What does your woman carry?
- Thread starter mcschrader
- Start date
- Status
"What does your woman carry? "
MEand I am loaded for bear.
No one can realistically suggest what will work for you and your wife; which may wind up being two different guns, a his and a hers. There are many good to excellent possibilities. A S&W mod 60, a Ruger SP101 to one of the smaller 9mm auto's. Find a range that will let you rent and try out as many as seem to suit you. If the gun doesn't naturally fit the hand, balance well and come up to point without trying to find the sights, it ain't the right gun. The gun has to work like your finger. You don't aim your finger when you are pointing at something, it naturally goes to the object that is of interest.
Stay away from the Buck Rogers, Super Duper light guns, cause they hurt to shoot.
MEand I am loaded for bear.
No one can realistically suggest what will work for you and your wife; which may wind up being two different guns, a his and a hers. There are many good to excellent possibilities. A S&W mod 60, a Ruger SP101 to one of the smaller 9mm auto's. Find a range that will let you rent and try out as many as seem to suit you. If the gun doesn't naturally fit the hand, balance well and come up to point without trying to find the sights, it ain't the right gun. The gun has to work like your finger. You don't aim your finger when you are pointing at something, it naturally goes to the object that is of interest.
Stay away from the Buck Rogers, Super Duper light guns, cause they hurt to shoot.
First get ready for an onslaught of people telling you to let her pick her own pistol, which I agree but recomend some good ones for her. My wife loves our 9x18mm E. German Makorov, Its reliable, inexpensive, and fairly powerfull. Being that it is blowback operated makes it accurate from the stationary barrel. She shoots it well and that is the most important thing.
She has been hitting me up lately to trade something and get her a SS S&W J frame revolver or maybe a Ruger SP101 in 327fed so she can shoot 32 h&r mags for low recoil.
She has been hitting me up lately to trade something and get her a SS S&W J frame revolver or maybe a Ruger SP101 in 327fed so she can shoot 32 h&r mags for low recoil.
As you requested my suggestion for a gun not a website 
(which is a GREAT site BTW if she hasn't seen it, yet) are based on the assumption that she has relatively smaller hands than most guys, recoil sensitive and not very experienced (if at all) with a gun. Sadly, this is typical of most (but not all) ladies when they get their first gun. All that being said I would say any of these would be a good choice, if they fit her hand and overall size requirements.
Full Size:
Springfield XdM in 9mm. The M series will have the asjustable backstraps to allow better fit than the regular Xd. The original Xd is also great and if it fits her hand then you will have more barrel length options.
S&W M&P series in 9mm. For the same reasons as the XdM. I prefer the Xd/XdM series ergonomic design better and seem to have a natural point of aim. FWIW the M&P has adj. backstraps on all of its' versions.
Midsize and Compact:
I am a big fan of the Kahr line of pistols. Go with 9mm for least recoil and highest capacity. The make both steel and polymer framed versions of all their guns. Buy the steel to tame recoil or polymer if she can handle
the recoil well enough to make a good follow up.
Revolver:
S&W J-frame. They seem to fit small hands best of all the models. Barrel length is limited to pretty much 2" or 3" length. Stay away from magnum loads. A .38spcl is a proven manstopper. They make frames out of many different metals. Steel is best for reduced recoil. These guns are harder than the others to become profficent.
Pocket pistol:
Ruger LCP. This is the only mousegun which I've had positive experience. Sorry, KelTec fans but my P32 was a POS32, but I have heard they are better nowadays. This is hard gun to master and not something for a first time shooter.
Good luck and let us know what you decide.
(which is a GREAT site BTW if she hasn't seen it, yet) are based on the assumption that she has relatively smaller hands than most guys, recoil sensitive and not very experienced (if at all) with a gun. Sadly, this is typical of most (but not all) ladies when they get their first gun. All that being said I would say any of these would be a good choice, if they fit her hand and overall size requirements.Full Size:
Springfield XdM in 9mm. The M series will have the asjustable backstraps to allow better fit than the regular Xd. The original Xd is also great and if it fits her hand then you will have more barrel length options.
S&W M&P series in 9mm. For the same reasons as the XdM. I prefer the Xd/XdM series ergonomic design better and seem to have a natural point of aim. FWIW the M&P has adj. backstraps on all of its' versions.
Midsize and Compact:
I am a big fan of the Kahr line of pistols. Go with 9mm for least recoil and highest capacity. The make both steel and polymer framed versions of all their guns. Buy the steel to tame recoil or polymer if she can handle
the recoil well enough to make a good follow up.
Revolver:
S&W J-frame. They seem to fit small hands best of all the models. Barrel length is limited to pretty much 2" or 3" length. Stay away from magnum loads. A .38spcl is a proven manstopper. They make frames out of many different metals. Steel is best for reduced recoil. These guns are harder than the others to become profficent.
Pocket pistol:
Ruger LCP. This is the only mousegun which I've had positive experience. Sorry, KelTec fans but my P32 was a POS32, but I have heard they are better nowadays. This is hard gun to master and not something for a first time shooter.
