A J-frame might just be a good beginner's gun, if her hands are small enough. I HAVE seen this myself, though it was notably with all-stainless-steel J-frames, not light alloy-framed guns. PPK? Well, one caution: Those little monsters KICK. The combination of fixed barrel and small size causes quite a kick, in comparison to a locked-breech design, in which the barrel will unlock as the slide is already in motion to the rear. I have taught small-handed beginners with my Colt Mustang, which really does have soft recoil; a PPK is a little monster in comparison. A Kahr K9 is another soft-recoiling weapon, compared to a PPK. I am not saying the PPK hurts me, or anyone else, but the sudden snap of the recoil is distracting. My wife has a .380 PP, and I did have a .380 PPK, so I could compare them side-by-side. The lightly longer grip of the PP, plus the greater weight of the steel due to the longer grip and barrel/frame, make the PP much less of a kicker in recoil. Another hearty recommendation for the SP101; I carry one or more with me 24/7. I also agree with those who have said it is important to let HER choose, but she might need some guidance, in case she has some preconceived mistaken notions in her head, such as the idea that lighter guns lick less, or that smaller guns kick less. Those are VERY common ideas among non-shooters.
Small pistol for fiance
- Thread starter TL1234
- Start date
- Status
Lots of questions arise - Is she going to be intimidated by it, or practice so it will become like an extension of her arm? Will it be concealable or take up half of her purse? Will the barrel be so short that she can hardly hit the side of a barn due to a short sight radius...
One of the lightweight 3-4 inch barrel revolvers or a smaller Glock might work unless she's going to keep a larger pistol or revolver in the drawer or under the seat of a truck-then it can be a BIG ONE!
Practice often and go for the bullseye!
One of the lightweight 3-4 inch barrel revolvers or a smaller Glock might work unless she's going to keep a larger pistol or revolver in the drawer or under the seat of a truck-then it can be a BIG ONE!
Practice often and go for the bullseye!
BlindJustice
Member
S & W 317 3 inch bbl. it's 8 shot and only 11 or so oz
it's easier for a newbie to get the basics down than
also fiddling with magazines. A MOdel 60 is all
stainless steel and with the 3 inch bbl she could
graduate up from .38 spcl to lighter wt .357 mag
Just a thought
it's easier for a newbie to get the basics down than
also fiddling with magazines. A MOdel 60 is all
stainless steel and with the 3 inch bbl she could
graduate up from .38 spcl to lighter wt .357 mag
Just a thought
Choclabman
Member
My wife picked the Glock G26, after holding and shooting, several different makes and models of pistols and revolvers.
The pistols, I thought she would like, she did not care for.
Lesson learned.
Let her choose.
The pistols, I thought she would like, she did not care for.
Lesson learned.
Let her choose.
Mantua
Member
Does your P99 have the 3 different grips? I prefer the largest size, but my fiance can't wrap her hand around it. Have you tried with the smallest size?
tosterlocker: congratulations with fiance and yourself doing the CC thing.
My initial thought:
has she shot before?
Has she ever talked about any gun?
Has she ever gone to a gun shop with you or alone?
Many if not most are intimidated initially with the prospect; out of there every day life.
Should she already have a preference then by all means the her answer is already yours.
Television gives most new-be's a distorted view
Take her to a shooting range;
inform the owner of you intentions
Start with a .22 for acquaintance
Grow from there.
The only way to keep new-be's involved; isn't by trying to impress
Good Luck to Both of YOU: and Congrats to the soon to bee's CCW's
My initial thought:
has she shot before?
Has she ever talked about any gun?
Has she ever gone to a gun shop with you or alone?
Many if not most are intimidated initially with the prospect; out of there every day life.
Should she already have a preference then by all means the her answer is already yours.
Television gives most new-be's a distorted view
Take her to a shooting range;
inform the owner of you intentions
Start with a .22 for acquaintance
Grow from there.
The only way to keep new-be's involved; isn't by trying to impress
Good Luck to Both of YOU: and Congrats to the soon to bee's CCW's
MillerTimeLV
Member
Beretta Tomcat is one I would recommend. .32cal isn't that bad and it certainly doesn't have much recoil. The Tomcat is very small which makes it easy to conceal and appealing to women.
For a target gun, I recommend the Ruger Mark II... that's what my wife shoots and she loves it. It's accurate and has little to no recoil. With a speed loader, it's simply and fun for the range.
For a target gun, I recommend the Ruger Mark II... that's what my wife shoots and she loves it. It's accurate and has little to no recoil. With a speed loader, it's simply and fun for the range.
