Wives and 45 ACP

[Jimineer]

I have a Colt Defender that I absolutely love, it is my first 1911'ish and 45 ACP. I really want to get my wife interested in the 1911 but she doesn't like the recoil. Same for my Sig P229 in 40 and 357, although she did pretty well yesterday shooting 40SW.

While I really don't want to push her or anyone to shoot anything they aren't comfortable with, I think if she would give it a chance she would come to love a 1911. I have thought about one of the Kimber 1911's in 9mm.

So do you think it is possible she could become comfortable with 45 ACP given time or should I drop it; looking for some thoughts from guys with GF or wife that shoot 45.

I do have an alternative motive though on the 1911 thing if you know what I mean

BTW: the wifey isn't a wimp. She works out and lifts weights and is pretty tough girl.

 

[41magsnub]

Is there a gun range nearby that rents guns? If so I'd take her there and let her try some until she finds something SHE likes and buy her one as long as it is not ridiculous or something.

(I wish there were ranges around here with rentals).

 

[FoMoGo]

My wife carries a compact 1911 .45acp.
Then again I got her started shooting... and the first handgun she ever fired was my S&W 629 .44 magnum.


Jim

 

[mljdeckard]

I am surprised to hear you say that she hates the .45 more then the 229 in .40. Most people would agree that the .40 has a snappier recoil.

Look at it this way: Would she have a problem with it if she hadn't been TOLD to worry about it? If all she had been told about a .45 1911 going is was that; "It's a handgun, and it has recoil", would she have it in her head that it's any better or worse than anything else?

Most women handle .45 1911s very well. Remember, the 1911 was designed in a time when the average height (and HAND SIZE) of the American male was much smaller than it is now. They are adjustable for trigger length, MSH shape and size, and grip size. They are the original size-adjustable design. They are heavier and soak up more recoil.

 

[jfh]

If your wife is inclined to be a shooter--I'd get a .22LR top end for your Colt. Brand names abound, so just google it...

Be sure to get a spare mag or two, and take some time yourself to get it running right--these top ends can be finicky about which .22LR ammo they like to run with.

As you might imagine, the recoil will be about non-existent, and she can learn the 1911 manual of arms well before you bump her up. And, personally, at such time as she may be interested in that step up to .45 ACP, I'd start with the typical match ammo loads, or get into handloading and set up a softball load with a 200-gr. semiwadcutter....

Jim H.

 

[NG VI]

I do have an alternative motive though on the 1911 thing if you know what I mean

As I started reading your post, the first thing that came to mind is dear Lord why?

It's a recipe for losing a perfectly good gun to your wife. Unless you can just talk her into getting another. Try a fullsize 1911 in .45 or whatever and see if that is a better fit, she may not mind the recoil in a heavier pistol.

 

[Jimineer]

My wife actually has a Beretta PX4 Storm, 9mm that she picked out herself about 8 months ago. I forgot to mention that. She does ok with it sometimes but to me it just doesn't look right in her hands. She is finally experimenting with the different back straps that came with the gun and we got her a Hogue slip on rubber grip but she hasn't shot with this setup yet. I think the 45 in the 3" Colt is probably a "different" 45 than in a 5" (assumption) vs the 40 in my 229, but I don't find it worse. I was surprised she did shoot my 229 as much - maybe because she ran out of 9mm - she shoots 15 rounds at a time in her Beretta while my Colt is 7 shots. usually I just load up 10 rounds in my Sig at a time - not sure why.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I am not married, but there seems to be a general consensus that one is better off letting one's wife shoot what she wants.

 

[Jimineer]

It is probably going to be a general consensus that one is better off letting one's wife do whatever she wants - if mama ain't happy, ain't noone happy.

 

[chieftain]

First get a weapon that FITS your wife, not you. Then let her decide what works for her. Both in shooting and life you will be much happier that way.

My youngest daughter, who stands 4' 11" 100 and nothing lbs, shoots a Colt Combat Elite government model in 45acp of course. For CCW she carries a Springfield EMP 9mm. Don't mess with Daddy's little girl.

On her Elite I put some very thin Navirex grips with a Colt short trigger. The EMP was fine as it came. I offered to put a short trigger on the EMP too, but my daughter was happy with the way the EMP fit right from the box. Her EMP like mine was stone reliable right from the box.

One major reason the 1911 is still competitive in the handgun market place and amongst real world operators, is that it can be adapted fairly easily to most any hand size. Something up until the last couple years or so, most other weapons could not emulate.

Now even Glock gets it, RE: 4th Generation of the Perfect Weapon with a choice of grip size. I am trying to figure out which Glock was the Perfect one? Maybe this time they will get the magazines right too.

Go figure.

Fred

 

[Nushif]

I was at the gunstore today, just drooling, and the wife suddenly got it into her head to get this Ruger .45 semi auto. I can't say I'm unhappy, but I guess it depends on the girl?

 

[NG VI]

Which one, the P90, 97, 345?

Specifics and photos man!

 

[cmgred]

My wive loves a .45, she started with light hand loads. But today she shoots full power .45 wit no problem. Her CCW is a Kimber in .45.

