Wife - 1st Handgun Suggestions

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tron646

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I know this topic has been covered but I'm looking at getting my wife her first handgun. She has never shot prior to a couple of weeks ago when she put a few through my G19. I am not an 'expert' as I have recently rediscovered the joys of shooting (used to shoot and hunt back in the 80s).

I've been considering the S&W 638, 442, & 642 along with the similar Taurus 851 variants. Upon asking her about the revolvers, she asked the question "why can't I have a Glock?" That is a valid question. So, I'm also considering the G26.

Remember, she's shot 10 rounds in her life. She's never been around guns and is completely new to the concept. We are both taking a concealed carry class in December and I'm thinking about signing her up for a Introduction to Firearms for Ladies class taught by the Tulsa Defensive Shooting Academy.

The gun should be small, light, and easy to operate. Recoil must be low so I'm thinking .38 or 9mm.

Suggestions?? :confused:
 
I always recommend a 38/357 wheelgun for a novice shooter. Download the 38's for .22lr like practice with revolver reliability. Learn to shoot DA and then any pistol will be easy to shoot. Size is dependant on whether it is to be carried or just a range gun.

I recently sold a Taurus 85 to a woman who wanted to take a Concealed Carry Course. She loved it! And, commented that she was practicing her shooting while other women were having problems loading, feeding and shooting their autopistols.

If you go autopistol, you MUST be able to load, unload, make safe, PROVE SAFE, clear a malfunction, perform immediate action, ect.... quite a lot for a novice to learn before they are safe with the firearm.

The revolver is simple, easy to understand, safe to store fully loaded and reliable. Yes, it IS difficult to shoot DA...but that should be looked at as an advantage! Practice shooting DA until she can do well and then any pistol in her hands will be easy to use.

Oh, WELCOME to THR!!
 
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I'm not hijacking this thread, but I was about to ask the exact same question. So maybe we can piggyback some info here.

In a perfect world, the gun she practices with should be the same as the one she takes the CCW class with, and is also the same gun she carries. Problem is, she wants small, but not a revolver.
 
I recommend a .22 LR pistol. The Browning Buckmark and Ruger Mark II/Mark III are excellent. Smith & Wesson and Beretta make good .22 autoloaders as well.

Once she's ready for a "real gun" (after a lot of practice with the .22) a Glock 26 would be a fine choice as would the Smith & Wesson M&P Compact and Springfield Armory XD Sub Compact.

The Glock, M&P Compact, and XD Sub Compact are all very good guns and concealable on a woman's small frame. Have her choose from the three which one she likes best. All three have a Tenifer/Melonite finish and are equally corrosion resistant and reliable.

The Smith & Wesson 642 snub nosed revolver is a very good gun. I own one and love it. However, a snub nose revolver is harder to learn to shoot well because of it's short sight radius. The 642 has an aluminum frame which reduces the weight and increases the felt recoil.

I ignored the suggestions on getting a .22 LR rifle/pistol for waaaaaay too long! I now own a .22 and I don't know what I was thinking when I waited this long. I waited years before I bought my first .22. The gun pays for itself in ammo and is just plain fun to shoot.

Learning the fundamentals of marksmanship and trigger control as well as responsible gun ownership is best done with a .22. Not to mention it's just plain fun to shoot and the gun will pay for itself in the cost of ammo.
 
Let her choose!

Wait until after her first formal training, then let her decide what she wants to shoot / carry. I think the ladies class would be a great idea!
 
Have her take the class and try a variety of things, including some well made DA J frame revolvers.

Women can do well with the G19 but it requires a certain committment to training, drills, and generally learning what the gun requires to run right. More women go for something S&W, J or K frame, 2-3" barrel. Not much mystery to them, somewhat safer in the hands of "non-gun" people, and entirely adequate.

Of the three women shooters in my family, they all eventually opted for revolvers: one M37 S&W, one Ruger SP-101, and my pistolera daughter who started with a G19 at age 13 now carries an old M10 3" most often. She has a G19, 26, 1911 as well--but really likes that smooth old .38 Spl.
 