Okay, we can let this thread die already. I can tell a bunch of the people that posted didn't even read my first post. For those of you who did, thank you for the tips.
I'm going to go somewhere where she can try a bunch of guns, even if it means driving over 3 hours to Phoenix. So unless you can suggest a good rental range in Arizona, I don't need any more help for now. Thanks!
I'm going to go somewhere where she can try a bunch of guns, even if it means driving over 3 hours to Phoenix. So unless you can suggest a good rental range in Arizona, I don't need any more help for now. Thanks!
Autolycus
Member
Let her choose. That is the best advice in the end.
AZAndy
Member
Good rental range in AZ
Try High Noon in Prescott Valley. They've got a dozen or so different rentals. Friendly people, and everything you need is available (hearing protection, etc.) I'll even meet you there and let her try out my pistols (1911 .45, Walther-clone 9x18, Bersa .380) if you like.
Poking around in J&G in Prescott, just to handle and talk about a lot of different guns with the expert staff, would be a side benefit of the trip.
It's a pretty drive if you go through Wickenburg and Congress and Yarnell, too, be a nice outing this time of year.
Andy
Try High Noon in Prescott Valley. They've got a dozen or so different rentals. Friendly people, and everything you need is available (hearing protection, etc.) I'll even meet you there and let her try out my pistols (1911 .45, Walther-clone 9x18, Bersa .380) if you like.
Poking around in J&G in Prescott, just to handle and talk about a lot of different guns with the expert staff, would be a side benefit of the trip.
It's a pretty drive if you go through Wickenburg and Congress and Yarnell, too, be a nice outing this time of year.
Andy
RonR
Member
If you go to Phoenix, you can try Shooter's World. I was there a few weeks ago and tried a 642. It had a pretty smooth (but, heavy) trigger and about what I'd expect for a double action. My hand was a little sore after 20 rounds, but it still has my interest. I'm far from a novice though, and I can understand what is being said about women being put off with this gun. Others are more comfortable. You will have to buy their ammo for use with their rentals. They are here: http://www.azshootersworld.com/
Xenia
Member
I wanted to say also that www.corneredcat.com is a great website for her.
I am new to guns and went out and tried as many as I could before I bought. I have very small hands so finding a gun was not easy. The "J" frame revolvers looked great but I hated shooting them for example.
I bought a Glock 19 because I could shoot it well and liked the size and so forth. But, when I started to think about carrying, I ran into the problem of the gun being just a tiny bit too big for me. I could not consistantly reach the trigger from a draw.
When I picked it up from a table, I naturally adjusted it and was fine, but when trying to get it into my hand quickly, I had trouble. I ended up trading it in.
I really like my S&W MP9 c. I have put over a thousand bullets through it in the last several weeks in fact. There is a special going on where if you buy certain S&W products you can get free magazines for it and a free range bag. That is some nice icing on the cake.
Women have no trouble dealing with magazines. I use a magazine loader and I am good to go. I do agree that loading magazines without an aid is a pain in the neck. But other then loading them, they are very easy to deal with.
I am not against revolvers btw. I only had the chance to try to shoot a J frame and a lady (something) revolver. I didn't like the way they fit (or didn't fit) my hand.
I am new to guns and went out and tried as many as I could before I bought. I have very small hands so finding a gun was not easy. The "J" frame revolvers looked great but I hated shooting them for example.
I bought a Glock 19 because I could shoot it well and liked the size and so forth. But, when I started to think about carrying, I ran into the problem of the gun being just a tiny bit too big for me. I could not consistantly reach the trigger from a draw.
When I picked it up from a table, I naturally adjusted it and was fine, but when trying to get it into my hand quickly, I had trouble. I ended up trading it in.
I really like my S&W MP9 c. I have put over a thousand bullets through it in the last several weeks in fact. There is a special going on where if you buy certain S&W products you can get free magazines for it and a free range bag. That is some nice icing on the cake.
Women have no trouble dealing with magazines. I use a magazine loader and I am good to go. I do agree that loading magazines without an aid is a pain in the neck. But other then loading them, they are very easy to deal with.
I am not against revolvers btw. I only had the chance to try to shoot a J frame and a lady (something) revolver. I didn't like the way they fit (or didn't fit) my hand.
marley
Member
My girlfriend touched everything under the sun. She picked the sig 232. It fit the best. The gun show is a nice place. We walked and talked and she touched things over and over til she decided what she liked. That is the best and really the only smart way to do it. Patrick
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
