[Johngoboom]

My wife said something to me tonight that meant almost as much as when she said “I do”. She told me she wanted to BUY A GUN OF HER OWN. I will be going back to working off shift before too long, and she wanted a gun that she could feel comfortable with if I’m on third shift.

She has shot my Ruger P89 and my GP-100 with .38’s, but she said they feel too big in her hand (Gee I wonder why, when they are set up for me with gorilla fingers). So as soon as we get the rebate checks, we are going to the gun store to do a little look-see. Any of you folks (or your spouse’s) that have smaller hands have a recommendation for a place to start looking? I figure any gun she is comfortable shooting is the right one, but some pointers in the right direction would be a big help.

She doesn’t like revolvers for some reason, so those are out.

I just hope she lets me shoot it once in awhile.

 

[deputy125]

have it narrowed to any price ceiling or caliber restrictions? Carry gun or stay at home gun?? There's tons of choices out there.
Off-hand, i'll throw out these that i am confident with (all single stacks)
Makarov---9x18 commie gun but a dang good one
sig 230----380 acp, shear sex appeal and accurate/smooth
s&w 908---9mm, small flat, positive safety/decock

or if its a stay at home gun, ignore handguns all-together--the long gun easily wins as its easier to shoot

a ruger 10/22 for the house loaded with stingers......fun for everone and reliable, and more than likely the intended target will get hit easily and repeatedly from the length of a hallway or across the livingroom---easier to do than compared to a handgun.

an excuse for a colapseable stock ar-15 (sorry, my dream)

I have no experience with it but the stoeger 410, 20, or 12ga sxs shotgun ought to be simple and do the trick as a point and shoot. no fuss, jams, racking or short-stroking--take the safety off and pull the trigger. 12 0r 20 ga with the right light loads will still turn someone into hamburger at short range. be very easy on the shoulder with light bird loads, and give confiedence on one end and the uh-oh on the other!

 

[Johngoboom]

As far as price goes, that's up to her. It will be HER gun, so she has to decide what she's willing to spend.

It will be her house gun, but I think she wants one she can keep in her night stand. I never thought about the 10/22. I will have to run it by her and see what she thinks. I was hoping that she picks out a nice small frame 9mm (something I might be able to carry when the weather turns too warm to hide the P89). I will check out the smith when we go a-lookin. I have shot the markov and liked it alot, but finding ammo at wally world can be a problem. I'm a big believer that if your going to own a gun, you better be able to find ammo for it just about any where.

I like the idea of a collapsible stock AR, but I don't think that's going to fly at all.

 

[Wizard]

John, check out the Kahr CW9. small, lightweight, super accurate and only $399. Just be sure she can rack the slide....they can be really stiff when new.....

 

[deputy125]

this might help---great search engine. they have a power search and also a dealer locater for your area with guaranteed pricing---i've used them before. do a generiac serarch for semi-auto and desired caliber and you will get a lot of hits, pics, and prices along with availability.
http://www.galleryofguns.com/ to find a dealer and dealer sets prices to you(cheaper than retail)

or just to browse but these are manufactuer suggested retail
http://www.galleryofguns.com/gungallery ... Search.asp

 

[Bountyhunter]

Lots of good ideas here. I'd like to add the Kel Tec PF9 to the list. This is a single stack 9mm that's just a tad bigger than the LCP. The LCP of course is also a great option I think. My girl carries a Kel Tec P3AT. It's a great little shooter that she can handle very well. I guess the final decision will be hers. Let us know what happens.

 

[L.BelcherII]

Just be sure she can rack the slide....they can be really stiff when new.....

My first thought. My wife can't handle most of the higher calibers. She loves, however, the Walther p22. Not that it'd be ideal for self defense. I'd have to say at a range it's about as much fun as you can have.

 

[Bountyhunter]

I like those little Walthers. I want one for myself.

 

[Johngoboom]

You folks think a .22 lr is acceptable for a house gun? I guess it could get the job done, but I worry that she is just going to piss somebody off with a .22. I’ll never get her to practice enough where she’ll put a 1” group at 7 yards; but she all ready can keep it center of mass. I was thinking she would need a .380 or a 9mm at the smallest. What's your opinions on this one guys???

She can shoot my 9mm, but the grips don't fit her hands, and she says the gun is "too heavy".

Of course the P89 is like shooting a cinder block with Houge grips, so I see her point.

 

[Bountyhunter]

I wouldn't chose the 22 lr as my first choice. I''d try for a 380 or 9mm first. If she can't find anything that suits her, then look at the 22's. If she can get a fairly high cap 22 and put the rounds where she wants, I think it'd be better than getting something bigger and not being good with it. People are killed with 22 lr rounds all the time. I think if I got hit in the chest with 5-6 rounds real quick, I'd want to be headed back in the other direction.

It's too bad that she against a revolver. My girlfriend shoots my Taurus M85 great with 38 special rounds. That's a great SD round, and most women can shoot them just fine.

I was just thinking that maybe a 45 acp would be ok. My GF liked my XD-45 so much and shot it so well that she wants her own now. It's the biggest gun she has fired too. Mine's the 5" tactical. You could look at the compacts and subcompacts.

