My mom wants a pistol. Help!

[Collector0311]

She's always been anti gun and since I've joined the Corps has tried to embrace my lifestyle (only took her 26 years) and now sees the practical application of being a responsible armed citizen. She's joined the local women's gun club in central Texas, and is now interested in becoming a first time gun owner and concealed carrier.
Brass tacks: She's set on the Ruger LC9 or the SR9c.
Of these, which do you all recommend for a fifty plus, first time, eager but responsible, ready to pack heat, Marine mom?
Thanks for any help gentlemen.

 

[rule303]

The SR9c is going to be a lot easier to control, and hit a target with. Take her to a range where she can rent some different guns. She may decide on something else altogether. IMO a .22 is a better choice for anyones first gun, unless it is going to be used exclusively for protection.

 

[Waldog]

It took me 30 years to get my wife into shooting. Long story short, I got her to go to an ALL WOMANS class. Instructors were all woman. No men were allowed. Worked perfectly. She loves her M&P 9mm, and she's VERY GOOD WITH IT. Find a female instructor.

 

[Magoo]

Yep, gift certificate for a class. Depending on the finances between the two of you, an offer to buy or split the cost of a gun of her choice.

 

[orionengnr]

Find a range where she can try both, back to back.
She will quickly determine which is right for her.

 

[USAF_Vet]

In a blind test, not knowing anything about your mom, I'd have to go with the SR9C, or even the SR9. Compact guns, and the lightweight ones especially, can hurt to shoot. Concealed carry guns compromise size and weight. Get her to the range, get her comfortable shooting. If that means getting her a full frame, even just a rental, that's the way to go.
The path to CCW doesn't end at getting the permit and buying the gun. She's gonna have to hit the range, get some practice and instruction.

Of the two she has her heart set on, I'd go with the SR9C. Slightly more weight to it than the LCP (which hurt my hands to shoot, and I'm not a small man). Plus I like the 9mm over the .380 everyday of the week and twice on Sunday.

 

[F-111 John]

Just have to throw out the possibility of a DAO snubby .38 for a novice user not familiar with a pistol's manual of arms.

But of the two she has her heart set on, it depends on how much she plans to shoot at the range. The SR9c will be much easier to shoot, shoot well, and shoot for a long session, but isn't as convenient a "purse gun" as the LC9.

 

[Bovice]

It bothers me that she's trying to carry a firearm in her infancy stage of firearms. It irritated me to no end when a friend of mine got his concealed carry permit having never owned a gun, much less even fired a box of ammo. He's got no business carrying a gun if he's not well versed in using one. That goes for everybody.

It would be nice for firearm carrying to be as legitimized as possible. That does not include newbies packing 9mm's.

If I am ever winged by an errant shot from a concealed carrier, assuming it didn't kill me, I will bury them financially. Carrying a gun is serious business and I don't think your mom should be carrying a gun right off the bat. Drawing from a holster and firing in a panic or rush is far beyond a new shooter's skill set.

 

[Nushif]

Let us hope that when your very well trained and professional self wings someone they don't bury you financially for recklessly trying to use a hammer to drive a screw ... Because wehn you have that much training to kill, what else would you do? Right?
Part of this whole freedom thing is to live with other's freedoms, too.

This is of course not to say that people shouldn't take classes, but you're sounding a lot like people saying only ... Trained professionals ... Should be carrying guns.

 

[Ankeny]

It bothers me that she's trying to carry a firearm in her infancy stage of firearms.

Ummm...the OP states, "Of these, which do you all recommend for a fifty plus, first time, eager but responsible, ready to pack heat, Marine mom?"

It irritated me to no end when a friend of mine got his concealed carry permit having never owned a gun, much less even fired a box of ammo. He's got no business carrying a gun if he's not well versed in using one. That goes for everybody.

I used to feel that way. Then I realized the Right to Keep and Bear Arms doesn't come with a proficiency test. For that matter, countless people that would have no business carrying guns by your criteria have successfully thwarted criminals by simply producing a firearm.

 

[BCRider]

No real thoughts on either gun. I've shot an SR9 but we can't get LCP's up this way. I'd have to say though that the slightly bigger SR9 SHOULD allow her to get back on target more quickly than the lighter and smaller LCP. But carrying an SR9 in warm weather may prove to be an issue where the LCP would shine.

So I guess the bottom line is get one of each?

