handguns. The girl is tiny: I doubt she weighs much over a hundred pounds and has small hands. After letting her try my arsenal we visited some guns shops for her to get the feel of a lot of different models. She ended up getting a Ruger GP100 with a 4" barrel. Using 38 specials, she is very comfortable with it.
Over the years I've taught several young women the basics of safety and gun handling. These were college age interns working in my wife's office and most would qualify as petite. I thought they would like the Single-Six or some other 22. They almost all preferred an old Taurus 431 in 44 special with a three inch barrel. (Wish I still had it.) It was a fairly heavy piece but there was something about the balance and grip that worked for them. You never can tell.
Have fun with the search. Time spent around guns is never wasted. And let us know what she ends up with.
Jeff
I'm loving the suggestions! I can show her pictures of these types and she figures what she likes so when we DO go to the next gun show she'll have an idea of what to keep her eyes open for. I think I know a few who have a .38 she can try. Her main thing is recoil. She is not comfortable with that aspect of shooting yet so we're trying to start her small like the .22. I really appreciate all the suggestions! I showed her some pictures so she has an idea and she really likes the look of the Ruger MkII and some others listed here so when we go looking for one, she'll be asking about those to start to see how she likes the feel etc.
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pleeds
Member
After having my darlin' try the Colt Pony .380, Beretta Cheetah 85 in .380, S & W AirLite PD .38, Glock 26 9mm, Glock 19 9mm, Glock 30SF .45, and a Turus model 66, 4' barrel, in .357, she shocked me by preferring the Tarus .357 shooting .38 Specials. Goes to show you.....
My wife, too, has small hands. She held my pistols and pronounced them heavy and awkward, so I didn't have much hope of her becoming a shooter.
One Thanksgiving, coming home from a family thing in Reno, we stopped by Sportsman's Warehouse. We ended up at the gun counter (Who'd'a thunk??) and I spotted a small Ruger revolver and asked the gun guy to see it. We checked it out for a few minutes then moved on.
When we finally got out to the car, she said, "Well, you've finally done it." Instant review of the weekend, what'd I do--not easy when alcohol is involved--then she continued, "You finally put a gun in my hand that I actually LIKE."
That gun was a Ruger Bearcat. They were not to be found at sportsman's through the Christmas season and into the new year. We finally decided to look for used and found an old model in the box at my favorite pawnbroker. A little cleaning and we had a beautiful (blue and walnut with brass triggerguard) little gun that she could handle. She loves to shoot it.
If you can find one of these, I highly suggest it. One thing about a single action, it probably won't go full auto on you!
ed
One Thanksgiving, coming home from a family thing in Reno, we stopped by Sportsman's Warehouse. We ended up at the gun counter (Who'd'a thunk??) and I spotted a small Ruger revolver and asked the gun guy to see it. We checked it out for a few minutes then moved on.
When we finally got out to the car, she said, "Well, you've finally done it." Instant review of the weekend, what'd I do--not easy when alcohol is involved--then she continued, "You finally put a gun in my hand that I actually LIKE."
That gun was a Ruger Bearcat. They were not to be found at sportsman's through the Christmas season and into the new year. We finally decided to look for used and found an old model in the box at my favorite pawnbroker. A little cleaning and we had a beautiful (blue and walnut with brass triggerguard) little gun that she could handle. She loves to shoot it.
If you can find one of these, I highly suggest it. One thing about a single action, it probably won't go full auto on you!
ed
gidaeon
Member
in .22 handgun for fun - Ruger mkii\iii, a browning Buckmark, or an colt woodsman are king. for more money s&w 41.
I like my ruger mkiii target bull barrel. Reasonable price, good gun built strong. My wife shoots it sometimes and took a class with it.
I like my ruger mkiii target bull barrel. Reasonable price, good gun built strong. My wife shoots it sometimes and took a class with it.
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