What type of firearm does your girlfriend/wife use for self defense?

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iliketoshootguns

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Hi, new guy here


I went shooting with my girlfriend and she is quite new to using a handgun and she is experimenting with a number of makes and calibers. I think with experience any woman in good health could practice enough to handle a caliber such as a .45, but for the time being she is working with 9mm and below since right now the higher calibers are too much recoil for her. She was practicing alot with a .22 and is getting used to a more significant caliber. She seems to be a pretty good shot with the 92fs, better than me ; ), so I am thinking that it would be a good gun for her.

I was wondering what type of pistol, shotgun, caliber, etc. does your significant other prefer?
 
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I prefer a 9mm as a good balance between stopping power and budget.

Haven't got a wife. ;)

(Visit my website, eh? Might find more info there appropos to your question...)

pax
 
My wife has Glock 26 and a SIG P239 in 9mm. She does very well with both of them. She can also readily handle my SIG GSR, P220, P226, etc but the took some getting used to since she has smaller hands. She is currently interested in a P228 after getting some range time with mine. She is accurate and can handle a .45, but prefers the 9mm as a base.
 
On my 21st birthday I went out and bought a Kimber Pro Carry. After my wife (girlfriend or fiancé then) shot it a couple time and saw how good she could shoot it she informed me that it was now hers. So we sold her XD-40 and she still carries and shoots the Pro Carry.
 
My wife prefers revolvers. She is not mechanically inclined. The semi-autos confuse her and in her opinion have more perceived recoil. I have had her try SIG 239 in 9mm, Walther PPK in .380, I think she tried the Glock 36 in .45. She just sticks with her own. She likes to shoot .38's in her S&W 640 (.357).


.
 
My wife's personal defense weapon is a Winchester Model 1300 that was restocked to fit her short stature. She shoots sporting clays with the same shotgun.

She doesn't like pistols but shoots the shotgun side matches at the IDPA club three-four times a year.
 
You are saying "the recoil is too much for her" but unless she is a small frail person (98, either in pounds or years) I highly doubt that's actually the real problem.

Could be it's too loud. Do you have earplugs AND muffs on her? Noise will make you jump just as much as recoil, and a novice might misinterpret the cause. Especially true at indoor ranges.

Could be it's too light. Yes, I know, when handling them in the living room (or gunstore sales counter) some novice women say they want a light gun. Nonsense. Mass (weight) soaks up recoil. Try a heavy steel frame firearm, like a CZ-75. It'll jump a lot less. Try a long barrel, rather than a snubby, it'll have less muzzle flip.

Could be the grip doesn't fit her hand. That would make it hard to control, exaggerating the sensation of recoil. Try various sizes from teensey up to substantial. Try different shapes. Some people don't like a Glock's extreme grip angle. Little things make a difference. Try a single stack, an XD or a revolver.

Could be that "the gun is moving around in her hand" and it's disconcerting to her. Some people just don't like semi-autos because major parts of the firearm (slide, barrel, etc) go wildly gyrating around in their hand when the trigger is pulled. Some people like the solid, steady non-gyrating feel of a revolver. Revolvers are also easier to adjust the grip size on, I've seen some older models that basically have a grip the size of a broomhandle. Try her on a revolver with .38 special ammo, see if it makes a difference.

Finally, stop coaching her yourself. Find an experienced female shooter to take her to the range, help her find what works for her. They will speak each other's language in ways you can't hope to understand. She may finally figure out what the issue is, once YOU are out of the picture.


BTW - in answer to your question, my SO wields an XD9, a .357 Speed Six, and an Ithaca 12 Ga. but I'm going to have to keep a serious eye on my CZ-75b or she'll abscond with it too, I'm sure.
 
thanks bruss, you are the first to flame me since I have joined this forum. I feel so special inside
Click to expand...

I re-read the (supposed to be) helpful advice I wrote, twice in fact, trying to figure out what part you thought of as a "flame". Huh? You asked a question and advice was offered. I DO wish you would point out which part you thought was critical, harsh, condescending or insulting. I have coached several women on introduction to firearms, and I'm simply offering you the benefit of my admittedly limited experience.

I wish both you and your wife well in discovering what works for her.

??????? flame? ???????????????? :confused:

???????? what flame? ??????????? :confused:

(edited to add:)

Ok, correcting myself here - she's your girlfriend, not wife, sorry.

Oh, I think I figured out what you're upset at:
Finally, stop coaching her yourself. Find an experienced female shooter to take her to the range, help her find what works for her. They will speak each other's language in ways you can't hope to understand. She may finally figure out what the issue is, once YOU are out of the picture.
Click to expand...