Good luck and let us know what you decide.
armoredman
Member
My fave is either my S&W 638 loaded with +P 158g LSWCHP ammo or the Ruger LCP loaded with 90g Hornady Critical Defense.
Usually the S&W is preferred, but if it's a tiny purse, the LCP just fits perfectly.
Usually the S&W is preferred, but if it's a tiny purse, the LCP just fits perfectly.
ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Cornered Cat
Kathy Jackson (the estimable "pax" here on THR) maintains a site, The Cornered Cat, with a focus on the needs of women shooters.
I learned a lot from Kathy, and I'm just a guy. Have your wife start there.
Kathy is a Glock gal. Another lady, Jan ("springmom"), is a real fan of the BHP.
You will be happier if you set aside the preconceived notions of "ladie's guns" and find what suits your better half best.
Start at Kathy's site.
Kathy Jackson (the estimable "pax" here on THR) maintains a site, The Cornered Cat, with a focus on the needs of women shooters.
I learned a lot from Kathy, and I'm just a guy. Have your wife start there.
Kathy is a Glock gal. Another lady, Jan ("springmom"), is a real fan of the BHP.
You will be happier if you set aside the preconceived notions of "ladie's guns" and find what suits your better half best.
Start at Kathy's site.
mljdeckard
Member
My dignity and self-respect.
I can't say she carries my money. I usually have to explain to people; "This is my WIFE'S purse. She keeps my money in it. I hold it for her."
She hasn't decided she wants to carry. We were thinking about getting her a permit, to allow her to drive home with my loaded gun in the car, if it became necessary for some reason, but Utah recent changed the law to allow people to carry in the car without a permit. She is going back to school, and she has told me that she might be in night classes, and she may decide she wants to carry. (Carrying on college campuses is also allowed in Utah.
I can't say she carries my money. I usually have to explain to people; "This is my WIFE'S purse. She keeps my money in it. I hold it for her."
She hasn't decided she wants to carry. We were thinking about getting her a permit, to allow her to drive home with my loaded gun in the car, if it became necessary for some reason, but Utah recent changed the law to allow people to carry in the car without a permit. She is going back to school, and she has told me that she might be in night classes, and she may decide she wants to carry. (Carrying on college campuses is also allowed in Utah.
.22 S&W revolver, LadySmith Model 317, with a 1 7/8" barrel. 8 shots and light as a feather. A good gun for stray dogs.
bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
My second wife came with her own revolver arsenal ranging from 22 magnum to 45 colt
Most days it is a 357
Most days it is a 357
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
My wife owns, shoots, and carries a Glock 26 9mm, stock except for a set of Trijicon night sights.
My wallet, keys and phone most of the time.
She hasn't got her CHL yet, but when she does she wants something BIG. She likes guns with lots of recoil. My guess is she'll go with a .45 she likes .357 magnum as well... She's a bit different than most women
She hasn't got her CHL yet, but when she does she wants something BIG. She likes guns with lots of recoil. My guess is she'll go with a .45 she likes .357 magnum as well... She's a bit different than most women
.22 semi to .357 revolver!
That's a big jump in power. Not to persuade you but I hope she's tried a similar gun. The recoil difference, as you certainly already know, is night and day. I guess you cam always do .38 in it, too. May not want to do anything super lightweight if she's recoil sensitive. Hope she likes it.
I want to get my fiancé a gun for Xmas but she wanted a lousy nintendo wii. Women! Go figure!
I'm still getting my gsg-c and probably early, too.
On a side note I am looking for a VERY inexpensive (because I had to use my extra cash to have a kidney stone removed...talk about things that suck!) .22 plinker for my mom's xmas/birthday gift.
Any suggestions on something I can get NEW for under $200 that doesn't suck (if such a thing exists) would be appreciated. To make it harder, she sometimes shops at the same gun stores as me, so if it's something I can get at bass pro or walmart, it would make it easier to keep it a surprise. Thanks for any help you can provide.
That's a big jump in power. Not to persuade you but I hope she's tried a similar gun. The recoil difference, as you certainly already know, is night and day. I guess you cam always do .38 in it, too. May not want to do anything super lightweight if she's recoil sensitive. Hope she likes it.
I want to get my fiancé a gun for Xmas but she wanted a lousy nintendo wii. Women! Go figure!
I'm still getting my gsg-c and probably early, too.
On a side note I am looking for a VERY inexpensive (because I had to use my extra cash to have a kidney stone removed...talk about things that suck!) .22 plinker for my mom's xmas/birthday gift.
Any suggestions on something I can get NEW for under $200 that doesn't suck (if such a thing exists) would be appreciated. To make it harder, she sometimes shops at the same gun stores as me, so if it's something I can get at bass pro or walmart, it would make it easier to keep it a surprise. Thanks for any help you can provide.
My wife carries (and shoots very well) a Sig P239 SAS .40 calber with Golden Sabers. God help the idiot that threatens her ...
CZ 82 with JHPs. She prefers the Mauser 25cal 1910 pocket pistol but she's comfortable with the CZ.
- Status
Similar threads
