Favorite Handgun Question (Vanity)

http://www.freerepublic.com/ ^ | March 21, 2006 | Me

[tcostell]

I'm in the market for a pistol for my wife and I was hoping I could solicit opinions and suggestions.

She doesn't have any handgun experience, but she's an excellent rifle shot (better than me in fact) and has no trouble handling the recoil of my 12 gauge Benelli when shooting clay. The weight of it does bother her a little however because she's very small. She's 5'1'' and some change, and weighs about 105 lbs soaking wet.

The firearm will be used for personal self defense, but I'm not really expecting a home invasion, and she won't be using it when concealment would be an issue. I just want her to have something portable that she can slip under her car seat and carry with her if it becomes necessary for her to take our daughter and beat feet from the greater NY area.

I think she can handle a cartridge with some stopping power but a .50 cal would probably be out of the question. A light recoil 9mm or .40 cal would probably be OK, but I specifically need something with a gentle slide spring and a relatively small grip because of her size.

I had the Springfield XD-9 recommended to me, so I picked one up at Cabelas this weekend but it still felt a little large for her hands.

I was wondering if any of the ladies (or knowledgeable gents) could make specific recommendation I could have her take a look at?

Thanks.

[tcostell]

she's gorgeous...she looks a lot like Paulina Porizkova actually. She has all of her teeth (I know because I've paid for them) and she's an excellent cook. She's also a profoundly practical Hungarian girl who survived communists, Palestinians, and the New York state public school system.

At the end of the day she's getting the firearm she wants but I was hoping for suggestions on what she should try.

[TexasTaysor]

I am female and not much larger than your wife. I trained with a Glock and loved it, but since I wanted one for conceal carry I bought a small Baretta. But I suggest she try several on a range and see what feels best and most comfortable for her before purchasing.

[tcostell]

I thought about that.... she'll practice plenty... she loves to shoot. And I'm a little cynical about a .38 because of bullet size ...but suggestion noted....thanks.

[Vaquero]

I was at the indoor range last Saturday shooting my .380 Colt Mustang and my 1911 .45 acp Remington Rand. My friend who was working the range showed my a little Kel-Tec P3AT it is dubbed- The World’s Lightest .380 Auto Pistol. He fired my .380 mustang (no longer made) and commented on how nice the trigger was. He did not have a rental Kel-tec for me to play with....or I would have tried it. He said the Kel-Tec is NOT a range gun. It just wont hold up to constant shooting...but there is no gun lighter and easyier to conceal and carry than this gun. I am thinking of getting one just for that reason.

For those who hate to carry because of the bulk or weight, it looks like a good choice, just dont expect to play with it a lot.

[rarestia]

Walther PPK/S in .380 is a nice little weapon for a lady. There's also small j-frame revolvers from Smith&Wesson. If I had my druthers, I'd buy my lady one of the new Springfield XD line sub-compacts in 9mm.

[Postman]

My wife's friend who is about your wife's size tried a Kahr but had real trouble racking the slide. My wife also had difficulty with the slide and it really has to do with hand strength, rather than other variables. We finally settled on a revolver...the Taurus 627(?) tracker .357 with a 4" vented barrel that cuts back on the recoil considerably. It holds 7 shots and a double tap with two hollow points would be sufficient to cause a bear to think twice. The only thing we had to change was the grip. My wife's friend also went with a revolver, a Colt, that she is able to handle easily. I'd suggest you and your wife visit your local gun shop and try a variety on for size.

[Gefreiter]

Any of the S&W .38s. Might have a look at the Scandium models, which weigh next to nothing, and/or the Ladysmith models.

Some folks will poo-poo the round, but hey- .38 Golden Sabers or Hydrashoks ought to get you out of trouble.

[SW6906]

"She doesn't have any handgun experience, "

Don't get her a semi-auto unless she plans to get training and a lot of it. In a panic situation as when under attack, working the gun mechanics, clearing a jam or just chambering a round needs to be done without hesitation and without thinking. A revolver is much more forgiving for an amateur or infrequent gun user.

A Ruger SP-101 or similar smaller .357 is a good self defense gun, IMHO. It can be loaded with .38s or .357s.

Personally, my favorite handgun is my name: Smith & Wesson model 6906: compact, 9mm semi-auto with a bobbed hammer. Great concealed carry gun but with rounds like the Hydra-Shock, it packs enough punch to qualify as a decent self-defense weapon.

Don't bother with a .380, it's too puny a round. All it'll do is piss off the crack-head attacking you, not stop him.

[tcostell]

Useful info.
Thanks.

[G Larry]

Get her a LadySmith .38 revolver.
(Simple, easy, reliable)
Don't stick the lady with any of the "guys" favorite semi!
All of the comments you'll hear about stopping power, are not worth the trade in time to get back on target for the 2nd shot.

[SW6906]

If you insist on a semi-auto, Smith & Wesson makes (or at least used to make) a line of 9mm semi-autos in smaller sizes called the LadySmiths. My SW6906 has a fat grip to handle the double column magazine, so it likely would be too big for her. The LadySmiths and others like them had single column magazines. Less rounds, but easier for those with small hands to handle.

[tcostell]

Actually, that looks interesting. Is that 6906 a single stack?

You echo my thoughts about the 380. And I know she can handle more gun than that if she could just fit her hands around it.

thanks.

[B4Ranch]

S&W Models 36 & 60 are both excellent revolvers. I have carried a S&W Model 36 for going on 40 years. I have never been convinced that any particular auto is the one to have.

Practice until you can put 5 rounds in a shot glass at 10 feet and you'll never be shy on confidence about head shots.

Add a pair of Crimson Trace LaserGrips to either model and night shots are a wiz.

[Erik Latranyi]

have just about decided on a Walther PPK.

I have carried a PPK for 20 years. It is reliable, safe and easy to shoot.

The .380 is not the best defensive round, but it will suffice at close range when filled with something like Speer Gold Dot 90gr hollowpoints.

[from occupied ga]

AH I think I misunderstood your post. Get her a Taurus titanium .357 in 2 or 4 inch barrel. 7 shots - very reliable shoots when you pull the trigger doesn't when you don't - don't get her an autoloader unless you and she are willing to go to the range weekly for several years to become reflexively familiar with it.

[Skooz]

Thanks.

Close range defense is all I'm really interested in.

I have no intention of getting into any gun battles. :0)

[R. Scott]

I have a recommendation.
Go to a local range that has rental firearms for use on the range. Try several, and pick what is most comfortable – the larger the caliber (within reason) the better. Remember that if it is to be carried concealed it should be concealable.

[NTW64]

I like the SIG SAUER P299 .40 Caliber, the 45 is nice also.

[img]http://remtek.com/arms/sig/model/229/229.gif[/img]

[R. Scott]

I think James Bond liked it.

[B4Ranch]

"And I'm a little cynical about a .38 because of bullet size ...but suggestion noted....thanks."

I have a lady friend who can unload her Model 36 .22 caliber in half the time I can get my .38 done. Other than perhaps for the the first shot, NO SIR I would NOT go up against her!