My Wife wants a pistol

[VE2RF]

I got my mom a Walther PPK in .380ACP.

Around my mom and dad's property, they have a walking trail that goes for about 1.2 miles around the circumfrence of their farm.

My dad doesn't always go walking with her, so she first started off carrying a .22 revolver. When she realized how weak it really is, and how bad the quality of the RG revolver is, she expressed interest in something else.

I bought my parents a "fine plus" condition Smith and Wesson Pre-Model 10, non M&P .38 Special. The barrel was too long for her to pocket carry, and she didn't want to wear it exposed. My dad took it, and he really likes it.

Then I outfitted one of my Dan Wesson .357's with a small set of concealed carry rubber grips and put on the 2.5" shroud and barrel. I loaded it for her with both .38 Special and .38 Special +P . It was still a little much in terms of size, and she's a smaller lady so she didn't care much for the recoil at first.

Next, I had my Walther PPK for sale because I never used it anymore, and I just decided to give it to my mom to see if she'd like it any better than a snubnose .38 special. She loves the PPK's concealability and she likes the lack recoil the .380ACP produces.

What's really cool is that the .380ACP has helped her become more comfortable with shooting and with recoil, so she's no adjusted enough to want to carry and shoot the .357 DW revolver sometimes.

I borrowed a PPS in .40S&W for her to try, and she really liked it, which I was quite surprised about.

 

[dogmush]

Update

Well, I made it home on leave, and today was the much anticipated gun shopping trip.

We hit my two favorite local stores And talked to salesfolks. (One was great, one was not) and my wife handled every pistol she loked the looks, and some she didn't just in case.

Guns tested:
Berretta Px4
USP 40
USP Compact
P7M8
M&P 9
M&P 45 (different grip installed.
S&W 4006
Sig P6
Sig P228
G36
G22
XDM
XD Compact
Kimber Pro-carry (officer sized)
CZ (I forget which one)
Baby Eagle
PPK
PPS
FNP-9
Armalite something (AR-24 maybe? Ugly with bad ergos)
FN Five-seveN
and
Bersa Thunder 45.

The winner was:

M&P 45. She liked the feel, it was a .45, good trigger, the likes the swapable grips. She's got a waiting peropd so we cant pick it up untill next week, but we'll hit the range next weekend. She seems happy with it in the store.

Thanks for the help

 

[onebigelf]

Hi-power. Many people find it's grip comfortable. I like it with big hands, my 5'1" chick likes it with tiny hands.

If she likes the Commander sized .45's try the Dan Wesson CBOB or the original Colt http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_141/products_id/36335- $695 at Bud's

John

 

[Linda]

She made an awesome choice!!!!

I was going to chime in, and suggest the M&P and then saw she bought one. She'll love this gun.

Thank you for your service to our country and protecting our freedoms sir!

 

[crebralfix]

Glock, *sigh* If it fits her and she likes it, it's a good gun. It'll probably strain our marrage though.

LOL...strain on the marriage is having a wife that WON'T shoot. Count your blessings that she's asking for one of the best handguns ever made

::ducks and dons flame suit::

 

[Mrs. Armoredman]

Dogmush,

If you don't mind I would like to welcome you home and thank you for your service to our country. You did the right think letting her pick out the gun she feels most comfortable with. I went through 7 guns before I found the one that best fit me. Happy shooting.

 

[Loosedhorse]

If it'll ever be used for anything besides shooting at the range, get her practiced in stoppage clearing (this is NOT a swipe at the M&P, but a realization of the limitations of all semi-autos, and that, on occasion, female hand strength and repeated slide racking aren't a natural combination).

If you're all set on that, great, and enjoy!

 

[Linda]

If it'll ever be used for anything besides shooting at the range, get her practiced in stoppage clearing (this is NOT a swipe at the M&P, but a realization of the limitations of all semi-autos, and that, on occasion, female hand strength and repeated slide racking aren't a natural combination).

Pffffft............,

And the .38 snubbie is the ONLY gun for women. NOT!:banghead:

Don't ever underestimate women and mechanical parts. We use mechanical parts everyday washing your clothes and your dirty dishes!

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

My wife's still unhappy with me for trading off the 4" S&W 629. She kept it loaded with .44 SPL Winchester Silvertips. Now I'm going to have to get another one.

ECS

 

[357sigRog]

My wife loves her Colt 38 Special snub with Double Tap 125gr. +p gold dots.
She keeps it in her nightstand on her side of the bed and she is not afraid to
use it if needed. She likes shooting my Glock and BT 380 but is most comfortable with the 38 snub. Everyone is different just give her some options if possible and let her decide.

 

[Loosedhorse]

on occasion, female hand strength and repeated slide racking aren't a natural combination

Don't ever underestimate women and mechanical parts.

Don't believe I did that, Linda--just made an observation (top) that you're response (bottom) did not refute.

Regarding hand strength: did you know, for example, that the hands of women are more often afflicted by rheumatoid arthritis than those of men? I did not arrange this fact to support my point--I simply observed it.

I stand by my original observation, and don't see how observing that, ON OCCASION this issue will arise for some women and need to be addressed by additional training deserves to be met by your suggesting that my laundry and scullery training are lacking or in any way under-practiced!

Peace.

 

[BADUNAME37]

Lucky you.

I can't even get my wife to go shooting with me.

I've always been totally safe with guns, she just simply has no interest - AT ALL. Period. End of conversation.

Oh well.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Way to go... I'm glad to hear your wife found something she likes and feels good in her hand. I'm sure she will like the M&P more each time she shoots it!

Welcome home, be safe when you go back!

 

[3KillerBs]

In Re: malfunction drills ...

In my first and so far only IPSC-Lite match I had a misfire. At that point I was glad of the experience I'd gained when attempting to use a couple boxes of Remington bulk pack .22 in my Mark III.

My malfunction drills were accidental rather than deliberate but I hope that in a stress situation I would find it as easy and natural to slap-rack-fire as I did in that competition.

It doesn't take much practice to learn how to clear a jam, but it does take some repetition to make the action automatic.

 

[orygunmike]

Para LTC 9mm

Checkout this report from Tam......Tam knows her 1911s...

http://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/2008/08/parausa-ltc-9-after-action-report.html

 

[.380awsome]

a small ,light(if she doesnt mind a bit more recoil) s&W ladysmith,in .38 special ive seen women fire these just fine,its small and she will probably enjoy it

 

[LongRider]

Try other XD's out maybe a 9mm sub compact. Be sure to look at the Stoeger Cougar exceptionally accurate reliable with low recoil. If she prefers tupperware look at the PX Storm. Not the compact as they do not have the rotating barrel. Still IMO the XD with its intuitive safeties, rock sold reliability and accuracy are the best EDC gun made bar none which is why I carry one.

 

[PX15]

FWIW:



My wife is 5'0" and likes both of these...



Jesse