A friend called me some weeks ago to talk about handguns for his wife and grown daughter; wife had been attacked (knife) at work and cut pretty badly but was recovering. He knows rifles but his only handgun is a Ruger Blackhawk in .30 carbine - not a typical "carry" type gun. Mom and daughter are familiar with .22 rifles but nothing larger.
Met them at the range with S&W and Ruger DA .357 revolvers with very light .38 loads (125g lead cone nose / 3.5g Unique); a BHP with WWB 9mm, and a 1911 with light loads (200g lswc / 5.1g Unique).
Started with the light .38s, single and then double action. Tried the Browning, and then (against my better judgement) the 1911.
Well, I sure learned a thing or two! Both mom and daughter liked the 1911 best, and shot it best. Did not try them with factory loads but WWB .45 is not that much harder to hold onto than my light loads - maybe louder and sharper, but not a quantum leap, like going from .38 to .357 mag.
BTW mom was shooting strong hand only since her left arm was still all bandaged from the knife attack. She braced her hip against the bench/table at the firing line, and had no trouble with the 1911 with one hand.
So I learned to *never* assume what anyone - man or woman - "ought" to shoot. I will not make any more recommendations - just let them try whatever I can bring to the range, and make their own choices.
Regards,
Andrew
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