A pistol for the wife?

[Silverboolit]

Would you all like to recommend a pistol for the female side of shooting? I would like a lightweight .22 or .22 mag pistol that could be used on the range as well as for personal protection. Easy to carry concealed.

I went to the gun show and bought a SCCY 9mm. Good gun, it works flawlessly with the right ammo, but has too much recoil impulse. I looked at the .380's that were there and most of them are too small to even control well.

I really don't want to spend a lot of money on this project as it will probably not get shot too much. Thanks for all of your help.

[SteveS]

If you get a small, easy to conceal gun you'll probably up the chance of it not being shot much. Even a compact sized gun can be unpleasant to shoot for a beginner.

How about taking her to a range where she can try out a variety of guns. I've found that newbees are far more comfortable shooting a full sized service gun and will then shoot far more often.

Once she gains shooting experience you can move down to the compact and sub compact models.

Just a thought.

[waco]

Does it have to be an auto? I've been looking at the Ruger SP101 in .22LR

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Over the last couple of years I've purchased the 1911-22 pistols made by Chiappa, GSG, and Colt/Walther. They are lighter weight than the 1911 because of their alloy frames and slides, but are very reliable and accurate. Lots of fun, and would probably fill your requirements. There are a couple of other brands as well, but most of them are made by GSG and are the same pistol with a different name stamped on it. Of the three, I think I like the Colt/Walther the best. The Chiappa does not have a grip safety (but it's still a fun gun!).

[sixshot]

A cylinder full of 22 mags is a pretty good self defense gun for a lady, very little recoil & simple to operate. A S&W Shield is a small, narrow 9mm that many ladies in my handgun class like very much also.

Dick

[Epd230]

Take her along for the purchase and final decision making. She will shoot and appreciate it more if she was part of the process in selecting it. You may narrow down the selection process, but be ready to deviate if you get to the shop and she wants the one with the fancy lettering, or pink grips.

[BorderBrewer]

I took my wife shopping for a handgun and she left the store with an 2.25" barreled SP101 in 38 Spl +P. She likes the little gun and it fits her purse. I bought it for her when the children were young and I traveled alot for work. We kept taking the shooting class at the local police range over and over until she could handle the weapon very well.
http://www.ruger.com/products/sp101/models.html

[9.3X62AL]

Women view the world and most things in that world differently than men do. Subjective factors weigh more heavily in their assessments than in judgements made by males. The two sexes are wired a little differently, and though I've helped raise six daughters to healthy and successful adulthoods I have no "Key To The Castle" in which their insights are stored away.

That said, the best way to teach any new shooter is to present an overview of the choices possible "out there", then have the new shooter find for his or her self what works best for them. A rental range can be a big help. When I've been asked to assist in these choices, I advise the student to look for an item that feels good in the hand(s)--points naturally--and is easily controlled in firing, with the idea of a defensive choice having recoil at the upper end of the shooter's ability to control same and NOT exceed it.

This isn't rocket science. Look at what has been popular over the long haul, and weigh that against your shooter's "needs calculus". The 38 Special in revolvers and the 9mm in bottom-feeders form a fair consensus among the ladies I have taught, as have mid-sized platforms of a given genre. My girls REALLY LIKE Glocks, the 19 and the 23 in particular. Younger shooters aren't put off by that design's "mud fence" aesthetics. Another good choice is the Ruger SP-101 in its several calibers, from 22 LR to 357 Magnum. As a woman's gun, the SP x 3.1" x 32 Mag/327 Federal would ROCK. Lots of ammo intensity choices right there, from docile to DOGMATIC. The far more common SPs in 357 Mag span the spectrum from wadcutter 38s to Federal #357B (125 JHP @ 1400 FPS or so). FAR SUPERIOR to any of the S&W J-frame 357s, in my view. If one can be found, perhaps the best ladies' sidearm ever made was the late-series Colt Detective Special.......6 shots, just the right size, +P-capable, and VERY well-made. This--and the Python--are among the best products ever birthed at Hartford.

Just my musings on the subject.

[jmorris]

That said, the best way to teach any new shooter is to present an overview of the choices possible "out there", then have the new shooter find for his or her self what works best for them.

This ^ I don't know how many pistols and revolvers my wife shot before she picked out what she wanted but is was over 30 for sure.

in the end she picked something that I would not have considered but as they say in the car business "there is a seat for every butt."

[Blackwater]

Al gives really excellent advice. In my experience teaching a number of women how to shoot, I've found that the biggest factor in getting them to place their bullets well, is that the gun simply fits their hands, and feels comfortable in shooting position for them. That seems to trump all the ballistics mumbo jumbo that may be held by either of you. Only hits count in a gun fight, and if she's really not going to shoo that much, then it's doubly important that the gun fit her hands, and feel comfortable and point naturally for her.

