Help with suggestions for Wife's first pistol.

[trackaddict88]

I don't have any idea what she will like but I would like to be able to offer suggestions. A .22 she likes really needs to happen for skills, and will, the same day. At least .32 ACP as it will be a SD/HD gun. I already have a Glock 17 & 26 and she can't rack the slide, yet (We are working on it). She is small and doesn't have a lot of hand strength. She couldn't pull a DA revolver trigger at the shop without both hands and looking ridiculous. HELP!

 

[GRIZ22]

You should take your wife to the gun shop and let her pick it. I was a LE firearms instructor and I never met anyone who couldn't handle a DA revolver with a little hand strengthening exercises. Get those hand grips and have her squeeze them as many times as she can several times a day. You can do the same with a rubber ball. It doesn't take long to see results with this. If she is serious about wanting to be able to shoot she's going to have to work at it.

A trick you can try is have her push forward with her gun hand and back on the slide at the same time.

If she has that much a problem pulling a DA trigger how does she handle recoil?

She is better off with a 22 she can handle well than anything else she can't fully operate.

Beretta Tomcat 32 has a tip up barrel so no slide racking is needed but if she has a malfunction she'll need to clear it.

 

[trackaddict88]

Handle a DA revolver isn't quite the same as being able to get off a well aimed shot in less than 2 seconds. She is trying so hard to pull the trigger that aiming well is out of the question. An auto w/ a safety is what I am hoping for. I don't want to pick it out, I just want to be able to help if asked. What has a weaker slide spring than a Glock? 12 ga pump, I know, it's an option.

We are going to the range before we buy and renting a few-and taking my MKII.

Thanks Griz for the slide tips. Hopefully she will believe someone else!

 

[Marcus L.]

My wife couldn't rack the slides on my autos when she first tried. However, with time and practice she could do it just fine. Depending on whether your wife would do it, getting some hand workout puddy like "Power Puddy" will also improve her hand strength.

Take a look at a Sig p239 9mm. It has a good amount of slide mass to absorb recoil, therefore it doesn't need a real stiff recoil spring and is easier to rack. Combine that with standard pressure 147gr loads and it is quite controllable as well. It would be of significant advantage for your wife to learn to use a full sized service caliber like the 9mm.

 

[benderx4]

Beretta Tomcat 32 (INOX)

Recoil is minimal, gun has a safety, and most importantly, with the tip-up barrel, she doesn't have to rack the slide.

 

[speedsix]

There is only one answer to this question. Let her shoot as many handguns as you can get your hands on. She will tell you which ones she likes and doesn't like. There is no other way.

I went through this with my wife and I tried to pick the perfect gun for her. I bought her several guns of all types thinking she would like what I picked for her. The guns she likes surprised me as with the guns she didn't like.

I have been getting her into shooting for years. What she has decided she likes are my Sig 225 (now her's) and my Beretta 21a (also now her's). I was surprised at how much she likes the SIG 225. She can shoot that better than any of the other guns I bought for her including Ruger MK-II, Walther P-22, Browning Buckmark, and Bersa 22lr. She says it fits her great and she is really good with it.

Some of the guns I bought for her thinking I knew better: Bersa .22lr, Walther PPK, CZ-70, S&W 642, Glock 26. She didn't care for any of them. There are some good guns in that list but that doesn't mean your wife will like them.

You got to first let her handle as many guns as you can and then after you limit it down to a few, let her shoot them and see what she thinks. Don't limit her to guns you like because she will have her own opinions based on things you may not consider. For one thing, my wife only likes all black guns. No SS or olive drab for her. She doesn't like any revolvers so they are right out the window. I am a revolver nut and thought the 642 was the perfect gun for her. She carries the little Beretta 21a instead. What can I do?

 

[glockman19]

I just bought my wife a Bersa Thunder .380. She likes my Ruger MkIII Hunter, doesn't liek the recoil on my S&W j-frames and also has issues racking the slide on my Glock 19 & 26 too.

I will also be picking up a Beretta Tomcat INOX in .32ACP just in case she likes it better.

 

[magnumman44]

My wife loved my XD45, but hated the recoil and thought it was kinda thick. The XD9 fit her fine, and the 5" has no felt recoil(in her words!). It is a bit large for CC, but she handles it in a specially made purse. Not ideal for everyone, but it works well for her.

 

[mljdeckard]

Pretty much any adult is strong enough to rack the slide of an auto. It's just that some people aren't used to using one that way, it's not like any other task they use those muscles for. Have her hold the pistol, pointing forward, directly in front of her chest. Put the weak hand over the top on the rear of the slide, gripping it on the slide serrations. Now have her PUSH the gun forward with her strong hand, holding the slide to the rear with the weak hand. When she is used to this, she will probably find she can rack it just fine.

Without starting a caliber fight, just remember that small guns are NOT easier to shoot than big guns. Many women look at them and are less intimidated, but they have a bad sight radius, they are harder to grip, and a smaller gun=less mass=MORE FELT RECOIL.

 

[AirForceShooter]

Let her pick.

That is all

AFS

 

[Ignatius]

I think the lightweight S&W or Taurus .38 specials with a crimson trace grip would be ideal for a woman. My wife just doesnt like shooting a semi auto although she tries to shoot all of mine. We have Colt detective special with a 2" barrel and a 5 shot cylinder...she loves that gun! I had to let her pick it in the end and I am pleased that she likes shooting it. When I am away I know that she has a weapon close by that she is confident using...thats all I can hope for and woe be to the bad guy who kicks in the door, she is wicked with it!

 

[Majic]

I think the lightweight S&W or Taurus .38 specials with a crimson trace grip would be ideal for a woman.

A lightweight snub nose revolver is the absolute worst choice for a new shooter no matter if they are a man or female. Hard to sight with the short radius and most of them have small sights. Lightweight that allows increased recoil and decreased aiming to some degree. Then add in that bouncing ball of light that shows exactly how bad you are at holding on target and you have big time frustration. That is quite a lot to contend with while learning to shoot.

 

[2ndAmendmentDemocrat]

I agree with speedsix. My wife fired all my handguns, and fell in love with the last one I would have picked for her- My Colt 1911 .45! She is now better than me with it (and I'm no slouch) and is working on getting a CWP for it (she's looking at carry purses and messenger bags. In other words, let the Missus shoot all of yours, all your friends', and all the handguns you can rent.