What is a good gun for a female?

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Try many and choose what you like

And what you shoot well.
My wife could not shoot our S&W 659 well. We took a trip to the range and she fired about 8 different handuns. She did not like or shoot the small frame revolvers or pistols well. She finally settled on two-The Browning High Power and the S&W model 28 4"-with both she replaced the 10-ring with a ragged hole.
 
In certain locales, if you qualify for your CCW with an auto, you can carry either an auto or a revolver. Qualifying with the revolver limits you to revolvers only
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This is absolutely the case in Texas, for example. I know many folk who carry and practice with a revolver, but qual with a pistol just to have the option of carryin' a pistol if the mood hits 'em.

The Kahr is an excellent suggestion for a pistol with a small overall grip circumference. My wife did NOT like the M&P Compact; it was still too bulky for her hand. I subsequently bought her a Sig P6/P255 single-stack that seemed to fit her hand better. She also was partial to my alloy-frame 1911.
 
People with small hands

Springfield Armory EMP (1911 styled small-frame) pistol: Good fit, no mods needed.
Walther PPS pistol: Good fit, no mods needed.
Kahr pistols: All fit, no mods needed.
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While all of these I would agree with, I would add Sig single stacks like the .380 or a Styer M1A. A good slim grip for small hands is hard to find.
Couple of guys I got my CCW with actually used Ruger MKIIs for their quals. The instructor agreed caliber was not specified, so .22lr was the pic of the day.
 
There's no easy answer because, as you have found out, finding a gun that fits is a completely personal challenge.

If you have a gun shop with an extensive handgun selection anywhere within a day's drive it is worth the trouble to travel to it and try the various families of pistols in the cases. If they have rental guns, even better.

Try a 1911, Browning High Power, Glock and a CZ75. With your finger safely along the frame above the trigger, see which points to sight alignment when you point the gun naturally at a target. If the sights fall into alignment check that the pad of your finger falls comfortably onto the middle of the trigger. No adjusting your hand around the gun to make that reach to trigger, just pick it up with your finger along the frame above the trigger and point the gun at the corner/ceiling and see if the sights fall into place. If not, pick up a different gun and try again. You'll find that something you pick up lets the sights align when you point it without having to tilt up or down.

When you find that you've narrowed your selection to that "family" with that grip angle, if you're finger falls onto the trigger comfortably you've found the right grip angle and the right reach. If you can't find a gun with the correct reach as well as the grip angle that fits you ask if the in house gunsmith can improve the reach for you by changing the trigger.

If the right gun for you turns out to be a revolver, huzzah, you've found the gun that fits you. You'll be much more accurate in a life and death situation than running a gun that doesn't fit.

Don't let anyone that isn't trying to fit the gun to your hand tell you that you "need" this or that particular gun. Find the one that points, then find the one within that group that has the right reach and you'll have found the gun for your hand.
 
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Every woman who I've had shoot a USPc has liked it. Newbies liked it, and women who had shot dozens of different handguns all agreed that it "just fit".

No one could tell me exactly why.
 
I agree that a revolver can be better for some women. My ex was much more comfortable with a revolver in terms of not having to rack the slide, etc.

If you really want a semi-auto perhaps try a Sig P232. Only a .380 but a really nice gun to shoot and quite accurate, and good for smaller hands.

Sig P220 is a nice slim gun in larger calibers.
 
Every woman who I've had shoot a USPc has liked it. Newbies liked it, and women who had shot dozens of different handguns all agreed that it "just fit".
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I had a USP-45C and really disliked the way it felt in my hand; too bulky. Yet I like the Beretta 92 grip feel, which a lot of other people think is too bulky. Just goes to show you that gun grip feel is a very personal issue.
 
SCASTLE: Welcome aboard! Check Cornered Cat.com referenced above. One of our (special) members. Also, +1 on sm, as usual. And I'm not a S&W Auto fan by any means!

SWMBO likes her Kahr CW_9 and her Makarov because they feel good!

Have fun, Darlin', and stay armed!

Bob
 
I actually have tried out revolvers and I do not have that problem with them. I actually prefer them over pistols but I want to get a pistol so that I can use it for my CHL test.
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In many cases the use of the term 'pistol' is synonymous with 'handgun'. If you give your city or state, people may be able to tell for sure, but I suspect it says pistol but really means handgun and just doesn't want you showing up with a rifle.

