Looking for a good first handgun for the wife. Looking for something that will be comfortable to shoot and has to have a good single action trigger. She loves shooting my Ruger sp101 with 38s single action, hates shooting it double action. I recently acquired a Ruger lc9 in a trade and she cannot stand the long trigger pull. So I have been thinking possibly a compact 9mm 1911? Maybe another revolver in 38? Thoughts? Weight is not much of an issue as it will mostly be a fun range/night stand gun but she has smallish hands.
House/purse carry gun for wife
- Thread starter SVTOhio
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Vern Humphrey
Member
I carry a Colt Detective Special when I carry a revolver for SD. You can find them for sale at fairly reasonable prices on the internet.
MachIVshooter
Member
Take her shopping. Yeah, you might get lucky and buy something she likes, but why chance it? Let her find something that has agreeable ergonomics and trigger pull.
Also, unless she plans on training quite a bit, I'd urge her toward something DA or DAO, not a 1911 or similar that must be carried with safety engaged. Cannot tell you how many times I watched people who thought they were proficient with handguns squeezing on a safetied trigger when that buzzer went in an IDPA or IPSC style course.
Also, unless she plans on training quite a bit, I'd urge her toward something DA or DAO, not a 1911 or similar that must be carried with safety engaged. Cannot tell you how many times I watched people who thought they were proficient with handguns squeezing on a safetied trigger when that buzzer went in an IDPA or IPSC style course.
bluestarlizzard
Member
If she already knows enough about shooting to be playing with your guns, she knows enough to pick out her own if she wants a gun.
If she wants a gun, then she can go shopping for a gun.
If she wants a gun, then she can go shopping for a gun.
bullseye308
Member
Take her out to a few shops and let he handle as many as she can. When she finds one she likes explain to her how it works if she doesn't already know and if she could shoot it first that would be even better. If she is going to use it she needs to pick it out and be happy with it.
Traffer
Member
This may sound absurd, but have her at least handle a good Tokarev 9mm clone. I just got a Norinco 213 and it is very nice to handle because of the thinness.
critter
Member
My wife loves her Ruger LCR .38 DAO. They now make them with a hammer so it can be SA if she prefers.
MedWheeler
Member
Isn't this like the third "gun for my wife" thread started in the last week?
Ironicaintit
Member
Let her have your SP101!
After test driving a slew of different pistols, a stainless, spurless DAO SP101 is what my lady wanted.
Handling, manipulating and firing different pieces is the only real way to see what she will take a liking to.
After test driving a slew of different pistols, a stainless, spurless DAO SP101 is what my lady wanted.
Handling, manipulating and firing different pieces is the only real way to see what she will take a liking to.
Zeke/PA
Member
Do a Smith 638!
Single action? No time for that in a "situation"!
Single action? No time for that in a "situation"!
hamp sandwich
Member
LOL! I'm starting to think they're joking!
jmorris
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They do seem to be pretty common, not sure demographics are right here to offer good choices. Not sure how many I picked out for my wife before she found what she wanted (not even one I considered).
Guess if you had a "life partner" instead of a wife, I might get closer to picking a winner.
Guess if you had a "life partner" instead of a wife, I might get closer to picking a winner.
cc-hangfire
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SVTOhio, you're already catching grief for "picking a gun" for your wife so I won't pile on that. But you mention something that I've become aware of from taking new lady shooters to the range -- weaker hand strength among non-shooters and difficulty with ANY DA/DAO.
So I agree that a 1911 based design isn't a bad choice. My wife is 5'-2", has small hands, and is near 50. She can rack a slide & flip down a thumb safety with no problem, but DA triggers really give her trouble. As she ages, hand strength isn't going to get better either (joint issues starting to show up now).
Another option is in the CZ75 design family or those clones. Their DA trigger is fairly light, or they can be carried cocked & locked as well for SA shooting. That'd include the Rami, and the EAA pavona as well as some of the Turkish clones.
Best of luck in finding the right handgun.
