semi auto or revolver for woman?

[red rick]

I went pistol shopping with my friend yesterday . She wanted a semi auto pistol . See has a hard time racking the slide , l have worked with her , people in the gun store worked with her , but she just can't get her forum down . One minute she has her finger in the chamber , another her finger in the trigger guard , then switches hands and when she gets it racked she has just as hard of a time releasing the slide . We tried many pistols . Finally the sales person handed her a S&W 360 revolver and she decided to get it . Now I hope she doesn't have a ND . She will not listen to me , I told her she needs a instructor and she gave me that look . Seeing her with a gun makes me think everybody shouldn't have a gun if they don't get training or pass a handling class .

 

[entropy]

I'm a gunsmith, so I understand the physics. I also understand the ballistics.And I agree with using a .22 auto to train someone in the fundamentals, I do so myself. And yes, There are some people that cannot manipulate actions or pull a DA revolver trigger. A .22 is a viable choice for them, but the need to develop marksmanship increases with it because of it's ballistics. Perhaps a new shooter with such physical limitations might have more incentive to become very proficient with a .22, but not all will train to the skill level needed. That's where the problem arises. (Heck, we all need more training.) With less powerful calibers, bullet placement is paramount, and the amount of training needed, both fundamental and scenario-based, increases exponentially.
That said, a .22 is better than nothing.

I went pistol shopping with my friend yesterday . She wanted a semi auto pistol . See has a hard time racking the slide , l have worked with her , people in the gun store worked with her , but she just can't get her forum down . One minute she has her finger in the chamber , another her finger in the trigger guard , then switches hands and when she gets it racked she has just as hard of a time releasing the slide . We tried many pistols . Finally the sales person handed her a S&W 360 revolver and she decided to get it . Now I hope she doesn't have a ND . She will not listen to me , I told her she needs a instructor and she gave me that look . Seeing her with a gun makes me think everybody shouldn't have a gun if they don't get training or pass a handling class .

Sure she ain't a guy? That sounds more like an ego issue to me.

 

[FLNT4EVR]

She should choose her own. but in any small 38 revolver a cylinder full of good wadcutters can be quite effective ,with low recoil . And in an auto the Sig P238 is a very easy to rack auto with great accuracy,and night sights. Modern 380 defensive ammo has become quite good.

 

[Steve in PA]

Let her pick. My wife has developed some physical limitations over the years, making it difficult for her to rack the slide of a semi-auto pistol. She used to carry and shoot my S&W 6906. One day, she handled my BUG; S&W 642 and found it suited her needs perfectly.

 

[tark]

I guess it depends a lot on the individual woman. And her mentality; is she a passive person or a fighter? I'm sure Rhonda Rousey could probably rack the tightest Les Baer 1911 ever made with her teeth, and she's a fighter. She could handle any pistol with ease and effectively counter any threat with it.

But what of a woman who is just the opposite? A person who has never been exposed to a life or death situation? It seems to me that one requirement is paramount over all else:

How instinctively and easily can the weapon be put into action? You want a gun that doesn't require any thinking or remembering (Like taking off a safety). In a deadly situation all your instruction may go out the window on the rush of adrenaline. You want something stupid simple; point it, pull the trigger and it goes bang.

This indicates two types of pistols, autos with a Glock type of action or a double action revolver. If your carrying, racking the slide should not be a consideration, that should have been done at home, before you holstered the gun. Not everyone carries with a round chambered, but I think most do.

A good D/A revolver would be my choice. Most have manageable D/A triggers for persons with lesser strength, or can be gunsmithed to have one. They are stupid simple (see above requirement) reliable, and plenty powerful. In a 38SPL wadcutter loads have very little recoil and are very good "stoppers". If you don't believe that, shoot a large pot roast with one and marvel at the hole it makes.

In closing, like others have mentioned, let it be HER choice. Then she will feel like it is HER gun, not one that was given to her.

 

[Jim Watson]

The consensus seems to be the DA revolver. You will be glad to know that W.W. Greener agreed with you, 100 years ago.

"The modern revolver is a weapon designed for quick work at close quarters and for use in one hand. The qualities of paramount importance are rapidity of fire, accuracy and penetration at close range, handiness and quick reloading. A weapon for use in a melee, the last resource in a desperate emergency, it need not have length of range; of greater moment is the simplicity of the mechanism which ought to make no demand upon the shooter's attention.



