What is a good weapon for a woman to conceal?

[LadyHunter]

I just got my CCW and wanted to purchase a weapon I could carry with me. I already have a 9mm and now I want some sort of revolver. I was looking at the .38 and .357 but I can't decided what to get. My dad wants me to get a .22 but I am not convinced of the stopping power. My uncle feels that the stopping power of the .38 isn't good and that I should get the .357. The problem is if I get the .357 I would put .38 rounds in it to decrease the amount of kick. What do you think?

 

[General Geoff]

Carry the biggest, heaviest gun you comfortably can. Heavier means reduced recoil, longer barrel means longer sight radius (which equates to better accuracy).

Full house .357 in a small frame, snub revolver can be fairly... painful.

 

[mljdeckard]

You are thinking absolutely correctly and your ideas are absolutely sound. Men have a tendency to try to get women cute little guns because they assume that women can't handle full-size guns, when in fact the opposite is true.

I have recommended to more than one female friend to try a 4" .357 with both .38s and .357s, and most of the time, they shoot the .357 and wonder what all the fuss was about because they can shoot it just fine. If it does seem a little stout, then yes, get some good defensive .38 lods, they will work just fine.

 

[pikid89]

ruger LCR w/ +p 38s

 

[oldfool]

it is not gender specific, all CCW guns are compromises
You already have a nine, we presume a tad large for CCW
too crudely, too loosely stated same 9mm at half the size & weight will kick about twice as hard

single stack small pistols are slimmer, easier to carry
which is why the little 380acp pocket pistols like Ruger LCP and KelTecs are so popular with so many, including a lot of "big guys"
they are not easy guns to shoot well, though, best thought of as 7-shot derringers

airweight 38 snubbies are mean to shoot w/ 357 and 38+P
the smaller the handgun, the harder it is to shoot really well with (translation, lots of practice)

compromises, compromises you have to choose your own
power vs. size/weight/carry comfort

but if somewhat familiar with semi-auto pistols, and if not opposed to limited power in smaller packages, you could take a 1st person look at Beretta Tomcat in 32acp, Ruger LCP 380acp, bunch of that stuff is out there to look at

(after all, if you can carry a 3" Ruger SP101 or a 4" k-frame in your purse, you could probably just carry your nine in your purse)

PS
real good advice for ladies (and gents) at www.thecorneredcat.com , google it up

 

[goon]

I think you're right. I carry a small .357 a lot - a Ruger SP-101 with a 3" barrel, but it's not loaded with full power magnum loads unless I'm going into the woods. Usually I carry Speer 135 grain GDHP's, which are essentially a hot .38 Special +P in a .357 casing. So if you don't think you're into the full power .357 load it might make sense to go with a smaller gun in .38 since CCW is your primary use.

Here's the thing about a concealable gun - you have to look for a balance between being able to carry it and being able to shoot it. I've owned and carried some that I wasn't all that competent with because they were so painful to shoot. One I'd never recommend to anyone is a Kel-Tec P3AT - they sting the hell out of my hand. But a P-32, which is comparable but firing a lower powered .32 ACP instead of a .380 ACP (in the P3AT) is a worthy carry gun to me.
Best advice I can give you is that you need to be real with yourself. I'm 5'10", 180 pounds, and that .380 made me squeal like a weenie when I shot it. I'd rather defend myself with a .32 or even a .22 I can shoot well than with a .380 I can't shoot well.
Also, how do you plan to carry it? If you have a purse you always have with you and your 9mm isn't too big, why not just carry it for a while? I have carried small frame .38 revolvers and in spite of their small size and my "average male" size, I still need a good holster to conceal one. They're not as concealable as you'd think, at least not for everyone.
Sorry if I've overwhelmed you here, but I have made a few mistakes with this and it's taken awhile for me to find something that works. Even now, I still wouldn't mind adding a really small gunn for times when carrying the SP-101 isn't a possibility.

Last, what state you in? You might be able to find someone locally who can let you try one of their guns out.