So I agree that a 1911 based design isn't a bad choice. My wife is 5'-2", has small hands, and is near 50. She can rack a slide & flip down a thumb safety with no problem, but DA triggers really give her trouble. As she ages, hand strength isn't going to get better either (joint issues starting to show up now).
Another option is in the CZ75 design family or those clones. Their DA trigger is fairly light, or they can be carried cocked & locked as well for SA shooting. That'd include the Rami, and the EAA pavona as well as some of the Turkish clones.
Best of luck in finding the right handgun.
Bobson
Member
Find a range where you can rent a few options and let her shoot them, and pick. Feeling a gun in a shop is better than nothing, but shooting it might make it a deal breaker down the road.
I know a guy who got his wife an LCR (the original one). She loved the feel of it, but when she shot it for the first time later, she couldn't stand it, and "adopted" his government-frame 1911, instead. Not what he expected, to say the least.
I know a guy who got his wife an LCR (the original one). She loved the feel of it, but when she shot it for the first time later, she couldn't stand it, and "adopted" his government-frame 1911, instead. Not what he expected, to say the least.
BSA1
member
It is often enough that the Mods should start a separate discussion forum on the topic.
The Colt Detective Special and Police Positive Special are excellent choices. After many years of looking we found a used P.P.S. that my wife loves. After I replaced the factory wood grips with Hogue rubber grips for her soft hands she pronounced it as her perfect handgun.
MedWheeler
Member
BSA1, I'm starting to agree with you above (first statement.) The sticky, along with the corneredcat.com link, apparently isn't enough.
TruthTellers
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If she's not opposed to revolvers, have her check out the Charter Arms Undercoverette. It's a .32 H&R Magnum, which has decent power if you buy the right hollow point, but can also shoot the very mild shooting .32 S&W Long.
If revolvers are not and option and she can't stand 9mm, take a look at the Sig P238. If that's too pricey, look at the Bersa Thunder CC model. If she absolutely cannot take the .380's recoil, step it down to the .32 ACP and look at the Beretta 3032 Tomcat.
If the old lady likes 9mm, you have a lot of options out there to pick from.
If revolvers are not and option and she can't stand 9mm, take a look at the Sig P238. If that's too pricey, look at the Bersa Thunder CC model. If she absolutely cannot take the .380's recoil, step it down to the .32 ACP and look at the Beretta 3032 Tomcat.
If the old lady likes 9mm, you have a lot of options out there to pick from.
TruthTeller is right.
I would recommend that she look into either the Ruger SP101 in .327 Federal Magnum it shoots .32 S&W, (short) .32 S&W Long, the .32 H&R Magnum as well as the .327 Federal Magnum.
The Charter Arms "Undercoverette' in .32 H&R Magnum shoots the .32 S&W (short), .32 S&W Long and, of course, the .32 H&R Magnum.
Hers'a link to the Charter Arms "Undercoverette".
http://www.charterarms.com/collections/undercoverette
Go to the Ruger site and make up your own mind(s).
I think that she'll find the revolver that she wants (and needs).
I would recommend that she look into either the Ruger SP101 in .327 Federal Magnum it shoots .32 S&W, (short) .32 S&W Long, the .32 H&R Magnum as well as the .327 Federal Magnum.
The Charter Arms "Undercoverette' in .32 H&R Magnum shoots the .32 S&W (short), .32 S&W Long and, of course, the .32 H&R Magnum.
Hers'a link to the Charter Arms "Undercoverette".
http://www.charterarms.com/collections/undercoverette
Go to the Ruger site and make up your own mind(s).
I think that she'll find the revolver that she wants (and needs).
TruthTellers
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The reason I didn't recommend the Ruger is because I doubt she would ever want to shoot .327 because it's "loud" or too much recoil. Then there's the price of the LCR's over $200 more compared to the CA's.
Direct her to http://www.corneredcat.com/ then smile and pay the bill. As with ALL gun buyers, it's best if she can try before she buys.
It really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks - her perceptions may or may not be what you think they are, nor do they match mine or even my wife's.
It really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks - her perceptions may or may not be what you think they are, nor do they match mine or even my wife's.
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