In real life scenarios, women may forget to use the sights and just point it instinctively. Knowing this ahead of time, you can help her pick a gun that does this best. As long as it's reliable, that's the most important factor in her choice.

My daughter in law has dainty little hands, and simply can't get comfortable with a gun that fits me well. Sure, she can get the trigger pulled, but where the bullet will go in so doing is rather hit and miss, literally.

Al's observations about the feminine mind's workings are very good, too, and it's pretty essential to keep your instruction as simple and goal directed as possible. Let THEM decide how they naturally want to use it, and don't interfere as long as it's a viable process. They also respond, at least from what I've found, to questions very well in the process. Before making a statement, preceed it with a good question, and let her see how you're reasoning so she can get and absorb the greatest benefit of your instruction.

Then, just act really casual and confident in her abilities, and she'll likely respond by taking it all casually, and thus, her performance may well beat YOU! Don't laugh! All the women I've ever taught were very good shots with minimal instruction. Just make sure they wear hearing protection, because that always, with both men and women, makes them react (flinch) much moreso than the recoil. Many if not most of the women I've taught have reacted saying "Oh! The kick really isn't that bad!" when they were started out from the beginning with ear muffs, and often plugs too. It's amazing how much difference that usually makes.

Don't get too didactic, and keep it fun, and she'll have fun with it too, not to mention pay attention better and absorb more. It's really more about getting them to feel comfortable and confident than it is about getting them to perform like a match shooter. As long as they can hit a man sized K-5 silhouette target with good, center mass shots at up to 15 yds., she'll be likely to survive an assault, IF she keeps the gun very handy, and for that, there's nothing that beats a CCW permit. NOTHING! At home, keeping it unloaded in a lock box keeps it useless unless she gets enough time to go get it, open the lock and take it out, load it and cycle one in the chamber if an auto. That's a lot of prep work to expect of anyone in a dire situation. Just doesn't make sense. If local laws mandate such, getting a CCW allows her to carry inside the house. Most don't like this, but it makes sense if you think about it. Elmer Keith used to put his .44 on with his pants, and wore it all day long. It can be covered with a light sweater or jacket so any easily "offended" don't have to see it, but anyone THAT sensitive probably isn't much of a friend to start with, really, are they?

Biggest thing is to get a gun she likes and feels comfortable with, and tends to point naturally for her. If she's happy with the gun, she MAY wind up shooting it a lot more than you anticipate. Stranger things have happened, many many times.

[rancher1913]

mine liked her 9mm auto but had a hard time controlling it, somewhere she got the idea that only "auto's" were for defense, she would not even try a reel gun, then one day I got her to shot my little 357mag reel gun and she had a lot better control. now I custom load for her, light for general plinking, snakeshot for pests, and store bought for defensive carry. the 357 mag is very versatile in that you can get store bought 38's that don't have much kick or you can do store bought magnum rounds with good stopping power.

[Char-Gar]

I have taught several women to shoot the Smith K frame revolver in 38 Special. Starting with mild target loads and working up to service loads. The weight of a K frame is well within a woman's hand strength, yet has enough weight to hold down recoil. With a revolver they don't have to load magazines, rack slides or worry about safeties and other press down thingies. Grips can be fitted that will accommodate any size hand.

[Whiterabbit]

why not let her pick? Would you let her pick an important gun for you?

[45workhorse]

Let somebody else teach her to shoot!!!!!!
Then if possible rent different guns till, SHE finds one that feels good in her hands.
Roger makes their LCR in .22lr through .357 mag. But as I stated let somebody else teach her to shoot. Less stress for both parties.

[stanford]

Don't know if this will be worth anything or not. About one year ago my wife got me back into shooting, we went to the store and bought a few handguns. I picked out a S&W 9mm for her, she didn't like that since it hurt her hands and she needed pink gloves. I told her to get used to not using the gloves since she wont have time to put them on if in a sensitive situation.

Since she didn't like that pistol I got her a Walther Pk380, she doesn't like that one too much because she gets scared if it jams and she cant pull the slide. I keep pointing her to the S&W 500 so she can just show it off and not use it hahaha. To make a long story short, just like BorderBrewer said the S&W 30spl +p is what my wife likes too. She loves that gun, now my challenge is to get her to walk with it on her belt. Again she is scared so she keeps it in her purse (what if someone steals your purse). I guess this is a step up from being scared of walking with it at all to in your purse, maybe next step is the waistband.

I think most women like the 38 spec since its small and they don't have to worry about jamming and being strong enough to slam the slide open if it jams. In the end have them choose whatever they want since they are the one to use it, if they want the pink one then then by all means (my wife wants a pink one too).

