Help recommend some handguns for the girlfriend...

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Ok, lets see...

I actually have and carry a Kahr P9. Not sure if she'd like that or not and their pricey.

I was thinking, before I wrote this, of something like a small revolver (like the Taurus 850 you guys spoke of...) or a small auto like a PPK or Bersa. Btw, is the Bersa a generic PPK? And if so, is it a good gun?

I don't want to get her a .22, this would be her one and only gun....at least for quite some time. I would like to try and get her to use it as a carry gun...we'll see.

And dont worry, I do plan on taking her to the range and trying out and practicing everything she is interested in.
 
As I tried to allude to, you'll find that the blowback PPK, Bersa, Makarov or whatever will tend to have a much stronger recoil spring than a recoil operated 9mm. This will make it even more difficult for her to load and clean it.

Since 9mm ammo is often cheaper than .380, there seems little reason to go with .380, aside from the price of a few of the Makarovs and the like. Also, PPK style guns tend to have much stouter DA triggers, for some reason.

Trust me, in general, there are few advantages moving down to .380.

Try using the search function on Gunsamerica.com. By selecting "less than $250" and searching for "9mm" I came up with some interesting hits, including a Helwan 951, which is a license built version of an older Beretta. Point is, there are plenty of very high quality older pistols out there that are nicely made, shoot well, and are cheap.
 
You said she has small hands, so on the semi-auto side, look at the single stacks. Glocks are great guns, I've got two of them. But their grips are often too large for people with short fingers to manage. My wife can't comfortably reach the trigger of my Glock 17 and couldn't lock it open to save her life.

I like the Kahrs, but my wife has trouble locking open the slide on mine. A semi-auto with an exposed hammer can sometimes be a bit easier to cycle the slide (you can manually cock the hammer first). A couple to look at include the Sig P239, S&W 3913.

In revolvers, I'd stay away from the lightweight .38s and .357s (aluminum, titanium, scandium, etc.). An all steel revolver will have less felt recoil. Depending on her hand size, the medium-framed revolvers (e.g., S&W K-frame) may be too big. Take a look at the Ruger SP101 and S&W Model 60. I recommend the 3" barrel as it will be easier to shoot (longer sight radius). Definitely load with light .38s, NOT .357s to start.

If you think .38s are too much for her, S&W has a nice .22lr J-frame revolver with a 3" barrel -- model 317 IIRC. Although it is a light aluminum frame, it really has very little felt recoil.
 
Sig P239 in 9mm... Ruger Mk II...

But how the heck would I know. I once convinced a beginner woman shooter to try out 5 shots from a IMI Desert Eagle in 44Mag, using full-house 240gr JSP hunting loads. :uhoh:
 
Ruger Sp 101, SW Model 10. Eiether on is "enough" gun to do the job, though mastering the DA trigger requires finger strength.

Cocking the slide on an auto can be confusing for a newbie, whereas a revolver is fairly easy to cock.
 
i would suggest a bersa thunder .380. there are small ( but not tiny, i don't like tiny. ) and comfortable. .380 is more interesting than .22 but not as exciting as 9mm. the bersa costs about $230 in my area, but is cheaper in other areas.

jade
 
My girlfriend just got a XD-40 and she loves it. It fits her hand a lot better than most other guns, and she also has small hands. The trigger isn't to bad so it is easier for her to shoot. She had problems even pulling the trigger of some revolvers and DA autos. But like you said whatever fits her best is what she should get.
 
A couple of Ladies in our IDPA Club bought XD9's and love them. They fit their hands well. They thought the G17's just a bit too wide.

Enjoy your search...:rolleyes:
 
A couple friends of mine had Helwans and had lots of problems with them. I don't think I'd recommend them.

I do agree with Handy about most .380s, however. I would skip them. The only one I would recommend is the Colt .380, which has a locked breech (rather than direct blowback). But it's not in production anymore and would be well more than $250. That price limitation is pretty tough. You can find used revolvers for about that (or a bit more). Makarovs are about that price, but I'm not sure whether they are locked breech or direct blowback.
 
