Posted on 03/23/2011 12:14:47 AM PDT by krogers58
Looking for some advice for a concealed carry weapon for the wife. We were thinking a semi-auto, clip fed weapon. She seems intimidated by the recoil on my 9mm (Glock), and was wondering if there was a decent handgun that would give her more confidence with aiming and firing. I was thinking of something like a .380, but I've never shot them to compare them to a 9mm. Obviously they shoot a smaller cartridge, but the gun seems much lighter and would seem to be more susceptible to kick-back. Maybe I'm wrong. I think a .25 auto might be too light. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
The Bersa is the one I was going to recommend. Got one for my wife, she loves it and she cannot stand recoil well. Load it up with the 90gr Corbons and you have a platform that is superior to 38s with a 2 inch barrel. She likes it over the Glock because of the external safety.
The low profile sights on the gun are great too as I have taught her to point shoot at the very close range this gun is designed for...self defense...nothing more. “if you are shooting at something beyond 25 feet, you have no reason to be using a self defense gun”.
>>it makes the trigger pull hard, and accuracy for the unskilled is non-existant.<<
I respectfully disagree. CTLasergrips! ;D
This might help (note that it needs to be a pink 0.38): http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/22/armed-beauty-queen-fatally-shoots-intruder-florida-home-invasion/#
“Silver plated”? Right, Kemosabe.
I’d get her a short barreled .357...
Because defense .357 Magnum rounds out of a lightweight revolver has far less recoil than 9mm out of a semi-auto.
Did you read that part about "intimidated by recoil"
I have one and like it. Light easy to shoot, accurate, and small. Get the larger magazine. It gives you a longer grip.
I agree with the recommendation about the Springfield XDm 9mm. I am a woman with a small hand and have no problems with my Springfield. The XDm comes with small, medium and large backstraps, and are fairly easy to switch out. I installed the small backstrap and it fits perfectly in my hand. No problems with recoil. I could shoot that gun all day without a lot of fatigue, and that’s saying something because I have had arthritis surgery on both hands over the past two years.
I worked with a guy in the 70’s that was shot by his wife at point blank range 6 times with a 25 Auto. That was Friday night. He came to work on Monday.
Get her a wheel gun in 38.
Remember it is very embarrassing not to mention often fatal to get shot woth your own gun.
If she has no problem working the slide in a semi-auto, the Bersa .380 that IOWAfan mentioned in 24 is a good carry choice. Not as compact as the tiny ones like Keltec P3AT, but recoil is not nearly as noticeable.
Finally, as many have mentioned, go to a gun range and let her try a few different guns, and see if she finds one, about which she says "I can carry and fire this one all day long".
Good luck.
You might want to consider a Makarov or the Polish variant. Not much recoil and works every time. The 9x18 is between a .380 and a 9mm. The Polish ones are @ 200.
Not true. I have had revolvers malfunction and break for me while at the range.
On the bicycle I carry a Taurus Titanium .45LC since the ammo is the heaviest component on the lightweights. I don't carry factory ammo because I discovered that the Taurus is so light that when cooking off a couple factory rounds the recoil actually backs out the projectiles from the remaining rounds sufficiently to block the cylinder from rotating.
Thus all rounds are homemade, slightly less OAL, a much faster powder and a roll crimp. Problem solved.
This is an interesting gun and I am considering buying one. It is based on the Grendel P30 and is a less expensive alternative than the FN Model 57.
Not picking on Taurus (I own one), but the problem you describe, if wide-spread, sounds like a design flaw that Taurus needs to be aware of. Have you notified them of your problems with factory ammo?
Suggestion:
Go to a range that rents guns. Rent some compact autos like the ones you are considering. Fire a a couple of magazines through each one. If she has consistent feed problems, it might be the ammo, but she may be “limp-wristing.”
If she is having ammo feed problems, consider a revolver instead. They never have feed problems.
In any case, don’t listen to stuff on caliber. As long as you’re not buying a .25 ACP, you’re probably okay. Even a .22 LR that you can use well and are willing to use is better than no gun at all. The .38 is a good caliber for a revolver - controllable and available in huge array of self defense rounds. The .380 is okay but a 9mm is better, too. Fewer (but still lots!) ammo options here because special rounds sometimes have issues feeding.
Of course, you should get the largest caliber that she can comfortably use and conceal. If she likes the Taurus “Judge” with a .410 “buck and ball” load, and can conceal it, more power to her!
Hmmm....since both stopping power and recoil seem to be your two biggest considerations, you might want to look at a Ruger SP101 or GP100 in .327 Federal Magnum. It can also fire .32 S&W or .32 S&W Long to acclimate your wife to handling and firing the weapon, and as she grows more comfortable with it, graduate to the full power .327 Federa Magnum loads. Even with the relatively small caliber it’s one screamer of a handgun cartridge. Do some research on the ballistics of the round; I think you’ll be impressed.
In the mid seventies I bought my wife a Colt Cobra - .38 snubby revolver for protection. It’s light and easy to handle. She still has it. They don’t make Cobra’s any more but a small .38 like that is dependable and great for CC or home defense.
Great plinker, but not exactly a daily carry weapon for a woman.
What...are you going after Ronald McDonald?
My tiny wife is a strange one. She wants a .45 Kimber with a laser sight.
My wife traded in her LCP for the Bersa and she LOVES it. She is deadly accurate with it too...
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