After 8 years, the wife finally says...

Have her get some instruction -- from someone other than you. An hour or two makes a huge difference. Best advice and worked well for my wife (and for me).

As for which firearm, take her shopping to narrow it down some and then try those out. Our LGS has a once a year deal where they bring in all makes and models for free rental, you just buy the ammo from them. That was a great way to try out a couple pistols to see which she liked.

Her pistol? A 9mm XD; that's her gun and she's proud of it. Her second favorite is my 1911 in .45 --She's 5'2" and maybe 110lbs and handles it fine.
 
Have her get some instruction -- from someone other than you

Can I get an Amen?!! Even though she's interested in armed self-defense, get her in a course for women only or at least for beginners and do not attend with her.
 
My wife has shot most all my pistols at one time or the other but her favorite - hands down - is the Browning Hi-Power. She has qualified with it several times and always goes to it when she is serious shooting. My little, petite DIL shoots the fool out of my 1911's. My wife also carries a .38 spl. revolver in her purse, for reasons only women understand, but it works.

Let her pick out what she wants. If it's pink, get it anyway.
 
Start her with a 22 revolver that's neither too big nor too small. That S&W K22 is about perfect, though I'm sure there are many other good choices. Once she's Ok with the 22, move her to light loads in the 38. From there to 9mm or 357.
 
Can't really say it much better than this....

#1
Armorer-at-Law said:
No, she might be getting a new pistol. That's still exciting! In the long run, it is really more exciting.
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emphasis mine

#2
MLeake said:
1. Check out corneredcat.com (both you and your wife).
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#3
MLeake said:
3. Speaking of instructors, there is a lot to be said for buying your wife a lesson or two to start out.
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#4
npederse said:
Have her get some instruction -- from someone other than you.
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emphasis mine

#5
Gehrhard said:
Get out of the way.
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Take her to a firing range, rent some pistols. Let her get used to shooting. Then she'll tell you what she likes and what she doesn't want.
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A few really important things though. I can't stress these enough:
  1. GOOD hearing protection
  2. eye protection
  3. Start with a .22, or maybe even Airsoft and then a .22. She can move up to something bigger/louder/recoil-ier soon as she thinks she's ready
On everything else, she's in control and you (or somebody) are just helping.
 
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good for you

Good that your wife has finally woke up about protecting the family,,,bad that it took her 8 years ... Bang for you buck,,,hard to beat A Glock or XD/XDM....Whatever you decide,,,Strike while the iron is hot!!!!!!!:cool:
 
Now I am so excited I don't know what to do with myself. My full size 92F will be too big for her, and the 1911 will kick her butt. I could a) get her a pistol that is really just for her or b) get a pistol that I really want that she would be able to shoot comfortably (I was thinking about an XDm compact ). Of course she might try it once and never shoot again, but this may be my only chance to justify a new pistol purchase in the near future (tight finances and all). Either way, I might be getting a new pistol !!! Decisions, decisions !!!!!
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You've already gotten plenty of advice but let me just point out - unless your wife just isn't very bright (no offense) she's going to see right through option B. And it will probably hurt if not totally kill her interest in learning to shoot. Heck even if you went option A and honestly tried to get a gun that you think she'd like, she may still think you're doing it for yourself.

Like everyone else has said, she'll be happiest if she can choose for herself.
 
thanks all for the great advice and comments. Having the benefit of knowing my wife, i have a good idea how the whole thing will go-

- I will start her off with a borrowed or rented 22, she will get bored in about 15 minutes and want to shoot a larger caliber. She is already talking trash about how good she is going to be. Then she will have fun shooting a borrowed 9 mm (that fits her hand) for the day, and promptly lose interest the minute we leave the range. She will probably never mention having access to my home defense pistol again unless something in the news or something scary on TV reminds her.

Then I have no new pistol. If the above occurs after she shoots a few times with a pistol she chooses and we buy, then I will be stuck with a pistol I did not want that is "hers", and she will shoot maybe twice in 10 years. Though it is more likely she will think getting a separate pistol for her is not worth the money (she said this when I offered to set her up with an introductory pistol class).

However, if I get the XDm compact, I get a gun I wanted anyway, and something that will fit her hand. I don't agree that autos are not an appropriate pistol for every beginner - My sister learned to shoot on my 92F compact (since traded) and was fine, and she is quite a girly-girl.

If it turns out I am wrong, and to my amazement my wife actually maintains interest (even slightly), she can pick out the gun of her choice - I can keep it in the lockbox right next to my new XDm compact :D
 
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