[paul h]

(sic)

I really don't want to spend a lot of money on this project as it will probably not get shot too much. Thanks for all of your help.

How much do your value your wife's life? IMHO a cheap gun that won't be shot much is the worse possible choice for self protection.

The proper tact is to spend the time and money to find a gun your wife is comfortable shooting and spend the time and money on ammo, range time and classes so that she will be competent with the gun.

The challenge with women shooters is their hands are smaller and weaker then a man's so a gun that feels good in your hand likely won't feel good in her hands and a heavy trigger pull or slide spring that is no big deal to you may make the gun unshootable for her.

[Silverboolit]

Actually, my wife is a pretty good shot. We have a Ruger MK1, GP100,Ruger P89DC, Bretta Neos,1911, Ruger Blackhawk .45. They all are just 'too heavy' and 'too big'.
I did look at a Bersa Thunder, and a Walther PPK/S today as well as a Beretta. I believe that Taurus makes a Beretta clone as well, but didn't get a chance to look at one.
You are all right, she needs to pick one out. I am not afraid of a wheel gun, but I think that that choice will be hers. As far as teaching her about shooting, your all right about the third party teacher. I love that idea!!!!
I realize that a .22 is not a great defense gun, but putting even .22's on target is better than a miss with a .45. The lowly .22 has killed a lot of game over the years and I would not want to be on the receiving end of one!

[murf205]

I have taught several women to shoot the Smith K frame revolver in 38 Special. Starting with mild target loads and working up to service loads. The weight of a K frame is well within a woman's hand strength, yet has enough weight to hold down recoil. With a revolver they don't have to load magazines, rack slides or worry about safeties and other press down thingies. Grips can be fitted that will accommodate any size hand.

Char-Gar, you got that right about the semi-autos. My wife shot my 1911 one time, and even after I warned her and showed her how to keep the thumb out of the way, the slide bit her. She will not shoot an auto now for love nor money. Use a j frame Smith and don't load 'em hot. You do not need a bazooka to stop bad guys, all you need is the mindset to use what you have in your hand.

[MarkP]

S&w m 317 (22 lr) 3"

[Bonz]

my wifes favorite pistol is her Kimber Super Carry Pro 45acp 1911. her second favorite is probably her Colt Defender 9mm 1911. Most women like the 1911 style pistols because of the trigger.

[rking22]

Ruger sells the LCR in 22Mag. My daughter likes her M36 and shoots it quite well.

[NavyVet1959]

Whatever you buy will be wrong, even if she picks it out. And it will be your fault. If she gets into a situation where she might need to use the gun, she will just want it to go away without having to do anything and it will be your fault because you should have been there to make it go away. Can your wife change her own flat (and is she even *willing* to do it)?

Sure, not *every* woman fits this stereotype, but the vast majority of the ones I've known over the years do.

It took me *years* to finally get my wife to actually put gas in *her* car. She just expected it to magically always have gas in it, even if it is a vehicle that I would never drive. Checking the oil or tire pressure? Forget about it... Now, I get comments like, "There was a light that lit up on the dash today -- something about low tire or oil pressure, but I kept driving it."

[truckerdave397]

Wife and daughter both like shooting RUGER LCRs in 22lr, 22mag and 38 special. They just never never never buy or look for ammo.

[JWFilips]

Bought my wife a S&W 31 Terrier( Double action) in 38 S&W! She shoots it like a terror! Dead eye she is! it boast a 2 inch BBL. A bit heavy but very concealible
She can not actuate the slide on any of my autos even the light 32 's and ruger Mark II 22's

[retread]

Got my wife a Colt Official Police in 38 Special. First time to the range she did quite well but thought it was too heavy. A friends and his wife were with us and she(the other's wife) had a Ruger LCR in 38 Special. My wife said "Why didn't you get a nice small one like that for me?" I told her to ask her friend if she could try it. After 3 rounds she returned it and said her gun was better because she could control it. Now my problem is she wants a carry gun but the Colt is way too big for that. I am reading with interest what you folks have tried and recommend. Thanks.

retread

[dougader]

My wife likes the little 32 mag. Started with a Single Six and then a S&W 431 PD. From gallery loads to factory loads on up to the Pearce load of 11.8 grains W296 under the 100 grain XTP-HP.

[NavyVet1959]

She can not actuate the slide on any of my autos even the light 32 's and ruger Mark II 22's

If she can't pull back the slide on a Ruger Mk-II, then it's pretty much given that she cannot the slide on ANY semi-auto. The Ruger Mk-II probably has the easiest slide for anyone to handle, especially since it's not relying on the grip strength of the person to hold onto it like with a slab sided slide.