 

[thunderjohn]

I'd agree with a compact S&W 9 or a Sig 380. Bersa 380's are great and more affordable.
My wife has a KelTec 32 that she's selling. Great gun for someone not liking the bigger stuff.
I think anything is fine. She has a 38 special that she likes. Not sure how many guys will stick around when someone starts shooting at them. Don't worry about her being able to rack the slide as there should be one chambered to begin with. And you can do that when you get it loaded up.

 

[Wizard]

I can can that I had a great experience with Davidson's (www.galleryofguns.com). The Kahr only comes with a 5 year warrantee, but then Davidson adds on a lifetime warrantee on any gun they sell....if it breaks or fails to operate properly, they will replace it. You really should look at the Kahr CW9....

 

[Drummer]

Well I can throw in what I have learned. I want my wife to have a gun she will feel comfortable with and can shoot (safely and accurately). We have a 22 Beretta auto that she can shoot just fine but of course I want her to have something with more guts behind it.
My GP100 has a 6” barrel and she does not like to handle it. So I bought her a P345 and she says it’s too much (Cool, I stuck it under my side of the bed and carry it when I have to leave home).
So I bought her a P95. Well she has trouble shooting that also. We picked it up at Bud’s and drove home to try it. It had Several jams and couldn’t hit the target so she wanted to give up. It doesn’t jam with me so I reckon she wasn’t gripping it enough.
So I’ll just have to get her to practice more. Also, I am absolutely amazed at how accurate the P95 is. I tied an empty bleach bottle in a tree and never letting the swinging stop, put 15 rounds through it. She thought that was cool so I said OH yeah? Well let’s drop it and count holes. I shot the rope twice and dropped the bottle on the ground.

But anyhow, I think Everyone should check out Bud’s Gun Shop in Paris Kentucky before buying anywhere. Their prices online include free shipping to your local FFL. You just need to set it up with both parties and get your FFL to fax a recent copy of his certificate to Bud’s.

 

[Terry_P]

I would look at an SR9 as fairly economical solution and the grip is adjustable. You posted in the semi auto section so I'm guessing that is what you are considering. Another might be an M&P in 9MM, an XD, the list is long. You have said she has shot you P89 and GP in 38 so I would stick to a 9MM or 38 SPL. In revolvers a Smith Model 10 has stopped a lot of BG's over the years. Have her grip/try several and see what she is comfortable with.

 

[Wizard]

Drummer, I got my GP100 from Bud's...they did a transfer to a FFL here. The only think I don't like about Bud's is the 3% upcharge for credit card. I usually do debit, but they still tack on the upcharge.....no right.....

 

[deputy125]

I would look at an SR9 as fairly economical solution and the grip is adjustable. In revolvers a Smith Model 10 has stopped a lot of BG's over the years. Have her grip/try several and see what she is comfortable with.

The sr9 is under a recall right now and having a few teething problems.

+1 on a model 10. A revolver with a good choice of barrel lengths, 38 ammo with a good spread from light kickers to flame throwers, and multiple grip options. A revolver still has advantages in many areas over a semi.........but the lady wants a semi which also has its advantages........

As far as a .22 for defense. There are many better choices in caliber. But for some folks, a .22 rifle may mean a 100% multiple hit ratio at 10 yards. Some folks just plain can't handle any handgun and hit a target at 10 yards even 1 time. Add poor lighting, stress, scared to the limit and hand eye coordination goes south, so the long gun becomes an asset in that dept. Make the gun a ruger 10/22 with a butler creek 25rd bananna clip, and i think it will do the trick quite nicely.

Whatever weapon is chosen by any person, They must have confidence to hit the target and not be afraid of the gun itself. The more training, the better choices of weapon and caliber become available.

But for every woman armed with a 38 out there, i can probably find 3 more who only have a .22 rifle because they can use it and its whats at hand. And its by their choice as they can hit with it and control it.

A long gun is always perfered in a fight. And if the fight is gonna be in my house, the tool at hand is a long gun......but in our case, a shotgun.

 

[sheepdog]

Sig 239....9mm...worth a try.....

 

[Drummer]

For Wizard, About the Upcharge for credit cards at Bud's Gun Shop.
Yeah I know they do that and a lot of people have started that too. Did you know that credit card companies charge retailers that percentage for transferring the funds? I reckon someone has to pay for it. Credit Card companies have you comin or goin it seems. They are the only ones that make any money off your money. But I won't get started on that thing LOL! I'll save that for the Kitchen or somewhere.

 

[deputy125]

i've seen this before and yes from my understanding the credit card companies put a hicky on the business for the privilage of accepting the cards---or is it the credit card machine thing company?

Either way, been told that is also why some businesses refuse american express as they charge more.

 

[Wizard]

Yea, Drummer, I know that. I just don't understand why two companies can offer the same product, at the same price, but one does the upcharge for cc use, and the other doesn't. Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing Buds...like I said I got my GP100 through them, and am looking at a Sig P229, and they are definately in the running. One other good experience I had with Buds - I order two K9 mags for my Kahr CW9....$26.00 each....best price I could find....Kahr wanted $40 each.....I do like Buds, just don't like the upcharge.....