Trianing and exposure to the hanguns in paramount as a first step. This gets her much needed knowledge/experience and let's her be able more so to make the decision as to what is right for here.

Local NRA or gunshop accredited instructors classes with women only or as a one on one type situation.Basic courses are designed for just his. Lets the gals get immersed in the shooting culture under relaxed circumstances. Exposure to many types, makes , and models can take place as well as leraning the basics.

www.corneredcat.com and www.womenandguns.com are two excellent resources for gals... and for guys to learn a lot from.

Once this is accomplished then learning the basics with a .22lrf pistol or revolver can follow, if needed.

Once proficiency is achieved then go on to the centerfires.

We cannot know as a whole now what handguns will fit her and her needs. We can more educated recommendations once she reaches the centerfire goal for sure.

For those who are recoil challenged there are the .32,38, and 9mm. class for centerfire cartridges than will do well for defense. Some better than others.

There are petite and stocky short gals who shot .45ACP pistols well.

Revolvers have the simplicity of manual of arms, tailored ammo to situation, mild recoil with some ammo,and easy to learn to shoot going for them. Nol levers except the cylinder release to manipulate.

SA pistols are easy to learn to hit with. Same trigger pull for each shot.Carrying locked and cocked can cause the safety problems though others think nothing of it. Not a handica[, just needs to be considered.

There are conventional DA/SA pistols that need dedication and much practice to become proficient with. Can be done with proper technique and practice.

More to the manual of arms than revolvers, but not a great handicap or problem.

DAO type triggers behave like a light revolver trigger pull, but obviously are mechanically different in operation all the way round. These are harder to get the hang of, but again practice,technique and dedication can help take care of that.

Small,compact, or sub-compact guns are specialist guns. Harder to shoot well and accurately with over their larger cousins.
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/index.php?topic=2418.0

So there's a lot to be considered and done. If she rushes this only trouble is up the road. Little steps.:)
 
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I'd say it'd be best to teach her on something like a .22. Once she's comfortable with that, let her shoot a few from some other pieces in different calibers and let her decide what she likes. This will take a while, but in the end she should be happy with her purchase, which means she's much more likely to practice with it, care for it, and all that fun stuff. If you have a varied collection or know someone who does, use this to save on renting fees and all that. I made the mistake of trying to teach a friend once with a 9mm. I figured it wasn't too beefy and should be fine. Boy was I wrong. I won't get into the details, but starting with a .22 is wise. That being said, if she has the motivation to learn no matter what, it won't matter so much what she gets. This was something I really wanted to do, so I jumped on the first nice 1911 that crossed my path, and while I love the gun, it really wasn't the best thing for me to practice and learn with as far as form goes. That being said, thanks to that baptism by the fires of the .45 ACP, now I feel very comfortable shooting pretty much everything and group well even with pistols I've never seen before thanks to what I learned...it really made me focus on trigger control. In the end, just do the best you can to keep her very informed as to the pros and cons of everything she sees, and let the pistol pick her.
 
Take her to range/gun shop that rents guns if possible and let her shoot what she wants to. If it is to be truly hers she must make the choice on brand/model/caliber and color.
 
I let my girlfriend have run of my pistols, .22's, .38, .357, .40s&w, and .45's.

The one she chose and liked best was the Magnum Research Baby Eagle in .45.

Just a word of warning. Be careful of falling into the trap of pushing "little girl" guns on her; she'll feel that it is condescending, sexist, and it won't help her. My GF likes shooting and hates going into gun stores because of the standard b.s. chauvinism.

Have her find something she likes and is comfortable with, because that is the gun she will be capable of defending her and maybe your life with.

Definite +1 on the women's shooter course. We have a local guy who runs it every few months, and my GF enjoyed it immensely.
 
I would use .38/.357 in a revolver for her first gun.
Simple, easy to use. Not as complicated as an auto-loader. Effective round if you hit COM.
If she wants an auto-loader. Make it a 9MM.

