Wife is thinking

[sailorwatson]

My wife is starting to get the idea that she might want to get a CPL and handgun. Can any one here recommend a good reliable hand gun? Would she be better with a small wheel gun or a semi-auto? It will most probably be carried in a fanny pack.

[who dat]

My wife is starting to get the idea that she might want to get a CPL and handgun. Can any one here recommend a good reliable hand gun? Would she be better with a small wheel gun or a semi-auto? It will most probably be carried in a fanny pack.
...and here we go again!!

Get her on the range, try as many as you can, and see what she's comfortable with. Everybody has their druthers.

[Tallbear]

My wife is starting to get the idea that she might want to get a CPL and handgun. Can any one here recommend a good reliable hand gun? Would she be better with a small wheel gun or a semi-auto? It will most probably be carried in a fanny pack.

Take her to a range and let her shoot a varity of guns. It wou been even better if you can get a female to help her at the range. Some gun shop ranges have rental guns she can try. Also get a couple of your friends to go along so you have more guns to try.

Quick story.......Took my wife to a "ladies night" at a local range. All women instuctors and there were probably 12-15 women there that night from "newbies" to the instructor level shooters. Took all my handguns and told her whichever gun she liked best, it was hers. Well, at the end of the night (almost two hours) we get in the truck to head home and I ask whch gun she liked. "None of yours" I get with a smile on her face. "So which one did you like?" I ask. "the 239 Sig"....... $700. later she has her own handgun and likes to go shooting.

[who dat]

I would add that she should just go for the CPL first. Then you can get the gun she wants when she finds the right deal.

In my CPL class, we all used trainer supplied Ruger .22's. Easy gun to shoot for a beginner. No sense in waiting for the right gun to take the class.

[dougwg]

awesome Mike

[sailorwatson]

I will probably let her shoot my 469. I am hoping she likes it and I can get myself a new M&P :biggrin:

[KayL]

Better to make a purchase after taking the class. Have her try to test fire as many different guns as she can before making a purchase.

As with everything, it's all personal preference. I prefer semi-auto to revolver. Often, men will try to push a revolver onto a woman thinking that she isn't mechanical enough to use a semi-auto, but revolvers have their own issues.

In teaching women, I find that many have small, weak hands and fingers and can't pull a double-action revolver trigger.

My list for semi's would be the medium-sized XD9 SubCompact, Glock 19 or 26, Mini Firestorm 9mm, Bersa Thunder 380, the small Beretta Tomcat (.32) [or the new Ruger LCP which I haven't seen yet!!!] And for revolver, the S&W Ladysmith is excellent. I haven't shot an M&P yet, but from all accounts, it is good also.

One woman with very small hands and very weak fingers could not rack the slide on many of my guns, but she could with the Mini Firestorm 9, and ended up buying one. Another woman I know chose the XD9 SC.

I know there's lots of other guns out there that I haven't been able to experience yet, so I can't attest to them. Others here could probably give some input.

[Done Deal]

J frame Smiths are not all snubbies....my daughter has a 3" that she loves because it fits her hand well.

[sailorwatson]

Thanks for all the replies so far.
I am sorry if I created a " ...and here we go again!! " situation. I guess I should have been a little clearer in what I was asking. I realize that the type of gun is "personal pref." and "get what you shoot best with" etc. My wife does not have big hands, so a smaller frame weapon would be best. A small frame that some women here shoot are the suggestions I was looking for. A point to start at. If she decides to get her permit, the course will be done first. I am sure she will not like my S&W 469. The trigger pull is much to heavy for her. In fact, I am not real pleased with it myself, but it is reliable, and the price was right.
Since we know only one woman who shoots, we will be talking to her.
This is still in the "thinking" stage right now.

[sailorwatson]

J frame Smiths are not all snubbies....my daughter has a 3" that she loves because it fits her hand well.

Thank you. This is the type of suggestion I am looking for.

[who dat]

Thanks for all the replies so far.
I am sorry if I created a " ...and here we go again!! " situation. I guess I should have been a little clearer in what I was asking. I realize that the type of gun is "personal pref." and "get what you shoot best with" etc. My wife does not have big hands, so a smaller frame weapon would be best. A small frame that some women here shoot are the suggestions I was looking for. A point to start at. If she decides to get her permit, the course will be done first. I am sure she will not like my S&W 469. The trigger pull is much to heavy for her. In fact, I am not real pleased with it myself, but it is reliable, and the price was right.
Since we know only one woman who shoots, we will be talking to her.
This is still in the "thinking" stage right now.
Didn't mean to offend...it was a joke. :scramble:

[Done Deal]

Thank you. This is the type of suggestion I am looking for.


