Opinions - concealed carry for small female

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There have been a lot of great suggestions so far! But I definitely second the idea that she should try as many guns as she can get her hands on. There were a lot of guns that I loved on paper but as soon as I tried them I realized it just wasn't going to work for me.

Personally, as a woman who spends a bit too much time at the gun range (and as someone who adores 1911's), I did fall in love completely with a sig p238 for a ccw. It has a bit of heft to it (I have the stainless steel HD version) that makes it a real joy to shoot. I know the point of having a weapon isn't for fun, but it does help when you have something you want to practice with, and subsequently are comfortable carrying.

And I can't help but mention that I've found the Sig P238 really easy to disassemble and clean- some full sized guns have been a challenge for me with my smaller hands. And of course, the less hassle it is to clean, the more you'll want to use it. Which all leads to practicing with the weapon more.

Best of luck to you and your friend!
 
Bought my wife a p238 for CCW she really likes the size and ease to rack the slide plus the accuracy.I also bought one for myself to add to my CCW choices.Nice little pistol. GOD BLESS AMERICA
 
another vote for the the compact Sigs 380s, notably the P238
I think I also saw somewhere that Colt is bringing back the Colt Mustang 380
(the lighter, shorter barrel version of the steel Colt Gov'mt model 380)
 
I would stick with the beretta

CHOP,

I have two guns that I use all the time for concealed carry. The BERETTA Tomcat and the SIG 232.

I use the Tomcat when the clothes I am wearing will not hide the SIG.

I prefer the SIG for its longer range (a fact caused by the larger grip, much bigger and easier to see sights and a terrific trigger), which is a .380ACP to the Tomcat which is a .32ACP as far a caliber is concerned, but I do what I have to do to "CONCEAL" my carry gun.

The good points on the BERETTA is that even without an extractor, it never seems to jam as long as I use an ammo it likes. My wife like the flip up barrel and good sized grip that she borrowed it for concealed carry. She already uses my SIG 225 for a house gun.

I then bought another BERETTA Tomcat. I liked it that much. For a .32ACP, it is big enough to be controllable and accurate without being hard to conceal. I really like pocket carry with a pocket carrier like the old Than RYBKA pocket holster. It has worked very well for me.

I think the extractor issue highly exagerated as I have not had any problems with either the .25ACP or .32ACP BERETTA pistols with tip up barrels. Also, the tip up barrel gives you a foolproof way to clear the chamber without any risk of an accidental discharge when you lower the hammer. You just flip up the barrel and then you can lower the hammer. You can also load a round into the chamber without having to rack the slide.

These are big pluses to my wife who has trouble racking a slide on most guns.
The frame cracking issue has not bothered me yet and I do not worry about it.

Jim
 
The frame cracking issue has not bothered me yet and I do not worry about it.
Click to expand...
if frame cracking was a major concern and I was dedicated to running a Tomcat, I'd just get the similar .22lr (bobcat?) as a trainer. Run 10x the ammo through the trainer, just practice with the .32 enough to maintain proficiency with rapid-fire recoil management.
Or ... just get a P32 from KelTec and save all the trouble, while having a lighter/thinner more modern gun -my solution, those little Berettas are cute though, there's a minx (.22short only) I keep almost buying at a local shop, eventually I'll talk him down far enough to buy it as a toy.

But I still think the hardware suggestions are worthless without range time, and as the OP has no activity on the forum since the 17th, I think that this is becooming an academic discussion, and should just be closed out to the "So you want to buy your girlfriend/wife a gun" thread until the OP or the actual person wanting a carry gun has more information about the results of a range trip.
 
Keltec broken

BIGFATDAVE,

Unlike the BERETTA, MY KELTEC has NEVER GONE THROUGH A FULL MAGAZINE WITHOUT JAM. I would have loved an even smaller, cheaper, lighter pistol, but I need it to work all the time.

Jim
 
I'm still here

Sorry so long to reply - out of town. I have shared these comments with my friend, who, nevertheless, has gone ahead and ordered an INOX Tomcat. I do appreciate all the thoughtful suggestions - I personally have learned much from them for my personal and future acquisitions.

And, at the end of the day, I supposed the gun she is comfortable with will be the one that serves her well. It will be intersting to see how the Tomcat is to run with - she is ordering "thunderware" (?) to conceal it. Though my running days are behind me, I can't imagine training for half marathons lugging it along. I do believe at this point this post can be closed out, as suggested recently.

Thanks again to all who took the time and care to help me out with this topic.

ChopChopGirl
 
I recommend a revolver.Doesn't really matter if you are a large female/male or a small female/male. What matters is to pick your tool and learn how to use it and develop your fighting mindset.
 
Pistol

Glock 19, standard mag, 115 grain hollow point. Light weight, low recoil, high capacity, very reliable, very very inexpensive but not "cheap". Old design but up to anything out there, and surpasses 99% of anything out there. The CIA Operator arrested in Afghanistan for dispatching two assailants, carried a Model 19. I suspect he could have carried anything he wished. With the right holster I suspect purse carry would be a snap. Just my opinion. I've owned .40 caliber pistols that recoiled less than .380 caliber pistols. Some small, light weight pistols, even .38 special caliber are brutal to fire. And women won't shoot it enough to be proficient in some cases.
 