For this last reason, if for no other, the double action pistol is vastly the superior of the older mechanism. Self extracting mechanism is of less importance, even – save perhaps for weapons placed in the hands of cavalry – for, if after firing five or six shots at close range, the danger has not passed, the time left may probably be spent to better advantage than by hastily reloading the revolver, though, of course there may arise situations of continued peril when it may be possible, and then the self extracting system will prove advantageous."

He kind of contradicts himself on the quick reloading part but "ought to make no demand on the shooter's attention" is right off the Internet.

 

[RX-79G]

You will be glad to know that W.W. Greener agreed with you, 100 years ago.

Considering this was a decade before DA autos were invented, I'm not surprised.

 

[Jim Watson]

Yes. Even though the Roth Steyr was out at the time of that edition, there may not have been one in England yet.

 

[ATLDave]

I have seen 80+ year old women with arthritic hands learn to manipulate the slide on standard service-caliber pistols. I think there is a significant psychological component to the "trouble racking the slide" difficulty experienced/reported by many women. Many women - not all, maybe not even most, but many - seem to have a greater reluctance to apply what feels to them like a great deal of force to anything. They are often more worried about breaking the gun, or losing control of it because their grip "slips," or the like. They also may have more sensitive skin, which makes gripping abrasive or sharp surfaces more painful. They (and some new male shooters who have the same concerns) sometimes benefit from being told that "you need to grip it hard, grip the slide hard, and then pull/push hard. You can't hurt it. We'll practice with it unloaded."

At the end of the day, however, all handguns depend significantly upon hand strength for effective use (whether that use is target shooting, self-defense, or something else). Loading a semi-auto requires hand strength. Clearing a malfunction requires hand strength. Effectively managing a double-action trigger (such as a revolver trigger) requires hand strength. Managing recoil requires hand strength. Drawing quickly and safely requires hand strength. Retaining a gun in a scuffle requires hand strength. If the person in question truly doesn't have a minimal level of hand strength, then a handgun isn't going to be very useful for them without assistance in the moment. And that's just the way it is.

 

[Kendal Black]

Tip-up barrel automatics solve the slide racking problem, but there are not a lot of those in good self-defense calibers. Beretta made some .380's that way, the Model 86. I think that one not too bad a bet if you can find one.

More tip-up pistols, including the long-discontinued Le Français:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tip-up_barrel

 

[Bullseye]

I am considering a double action in .38 special or hard to find 9mm revolver as I know 9 mm recoil out of a revolver is almost nil. The small Rugers might be an option.

If she really wants a handgun ...
I think you'll get a big kiss if you bought her a .357 Ruger SP101 that she could shoot a variety of ammo out of it.
You could go all out and get her a Talo engraved just cause she'll like it and it is a fairly heavy revolver for a fancy snubby and recoil is not too big of a deal.

 

[Jeff H]

I took my wife to the LGS and she tried out every small framed handgun that they had. We ended up with a Sig P238. A little on the expensive side, but the has no issues with the slide (she struggles with a Shield) and she likes it so that is all that matters.

 

[gbran]

My girlfriend isn't a small woman but still has trouble racking the slide on medium size autos. She tried an M&P shield and couple others lately and still had trouble. I am considering a double action in .38 special or hard to find 9mm revolver as I know 9 mm recoil out of a revolver is almost nil. The small Rugers might be an option. As far as .38 special ammo, what would be best for low recoil but still good defense round? I am not a fan of the .380 but I did find a Ruger that she might be able to rack and a small Browning .380 in a 1911 frame. this will be a Christmas present, any input will be appreciated. Thanks.

I just picked up a Sig P238 (.380), like a really small 1911, a takeoff of the Colt Mustang. It runs like a sewing machine, is reliable, accurate for it's size and the slide is real easy. Comes with a 6 rnd mag and I bought 2 extra 7 rnd mags.

 

[TRX]

My wife can't rack the slide on her LCP. But like she said, it has one chambered and a full magazine, and she doesn't carry a spare mag, so it's not important. And she really likes the LCP and doesn't care for revolvers.

Racking to clear a malfunction *is* important... but she's confident enough in the gun for that not to be an issue for her.

Not my choice, but it works for her.

 

[Kendal Black]

The easy DA trigger pull of the Ruger LCR, and the option to change grips looking for something that fits the hand, make it a good gun to investigate if going the revolver route.

 

[Hondo 60]

I'm sorry, but this issue just irks me.
I've taught a concealed carry class to probably 15-20 women.

