[NRA1995]

I know several women who like the Ruger SP-101

[exnavy]

Smith and Wessan make a .38 called a lady wessan, should do nicely.

[longhorn too]

Probably a good stub nose 38 caliber revolver would be good if you are not real familiar with guns. This gun would be easy to operate being a revolver and the 38 caliber would be ample stopping power.

[longhorn too]

Probably a good stub nose 38 caliber revolver would be good if you are not real familiar with guns. This gun would be easy to operate being a revolver and the 38 caliber would be ample stopping power.

[AdamSelene235]

Try Armed and Female by Paxton Quigley

[Lexington Green]

First -go get an edumacation - your mind is your best weapon - take a basic shooting course- talk to your teachers about choosing the right gun.

[blanknoone]

Don't worry about the gun. Worry about the training and education. Learn how to use weapons. Your instructors will help you pick which firearm best matches you and your needs...but it is the training and practice that matter far, far more than which piece of equipment you choose.

[cowboyway]

Get the new M4 from Bushmaster. It's got all the 'evil' features (bayonet lug, flash suppressor, collapsible stock, 30 round mag) and is a dream to shoot.

(Colt has PC'd out on the 'evil' features and will only offer a version with pre-ban features to law enforcement)

[PoorMuttly]

Lightweight .357 Smith & Wesson snubnose, or clone. You're likely to have it in your pocket, or around, when you go to the door, etc. Prefer heavier, and longer barrel...more accurate, less kick...but when you need it, it is amazing how insignificant recoil gets!

There is great agreement on this, by those who would really know. I think it best to stay away from handy Automatics, since the power is low unless the gun is big, and they DO tend to jam, especially when full of lint and unlubricated....even when properly kept, and there are proceedures for clearing a jam, which you don't usually need in a good revolver.

Of course, there is NO better defensive firearm than the 12 ga. shotgun, with #1 BUCK. The only drawback is, will you have it where you are when you encounter an intruder already INSIDE somewhere?

[NautiNurse]

S&W Airlite .38 has a small grip, internal hammer, lightweight.

[Hi Heels]

Do you know how to shoot? If not, you need training before getting a pistol. Call your local NRA for a referral. Have you ever thought of self-defense training and/or a dog until you can safely use a gun? If you've settled on a pistol as the answer, I would agree with the gentlemen on this thread. A S&W 38 is the answer. The problem I've experienced with women and guns (use to train them) is that they are uncomfortable keeping them loaded. Which gives them all the defense capability of a round rock. Which brings up another issue. Got kids? Are they trained with guns? Do you have a safe place to keep the gun?

Not a decision for the lighthearted.....

[kingu]

Basic home defense: a pump shotgun with four shells of bird shot and three shells of 00 buck and a 38 cal revolver. The shotgun is there to keep people out, the revolver to deal with those inside.

My own favorite is the S&W 642 hammerless revolver. It weighs just a little over a pound, loaded, with a simple 'pull the trigger' operation along with two quickloaders to re-load if needed. The .38 cal +p loads have more than enough stopping power to knock anyone down. And the small frame fits well in smaller hands.

But the best idea is to go to your local range, take a firearms class, rent guns they have there, and see what works best for you. You wouldn't buy a car without a test drive, don't buy a gun without trying out a similar model first!

[SampleMan]

There are many factors, but first:
1. Are you willing to kill someone?
2. Are you willing to learn to shoot?

If yes, I think it is more than just a technical choice of a good gun. You must be able to hold it, point it and operate it. It is better to hit with an inferior gun than miss with a superior one. Many guns are simply to big for a woman's hand (and some men's). Although two handed operation is great, the situation (cracking a door open, etc.) may necessitate one handed operation. If the gun is a semi-auto, you will also need to make sure that pulling back the slide isn't too difficult for you (no insult intended). My wife has a problem pulling back the action on some of my guns.

Go with a major company, some people will have issues with some types, but they won't be junk and they will fire when you pull the trigger. Shoot the gun at the shop if they have a range. Fire from the most likely distance at which you would use the gun (probably 10 feet).

Also think ammo. If you live in an apartment complex or have other people in the house, you might want to look at frangible bullets. They have good stopping power on their initial impact, but then come apart quickly. This prevents going through walls and hitting the unintended. However a word of caution. These are expensive and semi-automatic handguns can be sensitive to the type of ammunition used. Whatever ammunition you buy (if you have a semi-auto) shoot 20 rounds at the practice range to see if the gun jams. If a new clean gun is jamming with the ammo, don't use that ammunition.

If a man attempts to force his way into your home or is already there, he intends to kill you. Don't tell the police that you thought he was going to rape you or rob you. Tell them, "I was in fear for you life." Finally, be safe. Do you have children? Do you have children that visit you? There are some good quick lock boxes, but good practice is a must. If it isn't quickly accessable to you, it is of no good to you. Both of my girls (4 & 6) know that a gun will hurt them very badly (stress the pain part) and then they will die, never to be with their family again. However, they have friends that come and play at our house and I assume that they will try to kill themselves and I act accordingly with my weapons.

[Enterprise]

THIS - is what you need!

[HairOfTheDog]

Do you have friends who shoot? Go out with them and try several and then go shopping with someone knowledgeable. My suggestion, buy a nice heavy S&W .357 with a 4-6 inch barrel... Don't go for the light snub nose or compact revolvers some are recommending as a first gun, and I don't recommend semi-autos as a first gun. Get a target gun that will be comfortable enough for you to go out and shoot a few BOXES of bullets through in a shooting session, and then get into it for awhile and do that frequently. Make it a hobby, it's fun! If you get one of those little snubby guns, it'll hurt too much to shoot the quantity of bullets it takes to get completely familiar and skilled with it. If at first you really can't shoot .357 magnums well, you can still load it with .38 to practice and work up to bigger loads.

Here's my Smith and Wesson Model 19 .357.

[Yo-Yo]

Before you even THINK about buying a firearm for protection, you should take a firearms saftey course. Then you will have the education necessary to make a purchasing decision with confidence, and the skills to posess and use a firearm safely and accurately.

[Recall]

To Everybody who responded.

I grew up with 3 brothers and a Dad who all hunt and there were guns all over the place. I mean everywhere and now if you have dinner at my Dad's house he has three deer heads hanging on the wall watching you eat. I would have asked them about it but I don't want them to know I don't have a gun, it would hit them the same as not owning a Bible. So I have a great respect for weapons. I also did 4 years in the Army and got my badge on the M-16 A1 back in 1977. I still have tiny scars on my wrist from that.
I'm left handed and didn't have a guard for the shells.

I also pointed one of my Dad's hand guns at a man.
I was visiting their new home during my Army days and they had gone out. I heard someone on the porch and the screen door open. I got a gun and had it aimed at the door while watching the door knob turn. In comes this guy and immediately he puts both hands in the air. Come to find out it was a friend and neighbor. I don't think I would have had a problem shooting him if he had kept coming towards me.

Will I get a better deal at a gun shop or a retail store? I don't want to look stupid when I go to get one which is why I am trying to find out what I need.

Is there such a thing as a left handed gun or do you need a
guard on a pistol?

cowboyway- I was teasing you. I don't think I could both aim and shoot that thing. I'm not a wimp but I am small boned. My ring size is around a 5.

[Sixgun Symphony]

Small hands?

Check the local gunshops and pawnshops for a Colt Police Positive revolver. They come in .32 and .38 calibers.

You should also look into getting a shotgun, 20 gauge will do.