 

[9mmepiphany]

i know a couple of women who prefer shooting the .45ACP...just not in a 3" 1911.

one prefers the 5" GM and the other likes the balance of the Commander length ...i don't think it's the cartridge, it's the platform

 

[Buckshot Bill]

I was thinking the same thing as mljdeckard- a .45ACP pistol is MUCH more comfortable to shoot than the sharper, snappier recoil of a .40 S&W.
Find a range that rents pistols, let her pick out one SHE likes the feel of and let her run some ammo thru it. EVERYONE will be much happier!
Buckshot Bill

 

[trickyasafox]

is reloading an option? start with light loads and build up. I've done that with good success with girlfriends and the 45acp

 

[mesinge2]

I agree with 9mmepiphany above. Its not the 45 ACP, its the 3" barrel and alloy frame of the Defender. I have a Colt Combat Elite (5") and a Defender (3"). With the same ammo, the Defender has more felt recoil.


Also, have her try different calibers: 9mm, 38 Super, etc.

But make sure their not yours; I lost my Colt 38 Super 1911 to my GF. She tried it and I don't think I will ever shoot it again.
She just loves it. I am going to have to buy another one.

She told me, "Your a Guy, you should carry your 45 anyways. You don't want this wimpy caliber."

 

[berettashotgun]

185's out of a P12 happens to really appeal to my wife.
Much more so than her duty pistol.

 

[TimboKhan]

I am not married, but there seems to be a general consensus that one is better off letting one's wife shoot what she wants.

True statement. I think a lot of guys get all fired up on choosing stuff for their wives because they want to show off what they know, which I can dig to a certain extent. Everyone likes to feel like an expert in the eyes of their lady. Just gotta back off and let her do what she wants. After all, no one held your hand and told you what gun to choose, right?

Also, I don't understand where this debate on women shooting .45 comes from. Yes, its a big round. Yes, it recoils. It isn't as if women have wrists made of paper, you know?

 

[Manco]

I was thinking the same thing as mljdeckard- a .45ACP pistol is MUCH more comfortable to shoot than the sharper, snappier recoil of a .40 S&W.

Eh, .45 ACP is for those who can't handle the snap, crackle, and pop of .40 S&W. When I first shot .45 ACP in a 1911, I felt the pistol give me a peevish little shove and saw no hole appear in the target when I pulled the trigger. So I gave it a good shake and said "Listen, boy, I'm the boss here and when I pull your trigger you'll shoot whatever I'm aiming at, got it?!" I then looked up at the target and saw a hole appear in it right before my eyes. When I grabbed the guy in the next lane who looked like a human Muppet wearing a Stetson, pointed at the list of rules, and told him to shoot at his own target , he just rolled his eyes and said "Hey punk, you're lucky you didn't get a roundhouse kick to the face! Look, you're shooting a .45--you need to give the bullet some time to reach the target." I aimed and squeezed off a couple more rounds, and dogged if he wasn't right--I pulled out the magazine, confirmed that three rounds had been expended, slapped it back in, and then two more holes appeared in the target afterward.

My neighbor could sense my frustration, and he kindly let me try his .40 S&W pistol. BLAM!!! HOLY TOLEDO! This thing got some SNAP! Best of all, a hole appeared in the target right smartly with no need to wait for it. I turned to the stranger and thanked him profusely for showing me what it means to be a REAL man. I asked him for his name and he said it was Chuck Norris. I rest my case.

 

[tomt]

Awhile back my boss loaned me his Kimber Ultra Shadow. My wife and I went to the range a couple days later. She started off shooting her S&W model 60 with some .38 target loads. I started off shooting my bosses gun. I asked her if she would like to shoot the .45. She was a little apprehensive at first. But after the first clip she turned to me and had this twinkle in her eyes.

She said we could use part of our tax refund to buy a Kimber Ultra Carry with the crimson trace grips. I'm pretty much stoked.

 

[chieftain]

The standard 180gr 40 S&W is 950 fps.
The standard 230gr 45acp is 850 fps.

Oh yea, a hell of a difference.

Go figure.

Fred

 

[walteray]

My old lady shot the full size and everytime I brought her to the range
I lost my gun for the day and ended up shooting something else whats the
phrase Im looking for "be careful what you wish for"

My buddys XD in 40 I think has worse recoil than my full size 1911 in .45 but thats just me. Id say just let her shoot show her its not that bad to shoot eventually she'll warm up to it. And my wife doesnt lift weights shes just a little girl but insists on doing everything I can do.

BTW I had to get her pregnant to get my gun back !

 

[Manco]

The standard 180gr 40 S&W is 950 fps.
The standard 230gr 45acp is 850 fps.

Oh yea, a hell of a difference.

Go figure.

Let's just say that it's subjective. But seriously, I can't tell much difference in recoil between them, either, at least out of similar weapons. I figure that's because they aren't so different by the numbers, either, and generally they aren't. The little story I told is analogous to how I view, based only on my personal experience, mind you, the complaints about .40 S&W recoil (only slightly exaggerated ). It's not that I'm totally insensitive to recoil, either, since even .22 LR in a medium-frame revolver throws my aim off to the point that I have to fight to stay on target just like with any other caliber.

 

[iblong]

My wife started out 3 years ago shooting my 22 mag,then to 9mm,38spl. and 45.The first few times with the 45 she was a little intiminated she'd shoot one mag and that was it,I didnt push it after a while it was a couple mags after a couple of seasons I had to buy her one because I couldnt get my 1911 back from her when shooting.She had me sell her 38 snubby as she thought the 45 was less painfull to shoot.If she likes to shoot she will adjust to it on her own and youll wind up ownning a couple.