Helping female friend pick gun ... help me!

[Rich357]

Hi Dave,

I'm all for a friend helping another friend make an informed decision. In this case she has tried a few pistols and likes the G26. If there's a rental range in the area and she wanted to try several handguns that's fine. Since she likes the G26 she might want to try a G19 and G17. A SIG P239 9mm is also well worth trying. The P239 is a real pleasure to take to the range.

If she isn't all that interested in trying other pistols then going with a G26 isn't, IMHO, a bad choice. Just holding a pistol in a gun store is not necessarily a great way to pick a pistol. I recently bought a Walther P99 9mm. It feels good in the hand but is quite snappy when shooting it.

Since she has tried the G26 and likes it, I wouldn't try and talk her out of it. It's not as if she is stuck with this first handgun. It's not like getting a tattoo.

Would I recommend a G26 or G27 to a first time shooter? If they have tried one or the other and like them, why not? There is nothing wrong with them. It would be different if the subcompact Glocks were poorly made, likely to break down, inaccurate pistols. But they aren't. The small Glocks are simply smaller. They are still the basic Glock system.

I shoot my G26 virtually as well as my G19. She might shoot a G17 better than a G26 but it sounds as if she likes the idea of a small handgun. If she is also considering in the back of her mind on carrying the G26, she should get a good holster that covers the trigger. It would also be a good idea if she took a class in defensive shooting, if she wants to carry.

Rich

 

[only1asterisk]

Rich, et al

Didn't mean to sound defensive, I think most of us agree on the basics. Training, holster (even if CC isn't on the agenda), good ear protection, and lots of encouragement.
I learned to shoot the hard way. The first handgun I shot was a S&W Model 29, talk about the wrong gun for a newbie. Then nobody stopped me from buying my own. I had to learn to handload just so I could stand to shoot my own gun more than a few rounds at a time. I never very good with a handgun until I bought my 686. The first time I shot it, I found what I was missing. As soon as I could I went out and bought a .22 and started over. I'm still not the world's best pistol shot, but I hate to think back on the frustration of that .44 and the great secrets of trigger control and follow through I learned much later.

I only wish there had been someone to talk me into a lesser gun in the begining.

Dave

 

[Ian11]

Female or Male it makes no difference. A gun needs to fits one's hands and it should be in a caliber and gun combo they can handle.

For most first time gunowners a .38 SPL revolver (K frame) or a 9mm compact or full size are the best choices. These aren't "beginner rounds". There are many many people who have shot guns for many years who still enjoy and rely on these calibers for defense. Women's hands tend to be smaller than men so here are what I think are the best choices:

Autos:
Sig Sauer P225/P228/P229/P239
Glock 19/26
H&K P7/M8 or USP/C
Colt 1911 9mm
Browning HP

Revolvers:
S&W K frame .38 or .357 Magnum
Ruger SP101 3" .357 Magnum
Colt Detective Special

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

Single stack SIG.

 

[stevelyn]

Take her gunshop hopping and have her handle as many different pistols and revolvers in the caliber(s) she limits herself to and let her decide.

 

[Combat-wombat]

Maybe a taurus PT 111?

 

[Boiler_G]

WOAH!

Wow, just reading the latest replies and I feel like I just got my head bit off!

only1asterisk, thanks for backing me up here. I am not trying to convince my friend not to get the Glock. I personally have no problem with Glocks and think that they are nice, reliable weapons. I just know (which you all don't) that my friend has limited time, experience, and exposure to guns, and thought that it wouldn't hurt for her to see what else is out there.

Geez! I thought you women were shoppers, but apparently you like the first thing you see. Sometimes, the next window over may have something you like better and maybe even for a better price or better fit!

I am new in this business myself and while I bought my gun (with out shooting it first) and liked it, I have shot others since then and I shot a little better or with quicker follow up shots than my 1911 .45. (CZ 75 PCR 9mm, by the way)

I wasn't trying to make anyone mad here or force my preferences on my friend. We have been friends our whole lives (over 23 years now) and I think we are on the same page. So please try not to judge me or my advice with another friend before knowing the situation! She played b-ball in college and is in good shape. I think the comment on training is on point too, for eliminating the limp wristing problem. It is her decision and money in the end!

Thanks for the gun suggestions (the reason for the post). I too am looking for something in 9mm and will consider the BHP, Sig 239,225, CZ75.

I am just a friend trying to help here! Thanks.

 

[pax]

Boiler_G,

I'm sorry it sounded as though I was biting your head off. Didn't mean to come across quite that way.

