What gun for wife who won't use it much?

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jeepmor

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I've recently caught the handgun bug and would like to give my wife a gun for the glovebox. I know she won't shoot it much, it'll probably be forgotten in said glovebox in six months. However, she has repeatedly stated that she wants a firearm to go out camping with her friends when I cannot, for security and peace of mind.

She does not like plinking the 45ACP, and says it has too much kick for her. And being her response has been lukewarm to cold, I don't want to get her something of great value just to watch it live it's life neglected in the glovebox. Trust me, I'd love to get her a real pretty pimp gun, but she won't appreciate it or value it, so low budget reliability is the path I want. So I'm thinking HiPoint. The rock bottom low prices have me thinking they fit the bill.

If you have anything to say, fire away. However, I don't entertain any hearsay, I want direct accounts why this is, or is not, a good gun. I don't want to listen to 'gunsnobs' bash on HiPoint for being ugly or cheap. I realize they are bricks. It's purpose will be a truck gun to bounce around with tools, tire chains and the like. And about 4 times a year, I'll drag her out to the range and make her put 100-200 rounds through it at at time.

She is 5'9" tall and about 150 lbs, and her hands are about size 7.5 gloves.

I'm leaning towards a .40 S&W because that what my friend got his wife, while he got a 45. That way the girls could head out to the range together and share ammo if they ever get the gumption. Plus, the .40 uses the same dies as a 10mm I plan on purchasing soon.

jeepmor
 
Umm, not that small

I want a defense gun for her, not a 22. Plus, that would have to be for me, I can't justify a sig bouncing around the tool box and being neglected. She's got me for that....;)

jeepmor
 
you said she'll use it sparingly.:rolleyes: ..it's just a tool, not a museum piece...it'll be o.k. in the glovebox...you couls still make a soft pouch to holster it in. it's great as a campfire gun, cheap to fire a lot, learn the fundamentals without scaring her...plus it looks like a big ( as in caliber)weapon...still not convinced, i've yet to meet anyone who would welcome 10 .22LR bullets to their body...but people have been known to surprise me...also, the "cost" involved in getting one is relative too, so YMMV...:rolleyes:
 
I would avoid Hi-Point because of my own personal experience with their .380 - I had one a few years back and it would FTE or FTFeed at least 2-3 times per magazine, and the jams weren't always easy to clear. Not what I personally consider reliable. Of course, given your needs and reasons for wanting a gun for your wife, I can see why you wouldn't want to buy something really nice to leave in the glove box of a car. I might have to recommend a Bersa, but I admit I have never owned one. They're not as cheap as Hi-Point, but from everything I have heard they seem much more reliable than my Hi-Point was for me, which is more important than the cost of the gun, I'm sure :)
 
In no particular order;
Daewoo in .40 or 9mm- cheap and very reliable

Beretta 84- .380, but they are very easy to shoot. Female hand size friendly. Has a chromed barrel too.

KelTec-Cheap and small.

Taurus- 24/7

If it will stay in a car or truck then a stainless steel gun will hold up a little better.

What is your price range?
 
I would not trust to keep a loaded Semi in a Glovebox. To many levers and buttons that could be moved by other junk in there, a good Revolver, SP101 or S&W mod 10 with some nice pacmeyer grips.
 
A .38 Spl Revolver. My wifes like her S&W 642, but if she's not concerned about weight something a little heavier would be fine.
 
Pilot said:
A .38 Spl Revolver. My wifes like her S&W 642, but if she's not concerned about weight something a little heavier would be fine.
Click to expand...

I only suggested "Heavyish" because it dampens recoil. A M10 would be great, or a lady smith, or whatever. I'd let her handle the gun, maybe dry fire a few times to make sure it fits her hand and she can handle the trigger in DA. The lady smiths are set up with light DA pulls for women.
 
I've had a couple customers order Hi-points through me. Here's the hearsay part: I've never shot one, but the couple that I've sold . . . the customers seem really happy with their reliability.

Since I transfered them, I had to pick them up, and before you buy your wife one (this applies not just to hi-points but to any firearm) please have her try it out first. It did not fit well in my hand.

I'll agree with some of the others: I'd take her into a store and have her pick up all of the stainless .38 revolvers. If they have rental guns let her shoot them. Then pick one of those for the glove box.
 
MCgunner said:
A heavyish .38 like the SP101, or maybe an SP101 in .32 mag. But, definitely a revolver for someone who doesn't practice much. Revolvers are simpler for non-gun folks and no slide to rack which can be good for women.
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I agree with the above suggestion. Also the used S&W Mod 10 would be a good option or a Taurus 65B4 all would work without breaking the bank. You might want to go with a 357mag to give the option of the hotter heavier loads if she ever got to the point that the recoil was acceptable.

