Handgun for a woman

[troutman]

My daughter in-law will soon be taking her c & c class.Since her birthday is coming up too,I'd like to buy her a pistol.It would be strictly a self defense firearm.I own rifles and shotguns but,have never owned a pistol.Hence,I know little about them.That being said,I am leaning in the direction of a .22 but,would like to hear from other more well informed people.Brand name,etc,would be nice.

Thanks

[RebelSS]

You're going to get about 1,000 different viewpoints on that.... as a former LEO and instructor, let me suggest one thing to answer your question....a good instructor and well-informed individual to work with her and help her choose what SHE likes and is comfortable with. You are talking possibly a matter of life and death, a civil suit, etc., when you commit to that CC license. You need to be able to eat, breathe, sleep, and handle that weapon with total confidence and knowledge in every conceivable situation that may arise.That doesn't mean shooting a few rounds off a couple times a month..it's way more than that. If she's not comfortable with that, she shouldn't be carrying. Period. And yes, I do believe in CC permits for well-qualified and trained individuals.

[goldenbobby]

if you want to buy her a hand gun I would find a gun range that has loner guns for her to shoot. Pretty much all people will say a 22 is to small for a self defense. If I was you I would let her shoot a bunch of different calibers and see what ones she likes. If you can't find a range that does that as far as possible choices on brands get a named brand and research (Glock, Springfield, Smith and Wesson, ect.) I would say a 9 mm would be a good caliber to start with. I hope this helps

[fishersofmen]

I've got a Ruger Mark lll 22cal that is really easy to shoot and very accurate. Good gun for a gal my wife likes it.

[bobbymalone]

My wife doesn't like shooting my 9mm, says it hurts her wrist. She does like the 380 though. It's a walther pk380. It's maybe a bit big though. It's sorta like the equivalent of a full size pistol in my wifes hands and not even close to uncomfortably small for me.

They are spendy but I like the sig sauer p238 in 380 auto. I bet the p938 in 9mm is sweet too, but I've never shot one. They are definitely a good size for C&C.

I agree with the above poster though. If it's going to be a self defense gun, I'd find the one that she likes and is comfortable shooting and is bigger than a 22. I'd just recommend starting at a 380 and moving up until she can't handle the recoil and/or shoot straight on a follow up shot.

I've got a Ruger Mark lll 22cal that is really easy to shoot and very accurate. Good gun for a gal my wife likes it.

Isn't that thing a tank? My dad has one but I haven't shot it in a few years. I feel like it's easily as big as my glock 17. Might not be the best C&C gun.

[BoxMN]

My wife likes revolvers, but she doesnt have carry permit yet. We are going to go to range that rents guns and try a bunch. Nice thing about a small hammerless revolver is they are pretty small still and nothing to catch in purse etc. and absolutely no brainer to use. Kinda hoping she will like a .38 so we can use same ammo at range with my .357

I'm diggin the glock 19 and kinda hoping she likes it

[RebelSS]

Smith & Wesson makes some nice, light, (11-14 oz) hammerless .38's. The 360 and 440 series are nice small guns, my buddy's wife carries one, and loves it.Remember though, a lighter gun shooting the same load will have more kick than a heavier comparable piece, and that's what seems to bother most newbie shooters, and makes accuracy suffer most. In a 9mm, the Ruger LC9 is light and very concealable. I have one of those that I carry quite often,and it's actually too small for my hand, as to what I prefer. These aren't any guns you'll be punching out bull-eye's with; they're "in your belly' guns, not target shooting weapons, which is not what they are intended for. Like stated, lots of practice with varying conditions/scenarios will make you become proficient with your sidearm. She might even like the pink LC9's......

[Tom7227]

Bill's has an event where you can try a number of guns and only pay for the ammunition. I think it is in the Spring, have gone there twice. Some reps are there to talk to. A place to start then effort to find something that works for her.

[jparrucci]

I am adamantly against revolvers for most females, and people in general. They typically have more moving parts than a auto, are actually quite prone to malfunctions, regardless of what people think. This is even more so when they get dirty from lint, sand, dirt, etc. They kick more than an auto, have severely limited capacity, and do not have many smaller caliber models that are more comfortable to shoot.

I would recommend a mid to small sized autoloader. My favorite is the m&p shield. Kahr makes a good one too. Ruger has a number of small 9mm and .380s. Depending on method of carry, Glock 26 or m&p 9c. Having a thumb safety is a matter of preference. I actually prefer them in most cases and train to use them.

The old adage that the revolver is simple and easier to use than an autoloader is dumb. If your wife can operate a car, or oven, she can operate an auto. It is pretty simple: put in magazine, rack slide, pull trigger. Revolvers are a novelty in most cases, and rarely better than a auto.

