Top Ten Firearms For Females: Your Best Shot for Personal Defense

Petite Guns ^ | Unknown | Content: Sarah L & Graphics: Chynna P

[Immerito]

Top Ten Firearms for Females

Content: Sarah L & Graphics: Chynna P

Personal defense means always having the means to defend yourself at any time and in any situation. With the continued rise in crimes and attacks against women, it's even more important for females to stand their ground and protect themselves. When pepper spray and stun guns are no longer enough to get the job done, it's time to look for a personal defense weapon that is more powerful and effective. With this in mind, we've compiled a list of what we believe to be the top ten handguns for female defense. Each of these handguns are light, compact and easy to carry whether it be in a pocket or a purse. With their easy operating capabilities and excellent power to weight ratio, these handguns will allow you to walk more comfortably and more confidently because your personal safety is something that should never be taken for granted.
Note: The following firearms are in alphabetical order
	Many female shooters prefer the 9mm Glock 19 pistol because of its simple design and lightweight build. The Glock 19 handgun uses nearly half as many components as other handguns, making it easy to operate and maintain. Glock 19 pistols are also designed with a high-tech polymer frame, making them 86% lighter than other steel frame handguns. Designed with safety in mind, the Glock 19 features the Glock Safe Action System, which uses three different safety mechanisms to help prevent accidental discharge. With its compact design and safe and reliable performance, the Glock 19 pistol has become a favorite among many female shooters.
For a compact pistol that is both safe and easy to operate, it doesn't get much better than the Heckler & Koch P2000 pistol. Featuring a LEM (Law Enforcement Modification) trigger system, the H&K P2000 compact pistol combines a cocked striker component with the ease of use of a double action hammer system, allowing you to quickly fire an additional round without having to pull the slide back to re-cock the pistol in case of a failure to fire. The 9mm Heckler & Koch P2000 comes with an ambidextrous magazine release and dual slide release lever, making it easy to be handled and fired by both right and left handed female shooters.
Small in size yet large in power is the Kahr Arms K9 Compact Pistol. Weighing in at only 15 ounces and 5.8 inches in length, the Kahr Arms K9 Compact is a double action only pistol that is known for its reliable performance and easy handling. Chambered for 7 rounds of 9mm ammunition, the Kahr Arms K9 Compact Pistol is equipped with a 3.6 inch barrel, manual safety, drift adjustable white bar-dot combat sights and a soft, textured polymer grip for a comfortable hold.
It never hurts to have a Guardian watching over you and with the North American Arms (NAA) .32 ACP Guardian Pistol, you can be sure there is always a Guardian by your side. The NAA .32 ACP Guardian Pistol offers the perfect combination of a small sized handgun with accurate performance and great stopping power. Only 3.3 inches high, 4.4 inches long and 13.5 ounces when unloaded, the NAA .32 ACP Guardian Pistol comes equipped with an Integral Locking System (ILS) safety that allows you to lock the hammer in place to keep the gun from firing, giving you an extra measure of safety and security.
Lightweight and compact, the name of the Ruger LCP (Lightweight Compact Pistol) says it all. Chambered for six rounds of. 380 ACP ammunition, the Ruger LCP weighs an unheard of 9.4 ounces when unloaded and is only 5.16 inches long, making it one of the smallest and lightest pistols available. Since it first hit the firearm market, the Ruger LCP has been considered one of the most reliable and accurate compact pistols, making it the perfect pistol for female shooters that want a compact personal defense pistol that is easy to handle and conceal.
Another Ruger handgun that is worthy of our list is the Ruger LCR revovler. Chambering five rounds in the .38 Special +P caliber, the Ruger LCR features one of the most advanced revolver designs on the market, complete with a chemical-resistant polymer housing that holds all of the firing controls as well as a lightweight and durable aluminum frame. Weighing only 13.5 ounces, the small frame LCR is 6.5 inches long and features a pinned ramp front sight, U-notch integral rear sight and easy to hold Hogue grip for continuous comfort and control.
	The only thing that may be able to offer you more protection than an actual bodyguard is the Bodyguard 380 Pistol or Bodyguard 38 Revolver from Smith & Wesson. The newest line of firearms designed for personal protection, both the S&W Bodyguard 380 Pistol and 38 Revolver feature integrated laser sights for optimal accuracy and polymer frames and grips for a lightweight and comfortable design. The S&W Bodyguard 380 is a semiautomatic .380 ACP pistol that has a compact frame with a 2.75 inch barrel, overall length of 5.25 inches and weighs an incredible 11.85 ounces. The 38 S&W Bodyguard Revolver is the first polymer framed revolver to ever be built with integrated laser sights and is chambered for five rounds of .38 Special +P firepower. With its 1.9 inch barrel, internal hammer and overall weight of only 14.3 ounces, the S&W 38 Bodyguard Revolver may be small in size but is large in power.
Keeping it classy yet threatening is the Smith & Wesson Model 642 Centennial Revolver. With its pink synthetic grip and lightweight aluminum alloy frame, the S&W 642 Centennial Revolver is only 6.31 inches in length and weighs only 15 ounces when unloaded. Capable of shooting five rounds of .38 Special +P ammunition, the S&W 642 Centennial Revolver is equipped with an integral front sight, fixed rear sight and an internal hammer for a snag free design that is perfect for concealed carry and all day wear.
The Springfield XD 9mm pistol is another handgun that has found a home among female shooters due to its ease of use and overall safety. The subcompact Springfield XD 9mm pistol is equipped with an ambidextrous magazine release, loaded chamber indicator and the famous Springfield Ultra Safety Assurance (USA) Trigger System that helps prevent accidental discharge. With its natural pointability, easy no-tool disassembly and fast shot to shot recovery for quick follow up shots, the Springfield XD 9mm pistol provides female shooters with a comfortable and safe pistol that is as easy to fire as it is to maintain.
The Taurus Millennium Pro 111 Pistol is another light and powerful gun that fits comfortably in the hands of female shooters and features a single action/double action trigger, blue steel finish and slim polymer grip with a single stack magazine. The 9mm Taurus Millennium Pro 111 Pistol is one of the safest pistols on the market and includes Taurus' unique key operated security system that prevents the pistol from being fired or cocked and also prevents the manual safety from being disengaged while the security system is activated.