[warf73]

My girlfriend shot everything on the self at the local pistol range (in 380 and 9mm) that was concealable size. She had surgery on her hand a few years back so she told me when a gun hurt her hand when she shot it.
There were a couple of the 380's that hurt like the 9's so design and weight does play a big factor in a pocket sized handgun.
She fell in love with the P238, the very close second was the Beretta. She didn’t care for the sights on it, so the Sig was the winner. We looked on GB for the Nitron model that she liked at the range, got it out the door for under $500. Not cheap but not expensive for something she likes to shoot.

She is closing in on 1600 rounds down range since May 4 of this year. Every time out she gets better and better and she loves to shoot it and carry it.

[Lloyd Smale]

bought my wife a muddy girl camo lc9. She loves it. Its got a trigger easy enough for her to use and the 9s recoil is mild with light cast loads and is still reliable. If your here your no doubt a reloader so it doesn't take much to make a 9mm feel like a pop gun. I load the 105 lee swc with 3.5 grains of aa2 and its a ***** cat to shoot. Bottom line though is her favorite is my mark III lightweight 22lr.

[Petrol & Powder]

I've taught a lot of woman how to shoot, some I just introduced to shooting and some were serious about shooting.
Al's prior post is spot on. Woman see the world differently than men and I have no clue what the world looks like through their lens.

I will say that the absolute #1 mistake men make is the selection of a small gun for females. For some reason men have an overwhelming tendency to equate small guns to woman and beyond concealment needs; tiny guns are almost universally bad choices.

I've seen very few woman that are really serious about carrying a concealed weapon on or about their person and even fewer that are capable of constantly maintaining control of a purse containing a firearm. I'm not condemning woman or discouraging woman from being armed but I do think it's a good idea to get a grasp on the ultimate use of the gun before a purchase is made. If the gun is going to live in a car or at home the criteria is different than one that will be carried in a purse or on their person.

Good grips that fit the user, decent sights, simple operation and acceptable weight are far more important than guns that are "cute".

[Bonz]

=I will say that the absolute #1 mistake men make is the selection of a small gun for females. For some reason men have an overwhelming tendency to equate small guns to woman and beyond concealment needs; tiny guns are almost universally bad choices.

My wife hates small guns and DAO triggers. She likes a 1911 style pistol and prefers 45acp but also has a 1911's in 9mm and .380 The 5" Colt Government is a very easy slide to pull back and so is the 1911 .380

[jcren]

My wife loves her walther pk-380, as well as my bersa thunder 380. Both shoot well, decent triggers and easy to "rack", especially if you cock the hammer first

[BorderBrewer]

About a year after I bought my wife her SP101, she bought us a pair of GP100's with the 6" half shroud barrel in 357mag. She can out shoot me any day of the week with that one. I think it's because she "goes with the flow" and does not try to man handle the gun. Her smooth trigger pull makes for better long range accuracy than I can muster. The double action trigger does not bother her in the least, but she's a nurse and has an vise like grip from many years of testing blood pressure.

[9.3X62AL]

Marie really likes her SIG P-228. She clipped it from me about two minutes after its arrival home with me in 2003. I do get to clean it and reload for it. She is ungodly-accurate with it, firing 125 grain +P+ much like the NATO rounds she qualed with in her issued look-alike Army M-11. Her Speer factory JHP loads run about 1225-1235 FPS, I concoct a duplicator for her to practice with using JHPs and AA-7. Her pistol's name is "Lucy".......short for "Lucretia Borgia". Spanish women can be a TRIP.

[Geraldo]

Unless you'd let her choose your next rifle and caliber for a hunt, don't choose her guns. I laid down retail for her 9mm M&P after she tried several and it doesn't bother me in the slightest. I want her to have something reliable that she is confident with.

[Wayne Smith]

Silverboolit, since you are here I assume you at least reload. You won't find a platform more versitile than the .38/357. Just the .38 alone you can load light with accuracy (2.7grBE/148gr WC) a load that does not kick muh more than the 22Mag and is deadly to boot. Just in that case you can go up to a 200gr boolit if you want. +P is unnecessary, putting the boolit where it counts is much more important. If you don't cast these are some of the most common cast boolits you can find. They are also about the cheapest shooting you will find, probably less than the 22Mag!
When you introduce her to guns don't hesitate to point out the advantages. My wife is very practical and appreciates my casting and loading simply because of the cost of ammo.

Yes, go with what she likes, but provide her the opportunity to like the .38 Special.

[Silverboolit]

I have loaded the 105 SWC in the .38SPL for her and the recoils not that bad. However, she HATES the GP100 with it's 6" full shroud barrel. Way too heavy. We will look into the 101 and other smaller frame revolvers. Knowing her, if she could find a 500 S&W 8" barrel, she would want that as long as the pink doesn't come off and the diamond sights are right on! LOL

[paul h]

I know they're ugly, but they are light and have a great trigger pull

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S2rCo14GqDY/maxresdefault.jpg

[charlie b]

A lot of good advice. I too have taught many women to shoot, but not my wife. One of my E-6's taught her while I taught his wife. It is much better if someone else teaches them.

