Sox
Member
Smith and Wesson 3900 series, like the 3914. Can find them at gunshows for 275.00-300.00. A great gun!
Smallish 9mm?
- Thread starter Ian
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I second the Kel-tec if you want something domestic. My only caveat is to see if the trigger works for her. It might be too heavy.
Otherwise, perhaps the Polish Makarov clone, the PA63 would fit the bill.
They run sub-$100 wholesale at times, and from one of the mail-order houses you could get 1k of practice 9x18 Mak ammo for around the same $100.
Then buy a box of Cor-Bon 9x18 ammo made with premium self-defense components.
Otherwise, perhaps the Polish Makarov clone, the PA63 would fit the bill.
They run sub-$100 wholesale at times, and from one of the mail-order houses you could get 1k of practice 9x18 Mak ammo for around the same $100.
Then buy a box of Cor-Bon 9x18 ammo made with premium self-defense components.
Redlg155
Member
Your freinds best bet is to take said fiance to a gun shop with a decent selection and just let her browse without too much interference. Why women chose a particular gun can defy logic or reason. I can't tell you how many guns I've bought for the wifey to use before I learned to just let her choose. Freinds don't let freinds choose guns for women! 
However there is nothing wrong with having some homework being done before arriving at a gun shop. Many gun shop owners prey on ignorance and flourish it with their own home cooked ignorances.
My wife prefers a 9mm to a .380 due to the softer recoil. .380s tend to be a bit "snappy". Right now she really likes my new PM9, so a new k9 seems to be in her future.
Good Shooting
Red
However there is nothing wrong with having some homework being done before arriving at a gun shop. Many gun shop owners prey on ignorance and flourish it with their own home cooked ignorances.
My wife prefers a 9mm to a .380 due to the softer recoil. .380s tend to be a bit "snappy". Right now she really likes my new PM9, so a new k9 seems to be in her future.
Good Shooting
Red
mrapathy2000
member
kel-tec p11 is a nice simple design easy to fix up and take care of.
SapperLeader
Member
I definitly second the let the woman choose the gun idea. One of my friends bought a taurus millenium in .380 for his wife. She hates the fat grips, the long trigger pull, the caliber, the looks of the gun, how hard it is to rack the slide and etc. On the other hand, she really likes my xd pistols, and is interested in trying out my 9mm 1911. Most of us chose our own first pistol, just becuase its a girl involved things should be different? Id go in to the shop, with a basic idea of whats what, and let her pick some out.
Mr Jody Hudson
Member
The Makarov is exceptional in every way, one of the finest pistols ever made at any price. Just buy a thousand rounds of ammo too.
The P11 is fine and those 11 9mm rounds in a small, light, fairly accurate package are a good combination for being carried a lot. Smaller, lighter, more powerful.
The Keltec 3AT is a little more accurate and so tiny, light, flat, etc. that a person can always have a powerful little .380 everywhere in every outfit.
The Bersa .380 is fine!!!
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I let my girlfreinds pick her pistol -- that part is the best advice in this thread -- let her decide and tell her it is just fine to get one, changer her mind, and trade it in for a different one later.
My last girlfriend decided first on the Makarov of all the available choices and she had a choice of most of the ones mentioned here. Her second choice is the ParaOrdnance P-14-45
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My previous girlfreind preferred the Walther P5 compact and her second choice was the Glock 19 with hicap mag. By the way, there are some times Police turn-ins of Glock 19s and 17s, both 9mm and lightweight... if they have cosmetic blemishes they can go as low as $350.
In closing, drive as far as it takes, arrange for a nice dinner afterwards and let her know that, and let her try, feel, shoot, whatever she wants. And, if her taste runs a hundred dollars high, you can both decide if you want to cancel dinner and add that money to the gun purchase and just feed at McDs.
Let her decide after testing them and let her change her mind as she gets more familiar... that's what the rest of us do isn't it...
The P11 is fine and those 11 9mm rounds in a small, light, fairly accurate package are a good combination for being carried a lot. Smaller, lighter, more powerful.
The Keltec 3AT is a little more accurate and so tiny, light, flat, etc. that a person can always have a powerful little .380 everywhere in every outfit.
The Bersa .380 is fine!!!
===========
I let my girlfreinds pick her pistol -- that part is the best advice in this thread -- let her decide and tell her it is just fine to get one, changer her mind, and trade it in for a different one later.
My last girlfriend decided first on the Makarov of all the available choices and she had a choice of most of the ones mentioned here. Her second choice is the ParaOrdnance P-14-45
===
My previous girlfreind preferred the Walther P5 compact and her second choice was the Glock 19 with hicap mag. By the way, there are some times Police turn-ins of Glock 19s and 17s, both 9mm and lightweight... if they have cosmetic blemishes they can go as low as $350.
In closing, drive as far as it takes, arrange for a nice dinner afterwards and let her know that, and let her try, feel, shoot, whatever she wants. And, if her taste runs a hundred dollars high, you can both decide if you want to cancel dinner and add that money to the gun purchase and just feed at McDs.
Let her decide after testing them and let her change her mind as she gets more familiar... that's what the rest of us do isn't it...
Bart Noir
Member
Not P11, not blowback
OK these are just some thoughts. The blowback guns (including Mak's) have a sharper recoil and also a stiffer spring, so racking the slide is harder to do. The P11 doesn't have these drawbacks, but who can shoot it much? We all need practice and this gun has a trigger that flat just wears you out, fast. Most double-action only guns do this, although the Kahr is nice, very very nice.
A single stack, locked breech, .380, with traditional DA/SA trigger system is just right for somebody who wants enough compact power with not too much recoil. Dang, but Colt stopped making their models years ago. Is there any other that fits in this category?
Bart Noir
OK these are just some thoughts. The blowback guns (including Mak's) have a sharper recoil and also a stiffer spring, so racking the slide is harder to do. The P11 doesn't have these drawbacks, but who can shoot it much? We all need practice and this gun has a trigger that flat just wears you out, fast. Most double-action only guns do this, although the Kahr is nice, very very nice.
A single stack, locked breech, .380, with traditional DA/SA trigger system is just right for somebody who wants enough compact power with not too much recoil. Dang, but Colt stopped making their models years ago. Is there any other that fits in this category?
Bart Noir
Brad Johnson
Member
Taurus PT111. Mine has yet to have a failure of any kind, plus I get a manual safety, 10+1 capacity, and true double strike capability if there is a misfire.
Brad
Brad
LiquidTension
Member
CDNN has the KelTec for $200 right now.
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