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@ bigfatdave:

She picks up the gun tonight, which means I will most assuredly be making a trip to the range with her in the next couple of days. My idea is to have her put at least 150 rounds through it, since most who report cracks in the frame said on the various forums that it happens almost immediately.

I'll report back on how it goes with the gun and with the shooter. Thanks again.
 
golden, can't help you there, my p32 runs like a top on anything with the right OAL, and only occasionally chokes on shorter stuff.
Perhaps you should contact KelTec and utilize their superb customer service.
 
ChopChopGirl, 150 rounds through a lightweight (ish) straight-blowback gun might be a bit much for one range session from one hand.
You might be better off helping her run 5-10 magazines through, and supplying a selection of less challenging guns to shoot.
 
I concur; when I started I was exhausted after a box of 50 38 special out of our m67; and it is a really smooth revolver. The concentration required to try to remember everything at once and not totally suck was intense. Maybe it comes easier to others, but I think anyone would be fatigued by that much shooting without experience. Moreso if the pistol is challenging. That's my free opinion, for what it's worth,
 
Good advice

@bigfatdave - I will do as you suggest and luckily, I've bought my fair share of less challenging "fun guns" back in the day. lol. She should have some enjoyable shooting with my Ruger Mark II, American Arms 22LR/Mag "onion field gun" and even the Beretta .25ACP Jetfire. I did move up into a .357 Ruger SP101 snubby. Now that baby is sweet!

Thanks again.
 
Oh yes, get her going on the easy-to-run mkII and teach the fundamentals of DA pull on that .357mag loaded with powder-puff .38sp loads if you need to.

And after the Tomcat beats you both up* you might want to pitch the idea of either practicing with the .22lr version (bobcat) or re-thinking choice of gun.
(in the interest of full disclosure - I haven't personally shot a Tomcat, I'm going off of experience with other guns and interpolating)

Make sure she has fun at the range, start and end with something easy, and keep the first target to compare to the best target. If you do it right, you'll be getting pestered to go to the range every few weeks from here on out!


* (I'm not joking or being condescending, .32acp can be snappy in little blowback guns, my wonderful wife picked out a NAA guardian I hate to shoot because it hurts)
 
I like the simplicity of a small revolver for a daily carry.
My own is a S&W 638 that fits easily in the pocket of my jeans.
For practice, I shoot reloads, daily carry, 135 grain Speer +P's.
 
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Try the tomcat

Dave,

After shooting the Tomcat, I did not really see any reason to bother with the KEL TEC. The BERETTA was just so much nicer and I prefer the tip up barrel. With these small guns, manipulation becomes more difficult.
The tip up barrel overcomes all of the problems that I have noticed.

Jim
 
I'd look at a snubnose of some type, but I'd probably look at 32mag. 38 Special in a light snub is a difficult round to shoot well, and not all that fun to practice with.
 
Size doesnt matter
Click to expand...

I'm sure she's heard that before...

in all seriousness, I second the notion of a 38 cal revolver. it's about as simple as it gets and no slide racking to speak of. my wife carries a k-frame sized revolver and she can do that without much issue.
 
If she's a runner, a small belt pack won't look out of place. Put a S&W 642 inside with cell phone, mp3, and car keys. No hammer to snag, no slide to rack, simple point and click interface.

S&W 642 J-frame revolver
 
To all the revolver fans

I guess I should have mentioned I went down the revolver path first with her, as I thought it was the best choice. She is convinced a revolver is too bulky and hard to conceal. I should have also mentioned she has been to the range with my family several times and shot everything we own - including my Ruger .357, my dad's S&W 9mm and his Colt 1911 .45. She actually liked the Colt the best of them all. Go figure.

So, when we went to shoot the LCP I believed we had met all her requirements and was quite baffled with how much she hated it. I must say her hand was quite raw and red after shooting it. And I noticed it seeemd to have a looong trigger pull, but then I don't own any DA only. But, I did like it. I guess it goes to show that heavier guns are more balanced, in a way, and smoother to shoot.

So, whenever she gets back in town from a biz trip we will hit the range and one of two things will happen - she will either love it or hate it--and if she hates it---I will probably buy it from her.....
 
golden, I'd like to try the Beretta __cat line, but I don't know someone with one to borrow and that Minx just doesn't want to go home with me bad enough to do it. Those little mouseguns are the only thing Beretta makes that even has a chance to fit my hand, and they'd make superb toys.

I don't have trouble with the P32, though, and don't really need the tip-up feature and even with my monster mitts I don't have trouble with the slide if racked overhand. And I so rarely carry the little thing that I couldn't justify another in that size class except as a toy, thus the desire for that Minx (if I could only find a few spare magazines somewhere for it, and if I could talk the shop down to $225 OTD, I'd have it to go with all these .22shorts I have for the Henry)

===

ChopChopGirl, I understand the no-revo concept, revolvers are just so wide for their capacity compared to autoloaders!
Also, if she hates it ... any idea what the little thing went for when she bought it?

===

Doug S, while the .32__ revolver may look good on paper, there is a lot to be said for a cartridge a new shooter can get anywhere. New shooters don't want to deal with ordering specialty ammo or going gun-shop to gun-shop looking for something, they want to pick some ammo up at WalMart to plink with and maybe some HP stuff from a gun shop. The .38sp/.357mag is just so common and established, the .32 wheelguns get neglected because ammo isn't on the shelf.
 
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