[jparrucci]

A .22 should only be used in a pinch or last resort. I have had far too many duds, even with good ammo like CCI.

[RebelSS]

I am adamantly against revolvers for most females, and people in general. They typically have more moving parts than a auto, are actually quite prone to malfunctions, regardless of what people think. This is even more so when they get dirty from lint, sand, dirt, etc. They kick more than an auto, have severely limited capacity, and do not have many smaller caliber models that are more comfortable to shoot.

I would recommend a mid to small sized autoloader. My favorite is the m&p shield. Kahr makes a good one too. Ruger has a number of small 9mm and .380s. Depending on method of carry, Glock 26 or m&p 9c. Having a thumb safety is a matter of preference. I actually prefer them in most cases and train to use them.

The old adage that the revolver is simple and easier to use than an autoloader is dumb. If your wife can operate a car, or oven, she can operate an auto. It is pretty simple: put in magazine, rack slide, pull trigger. Revolvers are a novelty in most cases, and rarely better than a auto.

Your statements in the first paragraph, and your last, Sir, are false. Revolvers have FEWER moving parts than semi-autos. Due to their simplicity, they rarely malfunction. Because they require a heavier frame than a composite semi-auto, they kick less. There are many small caliber models that are easy to shoot.

A small female or one with weak hands may not be able to rack a slide, or depress those final rounds into a clip without a Falulah loader. I'm not going to get into an argument over this, but please do not present your views as facts. They are not. For your perusal, from a Government issued publication and a well gun association, I've combined some of the facts. Go to some of the sanctioned NRA meets and talk to a few professionals, or as I suggested, find a good one and train with them. It may dispel quite a few fallacies/rumors that are perceived with handguns.

Revolvers

A revolver is the kind of gun you imagine when you think of a western movie.

It is a simple machine that comes in two basic flavors: single-action and double-action.

With single-action revolvers, you have to cock the hammer to fire. For double-action revolvers, you can fire even when it’s not cocked.

Fact:

A revolver usually holds between four and six rounds

Revolvers almost never have “safety” mechanisms. The usual precaution: keep the gun loaded with one round less than capacity, and keep the cylinder (the “wheel” part of the revolver) turned so that the firing pin is set to the empty chamber.

Revolvers don’t automatically eject spent cartridge casings.

Revolvers hold fewer bullets than a semi-auto and take longer to reload.

Revolvers are dependable and user-friendly. They almost never jam and they’re dead easy to shoot.

Revolvers come in a wide variety of calibers.

They are easy to clean and maintain.

Revolvers have fewer moving parts than a semi-automatic pistol.

Revolvers are usually, but not always, wider and bulkier which requires more effort to conceal effectively..

Generally, revolvers are less expensive than semi-automatics. If you want a handgun that’s simple to operate and requires virtually no advanced skills or knowledge to fire, a revolver is a great choice.

Semi-Automatic Pistols

semi autoA semi-automatic pistol fires a single cartridge each time the trigger is pressed. It automatically extracts the spent casing and prepares to fire another round. A semi-automatic is sometimes (erroneously) called “automatic;” the difference being that a true automatic weapon can fire multiple rounds per trigger press.

A double action trigger pull

Statistically, semi-automatic pistols are the most purchased handguns. There are several reasons for their popularity:

Semis hold more rounds than a revolver. Normally, a semi-auto magazine holds 8 to 10 rounds, but there are magazines capable of holding 15 to 30.

Semi-automatics are quicker to reload from previously loaded magazines.

Due to their popularity, there is a wider choice of accessories (like holsters) available for semi-automatics than revolvers.

Spare ammunition is easy to carry via preloaded magazines.

Semi-automatic pistols are easier to conceal due to thinner action than a normal revolver.

Semi-automatics are more complex. While modern firearms can fire thousands of rounds without malfunction, malfunctions can and do happen more frequently with semi-autos than revolvers.

Semis can be – and typically are – more expensive than a revolver.

Semis may be more difficult to manipulate by people who suffer from arthritis (or weaker in strength, in general) in manipulating the slide.

Semi-automatics are more sensitive to ammunition types. Some types of semi-automatics are more prone to jam with certain types of ammunition, which is another reason that it is suggested to train with the type of ammunition you intend to carry.

Magazines can be difficult when loading rounds of ammunition, though there are accessories that make this easier.

Semi-automatics are more difficult to clean, and will malfunction if not kept extremely clean.

Semis require more attention to operate safely due to the short and usually light trigger pull compared to a

Revolvers

Revolvers are a type of pistol that has a rotating cylinder containing a number of firing chambers. They traditionally hold six rounds, each in its own firing chamber. They are generally cheaper to purchase than a semi-automatic, with the 2005 MSRP of typical .38/.357 caliber revolver from a major manufacturer such as Ruger or Smith & Wesson being in the neighborhood of $450-$675. The major benefits of this type of handgun include:

Easier to learn to manipulate, because there is generally fewer functions than a typical semi-auto.

