Looking for a good CCW/Home Defense Gun Combo

[SorenityNow]

Hello again, I have a close family member lookin to to make a purchase on a first handgun. We'll be at the range and try my Glock 19, S&W 642, and will rent a Ruger lc9. I know its gonna be what ever fits her hand well. Im gonna try ans streer towards 9mm or 38 special +p. I just dont feel confident in the 380 ammo. what do ya'll think??

 

[papa_bear]

I would lean toward a large bore low pressure round for HD. But filling the ccw role your choices will be limited. The muzzle blast from a high pressure round inside a confined area is painful to say the least. 9mm 38 special or 45acp will be your best bet. Preferably with 3" plus barrel.

 

[SorenityNow]

Yeah im temted to have her try a sp101 in a "3

 

[cor_man257]

My opinion is that you should base your gun around carry. If its going to suit both purposes you want the one your going to actually carry right?

So get the largest gun that she will actually wear everyday. By largest, I mean most rounds and best shooting platform. Tiny guns can get harder to control and carry little in the way of "punch".

I would ask her the heavist she will actually carry, how she will carry, and what feels the most comfortable while shooting. And probably in something close to that order. Even if she is the most comfortable while shooting a gun it will do her little to no good if its to large for her to bring with her.

The best home defense weapon is really a rifle or shotgun. So while its great she wants a pistol for home defense, you should let her know that there are other guns that can do the job better. And maybe suggest she doesnt worry so much about home usuage as the CCW aspect.

 

[jfrey]

I'm not a fanboy but I don't think you can do much better than the G19. Revolvers aren't bad but not always the best answer for a new shooter. The other two guns I would consider, in order, are the Browning Hi-Power and the Kahr CW9. The BHP is pricey and the Kahr has a long trigger pull but both are reliable and easy to shoot.

 

[waidmann]

Smith & Wesson 3 or 4" K frame. Start with wadcutters and work up. Start shooting single action from barricaded and work up. If she outgrows it so be it.

 

[Baba Louie]

Smith & Wesson 3 or 4" K frame. ... If she outgrows it so be it.

Cannot imagine ever outgrowing a 3" K frame. Gravitating towards maybe.

The 642 might be a bit much for a newbie shooter. (maybe. I know I shouldn't generalize and you didn't say she is a newbie shooter, just a first time purchaser)

If you go semi, show her Pax's Cornered Cat website to learn how to rack a semiauto's slide.

.380 is better than nothing but far from my first choice as well. .380s are typically blowbacks which are heavily sprung and somewhat snappy-ish as opposed to a locked breech (old Colt .380 Govt and Sigs new 238 come to mind).

Have fun shopping (or advising). Mabe you'll luck into a 3914 Ladysmith or a 908.

 

[SorenityNow]

Yeah baba she is a newbie, and your right a 642 is tough. It was my first purchase and I soon realized that I wanted some other options. For me a snubbie is a must have in my collection. Im just bringing the 642 to compare diff styles and calibers

 

[Purgatory]

I'd have to second the Glock 19 suggestion. Not because I think it's the 'end all, be all' handgun, but, specifically, because I think it fits this scenario very well.

It's one of the: softest recoiling, easiest to get back on target for follow up shots, highest capacity for its size, -handguns I've ever fired, myself.

And, in my experience, it has less muzzle rise than the BHP, which I own and love.

I think it's ideal for a woman's Home Defense gun.

Conceal Carry? Hmm....maybe in her purse. And we all know what the consensus is on carrying a gun in the purse.

Maybe a smaller 9mm auto. G26 or even Walther PPS?

 

[Mr.Blue]

M&P 9c is great for both purposes. The scalloped serrations on the slide make it very easy to rack the slide. The adjustable palm swells make the gun fit most hands very well. Loaded with Speer Gold Dot 124+p, the 9mm is an effective round.

Personally, I prefer .45 acp for home defense duty, but some people have trouble with quick follow up shots due to recoil.