If she's finally enjoying shooting I'd suggest that you and her head on out to watch a local IDPA match. If she's OK with shooting these days I suspect the good folks that partake of such shooting matches will soon draw her in and win her over and have her shooting with the group. These things are great fun and as good a practice as any of us are going to find short of an actual encounter. As a bonus she'll learn safe handling and shooting skills, shoot or not decision making, better accuracy, shooting on the move and the need to keep moving between shots, reloading quickly and finally how to shoot under the sort of pressure of a clock counting off the seconds. Shooting in matches such as this are not a replacement for a real encounter. But the sort of adrenaline that comes with a timer going off is as good as we are going to get short of participating in a simunition two way shooting drill.

As a side bonus she'll meet lots of great folks who WILL become new friends and get out of the house for a day. In my own experience shooting in IPSC and IDPA has shown that the folks are all supportive and non judgemental. Newbies and those that are a bit nervous are all treated well and encouraged. All the folks want is for the new shooter to be safe first and foremost. With having fun as a close second priority.

It doesn't replace the facts she would learn at a self defense shooting school. But shooting regularly in such matches would certainly solidify and maintain the skills learned in such a school.

And who knows, you may even find that it's a heap of fun as well.

Did I mention it's a heap of fun for all?

 

[Byrd666]

Owning a full size SR9 but, having shot the SR9c, I might be a little biased. Never stopped me before I've been told. Having only one paw to deal with, I felt the SRc was easier for me to deal with in all aspects . Easier for me by far than the LC. The trigger itself would sell me on the SR over the LC. As well as round count for the SR with the two different mags for home defense as well as concealed carry interchangeability.

 

[psyshack]

My mom carry's a gp100. Lives in phx and takes it to ruger to inspect it and clean it up every time she goes to the range about once a month. It's just a blip in her old lady bag purse and follows her around the house like her little dog does.

 

[Bovice]

I don't think that competency should be proven before OWNING a firearm. I do believe that competency should have to be further proven before you can CARRY one, since that missed shot can ruin an innocent bystander's life. Concealed carry in public venues is an entirely different game than home defense or range shooting.

I cringe at the thought of an inexperienced shooter just yanking their gun out for the shock factor to "thwart" a criminal. They probably had no intention of pulling the trigger.

 

[xplag]

Is there a reason she is set on 9mm?

And is size an ultimate deciding factor?

I will echo many other posters in saying she should shoot the mentioned handguns to see which she prefers. But subcompacts are not all that fun to shoot, and if she has a negative experience it may just deter her from continuing to gain interest in firearms.

I think a .380 may be a better choice, and there are plenty of subcompact .380s on the market.

But again, she really should shoot a 9mm out of a subcompact to see if that is right for her.

 

[3KillerBs]

IMO, taking the NRA Basic Pistol course before choosing what gun to buy was one of the best gun-related choices I've made. You get to handle a number of different guns and, hopefully, fire several different types and calibers.

See the thread on buying a gun for your wife/girlfriend for more information and get your mother online to www.corneredcat.com.

 

[Earlsbud]

I agree with rule 303. Here's a suggestion.
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...57768_757767_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

 

[ironhead7544]

I recommend a 3 or 4 inch 38 Special/357 Magnum DA revolver for a new person. If they must have an auto then a G19.

I use a 3 inch M64 for a house gun as my wife shoots it well. She is not interested in shooting anything else so its the best choice for us.

 

[Rey B]

Lots of good information here http://www.corneredcat.com/

 

[RX-178]

Just like Rule 303 said. The SR9C is going to be much easier to shoot, much easier to control, and much more fun to practice with than the LC9, which can be rather unpleasant to shoot.

The LC9 is going to be more easily concealable, however.

 

[InkEd]

SR9C

 

[todd_g]

My mother has her ccw in Texas, she had her life threatened by one of the sons from her husband, a real dirt bag. Since the threat I have been buying her different guns for 20 or so years now and she always seems to be carrying her keltec p3at or the bersa 380 thunder, she usually has 3 to 4 guns on her if you count her favorite deringers. She never really warmed up to 9mm and larger pistols.

 

[Serenity]

I definitely recommend the NRA basic pistol course. I attended one with my 14 year old son; neither of us had even held a handgun before. The instructors and other attendees were awesome and made us feel very welcome. Happy to see a couple more converts when our faces lit up on the range.

 

[mcschrader]

I sell guns for a living and I can tell you that we sell more SR9's to women. (If it is a semi-auto anyway). As soon as the hold it in their hand its the one they want. It is a much easier trigger pull and they seem to like that. Another good one that we have been selling to women is the Kel-Tec PF9. It seems to fit and be more comfortable in their hands.

 

[psyshack]

I don't think I would be selling PF-9's to lady's. Esp. first time shooters. I have a PF-9, carry and shoot it a lot. I've only ran into one lady that could shoot one right and hit her mark out to 25 yards.

I've seen grown men with working hands that couldn't shoot the pistol right. JMO.