My wife started out liking revolvers. She didn't like all the extra motion an auto makes. So, for a long time her bedside gun was a Colt Python with custom grips for her hands.

Then I got a 1903 Colt in .32ACP. She absolutely LOVED it. It is now her carry gun. But, it sparked an interest in autos. So, she started shooting my 1911. So, for Xmas one year she got a Light Commander. It is now a tie between her 1903 and 1911. She still likes shooting light loads in the Python and is now looking for a .32 revolver.

One sister-in-law loves her SIG 9mm that she carries in her purse and she does not like revolvers. Another SIL likes the SP101 in .357Mag. And she does not like the .38 spl loads for it, only full power stuff. It is her bedside gun. My niece took after her mother and favors automatics. She carries a Bersa in .380. FWIW, I found it to be comfortable to shoot and very accurate for a pocket gun.

So, yes, take your wife to the range and let her try a bunch. Every person is different and everyone (men included) likes different guns.

Beware, she may choose more than one. One for her big purse, one for her evening purse, one for bedside, one for the range, etc, etc, etc. And don't forget, the first rule is they have to like how the gun LOOKS (also not unlike men :) ).

[Silverboolit]

So much good advice and recommendations! I knew that I came to the right place. We are going shopping as soon as she gets out of the wheelchair. ( She just had knee surgery.)

[725]

Lots of ways to skin a cat. Semi / wheel -- it's a matter of preference and prejudice. Personally, I would suggest a 2", 3", or 4" revolver in .38 Spc. You can load it down with mouse burp loads or up to service levels, jacketed or cast. I use a 75 gr boolit and a dash of Unique for plinking and squirrels and then every thing else up to 220 gr SWC's (see "A bullet for All Seasons" by Glenn Fryxl @ LASC - great article). With the almost non-availability or .22's in my area, .38's are always available, easy to load, and cheaper. .38's are good plinkers and fine self defense choices.

[bedbugbilly]

As already mentioned . . . let her pick out "Her" gun . . . that's in the marriage manual . . . . I think chapter 6, paragraph 7, line 27?

If you want a light and easy to carry and shoot at range . . . have her look and try out a Ruger LCR in 22 Mag. I have a friend in AZ that I shoot with . . . she's and petite and her normal "carry" is a Sig 380. About a year ago, her husband bought her a 22 Mag LCR just to have for use on critters up a new house they purchased to remodel. She likes it a lot. And, while not a 9 or a 40 or 45 . . . I'd hate to be on the receiving end of the 22 Mag in her hands. Used ones are out there at pretty reasonable prices. I had a 357 LCR and it shot well - I traded it off as I prefer a Smith Model 36 snub for carry.

[Murphy]

If she seems more intrested in the semi automatics, I second the Sig 380. It is the easiest of all I've ever handled to work the slide. My 65 year old (very petite) sister discovered them earlier this year.

That being said, any decent quality 5 shot 38 Special would be a good choice as well. You may have to load her some light loads for starters for it. But she'll grow accustom to the mild recoil.

Murphy

[JeffG]

My wife started with a simple Rohm RG23 .22 cal revolver that came from my great aunt, which she liked because of the simplicity, but I wouldn't personally want to depend on it for my life. She also tried a Taurus 949 revolver in .22 Mag but that also was a little tough for her to cock or shoot double action, but she shoots well with it. We got her a Ruger SR22, a 10 shot lightweight auto that had replaceable grips to fit her hand, which she has done pretty good with too. While I have zero issues racking the slide, it is more difficult for her when she has to and no matter how you slice it, an auto is going to offer potential for more issues that might arise compared to a revolver, and she doesn't need to have to deal with issues if there is a misfire, FTF or something like that with .22 RF. So for the sake of simplicity, we found a S&W Model 36 .38 Special 5 shot revolver. She can handle that nicely, shoot double action and reload without issue. That seems to be what she likes. I can load them at a reasonable level for her to practice with and have stiffer loads to keep in it for SD.

[MtGun44]

My wife likes her SIG P238 .380 after trying a number of different ones. Shoots it well, pretty
easy to carry.

Also likes the S&W ultralight M342 Airlite Titanium .38 Spl J-frame, but it is a HARD kicker (10.5 oz !)
with anything but .38 wadcutters. She can and will shoot it occasionally with 158 cast LHP
over 5.0 gr of Unique (+P), effective as heck, accurate but not fun. OK with wadcutters at target vel.