I am going to see my daughter soon and she will probably shoot my Ruger LCP. I know for a fact that she doesn't especially like my Kahr PM9 so, I will see if she likes the diminutive .380 any better.

The trouble is with the 3" Model 60....it is kind of tough for a twenty something female to conceal so....Daddy is looking at options.

Only trouble is, if she likes it....my wife already asked if I was going to buy another one....:lipseal: :lipseal:

[OzShadow]

She will need 2 - one big gun when she is able to carry, and one tiny P3AT, LCP, or J-frame when she thinks she won't be able to. - the big ones get heavy.

[dougwg]

She will need 2 - one big gun when she is able to carry, and one tiny P3AT, LCP, or J-frame when she thinks she won't be able to. - the big ones get heavy.

What? Only 2?

Whats wrong with you dude?

You know damn well 2 ain't even enough:straf:


:lolup:

[khicks]

i my self would rather see the here we go again post then not. this meens that more ladys are giving the sport of shooting a try and and even some of them getting there permits to carry.

i am happy for you that your wife is willing to give hand guns a try. i wish you both the best of time shooting together

[Susquash]

Tallbear has the right idea of taking her to a range where you can rent handguns. Have her try a variety of guns to see what fits her hands and that she is comfortable shooting. I have taught several ladies to shoot over the years. I taught a friend of the wife's to shoot a few years ago and she really liked a S&W J-frame .38 Spl snubby. She moved to Houston, TX and started dating a Houston PD detective. He took her out shooting and she outshot him with his own snubby. :) During the last few years teaching at the police academy I have taught a number of female recruits. Most shot as well as their male counterparts as long as their pistol fit their hands. I would say the majority of them shot a Glock 9mm. That is one she may want to try out. Not sure where you are located but Duncan's in Bay City, MI rents guns.

[Howard000003]

Tallbear has the right idea of taking her to a range where you can rent handguns. Have her try a variety of guns to see what fits her hands and that she is comfortable shooting. I have taught several ladies to shoot over the years. I taught a friend of the wife's to shoot a few years ago and she really liked a S&W J-frame .38 Spl snubby. She moved to Houston, TX and started dating a Houston PD detective. He took her out shooting and she outshot him with his own snubby. :) During the last few years teaching at the police academy I have taught a number of female recruits. Most shot as well as their male counterparts as long as their pistol fit their hands. I would say the majority of them shot a Glock 9mm. That is one she may want to try out. Not sure where you are located but Duncan's in Bay City, MI rents guns.

If your in the area, I would second Duncan's. Great place with great staff, you'll get all the help need.

[sailorwatson]

i my self would rather see the here we go again post then not. this meens that more ladys are giving the sport of shooting a try and and even some of them getting there permits to carry.

i am happy for you that your wife is willing to give hand guns a try. i wish you both the best of time shooting together

Thank you. I am hoping she goes through with it.

[sailorwatson]

If your in the area, I would second Duncan's. Great place with great staff, you'll get all the help need.

Wrong side of the state. I am near Grand Rapids. I am sure we will find some thing once she makes her final decision.

[who dat]

Wrong side of the state. I am near Grand Rapids. I am sure we will find some thing once she makes her final decision.
Been to Silver Bullet yet? Rentals available for $10 as I recall.

Port City Pistol will let you try used guns on their range before buying. You might check them out.

[KayL]

Ohhhhhh, Silver Bullet......

[who dat]

Ohhhhhh, Silver Bullet......
You like?

[KayL]

Yup. Great place, great people, great range, great stuff, too far away.

And I used to watch a lot of The Lone Ranger and Tonto. "The Lone Ranger rides again..."

[sailorwatson]

Been to Silver Bullet yet? Rentals available for $10 as I recall.

Port City Pistol will let you try used guns on their range before buying. You might check them out.

I've been to the Silver Bullet. Nice place. I will have to check out Port City Pistol.

[who dat]

I've been to the Silver Bullet. Nice place. I will have to check out Port City Pistol.
PCP's range hours are M-F 5pm to 8pm, S&S 10am til close.