Need a CCW for a single mother on a budget

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Autopistola

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I was approached by a friend, a young lady, who feels very threatened by her ex-husband. I gave her a card for an instructor who was very helpful and teaches several courses as well as CCW certification. She's interested in all the classes but that doesn't take care of the situation immediately.

So first I suggested she contact local law enforcement to see what her immediate options are. I also suggested pepper spray, but she's afraid it could spray back at her in a close-range situation.

Then I suggested a snubbie .38 revolver or a small 9mm handgun, because they're very controllable for beginners and people of smaller stature. I suggested a Ladysmith, but just looking at the snubbies online gave her doubts about their controllability and accuracy, and she didn't like the fact that there is no safety lever of any sort, thinks it might go off if it's stored in her car. A short K-frame was too big and wide for her.

So I figure I'll take her to the gun show in two weeks, let her get a feel for different carry guns, and make sure she doesn't get gouged this season. Not sure what to recommend next, maybe a Taurus Millenium pro single-stack in 9mm, since it has slim grips, a lever safety, and an easy single action trigger pull. Not sure if she'll warm up to DAO guns at all, especially since she feels uncomfortable not having a lever safety.

She's a single mother and doesn't have much to spend. Any recommendations?
 
There is so much you said that's incorrect I would seriously suggest she not carry a handgun until she gets some training. You might want to take the class with her. Sometimes you can be in more danger with a handgun than without. BTW, a J frame revolver is by no means a good handgun for an inexperienced shooter. While they can be very accurate they also require a lot of practice to shoot well. Practice requires ammo and on a tight budget I'm afraid she won't do the required practice. Dry-firing can help but there's still nothing like shooting the handgun to build the required skills to be able to protect yourself without harming anyone else.

I hope everything works out well with her EX and she remains safe.
 
I would go with a Taurus revolver or one of their Beretta knock off subcompacts. Sure they don't have all the power in the world but they work and would be small and cheap and have a safety. Why would she have it in her car and not on her?
 
I also would suggest something WITHOUT a safety. Is she going to shoot 100 rounds a week, drawing from concealment, and train herself to deactivate a safety? I don't think so.

I just conducted a little test. I took my S&W 642 out of my pocket, unloaded it, grabbed a #2 pencil and tried to pull the trigger with the pencil.

The pencil broke in half even though I was holding it pretty close to where it was touching the trigger. The gun never even fired. If you have a gun with which to demonstrate this, do it in front of her. Then explain that, as an added precaution, because the heavy trigger pull IS a safety, the trigger should be covered by a holster, or the gun should be stored in its own pocket if she MUST carry in a purse (I think it's a supremely bad idea).
 
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I would go with a Taurus revolver or one of their Beretta knock off subcompacts. Sure they don't have all the power in the world but they work and would be small and cheap and have a safety. Why would she have it in her car and not on her?
Click to expand...
+1 on that. If she isn't going to carry it get a full size. 1st thing should be getting some instructions though.
 
How is she going to carry it concealed if she hasn't yet taken a class, applied for and received a license? Some states offer an emergency program of sorts where you can get a license issued quickly under certain conditions. Since we don't know the real circumstances and concerns, a call or trip to law enforcement for suggestions wouldn't be a wrong way to start (documentation of the threat is important at any rate), a gun for home protection might be next (since she can't yet legally carry), and then looking at concealable guns might be third while exploring other means of self-defense the whole time. Also, regarding the taser suggestion, as well as any other concealable weapon, states have different laws on that, so make sure she knows what she can do without ending up in more of a jam than she's already in. No matter what she chooses for a weapon, she will need to follow up with safety education, especially if she has kids in the house, and learn to use it with proficiency. Just my two cents, as they say.
 
I'd recommend that she seek training first, then make the decision on what (if anything) she should carry second. Most introductory training will include introduction and firing of at least a few of the more common carry options allowing her to figure out what works best for her. It also will get her some safety training which is invaluable. I would be suprised if there wasn't a local instructor that, once her situtation is explained, wouldn't be more than happy to help her get to where she needs to be.