 

[Fremmer]

The way I see it, if you're going to shoot a .38 Special, then buy a .38 Special revolver; skip the extra weight and bulk of a .357 mag. revolver. Perhaps a J frame S&W. Something small and effective. Get a no-lock if possible. Practice at the range with it. It'll do the job.

 

[JDoe]

...The problem is if I get the .357 I would put .38 rounds in it to decrease the amount of kick. What do you think?

This!

Carry the biggest, heaviest gun you comfortably can. Heavier means reduced recoil, longer barrel means longer sight radius (which equates to better accuracy).

And like the General says

Full house .357 in a small frame, snub revolver can be fairly... painful.

But JDoe says it sure beats the alternative.

Get the .357 Magnum, practice with the .38s and occasionally pop a .357 into it if you want but carry it loaded with the .357s. If you need it you won't regret the extra stopping power.

If you can rent a .357 Magnum do it and see what the difference is between the .357 Magnum it and the .38s. It might be less than you think.

ETA: Select your weapon based on need and dress around that weapon.

 

[FatGeek]

If you can rent a .357 Magnum do it and see what the difference is between the .357 Magnum it and the .38s. It might be less than you think.

This. If local ranges don't rent one, put the word out with friends and family and see if you can borrow one. Worth the time to the range and the cost of a box of ammo.

 

[Deus Machina]

I carry either a 'compact' (but relatively thick) 9mm or a 2.5" small-framed .38. Getting women 'cute guns' is often the worst thing you can do for CCW.

So, try a .38 or a .357, in all-steel if you can. The bigger and heavier you're comfortable with, the better.

Me, even if I had a proper .357, I would keep it loaded with heavy .38's (Hornady 158gr XTP's, say) or mid-to-heavy .38+P's (like my current load, 130gr +P Winchester PDX1's). If you have a 4" or longer .357, then keep the full loads in it if you can handle them. Between the recoil, noise, and flash (causing night blindness) they are not fun from a snub-nose.

If at all possible, DO NOT KEEP IT IN YOUR PURSE. If you're given occasion to use it, the purse is likely to be part of the reason. Meaning that, very likely, the intended target has a hold on your purse, and prevents you from digging around in it.

 

[Fremmer]

No thanks to the .357 mag suggestion. And some of you guys sound like you have not shot a .357 magnum in a long time, lol. There is a huge difference in recoil and retort between .38 Special and .357 magnum; a .357 magnum is going to kick like hell, and it'll be really loud. I guess if she doesn't mind that, then the .357 is a fine round. Not for me, though! If she likes the 9mm, then she should be able to handle a .38 Special in a small, lightweight revolver just fine.

Edited to add: Deus beat my post, lol!

 

[goon]

Yep, there is quite a difference between an average .38 special and an average .357 load from the same gun.

Hard to generalize about what you may and may not be able to handle though... as I said, I fear the .380 ACP in some guns but I have no issues with a full power teeth rattling .357 out of my snubby. Well fitting grips make all the difference in that case.
And during my last range outing one of my female friends who had never shot a handgun before shot 20 rounds of fairly warm .357 reloads through my SP-101 without complaint. She didn't hit much (but no one does first time out with a handgun), but she also wasn't in any noticeable discomfort. So with LadyHunter's obvious experience with firearms, she might take to full power .357 with no issue whatsoever.
One thing I do acknowledge - the smaller you get in a .357 the less you can justify using a .357. I personally wouldn't go shorter than a 3" barrel and a medium-ish frame. A J-frame (meaning a small 5 shot S&W size frame) is just too small for that.

 

[General Geoff]

There is a huge difference in recoil and retort between .38 Special and .357 magnum; a .357 magnum is going to kick like hell, and it'll be really loud.

Every unsuppressed handgun is really loud. A .22lr handgun is within a couple decibels of a .357 Magnum revolver.

.357 Magnum will not kick like hell, in a moderately heavy revolver.

