Help recommend my lady a handgun

T

tucker terra

Inactive
My girlfriend is looking to purchase a handgun for self-protection and to conceal. That being said, we also shoot a fair amount so she wants something that is not terribly uncomfortable to shoot.

~I have a Sig 1911 Crimson Carry, which she likes other than she cant easily reach the slide release, which she doesn't like.

~She has shot her fathers Sig P229 and loved the accuracy.

~She has shot many different handguns and she is in the military so this isn't new to her.

WHAT SHE IS LOOKING FOR:

We have been to gun shops around and all they do is throw guns down our throats and won't listen to features she is looking for. Here are features that she is looking for in a handgun. (The number next to each on is the importance level; 1= not as important, 5= a necessity).


~Firearm has a thumb safety (5)
~Lightweight for concealed carry (4)
~She loves my laser and wants hers to accept laser grips or have a rail (5)
~Sized for concealed carry: I have a Jackass Shoulder rig and she is looking for something like that (5)
~ Calibers in .357 MAG, 40., or .45 (5)
~Semi-auto instead of a revolver (1)


Thanks for your input!
 
Ruger LC9

My wife and I just left the range and she carries a Ruger LC9 with the factory laser. Puts about 200 or so rounds through it every month and loves it. No accessory rail but a great carry pistol with most of your requirements. One thought , she first used the laser when new but rarely uses it anymore at the range. Just her deal and just another thing to remember to do in a duress situation. Great gun and easy to conceal
 
I have a Sig 1911 Crimson Carry, which she likes other than she cant easily reach the slide release, which she doesn't like.
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Teach her to use the overhand method or her offhand to release the slide problem solved.
 
This doesn't have all the necessary features but what about the Sig p229 Enhanced Elite? That slight difference in the reduced reach ergo grip is amazing.
No thumb safety but the initial DA trigger pull is around 10lbs. Plus it comes with the SRT.
I have several of the 229's and love the EE. I also have a 226 EE on the way.
 
Sig 1911/C3 with CT laser grip.
Well it's what I like, but don't always carry it either.
 
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Given your parameters, I would be inclined to recommend either the M&P compact models in your desired calibers. Has all of the features you desire and are especially great with laser grips as you can get an integrated backstrap version that really fits the gun very well.

HK USP 45 Compact or HK 45 Compact would be a great secondary choice. I don't know that there are laser GRIPS available, but you can certainly add lasers to the rail.

I would probably prefer the HK USP 45 Compact, myself... but it's quite a bit more expensive than the M&P version, and the M&P 45 Compact is really a fantastic gun.
 
After all that said did you ask her what she wants ?
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Here are features that she is looking for in a handgun. (The number next to each one is the importance level; 1= not as important, 5= a necessity).


~Firearm has a thumb safety (5)
~Lightweight for concealed carry (4)
~She loves my laser and wants hers to accept laser grips or have a rail (5)
~Sized for concealed carry: I have a Jackass Shoulder rig and she is looking for something like that (5)
~ Calibers in .357 MAG, 40., or .45 (5)
~Semi-auto instead of a revolver (1)
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Do we need to resort to the pat answer of "what does she want?" or "let her decide" every time a question involving females comes up? It's obvious from the way the question is posed that she is involved in the decision and the OP has simply relayed some of her preferences to us to generate some ideas.

If the question was about a gun for the OP's friend, people would just answer the question asked. But drop the word "girlfriend" in there, and people suddenly start pandering, as if it's somehow a totally different decision now. From the description, it sounds like she can handle guns and doesn't need any special coddling in this situation.


Getting to the original question, you might look at the Springfield XD line. Has thumb safety, is polymer (lightweight), has rail for laser, available in .40 and .45. The CZ-07 in .40 also fits the criteria.
 
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I wish my wife was looking for a handgun. She won't. But my cousin (late 40's) has a .40 glock cause she travels for work alone a lot and she likes it. But Glocks out cause no safety.