One thing that concerns me in any situtation where a person with kids (or who has kids visit) is how they intend to secure the firearm from unauthorized use. That's another decision that should be considered before purchasing the firearm.

In the meantime, pepper spray is probably the best way to go. Yes, sprayback can be a problem. But a little sprayback will be preferable to being defenseless. Again some training or at least buying and practicing with some inert practice canisters would be a good idea.

I would probably avoid the taser. The problem with the taser is that, especially with a determined and intoxicated attacker, once you stop the tasering you are in danger again and may not have time to get away.
 
that there is no safety lever of any sort, thinks it might go off if it's stored in her car.
Click to expand...

Did you happen to offer proper instruction as to why this statement is just totally 100% incorrect? Why would a manual safety do anything to prevent a ND with a gun in storage?!?

she should get some proper instruction before anything and I as well suggest a "point and click" interface
Click to expand...

I sincerely hope you meant a point and bang interface. Point and click wouldn't go over very well. :D
 
Sticking a handgun into the hand of a woman who's involved in an emotionally charged situation won't have a good ending. I'm also a bit uneasy with the idea of an emotionally charged situation in which there are kids in the house.

I'd start her with both a "magnum" can of pepperspray she can keep in her purse, PLUS a keychain version such as the "Spitfire" pepper spray that will always be in her hand when walking anywhere.

From a personal standpoint as her friend, I wouldn't get involved (personally) with arming her because you might be setting up a situation in which you may have some regrets later.
However, if you still feel that she "needs" lethal force protection, get her signed up for a CCW class and let the instructor know her specific circumstances. Instructors are often off-duty police who can give her some individual attention from a legal point of view.

Lastly, the woman is obviously not "into" guns and probably doesn't want to be. She just wants serious protection that will work when she needs it.
That leaves her only choice being a J-frame Smith or similar.
It's simple for a non-gun person in that there is no safety or slide or magazine to have to screw around with, and all she needs to know is to pull the trigger and she will have her "protection" instantly.
Don't even suggest any semi-autos to her at all. If a J-frame is good enough for me, tens of thousands of plain-clothes policemen (and women), and millions of CCW holders, it will be plenty good enough for her.
 
Training first, absolutely. Then she will understand what works and why. Let her be guided in a choice of gun by her instructor. Many will recommend a small, but not too small, revolver for a first gun and for concealed carry. The Ruger SP-101 is small enough for CCW (weighs 25 oz.) but big enough to control easily in .38 Special. It comes in a hammerless version that is simplicity itself. A new shooter doesn't need safeties or other complexities, especially under stress. The S&W 640 is a hammerless J-frame, but is all steel and at 23 oz. is controllable in .38 Special. Lighter J-frames can be tough to manage. Both of these guns are simply point and shoot and are as safe as guns get.

If you shop around at gun shops, pawn shops, and gun shows you might be able to find some decent deals on used SP-101s or 640s.
 
You've gotten some good advice so far.

In addition to all the other considerations raised by others, before I helped her obtain a gun, I would want her to honestly answer two questions for me.

Given that she is a reasonable person possessing sound judgment:

1. Does she believe in her heart that (in a self defense scenario) she can commit an act that will likely result in the death of another human being?

2. If she can truthfully answer "yes" to Question #1, then does she honestly believe she can live with it afterword.

You need to know with all possible certainty the answer to those two questions prior to helping arm her, but more importantly, she needs to know with all possible certainty, the answer to those two questions before she arms herself. Those questions need to be answered well before the dark moment comes.

Just some food for thought.

