Handgun for wife - opinions?

[wojownik]

My wife is seriously considering both getting her own handgun, and a CCW permit. I support both of course! And, she wants to go ahead and get some training courses under her belt as well.

Would particularly appreciate thoughts from the ladies out there, but also from the spouses/significant others ... What handgun options might she want to look at?

She's a smaller girl, a bit skittish, not exactly mechanically inclined. Very much a novice when it comes to firearms. But a former athlete, and better hand/eye coordination then I'll ever have.

Some options I have in mind might be a Sig p232 or p239, but that's because I've got a Sig bias. As a matter of fact, I'm thinking of butting out and letting her discover what suits her best. I have a good number of handguns, but they are relatively larger framed, not that well suited I think for her eventual carry needs....

Any experiences to share?

 

[bigfatdave]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=564531

and the other 189723489765 threads about buying someone else a gun, but start with that one

 

[Ridgerunner665]

As a matter of fact, I'm thinking of butting out and letting her discover what suits her best.

Do that...it will save you a lot of time and $$$.

The above opinion is based on my experience with my wife...may or may not apply to you and yours.

 

[iyn]

Anything she wants...

 

[weregunner]

Let her and you go through http://corneredcat.com

Lots of good info in there for the women and men.

Other good sources of info are www.womenandguns.com .
www.babeswithbullets.com

The NRA and NSSF accredited women only classes are also recommended.

Local gun stores, ranges, and gun clubs should have access to these.

www.nra.org has gun training and womens' programs tabs that can be clicked on and the info gotten.

 

[AirForceShooter]

Good for her.
Now get out of her way and shut up.

It will be hard but I know you can do it.

Do you have a LGS that has a woman or 2 on staff?

AFS

 

[Stealth01]

If you're looking at Sigs, include the P238!

 

[Brian Williams]

Good for her.
Now get out of her way and shut up.

And get out your wallet, because she not only need a new gun, she will need a good belt, Holster and either speedloader carriers or mag carriers. While you are at it, get some training together, Not you training her but you both listening to the trainer.
And a nice carry purse with all of the above.

Than you can spend time together at the reloading bench.

 

[Sav .250]

Just don`t "over" gun her.

 

[crazysccrmd]

My wife (5'1", 100lbs) handled everything in the shop before settling on an XD9. It isn't really a CCW pistol unless in a purse but it's what is most comfortable for her. She put 150rds through it without issue and on target during the first range trip. If your wife is recoil sensitive I'd suggest something metal framed in a smaller sized CCW. My wife tried out my Keltec P3AT a couple times and the recoil/muzzle flip was too much because of the lightweight and tiny grip.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

It has to be accurate,
It has to be dependable,
It has to fit her hand,

AND above all she has to like it, and like to shoot it, or the above is a moot point.

So as previous folks say, let her get what works for her, then take her to the range, and let her have fun, and if she wants, get her instruction.

LD

 

[beatledog7]

The opinion that most matters is hers.

 

[Guillermo]

suggest that she go to a range where she can rent several guns and decide what she likes.

remind her than she not only has to carry it comfortably but shoot it well.

all too many folks buy the hyper light, high power, micro gun because it is easy to carry...but they can't hit with it and after the first shot they can't find it since it flew out of their hands and no resides 30 feet behind them

and besides...few of us have the discipline to practice with a gun we don't like to shoot

 

[dprice3844444]

handgun for wife,sounds like a good trade

for newbies,i would reccomend a revolver first.less chance of accidental discharge,carrying in purse,etc.then after awhile,and after extensive training and range time,you could consider an auto.

 

[gdesloge]

How about this for a gift - buy for your wife a couple of hours with an instructor who will bring a variety of guns for her to sample.

Find an instructor who excels at teaching the uninitiated, ask him to bring a range of calibers/styles, and go buy yourself lunch and a cup of coffee until they are finished.

Good for you that you support your wife's interest and efforts.

gd

P.S. When your wife has decided in which direction she would like to go, maybe you can make a bit of a deal with the gun store - a discount for the purchase of 2 guns at once! His and hers!

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

She would be best off to try, where feasible, to shoot a prospective handgun. Try and find a range that will rent a variety of handguns. That - just to use an example - lightweight snubnose revolver may feel good just to hold it, but actually touching off a round is a different story.

 

[BCRider]

How about this for a gift - buy for your wife a couple of hours with an instructor who will bring a variety of guns for her to sample.

Find an instructor who excels at teaching the uninitiated, ask him to bring a range of calibers/styles, and go buy yourself lunch and a cup of coffee until they are finished.

Good for you that you support your wife's interest and efforts.

She would be best off to try, where feasible, to shoot a prospective handgun. Try and find a range that will rent a variety of handguns.

These two quotes should be central to her search. Holding them in a store means little, although it's a start. The real key is to find out which she's most comfortable with when actually shooting them. It's a totally different world when that bit of metal goes BANG!

And like us no one says she is only allowed to have ONE gun. So start her out and get her used to a variety of guns. And not just Sigs either. While you may like them I've found a lot of folks that have trouble dealing with the rather high bore axis location and the amount of twist it generates in the recoil. So a variety of brands and models should be tried out.

The only thing that would be nice, if it works out, would be for both of you to shoot the same calibers of ammo. Just to make purchasing or reloading of practice and match ammo that much easier. But hey, if it doesn't work out that way it's not the end of the world.

 

[Lonestar49]

Went down that road and -

...

Some options I have in mind might be a Sig p232 or p239, but that's because I've got a Sig bias. As a matter of fact, I'm thinking of butting out and letting her discover what suits her best. I have a good number of handguns, but they are relatively larger framed, not that well suited I think for her eventual carry needs....

Any experiences to share?

...

