Handgun for the wife.

[usnavymasterchief]

Age old question that probably has been broached here many times, "What's a good handgun for the wife?"
My wife really isn't all that much into guns and hates large pistols because she has very small hands also most of the snubby revos are too big.
I have a couple of questions for those of you who are more handgun knowledgeable than me, which will be just about all of you. Please keep in mind these are self defense "close-in" questions and not long range target stuff. Also it has to be a purse gun.
1. Which round is ballistically stronger, .22mag or .25 auto?
2. The following are guns I already own. I have a P-32 Kel-Tec which carries 8 rounds and is about 98% reliable but occasionally will FTE and a rare rim lock with JHP's. I also have a Berretta mod 950, .25 which carries 9 rounds and runs 100% with no malfunctions. Both are marginal to say the least, but the Berretta seems to me to be the best choice. My personal carry guns are a Glock 33 or a Kel-Tec P-11 which are like rocks in her purse and too big for her.
I am willing to listen to any and all suggestions. By the way, the NAA Guardian .380 has too stiff trigger action and is very heavy for it's size. And Seecamps are too expensive.

 

[Edward429451]

In previous threads on the subject the Sig P239 is always reccommended several times. Worth a look.

 

[WT]

Well Master Chief, my wife, a Golden Shellback, loves her Smith Model 60 revolver and Glock 26 auto. However, you have a different situation.

I suggest going with reliability over caliber. The .25 Beretta may not have much power but like you said it is reliable.

Secondly it's an easy firearm to carry and conceal.

Thirdly, controllability should be good and when the SHTF, good shot placement counts.

Most importantly, she has to feel comfortable with it. That is super critical. If it isn't right for her, she won't carry it.

So in summary: Reliability+carryability+concealability+controllability+confidence = the right gun.

The Beretta.

 

[L Frame]

Just by reading the post title..I would have thought that to be an excellent trade !!! What variety of handgun did you get lol.

My wife just loves her (once was mine) Sig228. She has more control with it in her smaller hands than I ever did.

 

[usnavymasterchief]

If your interested in a slim and trim 62 year old who is a great cook, I'll take your Sig 228 Or a Colt 1911.

Guess I shoulda proof read the title a little better, but what the hell, I'll trade for your Sig.

 

[larryw]

Unless she practices clearing drills on a frequent basis, the 100% reliable gun is the only real choice, IMO.

Is a 25 a good defensive round? A 25 in the purse beats a 357 left home every time.

 

[usnavymasterchief]

Good point Larry, that's exactly how I see it.

 

[Sean Smith]

Get her what she wants, not what you think you she should have.

 

[G Man.40]

Tell her to try a Glock 19 or 26

 

[usnavymasterchief]

I've got a Glock 33, same size and weight as the 26, too big. Guns with double stack mags have large grips.
One she does like is a Llama Mimi Max .380 but a POS IMHO.

 

[Waitone]

Take her to a range that rents and let her shoot her way throught the rack. My wife and daughter did so. My wife picked for SD a Taurus PT-22. She was physically unable to rack an auto so the PT-22 with its tilt up barrel and the overall size was the deciding point.

My daughter liked a full size 1911 but realized it would be a challenge to conceal. She settled on a Bersa .380. Sweet shooter, light, reliable, reasonable price, and concealable.

Neither is what the experts would consider adequate. Both are perfect when carried.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

Try the single stack polymer kahrs.


have her shoot bunches of guns and have her pick the one she likes the best.

 

[Newton]

Jusging by your initial questions about .22Mag and .25ACP it sounds like your wife really wants a super small weapon that is easy to use above all other considerations.

If this is true even the superb P239 9mm is out, as are the Kahrs and Glock 26.

That leaves you with the pocket pistols, .22LR and .25ACP are just plain inadequate, .22Mag is very loud and whilst it's effective, it can be a handful in a tiny revolver.

I would recommend the P32, but if the one you have isn't totally reliable that may not be the best choice either. Only have the chambered round as a JHP, and make it a Corbon, the rest are pitiful (Gold Dot, Hydrashok, Hornady etc) load the mag with hot FMJ (Sellier & Bellot or Fiocchi) to minimize rimlock and see if this improves reliability.

In my opinion, the P32 was designed with women in mind.

Newton

 

[usnavymasterchief]

NEWTON, Great advise on type of ammo to use in the P32, I believe that's the way I'll go. Thanks very much. John W.

 

[cslinger]

Hows about a Beretta Tom/Ally/Bobcat Lion Tiger and bears oh my whatever they are called. Anyway what I am getting at is.

They have a .380 model with the tip up barrel that is very small, no need to rack the slide if that is an issue, reliable and packs a pretty decent round if loaded hot.

Based on the .22/.25. I have always heard any centerfire ammo is much more reliable then a rimfire counterpart. .25 is awfully small though.

Chris

 

[benewton]

All of your owned weapons appear to be semiauto, and, with an unpracticed shooter, that makes reliability the first thing. Too, she has to have it with her, else it's useless.

My favorite female will carry, and sometimes practice with, the Berretta .22. I did pick the caliber, .22 LR, because it's better than the .25 in any measureable performance.

We have other choices, ranging from the .22 up to .45 ACP, plus the usual rifles and shotties, but she's not really a self protection type person: I am, after all, the hubbie, and that's my problem.

