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Speaking as an NRA Certified Firearms Instructor with 20+ years of experience I can definitively say that size of the individual has just ZERO to do with this discussion. I taught my daughter to shoot when she was ten. Started off on a 22LR and by the time she was 13 (LITTLE GIRL, too!) she was a bullsyse shooter with a 357 magnum. Her little friend down the street was a "preemie" baby. Her dad (recently passed away) was one of my instructor buddies. That little girl with the spindly arms and legs was a bullseye shooter with a 44 magnum by the time she was 15. For her sweet 16 she brought down a 400 pound wild boar in central Florida with said 44. That pig fed over 35 guests at the restaurant that cooked it up for us. Sweet 16!

My wife is another example. VERY first date? To church. Second date? To the range. Although she'd been raised as a USMC brat and around guns, I still taught her and she immediately lusted after my beloved 1911A1 45ACP. To keep the family peace (piece?) I had to buy her her own Commander 45.

If you are properly instructed there is no reason you can't shoot any caliber you choose. That is a personal choice based on your hand configuaration and what simply "feels right" in your grip. Pay no attention to folks who give specific caliber and brand recommendations unless they're your family. I think the freepers I've pinged would agree with my assessment. I usually take my "client" to a gun show as I did this past weekend and let her handle a plethora of firearms. When she finds the "right one" she will EXCLAIM this is the one! And she'll be correct as sure as the boy King drew the sword from the stone. You just know it feels right. Size is irrelevant as is caliber as long as it's not too small to be decisive in a fight for your life. To that other factors come into play like age related medical conditions or current physical disabilities, etc. But fo a normal healthy female adult there are no options off the table.

RE: Post #80

I agree with your post. She is looking for a first time gun for self defense and classes.

She didn’t mention that she was going to practice regularly, compete or get into handgun hunting.

While I agree that anyone can train and safely and accuratly shoot most any caliber, I would not recommend she go purchase a 500 Mag to take to her first class. But that’s just the opinion of a minion. I am not an NRA Ceritified Firearms Instructor with 20+ years of experience.