Respectfully,

DarkSoldier
 
Folks,
The gun show and CCW class are both on the 14th. I told her if she doesn't think she could actually pull the trigger on her terrorizing, stalker ex then she should'nt bother to get a CCW, but she was OK with that. I didn't recommend her to get a gun, but her friends and family persuaded her to. I recommended a J-frame first because it's super simple and point-and-click. I was not prepared to waylay her every concern. Her child is only a one-year-old so personally I'm not concerned about it manipulating triggers or safetys. The instructor is a NRA certified and a former lawyer; he gives good advice. I see potential in the fact that she actually wants to take his NRA safety class and other shooting courses, but those arent available for a few months. I gave her the rundown on how to operate a revolver and the four rules on gun safety, that's about as far as I'll go besides making sure she doesn't get ripped off on her purchase. I'd also like to take her out and guide her so she can shoot 100rds. or so. I'm no professional, but I ain't no spring chicken either. I was really hoping her dad (a gunnie) would do that for me, but he'll be out of town on business for a few weeks...
 
You might have told her if you had the knowledge
all S&W revolvers have an inner transfer bar which
blocks the hammer from striking the primer unless the
trigger is pulled to prevent Accidental/Negligent Discharge
of the wepon in case the hammer is struck or the weapon
is dropped.

Take the coures and have the friend sign up as
well....

R-
 
pepper spray and a big dog

at least the dog will give her some companionship and maybe ward off the Ex.

Not trying to make light of a tough situation. She needs to understand the gun or pepper spray can be turned on her. Rarely will a dog. But make sure it is not a threat to the 1yr old. I can't stand to read that garbage in the news.
 
+1 on the taser. she can fire at engaged range and also drive stun should hand to hand occur. it provides enough time to fire, incapacitate and run. it also wont put her in jail should she overreact (which in her situation may not be relevant).
 
Really, she needs to take in as much information as possible, and make up her own mind. She needs to make up her own mind whether and when to run or fight, whether and when to carry any tool for self defense, and especially whether to carry and use a gun. She doesn't need somebody to tell her what to do. She simply needs information so she can make an informed decision, a decision for herself. That being said...........

I figure your suggestion of a .38 special snub is a good one, applicable to her needs. I recommend a stainless steel one, in a Bodyguard or Centennial configuration. Avoid the lightweight stuff. She should invest the time and money in good training. She should invest in training not only to get her CCW, but also training with an experienced instructor in shooting fast and close.

Chances are, if she has to defend herself from her estranged husband, it will not be at 25 or even ten yards. It will be at contact distances. That spells a revolver. Pistols are easily knocked out of battery when pressed into somebody's ribs. Wheelguns don't have that problem. When your assailant is a person known to you, they can manage to get in close innocently and take you by surprise. Target shooting at 10 yards is not adequate training for this type of social interaction.

A revolver will also allow her a wide variety of grip choices. I would go with a used Smith & Wesson J frame to maximize those choices, and to minimize potential problems in buying a used gun.

While she is waiting to find her own handgun, I recommend you both visit The Cornered Cat and read up. Especially her.
 
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When that child gets a bit older the first muscles of the hand that get strong enough to pull the trigger are the muscles in the thumb. This puts the barrel pointed at the child's chest. Sooner or later she should get a finger safe for times of storage.

I agree with everyone above who recommended the professional training. If she does go with a j frame, maybe consider getting her a couple of boxes of target wadcutters both for practice and carry. They have such mild recoil that even my recoil sensitive wife can shoot them out of my mom's model 36.

I hope for her sake, she has the wherewithal to squeeze the trigger should her life become endangered. I've seen a few at our local womens shelter fall apart emotionally at the sight of their abusive ex.
 
Speaking of the Bersa... I found one new online for $239 + shipping / ffl costs... puts it to the door at less than $300. I am considering that gun for my own carry piece. I went to LGS yesterday and was handling both that and the PF-9 Kel Tec. I thing due to the weight, the Bersa would be the better of the two. However, like many have said before, since she's going to be the one to use it, she needs to be comfortable with the gun not you or me or anyone else.

I do hope things turn out well for her.
 
Suggest Training First.
Good handgun choices can be a Kahr 9MM compact,
Beretta 84 Series
Smith and Wesson 3913, or 908
Any single stack 9MM or .380 pistol that's not a Kel-Tec.
S&W 686.

I'd have her stay away from the snubbies at this point in time because these are expert's guns. She could transition to one if she ever felt the need to. However, for a beginner, it's something else entirely.
 
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