If she absolutely doesn't want a revolver, go with a 9mm for a bit less recoil. The 40 is pretty snappy in that dept and may be uncomfortable for her. In the autoloaders I would look at Taurus CZ and Glock as well as the one you first suggested.
 
Personally, I'd go with a stainless .38/.357 revolver for reliability and durability. If you want to go low-cost, I'd look into a new Taurus or Rossi or any number of used S&W, Rugers, and the like. A local dealer in our area has had New stainless Rossi .357s at $250 (blued at $220) and several different new Taurus 38s in the $220-$320 range. They have some old, beat-up S&W ex-cop Model 10's for $150.....I recently picked up a used, 1971 Colt Detective Special in 38 for $275. If you want an auto, the ex-cop S&W 5903/5906 and similar guns go for $300-$350 and are quite accurate and reliable. My wife's near mint, ex-cop 5903 is one of the most accurate 9mm pistols I've ever shot and is very reliable. This past Saturday, she picked up a used, but mint with box and all original paperwork, S&W 669 for only $290.
 
Get a revolver. .38 is best, but a .32 H&R if she's real sensitive to recoil.

A 9mm Kel Tec or Kahr may work too.

Forget the Mak. When I had mine the three women who shot it said they didn't like the recoil or blast.
 
If she is unwilling to practice or to receive any training, a gun in a glovebox does her very little good. One's ability to use a tool effectively is just as important as having it in the first place. Just because she can hit a piece of paper at a range, does not mean she will perform well when the "excitement" begins.

IMHO, and I am sure to get flamed on this one, but if she wants a gun in the glove box, she if she would make herself available to a good defensive training course.

That said, I would absolutely shy away from .40S&W. If she dislikes .45, .40 will prove to be just as bad. I would advise a 9mm or .38 in the gun of HER CHOICE!!! Your comment on gunsnobery is interesting... take her to a gun store/range and let her pick what she likes. I tried to get my wife to like a Taurus 85 in .38spl. thinking that was what was best. How arrogant was I!!! When I relented and took a step back she settled on a SIG P225 that she absolutely loves and is very proficient with.

Good luck and enjoy the search!

Peter
 
Hi-Point.....NO no no no.

Reliable, inexpensive, quality = Makarov.

They are small, slim, failry lightwieght and very inexpensive. The 9x18 has plenty of killing power...but won't be too much bite for her to shoot.

Otherwise....find an inexpensive revolver.

If I were leaving a gun in the glove box for extended periods however, I would prefer a semi-auto with the clip loaded but nothing in the chamber.
 
I'm leaning towards a .40 S&W because that what my friend got his wife, while he got a 45. That way the girls could head out to the range together and share ammo if they ever get the gumption. Plus, the .40 uses the same dies as a 10mm I plan on purchasing soon.
Click to expand...

Get the 9. 40 is just as bad if not worse then 45 on recoil. Personlly I would get her a model 10 or a snubnose.

If I were leaving a gun in the glove box for extended periods however, I would prefer a semi-auto with the clip loaded but nothing in the chamber.
Click to expand...

Good idea.

-Bill
 
How bout' a police trade in Glock 17/19, like a 2nd gen. They're durable, can stand up to a LOT of abuse, and I doubt just leaving it in the glovebox will do any harm to it. Just oil the gun before she throws it into the box.

That way, it'll also be something you can "borrow" and shoot and enjoy :)

Also, theres a lot of great deals in the CDNN catalog. If you're willing to step up a lil', a CDNN hi-power would be awesome :D
 
a .357 magnum revolver in a midsize frame 4 or 6" barrel stainless steel.

Good for target shooting, hunting and self defense.

Lots of different power level ammo without reloading. Ammo is inexpensive and availible everywhere.

You can leave it in a drawer for 20 years and it will go bang when you pull the trigger.

Manual of arms is simple.
 
thanks

Lots of good suggestions. I was hoping to surprise her for Xmas, but the overriding sentiment I'm getting is that "she" will have to be happy with it, not me.

It's looking more like a 9mm or .38 than anything. I like the 22lr idea too, not quite sure, she might want something a lil bigger than that, but I'll have to let her decide after looking at some. I think we'll take a visit to the gunshop tomorrow. It is obviously my hobby, not hers. However, she did state a while ago that she wanted a camping gun for security. So once I get it, it'll just become another thing she packs with the gear and it will become blaise after she gets over the initial feeling of responsibility that comes with the "first" handgun.

Any suggestions on ranges with rentals in the Portland, OR area?

When I say a glove box gun, I do mean it will spend most of its time there and sleeping under her pillow with her in the woods at night. However, she will probably only be taking it on camping trips, not daily.

jeepmor
 
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