More importantly. Teach the 4 rules, with snap caps. Also if she gets an auto-loader teach her what to do (with snap caps) if there is a jam, dud, or some other malfunction that requires the action to be cycled.

Oh and personally. I don't think she's experienced enough to use a Glock or XD type weapon. If she's only shot 10 rounds then she probably doesn't have the 4 rules as a second nature.

Use snap caps a lot. Make it a point when using fake ammo that all guns are always loaded. Respect the weapon and it will respect you. Treat it good and it will treat you good.

Did I mention. Ingrain the 4 rules into her head.

Good luck. Safety First!
 
I understand that you are asking for our opinion, but you know what they say about opinions. Also you are asking what gun YOU should get for HER.

Let her choose. When I introduced my wife to shooting, after teaching her safety and how to operate them. I laid several different types and calibers out on the bench at the range and said "there all loaded, shoot them and see what you like."

Her favorite was my G17, she was comfy with my 4516 as well as a .40 Beretta I used to have.

When it came time to buy her first gun she went with a revolver, a Rossi model 971 .357 with a built in compensator. Her reasoning was she liked she could play all day with .38s but as I work 3rd shift she keeps .357s in it.

I still laugh my ass of when we go to gun shows and dealers try showing her .22 .25 .32 .380 what I consider little cap guns, and she points to a 1911 or .44 snubby and politely says "I like that one better, may I see it." I love watching jaws drop. My wife is 5'2 about 140 give or take.
 
Take her out shooting your G19 some more, say 100rds. If she can hit what she aims at, you'll be looking for a new gun, not her. Getting a proper grip, stance,learning the basics, is best to do before bad habits form. :) Good luck!
 
Thanks for the info everyone. I'm leaning toward the S&W 642 with the Centennial frame and fully enclosed hammer.
 
have her check out SIG!!!

My wife loves the P228. She thought the G26 was a little small for her hand and not nearly as easy of a slide to rack as the 228.

I recommend she hold/shoot some sigs either at a range or a gunstore (holding only probably). I know women that like the 239, the 226, and the 229 as well. On sigforum, one guy is raving because his wife is appropriating his P220ST in .45. All i could say to that is "niiiice" ...
 
Let her choose! +1

Let her choose!
Click to expand...

I wouldn't let her pick out a gun for me... Let her decide. Even if in a month she finds out she doesn't like it, get a different one. Heck, I know I've done that...:)
 
I would recommend a 22lr conversion kit for your G19 so she can have alot of trigger time & learn her basics & then transition to the 9mm on a platform she is already use to ;)
 
make it pretty for her

AP38014-2.jpg
 
Wheelies are great for teaching fundamentals of shooting DA/SA. Keeping that elusive finger straight against the frame; and the only problem I have of her going right to Glock is the lack of training. I second the Ruger Mark II as an excellent trainer for CCW of an auto. I love the 642 for everyday carry.
 
My wife started out with the XD40 sub...and surprisingly, shot pretty tight groups with it. Unfortunately, the slide was too much for her, having to keep the grip safety engaged. Though I've never had a hiccup with any of 4 XDs I've owned, all semiautos will fail at one point. Can't carry it if you can't clear a malf.

Moved on to a Smith 642...which she couldn't shoot her way out of a paper bag with at first, but after some practice...roughly 350 rds...she does well enough to hit COM within 30'.

She wanted an auto loader though...and finally found one that she could operate. The CZ 2075 RAMI in 9mm. It's small, but not light. Recoil is a non issue. Accuracy is top notch. Built rock solid.

I'm sure of one thing. That is you will spend a few dollars before you figure it all out, but it'll be money well spent.
 
nice timing,
I have a 22lr conversion for my 1911 and a 9mm conversion for my XD40 sc ... and two sets of ear muffs
Tomorrow my wife and I are going to spend some quality time together in the back yard knocking holes in paper. :cool:
 
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