My girlfriend wants a gun...

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DiggityBiggity

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I'm looking for a good handgun for my girlfriend. She's a pretty good shot with a .22 rim fire rifle, and she's a strong girl who I know could probably shoot at least a 9mm if not a .40. Any ideas, suggestions?

(This will be a CCW weapon)
 
Try before you buy

Take her to a range and let her try several types, both revolvers and semi autos. And if it'll be for concealed carry, you'll likely want to consider holsters as well (or other ways to carry the weapon). Check out Cornered Cat for a discussion about firearms and carrying concealed for women.

http://www.corneredcat.com/

My wife wanted a revolver so we bought a S&W Model 67 from a family member, thinking it would work well as a self defense weapon for her. It's a terrific weapon but turns out, in actual use, it's a touch too large for her hand. Not unusable, just not comfortable - she has to stretch to place her finger groove on the trigger. So I get to use the Model 67 :) and we'll keep looking for her. Maybe a J frame of some sort.
 
Hey Diggity, I would suggest a small frame revolver is she doesn't or hasn't used a handgun much. They are simple, like I told my wife and daughter. It's like playing cowboys and Indians. Point and pull the trigger, no safety, no racking the slide. Simply put, simple. Granted she needs to be shown, taught gun safety, but revolvers are the way to go. Good luck.
 
I agree totally, she MUST pick her own gun. Just think how you would feel if someone handed you a gun and said, "This is the gun you will use." I doubt you would appreciate someone telling you what you have to shoot.
 
The key is to get her to shoot as many guns as possible. Recruit strangers at the range if you have to. Suggestions for her are the same as suggestions for anyone else. I'm partial to the CZ RAMI and Glock 36.

Also, get her into a defensive pistol shooting course (you too if you haven't had formal training). Training is easily the best money you can spend on anything firearms related. I learned a ton from a simple 1 day defensive pistol course. Wish I had taken it years ago. Would have saved me lots of frustration and thousands of rounds trying to figure out how to do it right.
 
try this . . .

Since she's already a good shot with a .22 rifle take her to a range and rent a .22 revolver and a .22 auto and let her decide the pros and cons of each design for herself. Then you can rent something in the .38/.357 or 9mm neighborhood and let her have a go at that. A fun and educational day of shooting with your girlfriend - $100 to $150. Finding the right personal defense weapon based on experience - priceless ;)
 
I would skip the 40 and go with the 9mm or a 45acp. My wife doesn't really like the 40 recoil. She likes the 9mm, but she loves the 45acp. She is 5'6" and 125lbs. She also likes the Desert Eagle in 44mag for some reason!!!
 
+1 for all the folks who suggest you let HER choose! Also don't rag on her ultimate decision of caliber, either. Better a .22in the hand, than a .45 in the safe!

Personally I like 1911's, BHP's and .357 snubbies for carry, & yeah, I am a gunchick.
 
When my wife was looking for a gun she felt a bit self conscious and didn't want a salesman's undivided attention on her.

Going to a gun show worked well, she held over 100 different firearms and wound with a 9mm XD sub compact. From day one she has been responsible for cleaning and all other maintenance on her firearm (with instruction).

Letting her pick resulted in much more pride and ownership of her firearm, it is truly hers and the one that she wanted. She has also practiced enough with it to be a very good shot, something she never did with mine.
 
Diggity ~

Why does she want a gun?

pax
Click to expand...

She's looking for concealed carry. I have my CCW, and she really enjoys going into the city with me and not being intimidated by fear anymore. She also enjoys the gun culture, and safety courses, the range, etc.
 
DiggityBiggity ~

Next question: how is she doing her research? (I'm assuming she's done more than send you around asking others -- which isn't a bad thing but also isn't quite enough.)

Has she expressed any strong opinions about anything she's tried so far?

pax
 
good information here! My fiance is interested in what I'm doing on Saturdays with the fellas, but she's never gone. She grew up shooting a .22 rifle, so I figured I'd buy a 9mm XD at a gun show a few months ago and say that I got it for her if she gave me a hard time about the $$. ;) Not really, but it seems funny.

Anyhow, we're planning on going to the range as soon as a friend replaces the extractor on his beretta 22 target pistol. Since she both works and lives in a small town where everyone knows each other, the CCW thing isn't her biggest concern since I go with her anytime she's in the city. But, if she were interested in carrying, we'd be waiting for a friend to buy a revolver too.
 
The important thing is to let HER pick something that SHE likes.

So long as it wasn't a Jennings... I'd just stand back and let her handle them...

I've dated several 5 footers who have had NO problem with a .45 with proper instruction.
 
Have her pick up/try on a Springfield XD....lots of choices and the grip is not overly large.

The Safety is built into the Grip and Trigger so if you're holding the gun ready to go you're ready to rock and roll.
 
I recently helped a girlfriend get a gun. She was fairly new to shooting but had several hours of range time with me and had some idea of what worked for her. She ended up getting something I wouldn't have thought of, but so what. She liked it and she put about 200 rounds downrange later that day. Let her choose, if you need to run interference for her at the gun store, do it, but let her choose. A female clerk at one store was adamant that she should get a revolver, not an auto, she didn't listen to her at all. She ended up with a Kahr CW9.
 
Get her a sub glock in 9mm or 40sw.no thumb safty's no lever's no grip safty's no decocker's, just point and shoot,remember it might save her life some day and that's what's really important.my wife carry's a glock 32C that's a medium size glock 40sw compensated to reduce recoil.she seem's to like it a lot and i feel good knowing that if she has to use it she wont forget how to use it.just point and shoot.
 
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