[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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

[Little Ray]

Find a revolver that she's comfortable with. Their grips are smaller than .45s or double-stack 9mm pistols, and there are really good after-market grips, too. Revolvers don't jam even if you neglect 'em a bit, and hopefully she won't need more than five shots to settle an issue.
A snubbie is good (easy to conceal, easy to maneuver in the confines of the car) but since concealment is not a factor, you could go with a 4-6" barrel. Taurus makes a lot of good revolvers.
A .357 is usually a good caliber choice 'cause you have lots of loads to choose from: .357 Mag, .38, .38 +P, etc., with all sorts of lovely bullet types; ball, hollow points, glazers, etc. Most women are comfortable with .38s. My wife likes 'em. Bigger calibers are better, but having her comfortable with shooting the weapon is more important than a big bore.
If she has trouble shooting it double action, you can have the weapon "tuned" - lighten up the hammer and the trigger, for instance. Costs a $100 at most with good gunsmith.

Firearms aren't dangerous (well, SOME firearms are dangerous, but you don't want one...), shooters are. Buy a lot of practice ammo. Have her practice shooting as fast she can (i.e. double action), without aiming (tape over the sights, if necessary), at targets from 5 ft. to 5 yards. If she's going to be driving, have her practice with her off hand, too. Also, buy speed loaders and have her practice with them.

[Sender]

1- Let your wife pick it out, whatever feels good in her hand and she can relate to.

2- Is it known to be reliable? Is it in an effective caliber? If not, put it down and repeat step 1.

3- Practice, practice, practice.

[PzLdr]

Try either a S&W Ladysmith with a two inch barrel in .38 special or .357, or a Ruger SP 101 with a three inch barrel in .357. I'd stick with a revolver. Less things to go wrong. Easier to operate.

[Dubh_Ghlase]

I ended up getting my wife a S&W Model 637 Airweight (.38). It's a great gun and one that I prefer to carry concealed most of the time. Small & light, but when loaded with 157 grain HP's it'll stop most anything we may have to deal with. I was concerned about hand strength (working the slide and breaking nails loading a magazine) and complexity (my wife is a converted liberal who had no dealing with guns before I came along). A revolver was the best solution for all the females in my life. Of course, everyone is different...

[B4Ranch]

Reread your post. "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."

This isn't making sense to me. Is she expecting a five minute warning that she is about to be attacked or molested? Trying to locate something under your car seat is damn near impossible unless you get out of the car, bend over and feel around for it.

[lrb111]

My wife doesn't have problems shooting my Firestorm/Bersa compact 9. To make mine more compact i removed the extra finger grip on the bottom of the magazine. Just leaving enough of the plastic to serve as a smaller bottom plate. Mine is carried.

[tumblindice]

CZ P-01 with Federal Hydrashocks. Acceptable stopping power, `friendly' grip like a Browning, and manageable recoil.

[rattrap]

I have a Ruger P90 .45 and I like it a lot. It's not an expensive weapon and for a .45 it's very easy to shoot accurately. If you decide to look at this one look for the special edition with the shaped rubber grips. I picked up mine for just under $400 brand new with an extra mag.

[rightinthemiddle]

Gosh, I don't know...hmm....maybe you should post this question at DemocraticUnderground?







(Ruger P95...always at the ready)

[VeniVidiVici]

bump

[MAWG]

Colt Auto. Delta Elite. Cal. 10 mm.

[stuartcr]

If she's a good shot, then a .380 should be enough.

[dangerdoc]

I've purchased a few weapons for women.

The first consideration is whether she will actually use the weapon if the situation calls for it. There is nothing more dangerous than pulling a weapon that will not be used. Have a heart-to-heart discussion with her. If she does not think she can look another person eye-to-eye and pull the trigger, she would be better off with a non lethal weapon that she will actually use.

The second consideration is getting a weapon that she will carry. Think small and light weight. My wife is ex-military and very proficient with an auto. If the person is not proficient, I think a small revolver would be more likely to get lead on target. You don't need to remember to release the safety.

I would not be terribly concerned about the caliber, I think for a carry weapon, the weapon that you are actually comfortable carrying on your body is more important than caliber. I am comfortable with a .45, my wife is comfortable with a full sized 9 mil. My father told me a story about being saved by his girlfriend in high school. He was in the wrong end of town. He had a knife to his throat when the girl produced a .32 revolver, she pointed it at the aggressor's head and the man was very grateful for the chance to drop the knife and find somewhere else to be.

A .38 revolver is a fine carry weapon for a civilian. Very light, small weapons can be found. It may not be the right weapon for all situations but should be adequate for "social" encounters. I carried a .32 revolver for years because it was small enough to fit in a trouser pocket without an objectionable bulge.

Another question, will this be a purse weapon? She may not be able to actually get her hands on the weapon when it is needed. You may need to consider a specialized purse for weapons carry or a body holster.

[yarddog]

If the Benelli is the short recoil model then she is a better man than me. I had an M1 super 90 and the kick was awful. I liked it otherwise.

BTW, I am 6'3' and 270.