My dear fellow shooter, that is not intended to disparage your talents as a shooter nor as an instructor. I should have been more clear. When there's someone present with whom you have an "invested relationship", such as a parent, a spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend, it's hard to learn a new skill because part of you is trying to look good for the sake of the relationship, not be embarrassed, etc - a LOT of firearms instructors will say they do not want a husband present when they are teaching the wife. I know I'd be embarrassed to take my first crack at shooting if my wife was profficient with her standing right there. That overhead really puts a dent in the learning curve. Oh, and the part about women speaking each other's lingo? I can tell you that's true. As I said, I've trained several women to shoot, but occasionally I have one who's just not "getting" what I'm trying to tell her about a particular thing. Two words from my wife and the gal is all straightened out. Apparently I wasn't getting the point across in a way she understood. No biggie, I save my ego for bigger things to worry about. The point being, sometimes women just understand other women better, that's ALL.

Sorry if there was any miscommunication over that.
 
My wife prefers the Glock 21 (.45ACP), but can't carry it with her (she doesn't like any of the carry options with a gun that size on her itty bitty frame)... she instead carries a Glock 26 in 9mm.

She does sleep with the Glock 21 on her nightstand though.

She also shoots much better with the Glock 21 than any of our other guns (Sigs and Glocks in 9mm and .45ACP).
 
My wife has been shooting an HK USP C in 45 ACP for the last two years. The instructor in our CCW class was a female that carried a Colt Gold Cup, so naturally, my wife instantly became interested in a 1911. Now her carry gun (very soon, UTAH on the way, and Kansas coming Jan. 1) is a 45 ACP Kimber Ultra Raptor...

She's shooting damn fine with it, I might add. :what:
 
My wife first bought herself a Taurus PT25, and after about a week of having it (never actually carried it) she decided she didn't like it.

So, she started to carry my stainless Sig P220. She really enjoys firing it, but it was getting a little heavy to carry around.

So, after much debate and trying my carry gun a lot at the range she ended up buying the same thing I carry....a Walther P99c AS in 9mm.
 
I dont have a wife anymore.:) But my girlfriend has a P89 & is a very good shot. She is really likeing my XD 45 Tactical & the S/A Ultra Compact. She can also hold her own with a shotgun when we shoot clay's. We are both in our early 50's. I think I'll keep her!:eek: ;)
 
iliketoshootguns,

Bruss is not flaming you. What he is saying is usually true, don't take it personally. :)

And take pax's advice and look at her website. Lots to learn there for a female shooter.
 
"She may finally figure out what the issue is, once YOU are out of the picture." -Bruss

Dude, that isn't a flame at all. That is darn good advice. I'm a CCW instructor, and I also teach handgun classes. I HATE having a husband/boyfriend there to help his wife. As was pointed out, the student is worried about making the significant other happy, rather than learning. Nervousness goes up about 100% when there is somebody there that they are trying to impress or look good for.

For all I know you might be Clint Smith and Pat Rogers rolled into one, still don't mean I want you on the line when I'm trying to help your wife. For example, I don't like to try and teach MY OWN WIFE anything about shooting. I can give a critique to a student, but it is different when it is your wife. You don't have a teacher/student relationship, you have a spousal relationship, and that is a whole different game.

Go read pax's website, as it is the single best source for women and firearms I've ever seen online.

And on the original question, my wife carries a Bulgarian Makarov. Of all the different guns she could use, that is the one she likes the best.
 
My wife had just an AMT Backup 380 (single action) when I met her. If there was one gun I wouldn't mind seeing fall ino a river of molten lava, this would be the one.:evil:

Since then her father has given her a nice little H&R 22 revolver and she has comandeered my Arcus 94 (BHP clone).
 
No wife, I have two ex's
No current girlfriend.

Lady friends I got. The two I was just out with :

One carries a Full Size Bone Stock 1911, with 7 rd mags.
Her old Colts and Springfields 1911s are safe queens. Her Carry guns are Caspian Guns, the GI Mil Spec ones. She has 3 exactly alike had them built to be as close to JMB design as can be. Redundancy and tha backup off site bit.
Home Defense gun is a Bone Stock 870 pump that fits her loaded with 2 3/4 " Brenneke Slugs.
Lever Action in 30-30.

This lady is 23, 5' 1" on tippy toes, and wearing her heels, sopping wet she weighs 125# max. Maybe.
-
The other lady carries K frame revolvers. Today a Model 19 snubby with full house loads and a J frame BUG.
It matched her jeans today she said.
Still she too has 4 matching CCW in Kframes.
House Gun is a 870 20 ga loaded with Brenneke slugs...the last friggin' case of these 20 ga 2 3/4" Brenneke slugs I was able to find locally btw.
Dang Women! :D

She too is younger, attractive, and not very big.

Hey, I may be older, and a dumb male - still hanging out with 2 younger attractive females , armed as they are, I have nothing to worry about.

Hell hath no fury like a women scorned Anon
The female of the species is the deadlier of the two - Kipling

Trouble comes when I am out with either or expecially both of these ladies- I'm stepping aside, and selling tickets. :D
 
Bruss-

"She may finally figure out what the issue is, once YOU are out of the picture."


how kind of you
Click to expand...

Hope you understood my clarification, with "YOU" in the context offered, being the husband, boyfriend, parent or other "relationship" person. A generic YOU, as I explained above. Sorry my lack of explanation caused you to take offense.
 
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