For what guns, get what fits your hand. Remember, a gun that holds at least 10 rounds will need to have them stacked next to eachother just like a 'doublewide' trailer. They will be wider in your hand. Try and look for pistols that have 8, 7, or 6 rounds in the magazine and try holding those.

Also recall, the lighter the gun, the more it will kick.

I would recommend you try the following

Sig 239
Kahr K9 (all stainless steel, not the polymer one)
Smith and Weson 3913
Smith and Wesson 908 which is the economy version of the above
Walther PPS
I add Kel Tec PF-9 with some reluctance, it is inexpensive, and slim, yet it is very light, so it will kick more than most
 
FourTeeFive said:
I had a USP-45C and really disliked the way it felt in my hand; too bulky. Yet I like the Beretta 92 grip feel, which a lot of other people think is too bulky. Just goes to show you that gun grip feel is a very personal issue.
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Absolutely! Grip is key, and not something easily quantifiable. I think the controls and ease of slide manipulation have a lot to do with the popularity of my little 9mm USPc.

I like it myself, but I never had the "a-ha!" moment the women I lent it to had.

It may just be because it shot well for them. Anyone can forgive a lot of quirks if the gun+shooter hits where they aim...whether it's a 92, a USPc, a K-frame or a HiPoint.

...ditto for CorneredCat, etc. Trial and error in a positive environment is the name of the game.
 
My daughter carries a Smith & Wesson M&P .40 compact and she loves it. Her hands aren't large but she shoots it well with no problems. It conceals well in a good carry purse and in her car. The ergonomics are good due to interchangeable backstraps.

If you liked the CZ look for a CZ 75D PCR Compact. It is a really sweet handling pistol, wicked accurate and dead nuts reliable.

I like the feel of both of these...the guns sit fairly low in your hand which helps reduce perceived recoil.
 
In certain locales, if you qualify for your CCW with an auto, you can carry either an auto or a revolver. Qualifying with the revolver limits you to revolvers only
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This is the reason why I want to buy an auto before I purchase a revolver. Thank you all for your comments. They are very helpful.
 
My wife loves my XD9.
She really liked the the the S&W M&P compacts felt too.
Right now she is really hooked on Kahrs though, she just keeps going back to them
Luckily enough for me, my Beretta 71(.22) is perfect for her, and she loves shooting it
 
Welcome aboard! My wife is very very partial to her CZ 2075 RAMI 9mm. It LOOKS chunky, but isn't.

shelikesit.jpg

Her choice isn't your choice - you find what fits you like an extension of your arm, test fire if possible, then enjoy! Also, get GOOD training, too.
 
I can honestly say I went throught the following guns a Taurus 38, Taurus 357, Witness full size 40, witness compact 40 then I finally found the one I really love. It's the CZ 2075 Rami in 9mm and CZ PCR 9mm. It took a while but I had to find the best gun that I felt comfortable with. I have shot a M1A,AK47,Ruger 10/22. I like my Ak the best because it's lots of fun to shoot.
 
What ever pistol feels right in your hands and that you also shoot well. I like Browning HIgh Powers, Springfield XD45's and Ruger GP100's, and of course a good 1911.
 
Whatever she can grip comfortably with recoil she can tolerate. Beyond that there is no one size fits all. If I were to start CCW I would want something like Dad's 'baby' Browning .380 simply because the grip suits my hand. My cousin carries a Glock 40 for the same reason.

Your best bet... Arrange to have her shoot a wide variety of sidearm and let her decide. Extra points if you don't roll your eyes when she calls one cute.

Selena
 
Doesn't change the advice. It's too personal of a choice. Try them all!
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Sure it does. Saying "Let the Female decide" to the female asking for advice would be counter-intuitive to starting this thread.

If she didn't want suggestions, she wouldn't have asked.

And you know that. :)


-- John
 
My wife has a bunch of guns, a full size Kimber SIS .45, a Kimber Aegis Pro Carry 9MM, a Glock 34 9MM and a Glock 26 9MM. She carries the 26 but likes to shoot the .45.
 
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