Suggested Weapon for Petite Women

[8541]

My wife likes the Model 60 loaded with 38 SP +P 125 gr Speer Gold Dot's. Anyone with minimal control and hand strength can fire all 5 into a pie plate at 7 yards, rapid fire.

 

[Glocker]

O.K. you asked............

The best weapon for a good looking woman is a really BIG guy with a REALLY BIG gun ( Glock ) and as for a back up weapon it will be a pitbull with aids buy the way if she needs a weapon like I have just explained please E-Mail me for a time to be interviewed. I'll leave the dog at home, I'll give him a good word . If she don't like that then I would suggest a Smith 642 if she liked wheel guns, but if she likes bottom feeders then a Glock G26 would be nice.

 

[MarshallDodge]

AirForceShooter is right, let her decide.

My wife does not like my Sig P226, Smith 39, Kahr E9, or the King Cobra in .357 . She likes the grip of a 1911 even with the recoil of a .45 . She also likes her Colt Detective Special in .38 . I have no idea why.

I reload so she shoots reduced loads in the .45 most of the time and then some full power 185 grain Federal Hydra-Shoks for practice. I bought the Colt for her a year ago after a friend that owned it let her shoot it. She really likes it even with +P ammo.
She has a hard time racking the slide on the 1911's with the hammer down so she carefully cocks the gun and then racks the slide. The gun is kept cocked and locked most of the time so this shouldn't be an issue in an emergency.
My wife likes to practice with my S&W 2206 (a .22 autoloader) and I think that has helped her learn trigger control.
Once your wife has decided on what she likes I would recommend lots of practice.

 

[raghorn]

How about a short-barrelled 20 gauge pump shotgun? Maybe a youth model remington Wingmaster?

 

[Shorts]

I'm a small petite woman, I carry a Beretta 86. Over 1200rds through it without much hiccup other than not liking WWB and flat nosed roounds. That was cured with a ramp polish. It is accurate and easy to use.

Anyhow, my 86 doesn't seem to mind it is out of production, it still shoots the same. And the no extractor ting isn't a problem either. It cycles all 9 rounds. Beretta has a warranty. I expect they will honor it regardless. My only gripe is .380 cost more to run than a 9mm

Anyhow, my decision, the gun works for me and that's what matters.

 

[LWCmdr45]

My wife, 5' 2" and ? pounds (I'd be divorced if I posted her weight!) has very small hands and simply could not get a good hold on the grip/trigger reach of a full-sized pistol. Add to that, she has arthritis and next-to-no upper body strength, so had major problems trying to cycle the slide of most examples she tried. The problem with most "pocket pistols" is the stiff recoil spring, whether you're talking a Kahr 9x19mm. or a blowback .380. The *one* semi-auto pistol that fit her hand *and* that she could reliably manipulate the slide of was the locked breech Colt Government Model .380. We picked one up in stainless for her and she loves it. They're no longer made, though, so you'll have to search around a bit.

Happy hunting!

Steve

 

[Wilson 17&26]

Maybe the gun needs to be a pretty color. How about a nice Powder Blue like the P-32 above or the Ralph Lauren Anchor Blue P-3AT below

 

[larryw]

What I've learned (when it comes to finding the "right" guns for my better half):

- She is less sensitive to recoil than I assumed (she's small, I'm large; our kids are built like me: recoil is trivial compared to other events she's gone through).
- She is very sensitive to noise (baby farts three rooms away wake her up).
- She equates noise to recoil.
- High pressure rounds "recoil" more. 9 recoils more than 45; 40SW and 357Sig: get outta here with that!
- Doubling up on muffs and plugs means she burns through ammo like popcorn.
- Once we learned that trick, 44 mag and 12ga are FUN!
- Did I mention 45ACP?
- Making assumptions on what she wants, or what is best for her is usually a waste of time.
- I did buy her some shoes once...she and her friends still laugh...
- Discussing these things with her, well, she likes that...
- Ask her go go to the range, rent every gun they have and pick a gun (or two), any gun (or three). If that isn't an option, borrow guns from friends, etc.

Mine came home with a USP45C. I am not allowed to shoot it; I am expected to clean it.

Somewhere in this list there are a couple lessons that relatate, not only to guns, but also to happy marriages.