A few weeks back, I was helping out on the line at a class for beginning shooters. It's always interesting and I really enjoy getting a chance to talk guns with different people. One of the women there that day was shooting well and appeared to be enjoying herself. But she told me, with a grimace, that she'd rather have had a root canal than be at the range. She had a very nice, very serviceable .38 snubby and wasn't doing a bad job with it at all. But she hated the little gun. I asked her why (thinking perhaps she'd tell me the kick was too sharp or the grip didn't fit or something like that). She sighed deeply and said, "I hate it because every time I look at it I'm reminded that he doesn't listen to me. I told him I wanted a semi auto. I just don't like revolvers!"

I had to blink a few times to wrap my brain around that one. Whyohwhy, if he wanted his girl to learn to love shooting, didn't he let her choose her own gun? It was fairly obvious, in talking to this woman, that she was willing to enjoy shooting, but that the negative emotions surrounding 'her' gun were really getting in the way.

Sad to say, she wasn't that unusual. I've met folks like her before and suppose I will again. It makes me just about crazy because it is so unnecessary.

If that's not where you are or what you were doing, my apologies. It's just that when I see a train wreck about to happen, I always want to see if I can stop it before it does.

In any case, if your friend is willing to look at more guns, don't let me stop you.

pax

 

[varoadking]

Sig 239...

 

[Marcus]

I think Pax has some pretty good advice. It`s always a hard thing when a man trys to pick out a gun for a woman. I just went throught this with my wife. She`s shot guns but isn`t a shooter by a long stretch so she wasn`t really able to tell me exactly what she wanted. I had her try a few guns that I felt would be "perfect" for her and they were all miserable failures. I tried to steer her clear of little guns because "they`re hard to shoot well", it hadn`t occured to me that she`s only 3/4" my size and so a 3/4 scale "compact" gun wasn`t compact to her! I figured a DA trigger pull would be safer for a novice. But I didn`t consider that she has 1/3 of my grip strength if she`s lucky so a 10lb trigger pull to me is 30lbs to her! She has to use 2 fingers to pull a conventional DA trigger if she still wants to hit anything at all. She didn`t like Glocks,XDs and polymer Walthers because they were "ugly and mean looking",so they were out. I wanted her to get a 9mm but she ended up with a Colt Gov`t .380 Pocketlite. It fits her little hands perfectly,like a Colt Commander would mine. The trigger pull is easy for her to handle and the weight and recoil all fall well within her comfort zone. It wouldn`t have been my first (or even 5th) choice for her but in the end it was the best. Don`t anyone tell her I said this but I would have saved myself a lot of trouble if I`d shut up and listened a little better in the first place. I vote for the G26. Marcus

 

[Sean Smith]

Here is my take on it...

There is nothing wrong with trying to steer someone in a sensible direction. That is very different from making somebody get gun X because you think they should have it. In general, I think it is sound to advise a first-time shooter to NOT get a subcompact gun.

 

[Sean Smith]

"I hate it because every time I look at it I'm reminded that he doesn't listen to me. I told him I wanted a semi auto. I just don't like revolvers!"

Of course, it is equally true that it is pretty silly for somebody with zero gun knowledge to reflexively want to do the opposite of what someone with at least some gun knowledge suggests simply because the source of that advice is their spouse.

 

[JohnKSa]

Of course, it is equally true that it is pretty silly for somebody with zero gun knowledge to reflexively want to do the opposite of what someone with at least some gun knowledge suggests

People know what they like even if they're not experts.

The choice here is between pushing someone into what you feel is best for them, and helping them select something that will be suitable for the job at hand AND still be something that they can feel good about owning and enjoy shooting.

My wife was not at all gunny when I married her, but she KNEW what she liked. She doesn't like the look of stainless, and she doesn't like revolvers because of some bad experiences. Now, I know that a medium frame stainless steel revolver is probably the best choice for someone who wants a gun to be there when they need it and be invisible when they don't need it.

But, I chose to purchase her guns that she LIKES, even though sometimes they're not the IDEAL choice. As a result, she enjoys shooting, asks to go to the range, enters various competitions, and often mentions out of the clear blue that she really LIKES one or the other of her guns.

Look, my first gun was a .357 Magnum revolver. Anyone will tell you that starting a first time shooter on a magnum isn't advisable. But, I stuck with it and became a better than average shot. Not because my gun was an ideal beginner's gun, but because I LIKED it. I liked the way it looked and felt, and enjoyed the blast and recoil even though I had to initially work pretty hard to keep from flinching.

My wife carries a single action, blued subcompact .380 autopistol. Is that what I would have chosen for her? NOPE! But I feel good about her carrying that gun because I know she has practiced with it enough to be able to use it competently if the time comes. A big part of that I know she has taken the time to master that gun because she LIKES it.

 

[David4516]

"While not female, I'm not the biggest guy, and have relatively small hands"

I'm in the same situation.