A nice .380 like the Beretta Cheetah would be nice in semi-auto. I always recommend a .357 with at least a three inch barrel to most newbies. A .357 can fire .38 spcl, +p, +p+, and .357 for defensive carry. A revolver is very forgiving and is simple to understand and operate. That is my 2 cents worth.
 
Hi, Tim!

My last two students were both women under 5'1, and one could not lift her body weight. From that experience, I'd recommend their choices:

HK USP Compact in .40S&W
Ruger Security Six in .357
Kimber Pro Carry HD II in .45acp

One is deliberating on a Kahr K40, the other is saving up for a SIG P232.

Both learned to defeat flinch & recoil with both my Desert Eagle and Super Redhawk (.44mags), and both own American Derringers (.45lc/.410ga)

I don't focus on mouseguns for petite women, as the goblin feels supremely empowered against the physical presentation of a girl who should be absolutely helpless against the testosterone surge - we focus on major calibers (stop the attack). One girl always carries her Glock 36, even though she hates the trigger, because it's accurate and concealable (she goes through hundreds of rounds through her Kimber, and enough through the G36 to satisfy both me and her that she can defend herself with it).

The physically weakest loves the .40S&W caliber, and is lately falling in love with a G27 for an always handgun - though she won't part with her HK. She bought the Ruger completely on her own as something wonderful to shoot at the range, both for DA training as well as the simple delight (it is +99%, and she paid $150 for it!).

Chico, eh? Is CSUC still regarded as the "party campus" of California? Rape used to be quite a problem there. . .

Please, consider martial arts training!

Good luck - and let us know how this works out, OK?

Trisha
 
Hi Tim,

What is the purpose of this handgun for your GF?

1. Learn to shoot and have an enjoyable range gun?

2. A carry piece for self defense?

3. Home defense?

4. Competition?

Or, what mix if the above uses? Which is most important, least important, etc.

-----------

Hi Trisha,

You don't like the .357SIG? :)

Rich
 
A model 19 Smith comes to mind. So does a Python, but that would be more for you than her, huh?:D

A .22 would be best if she is a total beginner and just wants to target shoot. One friend is quite petite and wants to shoot nothng except her Ruger .22 - she's quite good with it. Between her German Shepherd and her Ruger, any bad buy would likely find himself perforated with 10 .22 bullets and four fangs, so I'd say she's well protected:)

Once she gains proficiency an auto would work, too, if she is comfortable with one.
 
Hi Tim,

What is the purpose of this handgun for your GF?

1. Learn to shoot and have an enjoyable range gun?

2. A carry piece for self defense?

3. Home defense?

4. Competition?

Or, what mix if the above uses? Which is most important, least important, etc.
Click to expand...

1 & 2 mostly.

I have a lot of talking to do, but I want to buy her a gun and have her apply for CCW before we move and leave this county (see my 'Sacramento area' post in General Discussion for that whole story) so that renewing is that much more probable this summer at the new place.

Will be her one and only gun, and a carry gun if I can get her into it, so a .22 is outta the question. She has been to the range a handful of times with myself and a couple of her other guy friends so she's not a total newbie. And so I know that she can at least handle up to 9mm no problem.

I am (of course it really only matters what she ends up liking, will find out tomorrow...) am leaning towards either the Bersa (small, concealable, and dirt cheap) or a some type of snubbie revolver.

We are going to the range tomorrow so we'll rent a couple and look around, and I can show her the Bersa. Then going back on Sunday (hey, maybe to play with her new gun?!?!) for some more.

I'll let ya'll know what she picks.
 
As a general observation, I'd suggest looking at big guns with small grips, like some of the large framed revolvers. The heavy frame absorbs recoil well, and the small grip makes it fit her hands well. My wife actually likes the low recoil of the SW 625 - I like the fact that I can easily make small groups of big holes with it. Too bad they're kind of pricey. A .38/.357 would probably be more affordable.