[tazman]

My neighbor just got a gun for his wife(she picked it out). It was a model 60 Smith&Wesson. He took her out to get used to it and wasn't bothered by the noise and recoil so it looks like she made a choice she can live with. 38 Special has been doing the job for a lot of years.

[charlie b]

But I would hate to buy the gun and then have her try it out. Went that route once. Ended up returning the gun. It felt OK in he store, but, on the range it wasn't what she wanted. An expensive lesson.

Find an indoor range and rent several guns to try out.

[Thumbcocker]

I have resisted as long as I can. Based on the title of this thread shouldn't it be moved to the swapping and selling section? Maybe some pics?

[Petrol & Powder]

I have resisted as long as I can. Based on the title of this thread shouldn't it be moved to the swapping and selling section? Maybe some pics?


:bigsmyl2:


Back when I was married I would have considered a gun for my wife to have been an excellent trade :shock:.

Of course you always run the risk that they will bring the wife back.

[Boogieman]

Wife just bought a Ruger LC9s, She tried it in the shop . the slide worked easy & it had a good trigger pull. When we got home & shot it she said the recoil wasn't as bad as my PPK380. She doesn't like to shoot more than 25rounds of factory loads at one time so I loaded some lighter for target use. Lyman 125gr.rn over just enough Beye to function the action. She will shoot them till we run out. The Ruger has became Her pet ,

[paul h]

My wife just told me to get her a carry gun, so I ordered and LC9s pro. I figure between the Lee 95 rf and 105 swc I can work up some powder puff range loads and then use 120 tc's for working loads.

We've had a taurus 605 for years but she didn't care for the DA trigger. Not sure if racking the slide on the auto will be an issue, but she will have a lighter trigger pull vs. the revolver.

[Boogieman]

The Lee 102gr rn worked good for me 3.5 gr B-Eye would work the action & lock the slide back when empty. My mold is an old SC slow & a little loose. I tried Lyman 115gr. SWC but it didn't feed 100%. Lyman #356242 RN 125gr. works well over 2.9 gr B-Eye. Low recoil & hits close to the POI of factory loads. The wife chose the LC9s because it was easy to rack & had a good trigger pull.

[Bill*B]

Do be careful. I taught my wife to shoot with a .45 caliber Colt Commander, and I've been afraid of her ever since.

[charlie b]

Do be careful. I taught my wife to shoot with a .45 caliber Colt Commander, and I've been afraid of her ever since.

LOL I don't make mine angry when she is within reach of her Commander either. :)

[Cornbread]

I have resisted as long as I can. Based on the title of this thread shouldn't it be moved to the swapping and selling section? Maybe some pics?

If she is anything like my ex's "gun for wife" would the best trade ever!

[singleshot]

One thing people rarely consider is what works in a low/no stress environment may not in a life/death scenario. Gun rags talk about capacity, target triggers, asthetics, and accuracy, none of which will matter much when the stuff hits the fan. I've seen trained and seasoned soldiers forget the "tap and rack" in a high stress situation. Mag changes while bullets are flying by your head? PLEASE! I "THINK" I'D perform fine with any firearm in my arsenal when it counts most. Do I know for sure? But why not stack the odds on your favor? Slides, safties, mags, speedloaders, etc are all liabilities IMO when it counts most, especially in a "civilian" application. Those are the main reasons I consider a DAO revolver the best choice for 90%+ of the situations that may arise. However ymmv and I certainly don't have anywhere near the combined experience of those here. I will say however, I'm not sure you can compare someone with military-style training to someone without. Again ymmv.

[singleshot]

After I posted the above, I started to think about all the stories I've read and heard about hunters forgetting to put one in the chamber when the "prized trophy" walks by...and this is in a situation where the person knew they were preparing to shoot something! How much "less prepared" will the wife be when she's minding her own business pumping gas or walking out of a store to her car? If someone forgets to load a revolver, how much more likely are they going to be to forget to put one in the chamber? These are just a few more musings on my part. Please feel free to comment.

[LabGuy]

My wife went with the S&W 60 pro, but shoots 38+p or less. The all steel weight helps control the recoil, nice sights makes it more fun at the range.

[JHeath]

What one pistol is best for a man? Why not buy yourself that one and sell your collection?

I think a woman who is going to carry and also to shoot recreationally probably needs at least two pistols even more than I do. I could pack a full size 1911 and use it for practice. Most women would not.

Get a short .38 revolver per 9.3x62AL, and another revolver for practice like an old 4" or 6" .32-20 on a similar size frame.

I notice even the the hardcore gun-expert males on this forum display a level of enthusiasm for dated .32 revolvers and shooting them all day unmatched by any other caliber. Look at the .32 threads. These guys are delighted and actually shoot the things a lot.