When I first started shopping for a carry gun, I was thinking about a glock 26 or 27. My dad has one and let me try it out. I liked the size and weight of the gun, but it was a bit thick and while it didn't "kick", it did "jump" (I don't know if that made any sense, what I mean is that it wasn't painful to shoot but it was difficult to control). I'm not an expert, but I'm far from a newbie (I've been target shooting since I was really young, my Dad is a gun dealer), and I don't even feel really comfortable with the baby Glocks.

After dismissing the Glock, I asked my Dad if he had any other handguns that were similar in size to the glock. After some digging around in the safe, he produced a Makarov. At first I didn't think I'd like it. It looked different, it had a funny name, and it was in a "wimpy" caliber. But I did like the size and feel of it. It was a bit heavyer than the glock (it is an all steel pistol), but it was thinner (like I said I've got small hands, so the single stack aspect was a plus), and the grip was a bit longer (so I had a place to put my pinky finger).

So I agreed to give it a try. I didn't expect much from such a "cheap" gun, but I was pleasntly suprised. It was fun to shoot, and it was reliable. It didn't jam, and that really impressed me because the Glock, that was 4 times as expensive, had jamed twice when I was trying it out.

So I got a Makarov of my own, and have been very happy with it. I think it has several advantages over the Glock 26 and/or Glock 27, the biggest one being the feel of the pistol, but cost was also another very important factor. The only dis-advantages were weight (and that doesn't bother me much) and caliber. My Dad's Mak is a .380, but I wanted the 9mm Makarov. 9mm Makarov (aka 9X18 ) isn't as good as 9mm Luger, but it does beat .380, and depending on the ammo can beat it be quite a bit.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I too was seriously considering a baby Glock, but then I checked out the Makarov and never looked back. It's a good carry gun, it's a good target shooting gun (very accurate for a "millitary" pistol), and it's a whole lot of fun for shooting at pop cans at 5 yards...

Best of all, it's cheap. Makarovs can be had for about $150, so if you buy one and don't like it for whatever reason you arn't out the $500 you would be if you got the glock.

 

[Mikel]

David - On the opposite end of the price spectrum, I ended up with a Sig P239 and a Kahr PM9.

The Sig with Hogue grips fits my hand like it was made for it. The kahr is a little short with the flush mag, but perfect with the extended mag and it's size and weight makes it really easy to conceal.

There's a lot of good small guns out there

The miniglocks don't work for me either, they feel retarded to me. The grip is short, which is fine by me, but also fat, which makes for a long trigger reach for me. I usually buy single stack guns for this reason.

Ok, done babbling for now.

 

[David4516]

Mikel, I've been wanting to try out a Kahr for a while now, but I don't know anybody who has one and I don't want to spend $ on a pistol I haven't tryed yet. Maybe I can talk my Dad into buying one...

"Dude, wheres my Kahr?"

 

[twolf]

Kahr P9

Let her try a Kahr P9. The recoil is the same, if not better, than the Glock 26. It is thinner than the Glock and it is a full size grip with an extra 1/2" of barrel.

One word of caution, I have never met anyone that got exactly what they wanted on their first handgun. It is kind of like buying a house, after you buy, you find all the things that you don't like about it and learn. I have several handguns and like some features and detest others about all of them. Some I like and others I have sold. I once bought a Kimber Pro Carry and could not hit the broad side of a barn with it. It was not the weapon, it was me and the fact that it did not point well for me.

If you have a gun club nearby, join. The reason that I say this is the club that I am a member at has dozens of people their all the time. I have had people ask me about firearms that I was shooting and I usually ask, "ya wanna shoot it?" I have done likewise. It is a great place to learn what they like and do not like about weapons.

I second the notion what weight is key. Also, no offense ladies, women generally do not have good hand strength which means they need a real light trigger pull or they need a flat backstrap on their weapon in order to be able to exert more pressure on the trigger. My wife thought she wanted a Glock but after we bought it she ended up not liking it so we bought her a S&W 3913 NL. It has the flat backstrap and the same trigger pull as the regular 3913. She tried a regular 3913 and thought the trigger to be too tough. I bought the 3913 NL on a hunch and she now out shoots me. The guys at the range have gotten a real good laugh out of that and I have shrunk about 6"!

 

[Al Thompson]

Having sold guns for a living, nothing frustrates me more than some testosterone poisioned fool who wants to dictate to the "little lady" what gun she should have.

As many have stated, best to let her try bunches and make up her own mind.

Better a .25 she can hit with than a .4something she can't.

 

[Vic303]

I know you said she is enamoured of semiautos, but if you can, get her to at least TRY a Ruger GP-100 4". I bet she will love the way it handles--esp, if you load it w/.38Spl+p's ! That way if she does like it, she can always load .357 instead of .38Spl once she is used to the revo & it's recoil, and has more rangetime under her belt. If she finds a trigger on any pistol to be a bit heavy, you can always have a competent smith tune it up for her & lighten the pull...

