[ranimal]

This year I started bringing my wife to the indoor range and now she wants her own handgun.

She's pretty comfortable with a .38 revolver S&W airweight with low grain ammo, but not comfortable firing my Glock 22 .40 cal or any of the glocks we've rented from the range because the grip is too big for her smallish hands. However, the 9mm caliber in general felt alright for her.

Any feedback on a descent 9mm semi auto for the little lady other than Glock? I don't want to break the bank, but I don't want a piece of junk either.

Also, does anyone know of a semi auto in .38 special? I like to stock-up on ammo and would prefer to not go to another caliber if I can help it.

Thanks.

[Playin104]

If you find an auto in .38 special it will be pricey, only a few manufacturers ever made them.

My wife carries a Kahr PM9 and has a Bersa .380 CC as a back-up. She's 5'4" 110lbs.

[kawiking]

im looking for a small pistol for my wife for christmas... she's goin to get her cc lic..
i think a revolver is goin to be to big for her purse... im looking at the ruger lcp .380 for her.
she shoots my glock 22,23 and my springfield .45 very well . i think she will be better off with a small semi right now. but hope to get her a .40 cal to go shoot at the range with me.

[AWMP]

Smith and Wesson Compact M&P 9mm.
More rounds, easier to operate (trigger pull). Easier to reload, more effective round, more enjoyable to shoot.

Originally Posted by ranimal

This year I started bringing my wife to the indoor range and now she wants her own handgun.

She's pretty comfortable with a .38 revolver S&W airweight with low grain ammo, but not comfortable firing my Glock 22 .40 cal or any of the glocks we've rented from the range because the grip is too big for her smallish hands. However, the 9mm caliber in general felt alright for her.

Any feedback on a descent 9mm semi auto for the little lady other than Glock? I don't want to break the bank, but I don't want a piece of junk either.

Also, does anyone know of a semi auto in .38 special? I like to stock-up on ammo and would prefer to not go to another caliber if I can help it.

Thanks.

[oldtexan]

My wife and I are on this same path as you and your wife. We haven't reached the destination yet but I can share our insights gained thus far.

My wife has small to very small hands and some shoulder and elbow problems, so weapon grip size, weapon weight, and recoil are all issues for her.

Her current on-body carry gun is a Kel Tec P32. She just won't actually carry anything bigger on her person. She's tried a S&W 642 in a belly band; it was too big (and its recoil was too fierce even with low-recoilling loads.

Her current nightstand gun is a S&W 649; it's an all-stainless steel j-frame with Crimson Trace Lasergrips, loaded with .38 +P. She practices with standard pressure .38. It fits her hand, and the weight and recoil are okay for her. We're concerned about only having five shots, so we're seeking a higher capacity gun to which we can attach a laser and if possible, a light.

She's tried a Glock 19 several times, but the grip seems too big for her to grip the gun properly and be able to put the trigger face in the last joint of her trigger finger, so her hand ends up sliding to the right of the backstrap. As a result, her control of the gun is poor and recoil is uncomfortable.

She shot a 9mm Compact SIG P250 with slim/small grip module. Recoil and weapon weight were okay and it fit her hand in terms of grip size, but muzzle flip bothered her. I shot it and noted much greater muzzle flip than when shooting Glocks. Gun Tests magazine noted this same thing in their review of the 250.

She handled a S&W M&P full size 9mm with the small backstrap and said that the gun seemed bulky. She wasn't interested in shooting one.

She handled a Springfield XD 9mm Service model and found the grip to be too large.

Our STI Tactical 4.15" 9mm (alloy frame version) is easy for her to shoot. The weight, grip size, recoil, are all okay, but we haven't figured out a way to mount a laser and light and have intuitive switching for both, something like the Surefire DG remote switches. Having to manipulate its thumb safety in a high stress situation would pose a training challenge for her.

She shot our Kahr PM9. The grip circumference was okay for her, but she couldn't fit all of her pinky finger on the short grip. Recoil was too much for her. Additionally she has an issue with slide racking difficulty with the Kahr PM9, P9, and K9. Maybe a TP9(4" barrel) would work, and it can be fitted with a Crimson Trace Laserguard, but we don't know yet. The TP9 is not easy to find; we've not yet handled one. The all stainless T9 (also a 4" barrel)would offer even lower recoil because of its greater weight. Currently there appears to be no way to attach a laser to a T9.

That's where we are now.

Good luck to you and your wife in your search.

[HexHead]

Having gone through this with my wife last year....

Take her to a gun show and/or several stores and let her hold lots of guns to see what feels best in her hand. Rent some different guns at the range and see which ones she likes shooting. Keep your mouth shut and let her pick her own gun. Seriously.

Unless of course this is just a veiled excuse to really get something you want.

Oh yeah, mine ended up with a Para PDA in 9mm.

And I got a 442 out of the deal trying to do the thinking for her.

[kawiking]

i went and picked up a ruger lcr .38 +p for the wifey today . looked at some small semi's and decided the revolver is better for a cc gun .
she's pretty excited about it... goin to try and burn some powder this weekend

[DarkRydz]

Hi Guys!

HeadHex has it right - shut yer mouth;-) Unless she asks specific questions of course. I just bought my first hand gun - a Glock 23. My first instinct was to go with a Ruger LCP, but when I saw the thing in real life - way too small. I'm not petite - 5'10" and longish fingers so I like a larger grip. The big issue for me was being able to lock the slide and work the release lever. My BFs Taurus is a *****, but the Glock was super smooth.

At some point, I may get something the size of the LCP. For now, I want a gun that fits my hand so I can take it to the range and get better at shooting. The LCP is something I would use strictly for personal protection outside the house. I don't think it would be much fun to practice with and ultimately, I want this to be second nature to me.

