I would like to get my wife a decent handgun this year. Yes this would be her first ever handgun to call her own, and I think it would be a nice little thank you gift from me. I was thinking a smaller caliber like .32 or .380, but am open to all suggestions. Doesn't matter between semi or wheel. I am just looking for inputs from you guys and what your wives like or have or what is a good little handgun for the money. Any input is appreciated as always guys. Thanks!
Need input on handgun gift....
- Thread starter Ludarue
- Start date
aarondhgraham
New member
I would buy a fancy water pistol,,,
Wrap it up real nice like,,,
And in the package have a promissory note,,,
For a date to go shopping for a handgun of her choosing.
Honest my friend,,,
I'm not being flippant here,,,
It would be better if she got to pick it out.
She might fall in love with (Heaven forbid),,,
One of those pink girly-guns.
.
Wrap it up real nice like,,,
And in the package have a promissory note,,,
For a date to go shopping for a handgun of her choosing.
Honest my friend,,,
I'm not being flippant here,,,
It would be better if she got to pick it out.
She might fall in love with (Heaven forbid),,,
One of those pink girly-guns.
.
Coltman 77
New member
That's a fine gift to give your wife. 
I'd really hesitate to go below 9mm for a serious defensive round though.
Actually, really tiny handguns are very difficult to shoot accurately.
My wife is 5'3" and weighs 110 lbs. Her carry pistol is a Walther PPS 9mm.
Her favorite range pistol is "her" Italian Beretta 92F and she runs the hell out of it.
But she is also an accomplished shooter and runs HKs, Sigs, and 1911s equally well.
(I strongly suggest you and your wife consider a PPS very seriously. They are ergonomic, accurate and uber reliable. )
Also, get her signed up for a good handgun training course. The NRA has many you can avail yourselves off.
Good luck. Keep us updated on your progress.
I'd really hesitate to go below 9mm for a serious defensive round though.
Actually, really tiny handguns are very difficult to shoot accurately.
My wife is 5'3" and weighs 110 lbs. Her carry pistol is a Walther PPS 9mm.
Her favorite range pistol is "her" Italian Beretta 92F and she runs the hell out of it.
But she is also an accomplished shooter and runs HKs, Sigs, and 1911s equally well.
(I strongly suggest you and your wife consider a PPS very seriously. They are ergonomic, accurate and uber reliable. )
Also, get her signed up for a good handgun training course. The NRA has many you can avail yourselves off.
Good luck. Keep us updated on your progress.
jglsprings
New member
I did that once... it was a nice blued 4" Colt Diamondback. Very good gun for a woman... She kept it in the divorce... Sure do miss that gun! LOL!
She should be in on the purchase. It will work better that way and make it truly hers.
She should be in on the purchase. It will work better that way and make it truly hers.
That's actually what I plan to do, but wanted to get an idea of what might be a good idea before heading out.
She won't be using it as a carry or anything. Just something she could handle and shoot well. The first handgun she ever shot was Colt Commando, but I don't see her wanting to take one of those shooting with me all the time. LOL. That's why I figured something smaller would be better.
She may like the S&W "Lady Smith" model. My wife doesn't like semi-autos, so I bought her a Ruger SP101, 2 1/2" barrel, in .357 magnum. She's a pretty good shot with it too.
She prefers revolvers, as she has problems racking the slide back on semi-autos, but loves the SP101. It's her bedside gun. I also bought her a Mossberg 500 for Christmas a couple of years ago in .410 gauge. I had initially bought her a Winchester 1200 in 20 gauge, but she thought it "kicked" too much, hence the .410.
Naturally, the 20 gauge became mine.
She prefers revolvers, as she has problems racking the slide back on semi-autos, but loves the SP101. It's her bedside gun. I also bought her a Mossberg 500 for Christmas a couple of years ago in .410 gauge. I had initially bought her a Winchester 1200 in 20 gauge, but she thought it "kicked" too much, hence the .410.
Naturally, the 20 gauge became mine.aarondhgraham
New member
I feel your pain jglsprings,,,
Same thing happened to me with a SP101 in .22 LR,,,
Dang but I miss that sweet little revolver.
.
Same thing happened to me with a SP101 in .22 LR,,,
Dang but I miss that sweet little revolver.