Years ago I bought a Sig P232 SL 380acp thinking my wife would love it, as I thought I did, by looks and feel, but -

I had no idea that the heavier, longer, stiffer, return spring and hand-cycling would remain so stiff feeling thru 1450 rounds.. She did not like hand-cycling it, ever..

I thought the long, heavy, DA pull would lighten up - it did not, and she didn't like it - ever

It had a lot of snap/kick (380acp recoil) far more than most small 9mm guns of today.

I had no idea that a/the blow back action got the gun so dirty so quick and it did and I didn't like that - ever (a must clean after 200 rounds, no exceptions) or jams via contaminated feed ramp/chamber and first 1/3rd, down, within, any mag (you/I had to stay on top of keeping those areas pristine/clean before any range visits because of its limit of 200 rounds.

And, I had no idea that the best JHP for it, at the time, was 90gr vs what is available of late in small 9mm's - 124gr/135gr JHP's along with much "softer return springs" with far cleaner action being closed breach - not blow back.

So, when I sold it and then bought her a NIB SA EMP 1911 SAO 9+1 9mm

Being a closed breach action, much cleaner and can, and does, go 800 -1000 rounds in between break-down/cleanings, noting, that I keep (all my guns) feed ramps and chambers/barrels clean before they go back in safe or on house, wife, self, duty needs - it's just a measure of good/clean action if, and when, needed.

We're talking 2yrs now, I think, just over 6K flawless rounds and best - she has no problems hand-cycling its softer/far easier slide action via softer/shorter return spring and best -

She luv's the light, same, consistent 4/ 4.5lb SAO trigger pull every time with NO DA pull that most have, or give, much range time with.. SO

With 2 safety's, gun is always cocked and locked, she is very confident with it, as am I, and it was worth the ($1,000) investment in her with this small, light, w/full but thin grip, being single stack mags, and comes with low profile 3-dot night sights, 3 mags and wood grips w/3" match bull barrel w/no questions asked lifetime warranty that SA stands behind ) that in short-

They're tack drivers at SD/HD ranges without doubt, quick on-target with no surprises with the same SAO, lighter, trigger vs DA/SA actions - OMMV

I was lucky in that I surprised her twice, 2nd time was the charm but, as mentioned, best if she makes the choice, for the very most part so you don't run into the same problem the first time as I did with a Sig, that for many, works well, but for some, namely my wife, like your description, and the athletic part is identical, this gun was and is a ~ Keeper ~

9mm over 380acp (9mm Short) is what you want for her in both better, easier action/guns and far more heavier JHP's that serve a better purpose of putting more lead/weight on target. OMMV







Luck,


Ls

 

[leatherworker]

I've heard really good things about the Walther PK380. I have not shot one personally but know a few people whos wives carry these and love them.

 

[W.E.G.]

This question is asked here every single day.

Get her a medium-sized, double-action .38/.357 caliber revolver.

Shoot light .38 Special ammo until she is completely comfortable with it.

You can buy her the really expensive James Bond and John Wayne guns after she demonstrates proficiency and interest in a simple and reliable gun.

 

[kludge]

My wife is seriously considering both getting her own handgun, and a CCW permit. I support both of course! And, she wants to go ahead and get some training courses under her belt as well.

Start there. Find an instructor who will let her look, touch, manipulate and then select the ones she likes and shoot them.

The women that go through our pistol classes end up trying about 4 on average. And then they can form their own preferences. Doing it in the reverse order (buying first) costs a lot more.

Fight the urge to attend the class with her. Have her take a girlfriend though.

 

[bruss01]

Ha, read the title and was like "Yep, as long as it's any caliber 9mm or up, that ought to do... for wife". But if you really want to be sure, use a shotgun on her. Just sayin'.

 

[oldrevolverguy]

Asking an untrained person to shoot a number of handguns with the expectation that it will result in a well considered decision is unrealistic. There is no substitute for professional training. Find a comprehensive Defensive Handgun Fundamentals class and let her start down the long road to becoming an educated shooter. A two or three day course will provide a foundation of fundamentals from which she can begin to understand the elements that must be considered to select the "right" defensive firearm.

 

[Skribs]

Oldrevolverguy, the idea is that you find something comfortable for the user, because everyone's hands and preferences are different. It doesn't take training for someone to say "this .45 kicks too hard for me" or "I like the feel of the 1911 over the Glock because it's thinner and easier for my hands."

You also shouldn't need to have someone take a 3-day course to help them make a good decision. You, as the person's "mentor" (whether you be husband, son, boyfriend, mother, trainer, etc) should be able to say "find something that's comfortable for you to use within these calibers." My Mom didn't take a 2- or 3-day course, she just went to the range with me and shot a revolver, a 9mm, and a .40, and came to the conclusion that she likes them in that order. So I bought her a revolver, and she loves it. Because I've done the research, I was able to answer a lot of her questions, instead of paying for an instructor to do the same thing.

 

[3KillerBs]

... As a matter of fact, I'm thinking of butting out and letting her discover what suits her best. ...

Very good instincts.

Not that a couple in a good relationship can't learn from each others' experience, but a strong desire to please the one you love can backfire via putting his/her recommendations above your actual preferences.

As a woman I cannot speak highly enough of www.corneredcat.com for the information a woman needs to meet a woman's needs where firearms are concerned.

When I was looking for my first gun I went to a big gunshow with the specific goal of handling every handgun that I possibly could and taking notes on what they felt like and if I had any problems with them (can't reach the trigger, can't operate the magazine release, ...).

When I was looking for my first carry gun I went to several gun shops to handle as many models as I could find both new and used. I also considered my usual choice of daily clothing and considered how I could possibly conceal any given gun in that outfit and what alterations in my clothing I might be willing or unwilling to make.

Its an ongoing learning process.