Autos are tougher. Any of the carry pieces mentioned, paired with either a .22 or a full size 9mm for practice. Or a Browning 71 .380

Get her a Sig P210. Maybe she'll let you try it sometime.

[Green Frog]

I kept biting my tongue as long as I could, but I too was thinking along the lines, of, " 'A pistol for my wife?' That would be a pretty good trade!" But I won't say it, nope, I'm a better man than that, and besides, I'm a bachelor. ;)

If I did have a wife, and if she did want a gun, I would take her out to the range or into the indoor range and have her try everything from the safe and any oddball stuff my friends have. Whatever suited her would be what she would get because she would be the one to use it, and the more she liked it, the more she would be likely to shoot it and become competent with it. I followed an abbreviated version of this procedure years ago with my littlest niece (now about 24) and she is a force to be reckoned with... so much so that her husband who has been a range instructor for the Marines was very impressed to "teach her how to shoot!" She didn't need any help. :mrgreen:

Froggie

[pjames32]

Started my wife with a beginner class with about 30 handguns to try. Then went to the range with about 15 of my guns to try. She settled on a 1911 Commander so she bought a Kimber pro carry II. She decided that was too big for her purse and she liked my S&W compact 40. She tried a 40 Shield and bought one. That is now her primary, but she still prefers a 1911 style. Let her pick!
PJ

[Shuz]

Back when I was married I would have considered a gun for my wife to have been an excellent trade :shock:.

I'm amazed that it took 49 posts before someone like Petrol & Powder came up with the above comment.
It is the first thing that sprung to my warped mind when I saw the title!(says the guy happily married for the past 53 years!)

[Lloyd Smale]

yup my wifes lc9 runs lee 105s sized to 358 with 3.5 grains of aa2. Very little recoil and a good practice load for her. Shoots to point of aim in her gun too.
My wife just told me to get her a carry gun, so I ordered and LC9s pro. I figure between the Lee 95 rf and 105 swc I can work up some powder puff range loads and then use 120 tc's for working loads.

We've had a taurus 605 for years but she didn't care for the DA trigger. Not sure if racking the slide on the auto will be an issue, but she will have a lighter trigger pull vs. the revolver.

[johnson1942]

i think letting the wife pick it out is best, hard for us men to do. the reason i came to this is because my youngest daughter is going to learn shooting and self defence in college after christmas. she is majoring in criminal justice and is going into law inforcement with that degree. she is going to learn from a big strong retired cop who is an expert in the field. i had my choise of guns picked out for her but i scrapped that and am going to let him do that with her. their was one opening in his class and my daughter got it. ive heard he is very very good as an instructor. even though their are a lot of guns in our house and target shooting and hunting is big with us my daughter has never ever fired a gun. probably better to learn from a expert than a shooting dad anyways. she is very excited about the course as i am. my choise was a beretta 9mm, one of the smaller ones. we will see what she choses. one side bar that might interest some. this thanksgiveing my two older sons came home to visit. one is a cop and the other is a minister. they both brought a trunk full of had guns i couldnt keep up with all they own. guess what got the best groups of all. my uberti 1971,1872 open top 38 special. it shot tighter groups by me and my 14 year old grandson than all their high end guns got. off hand with my hand loads its a tackdriver. both i and my granson were very proud of our shooting. they threw a lot of lead down range and all of them would have done good in a real shoot out but mine would have taken the button off of the front of his shirt.

[KenH]

A very interesting thread here and very timely. The wife has decided she wants a pistol for Christmas - something for concealed carry (she has the permit). My first thought was a small .380 like maybe the Glock 42, but after reading all these posts it seems a .38 spl revolver is pretty popular with the ladies. She's got a S&W 5 shot revolver that she's never shot very much at all. She had it when I met her 10 yrs ago. The plan is to take her to a local gun shop with shooting range and let her try some rentals they have. SHE GETS TO PICK HER GUN!!.

Now, my question, do these .380 and 9mm semi-autos cycle with light loads very well? I "***-u-me" they needed fairly full loads to cycle reliably..... or will they cycle with lighter loads for practice 'n plinking?

Thanks to all for all the GREAT in the thread.

Ken H>

[double00]

yesterday my wife shot my 44 mag. SRH with a nine inch barrel and ultradot sight. The gun is to heavy and to much recoil but she was hitting a 2 inch dot at fifty yards with a rest. now i need to try and find a 357/38 i can mount a ultradot on.

[S. Galbraith]

A pistol in untrained hands, with questionable conviction to use it when the s**t hits the fan is a recipe for disaster. Before you buy her a pistol, she needs to be trained to use pistols in general. Only once she has had some basic "defensive" pistol training, and an experienced instructor has determined if she has a level head to use the pistol, then select a pistol.