If she'll take the .25, go for it, since you'll have her with nothing at all if you force the issue.

But, as I've told mine, recomment that she point it at the face, using sights, and fire until she hears clicks.

 

[XavierBreath]

Master Chief
My wife packs a Kahr K40. It's an excellent pistol. A 9mm Kahr will suffice if the recoil is to much. My wife says the weight lets her know it's there. I guess that's an advantage of a heavier pistol.

Good shot placement is often negated by fear and trembling hands. Caliber is important. Working in ERs, I have seen many gunshot wounds. A .25 ACP just doesn't cut it as a defensive round. I have seen .25 rounds buried under the skin tissue after failing to penetrate the skull. A .380 seems to be minimum to get a crackhead's attention, and a 9mm is better.

If the wife isn't really a gun kind of gal, then a .357 revolver loaded with .38spl would likely be the ticket. They are really making some light ones. I haven't used one, but many people swear by Makarovs. You might want to look into them. In my opinion though, a Kahr is an ideal weapon for a slim woman who can maintain a weapon. It's a good one for a fellow too. Just try to get her to carry it on her person instead of the purse.

Xavier
VFA 151
USS Midway

 

[telomerase]

.25 acp ammo

I've shot lots of snakes and rats with .25. Magsafe or Glaser rounds kill better, they raise the .25 into the range of... the .22 Stinger. These rounds cost more, but the (Beretta 950) .25 is more reliable than an average small .22 auto.

Other than power, the 950's failing is carry mode. Is she going to remember to cock the hammer and make sure the microscopic safety is off? (This is why people have PT-25s [tho it still has a thumb safety], snubbies, Sigs, Glocks, etc....) If she can operate the weapon under stress, great. Otherwise you might consider the Smith .32 snubs, loaded with .32 Long (at least for practice, with frangibles for duty).

 

[pax]

Given all the constraints you describe, I'd recommend fixing your P32, and loading it with Cor-Bon ammo.

pax

So the man (we are not making this up) shot the washer five times with a .25-caliber revolver. We know what you're thinking. You're thinking: ''What a MORON! Bullets that small are only going to annoy a major appliance, possibly causing it to go berserk and threaten innocent people!'' Good point. We ourselves have seen a washing machine, with no provocation, shake its way violently halfway across a room. – Dave Barry

 

[Johnny Guest]

I'm still thinking the P32 - - -

My current P32 has been 100% reliable with every kind of FMJ ammo I've tried in it. This is more than i can say for the various JHP ammo. I gave it a lot of thought and decided that reliability and penetration is more important than some fancied advantages of HP ammo. I don't want to start an argument here--This is my personal decision.

That said, my wife has pretty well taken over my P32 for every day use, ALMOST to the exclusion of her P11. Both have the belt clip installed, and while she usually carries in a pocket, she has other options.

Amusing anecdote: She does a newspaper route in the wee hours of the morning. She told me she recalled she'd left the P32 in the house night before last, so she got the P11 from my car. She was wearing elastic waistband shorts and the P11 was too heavy. I said, "Why didn't you . . . ." She interrupted and continued, "So I just clipped it to the side of my bra." She thinks this is a pretty good "shoulder holster" rig.

As stated by others, better a small gun on her person than a High Power in the purse or a .45 in the glove box.

Best,
Johnny
Contemplating the P3AT

 

[Rich357]

Before your wife buys a pistol I suggest she take a basic defensive handgun class. Usually they are held at ranges where they rent handguns. It would give her some good training and she may change her mind about getting a tiny pistol. Unless it is a second or third backup piece.

Your wife needs something that will effectively stop a bad guy.

If she must have a small pistol the Beretta Tomcat .32auto is reliable (at least mine is reliable).

Good luck,
Rich

 

[AirPower]

Start her off with a .22LR rifle, and then to a .22LR handgun. if she wants to stop there, that's good enough really. But if she wants to keep on going, either go to .380 or the 9mm. Of course that's a leap that some women just won't make it through. I know, I've tried.

 

[only1asterisk]

Chief,

My wife used to hate guns, but that was then.
Now my wife shoots everything from 22lr to 44 mag. I have also seen people with really small hands handle full size pistols and revolvers, the issue is desire to overcome the difficulty.

1. How are the small revolvers, Glock and p11 too big? Is it trigger reach? Grip diameter? Recoil? Flash/Noise? Weight?

A. What does she "like" to shoot?

2. Have you tried the Kahr series?

3. Do you reload?

4. Although I agree with those that say a little gun is better than no gun, there is no reason to go smaller than a 32 ACP. Does you wife like either the Beretta or Kel Tec 32?

5. Has your wife ever been shooting with other women? Lots of times I will tell my wife things, only to have her wait to believe them until she hears it from a female. The suggestions to have attend a training class, esp. a all female class is a good one.

This may seem like a lot, but getting your wife to carry is a big thing, I wish you the best of luck.


Dave

 

[Coot]

That's easy: S&W 642 or 642LS (.38 Spec +P, 14.5 oz for the latter), and LOTS of practice at the range.

Good luck!

 

[Ky Larry]

My wife carries my .38 Colt Detective Special. She says she likes it because she doesn't have to bother with a safety. I had to take the Hogue grips off and put the stock wooden grips back on it. You wife will be trusting her life to this weapon so she should pick what she feels comfortable with. I pray she lives many more years and never has occasion to use it.