So, you might try:

Beretta Px4. I love mine, reliable as anything, safety. But mine is full size so not sure about the smaller one.

Sccy cpx-1 has safety, ah, but no rail so that is out.

Similar I have a Kel Tec pf-9 with laser, not bad, but jambs sometimes and bucks like crazy. I do not like it, and my brother is using for his concealed carry at the moment.

I had a M&P shield, liked it at store, but not shooting, but has all requirements and she might like it. (this was to be my carry, but I sold it)

Kahr - looking into this as a carry as is supposed to be accurate, but no safety!

There are Sig's as mentioned and some CZ carry models, but I think all in metal so would be heavy. I would not carry all metal.


So, I see the problem. I think her requirements are similar to mine after thinking about it! I have no quick answer.:confused:
 
Sounds like the Sig 229 or maybe a Kimber/Sig 1911 compact with Crimson Trace grips would be a good choice since she is familiar with the actions already
 
You have slim pickings if you or she insists on the thumb safety. If you can get over that requirement, I see so many nice used .40S&W Sig P239's at great prices ($450-ish) at just about every LGS I go to, I can't think of a better semiautomatic for that price range.
 
Do we need to resort to the pat answer of "what does she want?" or "let her decide" every time a question involving females comes up? It's obvious from the way the question is posed that she is involved in the decision and the OP has simply relayed some of her preferences to us to generate some ideas.

If the question was about a gun for the OP's friend, people would just answer the question asked. But drop the word "girlfriend" in there, and people suddenly start pandering, as if it's somehow a totally different decision now. From the description, it sounds like she can handle guns and doesn't need any special coddling in this situation.
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Thank you "idek", well said. I don't understand why everyone is telling me to have her make her own decision. If she knew what she wanted, we wouldn't be on here asking. She knows the features she wants but doesn't know what makes/models have them, and I don't either. I told her the best place to find out is on here so I am helping her figure it out. With that being said, those of you who think she can't make her own decision or handle herself are way out in left field. She isn't your typical house-wife. She is a country/farm girl who has grown up hunting and shooting all types of firearms. So if it is easier for y'all to help us figure it out, pretend I am asking the question for myself!


For those of you that have given suggestions, thank you! It is very much appreciated and we are making a list of the ones listed on here to look further into.

Thanks much and keep them coming!
 
My other half is around 5'1", so not a big gal, and she loves her S&W SD40VE. She has had it about 2 years now and has put a lot of rounds thru it.

It is accurate, fits her well, and everyone that has shot it has said they like it.

It is not an expensive handgun, but it is not cheap built either. It takes less than a minute to strip it down.

Some folks bitch about the trigger, but it can be learned.

Since it is striker fire, no safety, and just wup it out and start banging away.

I like the fact that she does not have to deal with releasing the safety to make it battle ready.
 
~I have a Sig 1911 Crimson Carry, which she likes other than she cant easily reach the slide release, which she doesn't like.
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I can't either, and I have fairly big guy hands.

~She loves my laser and wants hers to accept laser grips or have a rail (5)
Click to expand...

Rail's easier to find.

If she knew what she wanted, we wouldn't be on here asking.
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Lemme see if I can get a friend of mine to chime in....

~Firearm has a thumb safety (5)
~Lightweight for concealed carry (4)
~She loves my laser and wants hers to accept laser grips or have a rail (5)
~Sized for concealed carry: I have a Jackass Shoulder rig and she is looking for something like that (5)
~ Calibers in .357 MAG, 40., or .45 (5)
~Semi-auto instead of a revolver (1)
Click to expand...

The whole complex of requirements might be a bit difficult to accomodate, all at once. Is any of this flexible?
 
I see that a manual safety is a necessity but then again she doesn't mind a revolver or a semi too terribly. Can we then assume that she wouldn't mind a DA/SA semi with no manual safety? Because I would recommend a SIG. Otherwise probably a M&P compact or a Springfield XD series.
 
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