[offroader69]

My wife is really not a gun nut but she does recognize the need to protect herself. She does not like recoil so we settled on a 22LR. She would rather have better control of the pistol than a higher caliber. We tried a bunch but settled on a Ruger SR22. She has greatly improved her accuracy and doesn't hesitate when I ask her if she wants to go to the range. What I am trying to say is don't force her to shoot something she doesn't want to shoot. I sure in the future my wife will feel confident enough to try out higher calibers. I will be there buying more guns for her to try out and increase my collection at her insistence.

[MtGun44]

IMO, anyone who is not going to be a regular shooter is almost always better off
with a revolver, if they can manage the action - meaning normal adult hand strength.
Some with arthritis or other hand issues can find that they cannot pull the 10-15 lbs
that revolver triggers require. The primary advantage to the revolver is extreme
simplicity and reliability.
Ruger LCR in .22 Mag would be far better than harsh language, but if she could manage
a .32 or preferrably a .38 Spl (you can make light practice loads), it would be a bit
better. If a .22 Mag is all she can manage, then that is far better than nothing. Having
a gun is far more important than the caliber, since about 90% of gun use in self defense
does not involve shots fired, the presence of the gun itself resolves the issue. Even
.22 LR will kill, but it isn't going to be quickly decisive against a serious aggressor.

Good luck and, ultimately, let her shoot a bunch of different ones and let HER decide.

[NavyVet1959]

Good luck and, ultimately, let her shoot a bunch of different ones and let HER decide.

And in the end, if she decides and it is the wrong one, it will *still* be *your* fault. Women are good at that sort of crazy-ass logic. :(

[Wild Bill 7]

My wife right now has a Sig P938 for her carry. She is deadly with it. She has tried the Smith revolvers(friend has six snubbies and a Ruger SP101) and decided on the auto. we have a Seecamp in 32 but she wasn't crazy about that one, so after looking for a long time she picked the Sig. She also has a Springfield 1911 but it is too big to put in her purse. The Sig is just right for her to carry on her person and she is comfortable with that.

[NavyVet1959]

She also has a Springfield 1911 but it is too big to put in her purse.

She didn't use that as an excuse to go buy new (bigger) purses? :)

My wife has so many that I call her a "bag lady". She is NOT amused...

[Texantothecore]

Concentrate on .38 special wheel gun. You can get training rounds for it which are pleasant levels of recoil. If you reload, you can use roundball which is accurate as well very little recoil and a great can killing load.
Secondly, most shooters do not finish with the same gun with which they started and .38 is a great training gun.

The difference between the hitting power of normal loads for the .38. Special and 9mm is quite small, about 40 ftlbs, so she will not be undergunned.

[NavyVet1959]

Concentrate on .38 special wheel gun. You can get training rounds for it which are pleasant levels of recoil. If you reload, you can use roundball which is accurate as well very little recoil and a great can killing load.
Secondly, most shooters do not finish with the same gun with which they started and .38 is a great training gun.

The difference between the hitting power of normal loads for the .38. Special and 9mm is quite small, about 40 ftlbs, so she will not be undergunned.

I would suggest the .357 mag instead of the .38 special. You can still shoot low power (mouse fart) loads and work up to socially respectable loads if desired.

Besides, there *are* some 8-shot .357 mag revolvers out there...

[Texantothecore]

Most of the retired policemen with whom I hang out carry .38 specials loaded with wadcutters. They are very effective.

[NavyVet1959]

Most of the retired policemen with whom I hang out carry .38 specials loaded with wadcutters. They are very effective.

Depends upon load and shot placement. I've been shot with a snub-nosed .38 special and I did not even know I was hit. Luckily, it was just in a muscle and no vital organs.

[Texantothecore]

The .357 wuld also be a good choice particularly if she shot .38 special training loads until she gets her technique down. Full loads might develop bad habits like flinching.
.38s and 357s can also be easily be loaded with bp rounds which are a lot of fun.
Wheelguns are very flexible and fun to shoot. They will shoot nearly anything you put in them. A bit like owning several different guns.
They are much easier to clean which may be an issue.

[AtomHeartMother]

Keltec p32... I know it's a keltec... I carry mine a lot and it's dead reliable. Super light, very easy recoil to manage. It is Dao though with a long, but not a heavy pull. Also it's inexpensive, so god forbid if it were lost or confiscated you would'nt be out a lot of $$$.
Don't under estimate the 32 acp...with ball rounds it can be quite effective. Shot placement for any caliber is key...train train train.

[MT Gianni]

A pistol for the wife?There are some days that would be a fair trade.

[Doggonekid]

My wife would pick out a gun just because it is cute. She needs to be involved in her gun choice but she needs a little guidance. She also needs range time. Because a gun looks cute does not mean that it will work for her. I think she picked her husband the same way.