The DW Patriot, the CZ-75B, the Hi-Point, and the Wife

[McNutt]

My wife accompanied me to the range yesterday. She's only done that a couple of times in her life and has only fired maybe 20 rounds downrange. I'd love for her to enjoy it like I do, but I didn't have high hopes. I brought my Dan Wesson Patriot .45 and my brand new CZ-75B Tactical 9mm. Her sister and her husband brought their Hi-Point .380. I've heard a lot of bad things about that gun from THR members and wanted to see for myself.

I started the session with my CZ. I had never fired a CZ before but had wanted one forever. They're not very popular here in Baton Rouge for some reason. I'm sure they would be if Mel Gibson had used one in Lethal Weapon instead of the Beretta. Who knows why some things just don't catch on? The gun has a black slide and grips and a green frame. Normally I'm not a big fan of the trendy green frame, but for some reason I really like it on the CZ. The trigger was a little heavy, but it seemed to lighten up and smooth out quite a bit during the range session. It's now a much better trigger than it was out of the box. Performance was exceptional. My groups were pretty tight (for me at least) and I never had a single failure. My wife shot the gun fairly well, but she complained that she couldn't find a comfortable way to grip the gun. It's a large gun, about the same size as a 1911, and I think she would have preferred something smaller. She also complained about the kick, but it really isn't bad at all. Overall I was very pleased with the gun but she said "I don't like it." If you want a solid 9mm this would be my first choice. I liked the Sig P226 I shot a lot, but I wouldn't spend the extra $ to buy one. I think the CZ is just as good. This is one of the better steals in handguns, but I have a feeling most of you reading this already know that.

Next up was my 6-month-old DW Patriot 1911. This is my baby. I love this gun and it will be a cold day in hell before I get rid of it. The gun has never failed me and was the first gun I ever shot that made me look like I knew what I was doing. It has a 3.25lb trigger that is absolute perfection. This is the gun that puts a big fat smile on my face. I let my wife shoot it and her first shot was dead center. I was totally impressed, but she seemed to nervous about her followup shot. The kick startled her a bit. Her second shot wasn't as good, but wasn't bad at all. I think the recoil of the gun made her start flinching. I'm sure that can be cured over time. Of course she handed me the gun saying she didn't like it.

Next up was my sister-in-law's Hi-Point .380. This gun hs been the subject of many heated debates. Everybody seems to be split with half believing the gun is total junk and half thinking it's a good gun for $100. After shooting it a few times and allowing my wife to do the same I'm going to have to say that it's a good gun for $100. It's not a gun that I would use for self defense, but if you just want a plinker you'll be pretty satisfied. My wife did experience one FTF, but other than that the Hi-Point performed quite well.

While at the range my wife told me that she would like to get her own gun. She wants something that would be fun to shoot yet still be decent for self defense. I let her handle a Glock, but she didn't like the feel at all. She wants something small, but not so full of kick that she's going to hate shooting it. Right now I'm leaning towards a Bersa Thunder. I think that might be a great gun for her. Do you have any suggestions?

Overall it was a great trip to the range.

 

[MrAcheson]

Do you have any suggestions?

The "what do I get the wife" question comes up around here a lot. First, let her pick it out. Otherwise its your gun that she shoots and she will know it. Secondly, she probably has smaller hands and less affinity to recoil than you so keep that in mind when you are guiding her through the purchasing process.

My recommendation is a .22 in either auto or revolver. Go somewhere with selection and let her pick it out. Its not a defense gun, but it doesn't have to be. She'll want a defense gun later once she gets hooked and right now what you have can fill that niche. One of my female coworkers started shooting with the beretta 92 but it was too big for her, so she switched to a ladysmith revolver and did much better.

 

[Tropical Z]

Get her a hard chromed Kel-Tec P32.Im betting she'll love it.

 

[fnforme]

McNutt, first off......you have excellent taste in guns . My favorite 9mm I've ever shot is the CZ 75B. I'm more accurate with my CZ than any other gun. I could have most any 9mm I want, but I choose the CZ not just because of the value, but because it'll feed anything and keep 'em all in the 10 ring. What more can I ask for in a 9mm?

Glad to hear you're happy with the Dan Wesson, if only it didn't have front slide serrations I would buy one. Instead I'll be picking up a Dan Wesson Patriot Commander within a few weeks, it's just a matter of finding one. I can't wait, this will be my first 1911. It seems Dan Wesson is to 1911s what CZ is to 9mm service handguns (like SIG and HK).

As for your wife, I would recommend either a .22 magnum revolver or preferably a .357 like a S&W 686 or Ruger. At the range let her use .22's or .38's, depending on the gun and then keep it loaded with the magnum cartridges after you let her fire a few downrange for familiarity.