 

[gearhead]

I would recommend the compact version of a line of handguns available in various calibers and frame sizes. Glock, S&W, Ruger, CZ, Beretta, and others all produce a line of handguns that fit that description. Pick the one with the best combo of ergos, features, and price, they're all good guns. That gives you the option of going back later and buying a home defense/range/plinking gun that has exactly the same feel and manual of arms in a larger size and even a different caliber if you choose to. In addition, the compacts and subcompacts from those manufacturers will be decently comfortable and easy to hold on target even in the smaller sizes.

 

[Michael R.]

i would reccomend the ruger p95. even though it is a little bulky, people ccw it all the time. i have one and they are great. also, they are about half the price of a glock.

 

[ChCx2744]

I also recommend the G19. Try to push her towards getting it in the 3rd gen version. Help her find a good quality handgun training course with a good certified instructor.

 

[woad_yurt]

Please ask her to try a Makarov before she purchases anything. It's very carry-able and is one extremely easy gun to master. Every newbie I know has hit their targets with my Mak. Nt so with revolvers. To those who'll say that it shoots a weak round, it's right at .38 SPL levels of muzzle energy. Practice ammo is cheap and Corbon's Pow'RBalls are no slouch of a carry round.

Let us know what she thinks of the LC9. They're no fun to shoot, maybe too intimidating for someone who's considering buying her first handgun.

 

[SorenityNow]

Sure ill tell ya how it goes. Ill be at the range with her tonight. We will be tring the 642, Glock 19, and im lookin to rent a Kahr cm/pm 9 or a Ruger lc9. Should be intresting. Cant wait

 

[Mr.Blue]

Try an M&P 9c. It won't hurt her hand like some of those tiny guns.

 

[SorenityNow]

The glock 19 was much easier for her to shoot than the 642. This was fired from a woman at 62 years old that has never fired a weapon before. Not bad. My mother quickly realized that the 642 with hot loads kicks like a mule. And the wooden grips were leaving a blister.. The glock was way more comfortable for her to shoot. Ill introduce some pocket 9 mm next time we go

 

[SorenityNow]

Dang it im posting from my cell phone and havin trouble. This should be the glock. Shooting

 

[Lawdawg45]

I'll chime in on the Glock 19 comments. Last year a friend of my daughter was interested in a gun for their home and she had never touched a gun in her life, in fact she was a professional musician with our local symphony. I took her to the range with a variety of semi auto's and wheel guns, and the only gun that she liked and said felt comfortable out of the 8 or 9 guns was my G19. The only draw back will be the size if she decides to purse carry instead of belt carry.

LD

 

[miles1]

Before you decide, take a strong look at the Xd9compact and Smith M&P9 compact as well.Several good choices.When my wife wanted a 45ACP she handled all threee and went with the XD herself.

 

[ATBackPackin]

I would take and rent as many guns as possible, letting her help picking out the ones, and see what she is comfortable with. Some people especially new to guns are not comfortable with a gun without a safety or a variety of of things. I'm not saying it's rational, it just is.

Find what she is comfortable with, not you, me, or everyone else here. That's the best advice I can give you.

Good luck
Shawn

 

[momano]

I suggest she tries the Ruger SR9c; with the 10 round magazine it can be a CCW; with the larger magazine it would be fine for HD. The recoil is very manageable and the grip may fit her hand well.

 

[pioneer461]

I wouldn't overlook a .45 acp. I know many women who prefer how the 1911 fits their hands. You are most certainly going about the selection in the right way. Show the options, get out of their way and let them decide. Too many guys make the mistake of picking out "something for the little woman."

 

[jimniowa]

I did not read all the posts but out of all the familly I have, most are new shooters, and have shown to limp wrist the autos including one male. We are talking 9mm 92fs with target loads. The overall gun to qualify for cwp was the S&W 686 in 4 " which worked well with 148g WC for all the girls. The wife and daughters are now working out with the Ruger LCR shooting 158g swcrn at 950 fps loads at 15 yds in a consistant fire pattern. We practice offen and concentrate on a smothe fireing pattern less than rapid just center mass.
Jim

 

[97guns]

the LC9 is a hard gun for many to shoot well, it takes some getting used to with the long trigger but once you master it it becomes a very shootable gun.