[freedomlover]

I am no pro or authority. In my situation, I dont have to worry about too-young children, so I cant advise.

I have a Glock 40 cal next to the bed with a light on it, with a shotgun in the closet. In the few situations that I have had to investigate something, I have just used the handgun and and the light. If God forbid I am backed into a room and I know where my family is, it will be the shotgun. I don’t plan on seeking the intruder; I plan on being quiet and waiting for the danger to come to me. I know every creak in the steps - they won’t.

At least that is the plan.

[NavyCanDo]

“A mugger is up close and personal. My dad says shoot center mass. You can’t miss from 12 feet. If they’re 50yds out there’s no threat.”

Your Dad is correct. In almost all cases he will be very close to you and with very little warning.

[VeniVidiVici]

There are no guns for girls. There are no guns for guys. There are guns...

Sorry. Gotta disagree with you on that one.

[krobara18]

Is there a similar list for guys? Now that we have a baby, my wife and I are looking to pick up our first handgun for home protection, and although neither of us are huge, neither of us are what you would call petite either. She wouldn’t even look at a compact sized gun, but as beginners, I don’t think we should be picking up anything too heavy or complicated. Anybody have a good link for advice on picking up your first handgun?

[Gaffer]

Yes. I disagree. If you're talking Ladies Handgun, a Glock is the last thing on my list and that's with the knowledge of owning 5 of them.

You guys can go for slick and guy-cool if you want, but they're not what I want my wife to have.

#1 380 or better

#2 Frame mounted safety, additional locking feature if desired

#3 SA/DA if possible

#4 profile, weight and feel fit for smaller hand

#5 Good, smooth action with not much force needed to chamber a round if needed.

To me a good revolver is also an option. My choice was a Beretta 85FS with frame safety and decocker in .380 and in-line mag for a small hand. With DRTs in 380, it is deadly. PS. I had a Taurus PT111 that had these features but the sumbitch dropped the mag every time it was fired. Sold it quick - never again.

[Gaffer]

Here’s a trick....most people try to rack the slide with the grip hand pulling back. If she ‘holds’ the slide with the strong hand and ‘pushes’ forward with the other hand keeping the rack hand fixed and only using her gripping muscles, more power can be applied with the other arm...it works.

[Gaffer]

Agree....I have one also...nice little tip-up barrel...only thing I don’t like is the strike on pulling...too far back in my opinion....

[SkyDancer]

Yeah, he said he read an article by the California Highway Patrol where it said the average distance was 12ft. that a patrolman was involved in a shooting. I like this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwH5UPj5ZJE

[Gaffer]

Good one....My only problem now is that I’m (from the grave) dreading my wife selling all those guns for what I told her I paid for them, not what I really paid for them.

[ArrogantBustard]

Is there a gun in that picture?

[SkyDancer]

Sorry, but what is "the strike on pulling...too far back in my opinion....

[Monterrosa-24]

Some are not purse guns but all can be fired effectively by most women.

[Gaffer]

If you look at the trigger guard profile on a Beretta, there is a lot of travel, the guard is very oblong...because many are double action the travel, the amount of angle/distance the trigger moves is much more than other weapons...unless you are aware of this it’s almost like “when is this damn thing gonna strike the primer and fire?” With the Tomcat 3032 the trigger is almost against the frame before the hammer drops.

[DollyCali]

BTTT

[sjmjax]

With these flash-mob attacks on the rise, maybe it' time to up gun the little lady....

Just the thing to light up a dark alley

[SkyDancer]

Okay - gotcha. I’ve always cocked the hammer before shooting anyway. I’ve done the double action thing and you’re right - it’s a very long pull. But the second shot is shorter since the hammer is already back. I love this gun.

[Gaffer]

I like it too! I have a nice Galco pocket holster for it that breaks up the outline and rests in the bottom of the pocket squarely....form fitted and easy to pull...

[PROTESTBYPROXY]

I have MS, so I am not very strong. My son bought me a Mossburg 510 shotgun with Defender shells. The shotgun holds 5 shells and I don’t think an intruder will make it past the first shell which has shot and a 45 plug in it.

The shotgun was developed for a child. I have no problem with it.

[Immerito]

Clearly, you were powerless to thwart its determination to accompany you. :-)

[Immerito]

I have a sneaking suspicion that your Mrs. would figure out this scam pretty quickly. :-)