 

[eddism]

Raven 25 are only $50, and smaller then her hand and is semi auto. Checkered wood grips. Take a look on gunbroker. They are there by the dozens.

 

[Fremmer]

Every unsuppressed handgun is really loud. A .22lr handgun is within a couple decibels of a .357 Magnum revolver.

LOL. You tell that to her when she lights off a 125 grain .357 mag JHP in a snubbie. They kick like hell from a L-frame 686.

The .38 Special is a fine defensive caliber, and it can be carried in a gun that is very light and easy to conceal. If she wants to try the larger .357 mag, then that's up to her, but I wouldn't want the extra weight and size.

Anyway, lets not pretend that there won't be a significant difference in recoil between a .38 Special and .357 magnum round, because there certainly will be a lot more kick, noise, and flash from the .357. And if it sucks to shoot, then she won't shoot it well. She'll have to try both calibers for herself.

 

[GRIZ22]

A woman can conceal any handgun a man can. I know very petite women who carry Glock 17s. Just like men, it all depends on how you want to dress and having the proper holster.

The problem is if I get the .357 I would put .38 rounds in it to decrease the amount of kick. What do you think?

This is not a problem. This is actually what many men do. Shooting 357 in a small frame gun is not fun and not conducive to extensive practice. Going from a 357 to a +P or +P+ you really don't lose a lot and get a lot more control. A steel J frame size gun absorbs a lot of recoil due to the weight (you never get something for nothing). I like a S&W 640 in this class of revolver but you need to see what you like. I would stay away from the lightweights.

 

[alohachris]

Welcome, Ladyhunter!

Congratulations on getting your CCW and taking responsibility for your personal safety. If you like 9mm, you may want to try the Walther PPS or Kahr PM9. Both are thin, single stack 9mm's that conceal very well.

Aloha,
Chris

 

[The Bushmaster]

Ladyhunter. Start haunting gun shops and friend with guns. Touch, feel, heft and shoot all you can. You will find one.

Your Father isn't all that incorrect about the [almost] two hundred year old lowly .22 caliber. It has taken almost every game animal on earth. It is the favorite of game poachers, assasins and one of the most commonly used caibers in self defense.

I am of light frame (130 to 135 pounds) and carry 9mmX19, .357 magnum or [mostly] .45 ACP. A good quality .38 Special firing .38s or .38+Ps isn't a bad choice either.

 

[sargas23]

LadyHunter,

You might also post this question at womenshooters.com. You will get lots of suggestions from women who carry concealed and the type of pistols they prefer.

 

[shockwave]

It's funny how the answer to the question, "what's a good weapon for a woman to conceal" is the same as for "what's a good weapon for a man to conceal?" I favor .357 shooting .38s as well for all the reasons stated above.

 

[nathan]

SIg 230 is a nice pistol.

 

[GunsAmerica Fan]

I agree with the LRC in .38 +p. If you look at ballisticsbytheinch.com the .357 has very little edge in the snubbie barrel.

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/results.html

 

[truckwilkins]

i would like to by a revover for my wife im leaning towards a taurus thet is chambered for .410 shot gun round any body know about this gun?

 

[19-3Ben]

Eddism- Did you really just recommend a Raven?

Ladyhunter- Get a good quality that will last you and that you can grow into as a shooter.
Go to the range, and try a whole bunch of guns. Everything from revolver to auto, polymer to steel, etc... See what works best FOR YOU. No number of guys on teh intarwebz call tell you "what's good for a woman." Women are no different from men in that each has his/her own preferences, varying hand shapes and sizes, etc...

Edit: I missed the part where you said you are specifically looking for a revolver now. Good for you. I personally love the Ruger SP101. It can be had with a whole slew of different grip sizes so it may do well to fit your hand. Like I said before, go try them all and see what you like!

 

[Big Boy]

Check out S&W 642, 442, and their new body guard 38. All rated for .38 Special +P for extra penetration.

Body guard 38
642
442