Lady's pistols/revolvers?

B

Bobbalouie

New member
I took my wife to the range Saturday. It was her first time shooting and she did GREAT, showing lots of improvement between her first and last Mag and not daunted by the recoil. As I expected from this neat gal, she was also pretty keen on the mechanics of the weapon and was comfortable reloading mags, etc.

As we shot, something else became clear: Though I thought I was getting a reasonably small grip when I picked up a Ruger P95 (9mm)as the family "plinker", the grip was just plain too large for her petite hands. Her fingers just reach around the frontstrap. What can you suggest as a good and economical "lady's" home defense and target weapon, given that concealed carry isn't an issue? She's comfortable with 9mm.

Oh, by the way, I took my boys as well for the first time. They did well and had a blast!

Bobbalouie
 
Good for you! I think every man, if he cares
anything about his wife, should teach her to
shoot. It may one day save her life, or yours!

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Never do an enemy a minor injury. Machiavelli
"Stay alive with a 45"
 
Bought my wife an S&W LadySmith Model 642 for her birthday last year that she absolutely loves. Granted, it benefitted greatly from a trigger job, but that seemed a rather small issue. She is comfortable with it, and fairly proficient with it.

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"...and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one."
Luke 22:36
"An armed society is a polite society."
Robert Heinlein
 
Time well spent.
I to would suggest taking a look at the Lady Smith line. Another fine gun would be the Walther P5.

Happy Shooting :)

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The great body of our citizens shoot less as time goes on. We should encourage rifle practice among schoolboys, and indeed among all classes, as well as in the military services by every means in our power. Thus, and not otherwise, may we be able to assist in preserving peace in the world... The first step- in the direction of preparation to avert war if possible, and to be fit for war if it should come- is to teach men to shoot!
Theodore Roosevelt, President
 
I recommend CZ-75B in SA mode. Even though it is a double-action gun, it can be used in cocked & locked mode and the grip is exceptionally slim. It is also inexpensive AND reliable. My wife's favorite gun used to be the Glock 19. Now it's CZ-75B.

I'd recommend Browning High Power as well, except that, in my opinion, it has much tougher (stronger) recoil spring and hammer spring, so it is harder to operate the slide if you are a petite woman.

Skorzeny

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For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence. Sun Tzu
 
I would also reccomend the Hi power. It seems to have the smallest grip of the hi cap 9mm's. I would also expect that if she can work the slide on the Ruger, then the Hi power should'nt present much of a problem.
 
I know you'll get a million different suggestions here, but, have her check out a Glock, like a G23... nice and small, and simple. There is also the G27 which is also even smaller, but some people complain about recoil... I say, get Agrip and get used to the recoil. (please excuse the plug).

My girl chose a Ruger P98 to start, because she did so well at the range with it... then she found out she had problems with the first trigger pull, so she sold it and got a G23 with nightsights, (which also helped her shooting ALOT). She is extremely happy with this set up, and she is just a little bitty thing...

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Reality ALWAYS takes precedence.
 
I bought my wife a Spectrum Blue Taurus Total Titaniun in .38 special. It fits her hand just right and has soft grips. She likes it so much that now she is always asking me to go to the range! She is going through a lot of Federal Nyclad, and I am really happy that she is enjoying herself.

Will

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Mendacity is the system we live in.
 
SW 3913 but they are not cheap. Not the most expensive but not the cheapest.

Browning BDMs are inexpensive as 9mms go
and have a thinner grip. My friends seem
fine.

Kahrs - but pricey
 
Thanks again for the reports. I went down to my dealer and put my hand around a few. The notables were an S&W .38 Spec. revolver (expensive, heavy, but gorgeous), a Ruger SP101 series revolver (solid), and the Kel-Tec P11 concealed-carry 9mm (tiny but well thought out). Next step is to take her down to "try a few on". :)

Bobbalouie

[This message has been edited by Bobbalouie (edited March 02, 2000).]
 
Bobbalouie: Note that you say she is comfortable with a 9mm. With this in mind I would highly recommend you consider the SIG Model P239. It has a small grip and short trigger reach making it suitable for people with small hands.

The SIG P239 DA/SA version has a decocker and is designed for hammer down, DA first shot. This makes for a long, smooth trigger pull for the first shot. Simplicity of operation is implicit in this design making it user friendly under the pressure of attack. Like all SIGs, it is extremely accurate and is 100% reliable with all factory loads. Last year the 9mm versions were being discounted by various Shotgun News vendors, as the other available calibers have become more in demand. My dealer charged me a small handling charge making the total price about $ 432.

I bought the SIG P239 for my wife and liked it so much I keep it for myself! My wife is still carrying my S&W Model 60 - 3 inch DAO revolver in .38 Special. This gun was factory altered by removal of hammer spur and internal SA cocking notch. NYPD ordered these for liability reasons (?). In a revolver the S&W Model 60 or Model 36, or the Centennials or Bodyguard would be excellent. The latter two have internal or concealed hammers to prevent snagging clothes when drawing.

Any of the guns would be great for the wife.

The only dislike I have for the smaller Ruger revolver is that they are HEAVY! I've been impressed by recent lite-weight Taurus revolvers but have no experience with them.

You may find the SIG and S&W pricing to not meet your economical criteria. However, as 100% reliability is absolutely necessary, I consider the purchase an investment more important than anything in my market portfolio. Her life may depend on it!


[This message has been edited by AUTiger73 (edited March 02, 2000).]
 
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