But ultimately, let her decide what she is comfortable owning--she'll like you better for it!

 

[Boiler_G]

Kahr

Again, thanks for all the suggestions!

Also, I must re-itterate! I am not pressing anything here! She has already told me "I am going to get a glock someday." She will probably buy when I am not even around too.

I am just asking in the event that we happen to be at a gun show or shop, for some guns that women tend to perceive as less 'snappy' and a good fit for smaller hands.

I too have fairly small hands and like single stack guns.

Like twolf said, it is hard to get exactly what you want for your first gun. I was just intending to suggest to my friend to shop around some, just to make sure. If she doesn't get a chance to shoot anything else, I doubt she would change from the G26 to something else anyway just by the 'feel' of the gun.

I think she will get the Glock and like it, but I just didn't want her to have a similar experience to my own, after firing some other guns after I made my $500 purchase (New Rollmark Colt 1991A1) and second guessing myself.

I like the Glock for its robustness, reliability, and simplicity in operation. If my friend asks for my advice again, I will tell her to try to get her hands on a Kahr (pricey, but single stack), and maybe a Sig 239, S&W 3913 (TSW or LS), BHP, CZ 75.

Thanks again.

 

[Ky Larry]

My wife started shooting my CZ 75B 9mm but when she realized how hard it is to carry she switched to my .38 Spl Colt Detective Special. Since your friend may have to trust her life to this weapon, it should be something she chooses. Besides, if she find something she likes better, she can always trade guns. She isn't stuck with only one gun for the rest of her life.
P.S. That goes for you too so treat the lady right!!

 

[twolf]

3913 TSW me no like

I would not have her even try the TSW for four reasons.

1. When you mention "Tactical" the price goes up. In this case, by about $75 bucks.

2. If she plans on doing any HRT work I would say, sure go for it, but I do not think this is the case.

3. Becasue of that accessory rail, which she will never use, it is alot heavier.

4. The TSW has the regular "guy backstrap" and will have a perceived heavier trigger.

Another thing, an older and wiser man told me when I got married: "You can be right or you can be happy but, you can't be both"

He is a tip: choose happy!

 

[Boiler_G]

tips

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

Thanks for the comments on the 3913, those are the sort of detailed personal accounts that I was looking for. I was considering the 3913 as more of an option for me.

As far as the comments on the 'personal' treatment of my friend ... She is a long time family friend and more like a sister then a significant other, so for all you married peops out there, I could use a little break on all the relationship advice.

My friend wouldn't hesitate to yell at me or call me an a$$. LOL. So don't worry about that department. We are good friends and we both take each others word into serious consideration no matter the topic.

Don't worry, I am not forcing my opinions or personal preferences on her and she wouldn't let me anyway.

Again, I too have farely small/average hands, so the single stack 9mm is of interest to me too (as you have seen in my previous topic posts).

Thanks.

 

[sig225]

her choice

It really is her choice but I am going to give my suggestions. I like the fact that you are trying to help her out and encouraging her to try as many guns as she possibly can before purchasing. Unfortunatly she may already have her mind made up. (Well not unfortunatly Glocks are great guns) I would have to reccomend like someone else stated a single stack SIG. Hmm what comes to mind a SIG 225. The recoil is very manageable it is easy to take down for cleaning and fits my hand like it was made for me. I would tell her to look into one. My other suggestions would be a .38 spcl revolver, a Glock or a CZ75 (my favorite handgun).

 

[CatsDieNow]

I am female, and also a Purdue grad.

First (I assume she's 21), suggest that she get the magic pink handgun card. I had one for at least a year before I owned a gun. They are relatively cheap in Indiana as opposed to Texas.

I own two handguns, a Browning Buckmark and a Kahr MK9 elite and I like them both.

When Justin (and Chris Rhines, too) took me to the range, I would commender Justin's .22 Ruger and he would whine profusely that he never got to shoot it. So, it was probably time to buy my own gun. I later went to a gun show with them and they were constantly trying to get me to hold everything while rattling off specs and stastics. It made my head spin.

I went to a another gun show without them and then touched and fondled all the .22 target pistols instead of the carry guns, because that was what I really wanted. I picked out the one I liked and asked Justin if there was any reason why I shouldn't get that one. He found me a good deal on a used one, I got my Buckmark, and I am happy.

Similar story with the Kahr, when I was ready to buy a carry gun, I asked him to narrow down the selection to a few choices and I went to a show to hold them all. Found a deal online and bought it. I am totally happy with that purchase too. FWIW, I absolutly hated the way Glocks felt, but that's probably just because I was unable to touch my thumb to my finger while holding it.

The moral of my rambling story is:

Let her take ownership of her purchase, that way it is HER gun. Narrow down the field, and when she is ready to buy, inspect it for defects/major problems and then tell her what a good choice she made. (Even if it is a Glock ).