And I'd like to know, why do men insist on picking out a gun for a woman?
Why not let her choose?
If it's a semi-auto, she has to be able to rack the slide.
A gun has to "fit" & "feel right" in HER hand!

I also want to take issue with the OP's statement

as I know 9 mm recoil out of a revolver is almost nil.

Really??? Why would you say that?
I have a Taurus Model 905, (9mm revolver), and I guarantee you, recoil is NOT "almost nil".
It strikes as hard as most 357 Mag ammo.

 

[TheBigFundamental]

Totally depends on the individual so she will need to get her hands on as many different guns as she can to help inform her choice.

But, FWIW, my wife was having trouble finding slides she could easily rack but when she tried the Sig P238 she found it very easy and that became her first gun. She has developed those muscles a little and can now rack most of my semi autos, but it was a really big dilemma when we were shopping for her first pistol.

I skipped a lot when reading, has she chosen yet?

 

[threefeathers]

We teach a Safety-Selection Seminar in Tucson, gatorfarmtactical.com, and the students fire up to 12 different handguns beginning with a Walther P22. Folks are all ages and over the years there is one clear favorite for women, the Glock 26 which is now being challanged by the Glock 43, 42. (I don't carry a Glock normally.) The absolutely worst handgun for a woman who won't put hours of practice in it is a snub nosed revolver which has heavy recoil and is very hard to reload. In fact my experience is that only one male out of 5 can effectively reload any revolver in the time necessary to save their lives.

 

[Milt1]

I've said this often in responding to these types of post. I don't care of it's a man or woman, if they don't shoot weekly a semi-auto isn't the handgun for them. So, if one is limited in the amount of time they can spend on the range then a revolver is the only way to go for their safety and for those around them. With that said they should pick a shooting range where there are a number of revolvers available to try and they should also consider how they are going to conceal the weapon either on their person, in their car or in their home.

 

[Zendude]

For a novice with weak hand strength I have found that a relatively easy semiauto to operate is the Sig 238. Easy to rack and almost impossible to induce a limp wrist jam. For a revolver, the Charter 32 H&R solves the recoil issue in a 12 oz platform, so no need to lug around a 28 oz wheel gun. Self defense ammo for the 32 is the same price as others but will need to purchase it on the internet.

 

[Blacksmoke]

Then there is this,

upload images free

"...all the way back... until it locks."

 

[herrwalther]

When it comes to handguns and women. You will always be wrong. Just accept it. The journey to find a great firearm for my wife continues into its 4th year and I am barely closer to finding one for her that I don't end up selling. Her ideal firearm, at this moment, doesn't exist. One of the first firearms I recommended for her was a Walther PPK/s in .380. She didn't like it, was too heavy, safety was odd etc etc. 2 weeks later she turns around and gets a Bersa Thunder .380. An almost identical clone to the Walther. I am wrong. Always will be.

When it comes to women I always try to let them wander where they wish. Offering as little guidance as possible. I have seen more women pick up a Glock 22 or Beretta 92FS and shoot amazing than I have pickup the pick or purple 9mm or snubby 38. But I digress.

There are some options for her in regards to manually operating a semi-auto slide. The Walther CCP, a relatively new firearm, was built solely for an easy to rack slide. You can also look at semi-autos that use a tip up barrel design. These use a lever that tilts the barrel up to load a single round in the chamber. No slide to pull. Downside to this is the calibers tend to be small like .22LR, .25ACP, .32ACP, and .380ACP if I recall them all. Models are Beretta Tomcat/Bobcat, Taurus PT-22/PT-25, and Beretta Cheetah.

 

[ManInLowCastle]

I would like to propose a bit of a thought experiment. Think back to the first handgun you ever purchased. Was it the best thing you ever purchased? Did it fit your ability, preferences, and hand size? For most of us the answer is no. I know it is for me. We made the best decision we could based on the information at hand and with our limited experience. As we grow as shooters our tastes change and we learn what works best for us. Male or female - you have to go through that process. Pushing people in one direction or another just builds resentment and destroys confidence.

 

[medalguy]

My daughter wanted her own handgun but she didn't want a wheel gun. Her choice. In order to narrow down the choices, I let her try out a bunch of my own pistols. She doesn't have a lot of upper body strength so she settled on a Colt Government .380 because it takes a lot less effort to rack the slide. After about 8 years she's still happy with her choice.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Without reading any of the thread, I will just say that she needs to try on a lot of guns, and choose for herself.

My girlfriend went with a Ruger LC9S. Good luck.