[4wheel1]

We looked at several options for my wife. She is 54 years old, 5"1", 110lbs but can shoot any of my guns. She really likes to shoot my S&W 357.

She felt comfortable with the Ruger LCR. We got her a nice cc purse with the middle compartment that has a holster and is only for the gun carry. It has a lockable zipper and she can leave it unzipped if she is leaving a place at night and slide her hand in and have it on the pistol or able to slide her hand in a matter of a second. Also with the LCR, no hammer, if necessary she can fire without removing the pistol from the purse in an emergency. (Told her to remove it first if possible, couldn't afford to be buying purses, lol)

We got this purse from Pyle Mountain holster, the guy was very nice, price on the very same manufactured purse (Roma) was $20 to $50 higher on other sites plus he had free shipping.

She had looked at the S&W airweight, but the trigger pull was a lot lighter and smoother on this pistol. Only wished we would have got the one with the crimson trace grips, but will probably put them on in the future. Anyway she is pretty deadly from 20 to 30 feet. Told me that if she couldn't stop someone with 5 shots she didn't think 5 more would make any difference.

[1kahrshooter]

Originally Posted by oldtexan

The TP9 is not easy to find; we've not yet handled one. The all stainless T9 (also a 4" barrel)would offer even lower recoil because of its greater weight.

http://www.glocktalk.com/forums/show...&highlight=tp9

[GVFlyer]

In that I was unsure that my whiskey would diligently practice immediate action drills -

1. Ensure the decocking/safety lever is in the FIRE position (if applicable).
2. Squeeze the trigger again.
3. If the pistol does not fire, ensure that the magazine is fully seated, retract the slide to the rear, and release.
4. Squeeze the trigger.
5. If the pistol again does not fire, remove the magazine and retract the slide to eject the chambered cartridge. Insert a new magazine, retract the slide, and release to chamber another cartridge.
6. Squeeze the trigger.
7. If the pistol still does not fire, perform remedial action.

(FM 3-23.35 June 2003 / 1-15 / PDF 18)

-I bought her a revolver. Because she didn't like the recoil of my alloy framed 442, 642 and 340PD S&Ws and because with snubbies there is a disproportionate number of people who A. Shoot themselves or B. Can't hit anything but themselves with them, I got her a three inch gun - still concealable, but with a longer sighting plane. A low-maintenance stainless steel Smith & Wesson Model 64 in .38 Special filled the bill and also imparted the extra weight necessary to reduce the recoil.

[HiddenEyes]

Originally Posted by AWMP

Smith and Wesson Compact M&P 9mm.
More rounds, easier to operate (trigger pull). Easier to reload, more effective round, more enjoyable to shoot.

Testing something.


Mr. HE

[HiddenEyes]

Originally Posted by ranimal

This year I started bringing my wife to the indoor range and now she wants her own handgun.

She's pretty comfortable with a .38 revolver S&W airweight with low grain ammo, but not comfortable firing my Glock 22 .40 cal or any of the glocks we've rented from the range because the grip is too big for her smallish hands. However, the 9mm caliber in general felt alright for her.

Any feedback on a descent 9mm semi auto for the little lady other than Glock? I don't want to break the bank, but I don't want a piece of junk either.

Also, does anyone know of a semi auto in .38 special? I like to stock-up on ammo and would prefer to not go to another caliber if I can help it.

Thanks.

Round two.


Mr. HE

[DustyJacket]

Originally Posted by HexHead

...let her hold lots of guns to see what feels best in her hand. Rent some different guns at the range and see which ones she likes shooting. Keep your mouth shut and let her pick her own gun. Seriously. ...

+1 +1

I often see husbands (or boyfriends) push what they think is right on the wife (or GF). Both in firearms and motorcycles. It usually is not the best solution.

let HER decide. it is HERS.

[DustyJacket]

Originally Posted by ranimal

...She's pretty comfortable with a .38 revolver S&W airweight with low grain ammo, but not comfortable firing my Glock.......Any feedback on a descent 9mm semi auto for the little lady ....

If she is comfortable with a revolver, maybe that is what she would like.

Hmmmm ?

[John_Galt]

My wife hates Glocks. And in general isn't that proficient with semi-autos. She shoots 9mm Berettas that I have fairly well at the range, but isn't proficient enough to carry one for protection. I know better than to try and give her instruction, even when I asked I do so gently and minimally. I could offer to let her try my 1911's, but that wouldn't go over well. She only like's 9mm, they are compact's in .45 and .40.

Taurus 905, 9mm revolver? Trouble is finding one she can try on the range.

Wish I could find someone else who makes a good 9mm revolver without spending a fortune.

[quickdraw 9762]

My wife is small and doesn't have alot of hand strength. She also had a shoulder replacement. She can shoot my G19 fine but cannot run malfunction drills very well because of these issues. The dbl stack mag also makes the grip too big for her. Walther just came out with a new semi that solved all of these issues and more. Walther PK380 semi auto, 8+1, ambi mag release and safety. It has a molded rubber grip similar to Hogue grips with a single stack mag that makes this one of the best feeling grips around for her or me for that matter. Sgl/dbl action trigger that is very smooth and easy especially in sgl action mode. The recoil spring is very light making running the slide very easy. Most small pistols have a very short action which means the spring needs to be heavy to absorb the recoil, not so here. The felt recoil is very smooth and light. It's not much more than a .22lr. It comes with a good set of steel sights and shoots very accurate because of the combination of all of these features. My wife loves this pistol and fully enjoys going to the range each week. Right now this pistol is new and popular which makes it difficult to find but if you can she will love it.



,http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...06&isFirearm=Y