For semiautos, based on my wife's preferences, I'd say that a HiPower clone with either Pachmayr or Butler Creek grips will work out well. The CZ-75SA with Hakan grips are also really easy to shoot and fit smaller hands well.
I like the CZ-83, but my wife complains that the recoil is sharp. I haven't shot any of the steel framed CZ-75 compacts, but they feel great in the hand, and seem to have enough weight to dampen recoil. Alloy framed guns like the CZ-75PCR are great for carry, but are light - recoil is mild, but "flippy".

A surprise contender is the Beretta 9000s Funky little sneaker pistol, surprisingly easy to shoot, and fairly compact. The safety is pretty awful, but people say once it breaks in it works well. You can find them pretty cheap because nobody wants them. Perhaps if Beretta got a Pro Athlete's name on it, it would sell better - maybe rename them the "Lead Jordans" or something?

On a budget, you could look into some of the old firestars. I find that the Firestar Plus is a nice little gun - would be more ergonomic as a single stack with palm swells - but the Plus model is all I got to try. The Astra A-70/75 and RAP 401 are apparently in the same category of quality inexpensive compact 9mm - seem to be the same size as the kahr's.

My wife doesn't seem to particularly like the 1911 or similar .45's (blasphemy!)

Steve
 
Gotcha covered Bub!!
Glock 26!!
I have smallish hands and it fit like a glove!! I customized it to my specs, only what I didn't know was that my GF (now wife) had designs on it!! It became a monumental "YES DEAR"!! The G26 in question now resides under HER side of the bed!!!! :D
 
I am (of course it really only matters what she ends up liking, will find out tomorrow...) am leaning towards either the Bersa (small, concealable, and dirt cheap) or a some type of snubbie revolver.
Click to expand...
I would skip the snubbie. They are hard to shoot accurately. Not a good gun to learn how to shoot with.

If she is going to carry it, how would she carry? If she's going to carry it in a purse, she can carry a J-frame or SP101 with a 3" barrel and that's a whole lot easier to shoot than the same gun with a 2" barrel. The only real point to a snubbie, in my opinion, is that it can fit in a pocket. If she isn't going to carry it in a pocket, then you might as well have the longer barrel.
 
I vote Walther P99, Springfield XD, or a CZ-75. These are easily handled by some one who is small.
 
The S&W model 60 is the perfect gun for a woman. Small J-frame, but all steel so the kick isn't that bad. Double and single action, as needed. .38sp +P is all she needs to use, but .357Mag can be an option.

If for CCW, then a model 640 may be an option with no external hammer.

Stay away from any superlight guns, like the Airweight S&W revolvers (or polymer 9mm's for that matter) because a new shooter won't like the recoil.

If you can afford it, the perfect 9mm for a woman would be the all steel Kahr K9.

Robert
 
Regarding all the posts about heavy DA pull:

If the woman in question is complaining about strength needed for a DA pull, a semi-auto may not be a good idea anyway. How would she rack the slide? Even if a round is chambered by the "man of the house" before hand, that won't help her with a jam or stovepipe.

My 2 cents....

-Robert
 
I would let her try out a Kahr K9 or P9 and some Bersa .380s. They fit small hands well and are concealable. The Bersa is about $200 new.
 
Alrighty, went to the range today.

Rented a small all steel S&W 2 inch .38 and brought my Kahr P9. Didnt have anything else worth renting, no .380's.

She didnt like the revolver, didnt like the long trigger at all.

And the bad news is she really likes my Kahr :eek:
Loves the size and the way it shoots. Dam,n, them things are expensive... :)

Anyhow, the Bersa they had was sold :rolleyes: so gonna try and find one some where else that she can handle before I buy another Kahr. Also want to see if I can find one of the compact Kahr's and see if she likes them.

Thats all for now. So a revolver is out and a small Kahr size semi-auto is in. Hopefully she'll really like the Bersa :D
 
A Glock 26 or 27 may not be much less expensive than the P9, but she may find them interesting. A Pierce grip extension might help.

I'm pretty sure the SIG 239s are less than a P9.

Good luck,
Rich
 
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