There are several important characteristics to look for when choosing a self-defense handgun. Posted on 10/20/2017 7:06:33 AM PDT by w1n1
There are several important characteristics to look for when choosing a self-defense handgun.
First, the handgun must be in chambered in a cartridge powerful enough to reliably stop an assailant when the shot is placed properly.
Second, the handgun must comfortably fit the hands of an average woman. This is a very important characteristic to consider because a properly fitting handgun will have less perceived recoil and be more enjoyable to shoot.
Finally, the handgun must be reliable and easy to operate. When trusting your life to a handgun, it must work every time without fail. If it constantly malfunctions at the range, it very well might malfunction when you really need it and that’s completely unacceptable. Here are our picks for the best handguns for women to use for self-defense.
Ruger LC9s (9mm Luger)
This Ruger uses a 7 round single stack magazine, making it very slim and compact. For this reason, the LC9s is well suited for small framed shooters and those wishing to carry it concealed.
Kahr CW9 (9mm Luger)
The design is a very simple without a lot of the bells and whistles, the CW9 is still a formidable choice as a handgun for women. With such a slim design - its good for people with smaller hands.
S&W M&P Bodyguard (.38 Special)
The Bodyguard revolver is the latest in a line of excellent quality revolvers produced by Smith & Wesson. The synthetic grip makes the revolver easy to hold and noticeably reduces recoil. Weighs in just over 14 ounces, the S&W Bodyguard is the lightest handgun on this list of the best self-defense handguns for women. What other handguns would you refer women to?, for women out there, what do you prefer to pack with? that we didn't mention here. See and read the rest of the full description of 6 good self defense handguns for women here.
S&W model 10 or 67 w 3” barrel.
I don’t recommend the snub nose for accuracy.
I don’t recommend semi-autos because the women I know are reluctant to carry with the safety off, or train enough to take the safety off in a stress situation.
Recently purchased a Springfield XDE as a Glock replacement. My wife lacks hand strength to rack a slide on most semi autos but can easily rack the slide on this gun. Gun functions well and shoots 9mm, so I think it should have been included.
A S&W airlight .38 is the best for my families women. They don't have to remember if there's one in the pipe or not or is the safety on or off. They just need to point and pull the trigger. In a hurry or in a crisis there usually is no time for memory checklists.
Mrs. L is partial to the XDS in .45.
L
“I don’t recommend semi-autos because the women I know are reluctant to carry with the safety off”
In many cases, women don’t have the hand strength to cycle the action on small semi-auto handguns. If you can’t load it, you can’t shoot it. Additionally, in the case of the Ruger LCP, the trigger pull was way too hard for at least one lady I know who has very small hands.
Same here...My Lady can’t rack any semiauto.
So, a nice little Ruger LCR in .22LR helps her keep the coyotes away.
I was a big proponent of 38 snubbed nosed until I found some women have difficulty with the trigger pull weight and length on some hammerless revolvers.
I guess women are pickier. Before you buy one for her have her get the feel. A compact or a sub compact is a perfect purse or glovebox gun.
My wife really likes the Glocks and with their safeties she can keep one in the pipe.
I gave a S&W Body Guard with a laser sight to my 50 yr old daughter for her birthday. Many of her friends are always packing.
My wife had an airweight but has some carpal tunnel issues. The trigger weight and length are strong enough she wouldn’t practice with it.
Not impressed. The only two on that list I would go for are the S&W M&P Bodyguard and the Sig P238. The actioning on the Ruger LCP is for chit. As a general rule Glocks are a bad idea for women especially for CC. A much better choice would be a Springfield Armory XDS in 9mm.
Most self-defense shootings happen at contact distance, or nearly so.
This is a great advantage of the airweight,(and all other J frame revolvers), because the slide cant be immobilized by clothing or a hostile hand on the gun.
I own a Sig 238.
Super concealable.
Any decent quality .38 snubbie will do, though I’d suggest an all steel model. The lightweight models are invariably unpleasant to shoot with anything hotter than wad-cutters. I’m a male and my edc gun is a 3rd gen Colt Det Spl. from the early 1980’s.
Da revolvers, 38 special wadcutters.
Be happy.
Take her to a range. Let her try a number of guns. Let HER pick.
The low-recoil hydra-shok rounds work well in the smaller CC frames.
I have arthritis in my thumbs and I generally find Rugers easier to use. Never tried a semi-auto though.
Use what I use. A Taurus snubbie. 5 95gr +p Silvertips. Just pull the trigger. No jam no fuss no muss.
Finally people are acknowledging that it’s difficult for most women to use automatics and not just mocking us as being inept. I am an unusually strong woman, but I cannot safely pull the slide back. I can do it eventually, but the barrel gets waved around in an unacceptable manner, so I only carry and use revolvers.
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