Posted on 11/02/2009 7:25:03 AM PST by missycocopuffs
Ruger SP101. With the wide choices available in .38 special ammo you’ll be able to shoot it until you’re 100, and then pass it on to your great-granddaughter.
380 ammo is not too plentiful here (Western Kentucky). I have yet to find my favorite gun store completely out. They always seem to keep 3 or 4 boxes on the shelf and I grab a box when I see them.
Whittaker Guns (Owensboro, KY) usually has them (my fav gun store)
Gander mtn has them at times
Dick’s - I’ll check tomorrow when I’m over in Evansville, IN
Very seldom see them at Wal-Mart, if at all
I went to Rural King today to grab a few boxes of CCI 22LR for the Smith and Wesson M&P AR-15-22 and I bought the last box.
I love that AR15-22.. Put 100 rounds thru it yesterday - that makes 200 rounds so far with ZERO hangs and misfire.
Time for a shower and some football.
I skipped the 100+ comments w/o reading probably some good information, much not worth what you (didn't) pay for.
As an NRA instructor, life long firearms enthusiast and a recently retired Army type, I recommend you do exactly what you said you were doing-go try out a few, then I recommend you obtain professional training from a reputable entity (NRA instructors are usually a good place to start for basics)like Lethal Force Institute, Gunsight, Chapman Academy etc for what you really need.
Remember, obtaining a firearm and shooting it a few times is not even close to what you need to be able to effectively employ it in a fight for your life....
The skills you need in terms of fighting mindset far exceed the fit and style of your firearms(s).
Firearms are only one aspect of the tool kit you need.
Regards
We started her with the S&W Model 41 .22 target pistol and worked our way up. Funniest thing was when she shot my Combat Commander, put five rounds in the target, then looked at me and grinned and yelled "This is FUN!"
She didn't like the .41 Mag very much though. Very small woman with tiny hands.
That is one incredible little pistol! We used them in competition when I was on the 9th ID Pistol team. Match grade pistols and ammo made for sweeeeet shootin'!
Yup. Feed it Eley match ammo and you could take out a flea’s left eye.
What ever you choose, make sure you can operate all the functions.
I’m missing my left thumb, so I have some of the same difficulties a person with smaller hands would have operating a semi-auto pistol. I’ve found that with a firm grip on the slide, I can cycle the slide by pushing the receiver forward with my right hand. It is important to make sure your finger is not on the trigger.
Also, don’t get seduced by the idea of a light weapon. Weight absorbs recoil, so you will have a better chance to make a follow-up shot. A tiny, pocket pistol will have both higher recoil and by design, a heavier recoil spring, making the slide more difficult to operate.
Check out the Browning HP. With aftermarket grips, it can accommodate small hands, the slide isn’t overly heavy and with a little work, the trigger is very nice. 9mm can be a very effective load and it is easy to make accurate follow-up shots.
Missy,
My wife is 5’4” and 110. She has may firearms but carries a S&W 642 and/or a KAHR PM9.
I recommend that you go to a gun store and find one that fits your hand and is comfortable for you.
There is a lot of folks that consider a .380 a minimum caliber, and I would agree and recommend a .38 special or 9mm, but get one you can shoot. A .22 you can hit with is better than a .45 you miss with. That being said, My wife also loves her full size .45 (and she has small hands, half the size of mine), but thinks it is too heavy to carry all day long.
In order of caliber preference (least effective to most)
.25 acp (a rock is more effective
.22 lr (better than most people give it credit for)
.32 ACP
.380 ACP
.38 Special
9 mm
.40 S&W
.45 ACP
.357 Mag
10 mm
Lots of others, but these are the major players.
Bottom line - get a gun that fits YOU, in a caliber that you can hit with. Larger caliber is better.
Drop your preconceptions about your petite size limiting what you can shoot or carry.
Go to a range with training and gun rentals, and try a variety. The big guns will be more comfortable to shoot that the small ones, but you just need to learn to shoot first.
And first, buy a copy of Boston’s Gun Bible. Even if you need only 10% of what’s in it now, you’ll get valuable info you’d never get online.
Thank you for the run down on caliber effectiveness. Last night at class I used a S & W .22 semi-auto and I was pleased that I was able to manage the slide easily on that one. My DH and I talked about going down to the gun range this week to rent a few different pistols to get a feel for what I prefer. Next week we will be using .38s in class.
I was pleased and surprised that there was a good ‘girl vibe’ to the class. The video we were shown had a woman home alone who decided to take a gun class as its subject. About twenty-six people in our class, four of whom were women (we were all there with our spouses). Instructors were great, all retired military or LEOs, and basically I had my own private shooting instructor when we went to the range. It was a fantastic experience.
any lighweight .38 revolver....Smith and Wesson and Taurus make excellent choices..
my wife has an SW 642PD in .38 which will handle premium loads...weighs only 15 oz
I have this gun with pink handle grips, of course I’m a girl. My husband laughs at me, but says a big bad man who comes after me won’t think its too funny getting shot with a “Barbie Gun”.
I think this is what my FIL has, and I might be using his gun next week. Thanks.
Mrs Wobbly is smaller than you and handles a .45.
picking a good grip and pistol is almost as important as good training and good practice.
If that doesn’t work, the .357 S & W Ti is a good choice-(experiment with different aftermarket grips) practice with .38s and carry/fight with a .357 round (it takes both)
Find a good .32 revolver. LEOs relied on them for decades.
You are more than welcome. If I still lived in michigan I’d invite you out to try a few things. As it is, I see that you are being well taken care of.
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