Woman's carry pistol
- Thread starter beav906
- Start date
woodtick
Veteran member
My wife packs a 5" 1911 in 45 Auto when were out hiking, It's got enough weight to it that the recoil is pretty tame, she also carry's a Sig p238 in .380 auto for everyday carry and she says it's recoil is substantially worse and harder to hold on to. I'm not a fan of these plastic guns these days, I've had a Glock, M&P and XDm and I hated all of them. Just personal preference though.
Hilltop
Veteran member
My wife shoots a SCCY Gen II in 9mm. Made in the USA, cheap, and shoots very well. We have put around 1000 rounds through it and haven't had a single jam or misfire. Recoil is minimal with standard 9mm factory ammo. It is a double action semi-auto. The long trigger pull is the safety. In a high stress situation you just pull the trigger instead of worrying about a safety.
Eberle
Veteran member
Elkoholic307
Banned
OregonJim
Very Active Member
I purchased my wifes first handgun last fall and she loves it.
Beretta Px4 Storm in 9mm
I waited 20 years to hear my wife say to me....."honey I got the local gun shop to set aside 200rds of 9mm for me, can you pick it up on the way home?"
Beretta Px4 Storm in 9mm
I waited 20 years to hear my wife say to me....."honey I got the local gun shop to set aside 200rds of 9mm for me, can you pick it up on the way home?"
shootbrownelk
Veteran member
Something that won't scare her, with stopping power. Stopping power for what? Bears, human predators? If you want to lessen the felt recoil you have to up the weight. A 1911 in 10mm or perhaps a Ruger revolver in .357 mag/.38spl. A .45 acp won't be much of a bear deterent, a 10mm would. If you could find a S&W mountain gun in .41 mag. well that'd work.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Before I would recommend anything, I would want to know how much she has shot. Not just long guns, pistols too.
If she hasn't shot handguns much, then get her on the range.
If she hasn't shot handguns much, then get her on the range.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
If she is comfortable and proficient with it why change? Shooting +Ps in it would be what I would do. I teach lots of women and when you get a lady that "loves" one, stick with it. The +P will have more recoil (and stopping power), so getting her shooting them in the LCR would be what I would do.
Good luck.
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Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Just wanted to make sure you knew what +Ps are. They are upgraded .38 Special ammo. Faster and hits harder and has a little more recoil.
IdahoSkies
New Member
Please read everything you can at the https://www.corneredcat.com/ and then have your lady put her hands on lots of different weapons. Repeat, "this is her gun, this is her gun, this is her gun" every day. And, does she want the pistol, or do you want her to have the pistol. Big difference.
(getting off of soapbox, now there is room for you to stand on it).
This is a field pistol (archery and shed hunting), but are you worried about four legged or two legged problems. If two legged things are the concern, a full size (for her hand) pistol in 9mm is what I would suggest. One of the striker fired wonder 9s. Glock, Springfield, XD, etc (even the Ruger SR9c (my wife's fav)). Which ever fits her hand. Fullsize polymer frame pistol.
If you are worried about four legged problems, ask her again, does she really want a pistol, or does she want bearspray. After that, I would think about a 4 inch .357 revolver or a 10mm pistol. Her choice. (10mm recoil in the right platform is not something to fear). Both rounds have a wide variety of loads and power levels to fit almost anyone's capabilities.
Again. Its her gun. Its her gun. Its her gun. It should fit her hand.
(getting off of soapbox, now there is room for you to stand on it).
This is a field pistol (archery and shed hunting), but are you worried about four legged or two legged problems. If two legged things are the concern, a full size (for her hand) pistol in 9mm is what I would suggest. One of the striker fired wonder 9s. Glock, Springfield, XD, etc (even the Ruger SR9c (my wife's fav)). Which ever fits her hand. Fullsize polymer frame pistol.
If you are worried about four legged problems, ask her again, does she really want a pistol, or does she want bearspray. After that, I would think about a 4 inch .357 revolver or a 10mm pistol. Her choice. (10mm recoil in the right platform is not something to fear). Both rounds have a wide variety of loads and power levels to fit almost anyone's capabilities.
Again. Its her gun. Its her gun. Its her gun. It should fit her hand.
stevevan
Active Member
Another vote for the LCR. I have one that the wife uses occasionally chambered in .357. When I carry it's loaded with full bore .357. She loads .38 special when she has it. Very Light, simple to use, and compact. Only alteration I did was to install a fiber optic front sight.
Musket Man
Veteran member
RockChucker30
Active Member
Gun guys tend to have friends that also like guns. My advice is to involve your wife in the process by taking her to a range to shoot a few different handguns, then take her to a LGS or two and let her pick out the one she likes.