Easier for weaker handed persons to operate. This is due to the lack of a slide.

More reliable

More choice of ammunition

Typically more accurate out of the box

Not as training intensive as a semi-automatic pistol (more about this later).

I prefer revolvers for home defense, as a home protection weapon will be stored loaded for an extended period of time and the springs in a revolver are relaxed when the gun is loaded and ready to go. Revolvers have fewer moving parts, which in turns makes them less sensitive than semi-automatics to a lack of cleaning and maintenance.

I also recommend them for someone who is not going to train as intensively as recommended, because this type of handgun has fewer functions to remember. In order to manipulate a revolver, one only has to operate the trigger and the cylinder release, whereas a semi-automatic pistol generally has a trigger, a magazine release, a slide lock, and usually at least one safety lever.

Semi-Automatic

A semi-automatic pistol fires a single cartridge each time the trigger is pressed. It automatically extracts the spent casing and prepares to fire another round. A semi-automatic is sometimes (erroneously) called automatic; the difference being that a true automatic weapon can fire multiple rounds per trigger press.

A modern semi-automatic pistol holds its rounds in a single device called a magazine (it is possible to offend some hard-line gun enthusiasts by calling a magazine a clip). This magazine is normally inserted into the grip of the handgun. These handguns are the most popular, and they are that way for several reasons; some of the most recognized reasons are:

Semi-automatic pistols also have disadvantages. Examples of some common disadvantages are:

Very training intensive. Before one begins to carry a self-defense semi-automatic it is recommended that the user fire 2 to 3 thousand rounds of the type of ammunition they intend to carry in their firearm in order to fully understand the function of their firearm.

More complex. That means more prone to failure. While modern firearms can fire thousands of rounds without malfunction, malfunctions can and do happen more frequently with semi-autos than revolvers.

Can be more expensive than a revolver. A typical 9x19 caliber autoloader from a major manufacturer such as Ruger or Smith & Wesson has a 2005 MSRP of $425-$950.

Harder for people suffering from arthritis or of weaker stature to manipulate slide.

Typically less accurate out of the box, although there are some very accurate autoloaders.

More sensitive to ammunition type. Some types of semi-automatics are more prone to jam with certain types of ammunition, which is another reason that it is suggested to train with the type of ammunition you intend to carry.

[jparrucci]

Per brownells, a s&w j frame (a likely choice for a small revolver) has 65 parts. A Glock 26 has 32 parts. I also disagree that a revolver has less recoil than a auto. I've had my hands wrung by many a revolver, but only one semi. I have shot 9mm revolvers that had more recoil than even small 9mm (shield) autos. Now felt recoil and actually recoil may be different, but we are talking semantics.

If you think your wife is dumb and can't operate a simple tool, by all means, get her a a nice big revolver that she will hate to shoot.

Racking the slide is a non issue. If she is really that weak, teach her how to rack the slide on a solid object. I have yet to find a semi auto I can't rack with one hand, and I'm not big. Also, the mag should already be in the gun and racked.

Lastly, never site the government when it comes to a firearm discussion, look at the amount of stupidity we just put up with due to the m855 situation. The statement in your reading material saying to download the revolver (already short on rounds as it is) is laughable.

[RebelSS]

And you have how many solid years with a weapon/weapons training? However, I'll let you prattle on, since I myself find it is not necessary to catalog people as "dumb'' and denote others as "Stupid".

All people are entitled to their opinions without resorting to name-calling.

Those type of statements, coupled with your obtuse undirected sarcasm,speak volumes about you and your character, which I see no need to discuss, as that is a non-issue concerning the original subject.

Enjoy your world.

I hope the OP can sort through documented facts and have his original questions answered.

[jparrucci]

I didn't call anyone dumb, except the government. I only recommended that somebody not give their wife a semiautomatic if she is dumb. At the same time, you should also take away her car keys, keyboard, and oven. I would recommend a revolver for somebody frail who cannot grip firmly enough and enduces "limp wristing" a semi auto. I posted FACTS about the parts in two of the most common carried firearms. You can go verify if you choose. I pulled them right from the parts schematic on Brownell's.

As far as reliability is concerned, I have only had one issue with a non-rim fire polymer semiautomatic, and that was highly likely due to bad tulammo brassmax. I have had a couple of failures with revolvers in the woods due to debris.

I stand by my statements. I have plenty of training with firearms. Luckily, none of it was government. I've also had very good trainers, and others who shouldn't be allowed near so much as a butter knife.