 

[middy]

My Bersa's recoil is about as stiff as my Glock 19, due to the blowback design. Recoil is subjective, though, so she may like it better.

Take her to a range that rents pistols and try a bunch...

 

[McNutt]

Thanks, fnforme. The CZ is indeed a great gun and I'm glad I got one. As for the FCS on the Patriot, I prefer the look of a 1911 without them. But for the most part you either have to buy a Mil-Spec or an Ed Brown to get a 5" without them. It wasn't a deal breaker for me though. But now that I have it I find that I always rack the slide back using the FCS. I've grown to like them.

The reason I'm going to suggest the Bersa to her is because we rented one once and she didn't say anything bad about it. Now I'm not going to fool myself into thinking that she's going to find a gun that she gets really excited about. That's like asking me which set of china do I want.

 

[raz-0]

McNutt, have her test fondle a beretta cougar to see if ti fits her. if it fits, see if you can arrange to rent one. I tried one in 45 and it is really one of the most mellow recoiling guns I have come across that doesnt weigh a ton. The rotating barrel setup really tends to turn the harsh impulse into more of a shove.

Downside is it is kind of pricey and not terribly small.

 

[McNutt]

I was actually looking at one of those in a magazine and wondered if it would work for her. She's not a big fan of the .45 as she has it in her head that it's just too powerful. She's too concerned about what it would do to a bad guy if she ever had to shoot them. "It would be too traumatic", she said. Of course I told her it would be much more traumatic if she weren't able to stop him, but that's a topic for another thread.

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

Sounds to me like you want your wife to have a gun more than she wants one. There's nothing wrong with that, but speaking from experience I'd like to offer you one bit of advice--make certain that the gun you buy her is a gun that you yourself would like to own. The odds are that she'll never really take to the gun regardless of what you buy her and either the gun will keep the safe weighted down or you will end up using it yourself.

 

[McNutt]

No, it's really not like that. I was pushing for a Glock even though I can't stand shooting them. They're good guns, just not my cup of tea. I just want something that she'll enjoy shooting at the range, but won't be anemic or complicated if she has to use it for self defense. Still, she's nowhere near ready mentally to own a gun and I won't get her one until I feel she knows what she's doing.

 

[valnar]

The most comfortable 9mm grip I've felt, especially for a smaller hand, would be the Kahr K9. Kinda pricey, but an excellent gun all around. Small for her, heavy enough for the recoil, and in a major caliber for SD.


-Robert

 

[McNutt]

I showed her the K9 and she didn't like it either. It's an uphill battle and I think it's going to result in her shooting my guns for awhile. Thanks for the advice, guys.

 

[Watch-Six]

I no longer own any revolvers. My wife and daughter, however, both chose Ruger SP101s for their own guns. Let you wife pick out what she likes. I bought several really premo guns for my wife. She didn't like any of them as well as a plain old SP101. Watch-Six

 

[rbert0005]

Check out a 9mm 1911. I have a DW and it is a dream to shoot. Recoil is negligable.

Bob

 

[CZF]

YEs, a CZ83 in .32 or .380. The steel frame helps with recoil.
The smooth triggers rival any other .380s. The grip is small and
most women really like them once they get to shoot one.

13-shot mags make up for the .380s minimal stopping power.
Should she want a 9mm. the RAMI is great. so is the soft shooting
P-01.

Don't overlook the polymer framed and inexpensive CZ-100.
A rock solid 9mm that is only held back by it's Double Action
Only feature. Actually, new shooter who don't have pre-conceptions
about trigger pullls, really love the $300 wonder-nine.

There seems to be a CZ for everyone.

 

[Berg01]

She wants something small, but not so full of kick that she's going to hate shooting it. Right now I'm leaning towards a Bersa Thunder. I think that might be a great gun for her. Do you have any suggestions?

If you & the wife can rent any / all of these first at local range, these are worth a look;

Sig P225 or P239
CZ P-01
S&W 908
HK USP9 Compact
Kahr PM9

 

[gharsh]

A few year ago, our neighbor was held up in his backyard, we were living in an apartment at the time, and my wife wanted something that she could use. She couldn't rack the slide on my autos so we went looking for a revolver. We ended up getting an S&W 60. She shoots it often enough to feel comfortable with it, but she does not like the feel of .357s in it, neither do I come to think of it. But, she picked it out on how it felt in her hand. A revolver is easy to use and with Federal Hydra Shock .38s she feels comfortable with it in her nightstand.

I agree with the recommendation of getting a .22, either auto or revolver. Would get her to shooting more often perhaps due to the lack of recoil and blast. May even feel the calling to start shooting in something like Bullseye shooting or something. .22s can be had for little money if she decides to not like it also.

Good Luck.