 

[jeremywills]

now thats funny, you cant play with it, but clean it

Just kidding

My mom doesn't personally choose to shoot guns, she expects my Dad to take care of the HD duties etc...

But my Best friends Mom has been divorced and single for many years now and she being a female by her self has been for years armed and ready. Being the small and petite, immediately the .22 was suggested, she said bah, whats the point so she tried the Glock 19 on the recommendation of the shop owner, absolutely hates it. Bought a Walther PPK, again hates it. She then tried the Sig 232, loves it. I been trying to buy that Walther off her for years, its a James Bond thing Always wanted one. She says no only because what if the Sig is out of commsion, always good to have a BUG, ok fair enough. Point is it took her 3 guns to finally find the right one. Just take your time and let her decide what works best. I took the same approach and after many rentals and paying others range fees and showing up with an extra box of ammo as incentive, I finally found my personal favorite. Im a small 5-4 120 lb guy, so realistically larger guns knock me around a bit, you should see me with a 12 guage magnum and slugs, they say its hilarious. I like small guns because Im small, doesnt mean she will be the same. I seen petite women with .357 magnums and they were doing just fine out there. I personally think .357 is too much for me, so each to his or her own.

Best of luck

 

[waffentomas]

My wife is 5' 0", and 80 lbs. She has VERY small hands.

Here is what didn't work:

J frame SW, Taurus, Colt Det. SPL etc. (revolvers in general) - long trigger pull turned her off.
All Sigs, just too big, even the small .380s.
HK P7 - too big

What did work
Kahr - but it still kicks a little too much for her.
1911 with flat mainspring housing. She loves Kimbers - (so I bought a 10mm Eclipse for me. Hey, at least we have a Kimber)

What we bought was a Browning HP in .40 cal. Sent it to Cylinder and Slide for an action job, and further grip reduction. She loves the gun for home defense and it really was the smallest grip of them all, save the Kahr, which the the gun she carries in her purse. We load with with the Federal PD ammo, as she is also a bit recoil sensitive.

She has VERY small hands, and the aforementioned guns were the only ones that worked for her.

You have a lot of replies, hope this helps.

Tom

 

[Wayniac]

It seems this question has been covered quite well here. I will just add that I agree that caliber should not be the big concern here. A .22 in hand is better than a .45 left at home. My fiance had never shot a gun before, and when we first met she indicated that she never would. After a time, she agreed to go to the range with me and fire my .22 Ruger MKII Bull. I could not get the gun out of her hands after that!
She, too, did not like the recoil of my Taurus pt111 9mm. So I am prolly going to buy her a .22 soon.
Many say that a .22 is not an effective weapon, my retort is...
Do you want to get shot with a .22? Me neither!

"The first rule of a gun fight? Bring a gun!"

 

[evan price]

SIG239 in 9mm.

Whoever mentioned Highpoints; had one as a tossaway for plinking, cheap as hell, pretty reliable but I have problems with the slide slicing open the top of my right hand along the edge of the palm where my index finger knuckle presses up against the grips. I have to consciously not choke up so high on the grip when I fire. Wound up trading it off. (I have big hands)

 

[antsi]

If she liked the .357 wheelgun loaded with .38 spl, then that's what I'd get her. My wife likes the same combo.

You could argue all day whether .357 to .38 is a drop off in defense effectiveness, but I'd say if she can hit the bad guy COM with .38's that will slow him down a lot better than a .357 she refuses to shoot

 

[jeremywills]

+1

38's will definately get the job done when placed correctly, so will .22's I do hope she finds the right one.

Once again, good luck

 

[kid_couteau]

Hi

I dont know if anyone said this but I suggest two things

Since it is in home get her a Rossi model 92 in 38/357 mag and a rottweiler.

The rifle has an easy lever action, is short and very little recoil with 38 special. It can also be used as a club.

The rottweiler? No recoil, always loaded and she can ride him like a horse to get away if necessary.

See ya
Kid

 

[twosigs]

S&W Model 60 21/2 inch barrel. I sent it to S&W to get a trigger job and bob'ed hammer. The trigger is light, smooth and DA only. Sweet gun for self defense. No safeties. No single action accidents. Just point and shoot.

 

[GoBrush]

The Sig 239 in Nine may be a good choice. It is a single stack and should fit small hands fine.