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Favorite Handgun Question (Vanity)
http://www.freerepublic.com/ ^ | March 21, 2006 | Me

Posted on 03/21/2006 5:28:13 AM PST by 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.


TOPICS: Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: bang; banglist; gun
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To: tcostell
This is what I got my wife.

She's not going to be getting in a firefight. All she wants to be able to do is show a bad guy he better go elsewhere.

81 posted on 03/21/2006 7:30:42 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Islam Factoid:After forcing young girls to watch his men execute their fathers, Muhammad raped them.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Add these and she'll have top of the line protection.

http://www.crimsontrace.com/default.asp?id=548


82 posted on 03/21/2006 7:41:22 AM PST by B4Ranch (The truth is good for you, like sunlight, but too much all at once can really hurt.)
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To: Puppage
thought the Kel Tec P-3AT/.380 would be great for her. It fit her hand, but she didn't like the recoil. So, now I have another gun for my collection, which isn't so bad. :-)

I bought a P-3AT and I like it. I've done the "fluff and buff" on it and polished the feed ramp.

My latest acquisition is a SigArms P239 SAS. Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to fire it because the only firing range in Panama City shut down about six months ago and all the places I used to shoot are private property now.

If anyone knows of a place to shoot within 40 miles of Panama City I would really appreciate the tip.

83 posted on 03/21/2006 7:44:45 AM PST by mbynack (Retired USAF SMSgt)
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To: tcostell

If you want something under the seat, you probably want a revolver. She won't have to think about working the action of a semi if she's operating the door/window with her left hand while reaching for the handgun with her right.


84 posted on 03/21/2006 7:47:16 AM PST by Tallguy (When it's a bet between reality and delusion, bet on reality -- Mark Steyn)
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To: Skooz

Although the new S&W produced PPK has overcome some ergonomic problems of the earlier ones, the trigger pull is still bad.


85 posted on 03/21/2006 7:49:30 AM PST by Tijeras_Slim
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To: mbynack

30 years ago I used to go shooting on the beach north of Tampa. Put a penny in a balloon and toss it in the water. We would tie a dozen of them togther 10 feet apart and turn them loose.


86 posted on 03/21/2006 7:49:37 AM PST by B4Ranch (The truth is good for you, like sunlight, but too much all at once can really hurt.)
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To: tcostell

My ex's first was a S&W Ladysmith in .38, loaded with Glazer Silvers. She loves it.

Revolvers don't jam, are utterly reliable, no cocking, no safety, and you can keep it under the car seat for years, dirty and dusty, pull the trigger, and it will fire every time.

A woman is more likely to only fire once in a panic situation. So the five shot capacity should not be a problem. Also, get it in bright stainless steel, so the bad guy can see it (scare factor). She won't be sneaking up on anyone in the dark.

Glazers or Magsafes in .38 will do the trick with one shot. It will be a straight-on situation (in her case), so you don't need 13" of penetration, or a shot through a windshield or car door. The round pretty much explodes in the bad guy. Check out http://mysite.elixirlabs.com/index.php?uid=12665&page=1982

A lot of LE's don't like the fragmenting ammo, but this is not an LE application.

The .357 is quite a bit heavier, and muzzle flash will blind her at night (not good).

The .38 is gentle enough to use in (lots) of practice.

Think about it.


87 posted on 03/21/2006 7:56:03 AM PST by MonroeDNA (Look for the union label--on the bat crashing through your windshield!)
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To: tcostell

I'll weigh in here and second (or third) the motion for a Ruger SP101.

Automatics are problematic. I've seen some women (as an instructor) who can't rack the slide on a pistol, so revolvers are always the first choice, IMO.


88 posted on 03/21/2006 7:59:16 AM PST by Disambiguator (Unfettered gun ownership is the highest expression of civil rights.)
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To: tcostell
My sister just bought a Desert Eagle 9mm "Baby Eagle". We spent a box of shells last weekend. Like butter.

89 posted on 03/21/2006 8:00:51 AM PST by evets (God bless president Bush!)
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To: tcostell
HK P7 M8.

My wife scored very high on the TX CHL qual with mine.

Now she wants one of her own. (She knows she's not gettin' mine!)

90 posted on 03/21/2006 9:00:57 AM PST by TXnMA (TROP: Satan's most successful earthly venture...)
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To: tcostell
I prefer the Glocks 23 - .40 caliber or even smaller but less effective bullet size is the Glock 20 in 9M. Very reliable (no malfunctions - when she squeezes the trigger it'll go BANG!) and in a fanny pack no one will know she's packing.

Good luck.
91 posted on 03/21/2006 9:09:03 AM PST by tonysamm
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To: tcostell
A few years ago I took my wife to a local gun show to see if she could pick out a pistol that she liked and would consider using if necessary.

We walked by lots of tables and after a while, she liked a certain model. Turns out it was a pre-WW2 Nazi Walther.

92 posted on 03/21/2006 10:18:45 AM PST by Bosco (Remember how you felt on September 11?)
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To: tcostell

Bump


93 posted on 03/21/2006 11:01:31 AM PST by jdhljc169
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To: tcostell

Glock 40 cal.


94 posted on 03/21/2006 11:01:56 AM PST by RetiredArmy (Democrats: The communist, socialist, and Al Qaeda loving party of America.)
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To: RetiredArmy

Grip is too large.


95 posted on 03/21/2006 11:31:08 AM PST by tcostell
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To: tcostell
Ladysmith. A good wheel gun, inherently simple, hence safe, and through ammunition choices can be formidable.

If you must go for a semi-auto, I can recommend you at least look at a Bersa in a .380 cal, Argentinian manufacture, but accurate, well made, and affordable.

96 posted on 03/21/2006 11:36:33 AM PST by Cliff Dweller (No such thing as a threat... just targets)
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To: tcostell
"..think she can handle a cartridge with some stopping power but a .50 cal would probably be out of the question."


97 posted on 03/21/2006 11:45:01 AM PST by monkapotamus
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To: TXnMA

Great gun.... not the cheapest tho' :)


98 posted on 03/21/2006 11:45:49 AM PST by Tijeras_Slim
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To: tcostell

Beretta 40 cal. If you don't like the recoil you can buy a buffer that will take away most of the recoil. It is easy to install and you can do it yourself.


99 posted on 03/21/2006 11:50:11 AM PST by jerry639
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To: tcostell

Maybe for you, not for me.


100 posted on 03/21/2006 12:50:44 PM PST by RetiredArmy (Democrats: The communist, socialist, and Al Qaeda loving party of America.)
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