.
Onward Allusion
New member
"She won't be using it as a carry or anything. Just something she could handle and shoot well. "
So something in the way of a range toy or home defense gun?
I wouldn't go .32ACP or .380 for that purpose. Ammo sometimes hard to come by and is usually more expensive than 9mm.
If you'd reload I would say something in the way of a .38/.357 with 4" or 6" barrel. Otherwise, a full sized 9mm (less recoil). Of course, there's also the .22LR route. As for ease of handling, my wife shoots .40S&W better than I do and she's a good 40lbs lighter and 6" shorter.
So something in the way of a range toy or home defense gun?
I wouldn't go .32ACP or .380 for that purpose. Ammo sometimes hard to come by and is usually more expensive than 9mm.
If you'd reload I would say something in the way of a .38/.357 with 4" or 6" barrel. Otherwise, a full sized 9mm (less recoil). Of course, there's also the .22LR route. As for ease of handling, my wife shoots .40S&W better than I do and she's a good 40lbs lighter and 6" shorter.
Amin Parker
New member
A Ruger 22 is a fine gift for anyone. That pistol will be shot by your great grand kids.
Sometimes i think my wife still sticks with me is because she gets to shoot my Ruger mk2
Sometimes i think my wife still sticks with me is because she gets to shoot my Ruger mk2
only1najeep
New member
I agree with getting her to pick the one she likes. I bought my wife a snub .38 because I thought it was what she would like. Unfortunatly my assumption cost me my Ruger SR9c, she fell in love with it after shooting it.
silvercorvette
New member
Let her decide. I am assuming this gun will be used for self defense, if it isn't a large caliber isn't that important. I had a female friend that was less than 5 feet tall and very petite. I always start new shooters with a .22. She worked her way up fro 9 mm and .38 all the way to .45ACP.
If your wife can't handle a 9 or 45 I suggest you consider an FN 5.7. = low recoil with s 20 round magazine. But the ammo is a bit expensive
If your wife can't handle a 9 or 45 I suggest you consider an FN 5.7. = low recoil with s 20 round magazine. But the ammo is a bit expensive
silvercorvette
New member
Laws differ from state, I could be wrong but it should be legal in TX, if I am correct that there is no reason she can't legally own a gun.
I miss worded that [Laws differ from state, I could be wrong but it should be legal in TX, if she can legally own a gun there is no reason you can't buy a gun and give it to her. Unless it is some sort of surprise what not let her buy the gun in her own name.
I think the laws in SC are similar to TX, and in SC I have legally bought a gun from a stranger without any ID being exchanged as long as you are a legal resident of SC. Any private transaction does not require a paper trail or exchange of IDs and the is what drives the Brady bunch crazy.
PS some people as for an ID and some don't, if I am asked I show my drivers license with the picture showing but my thumb covers the address
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I am amazed...
... here we are all the way through post #15, and nobody has mentioned http://corneredcat.com/
This website is owned and operated by one of our moderators, Pax, and has tons of useful information for new shooters in general, and new female shooters in particular.
You should check out the site, and also have your wife check it out. It may make your task a whole lot easier, as it may answer any questions she might have.
... here we are all the way through post #15, and nobody has mentioned http://corneredcat.com/
This website is owned and operated by one of our moderators, Pax, and has tons of useful information for new shooters in general, and new female shooters in particular.
You should check out the site, and also have your wife check it out. It may make your task a whole lot easier, as it may answer any questions she might have.
Delaware_Dan
New member
I would say a Ruger SP101 3 inch .357. She can shoot .38 spcl out of it and it won't recoul that much. Aside from that, a GP100 4 inch .357. It's my better halfs favorite gun that I own, and shes darn good with it.
I dislike recommending specific guns for somebody I don't know...
... because there are so many variables involved, from her build to her hand size to her athleticism to her mechanical aptitude to her general attitude.
You get the idea.
I very strongly suggest you and she both look at the Cornered Cat website I linked in post #16.
However, if you want examples of what women I personally know prefer>
My lady likes a 4" GP100 with .38+P best of any handgun she has shot, but she likes my AR better than any handgun, and my 870 better than the AR.
My ex liked my old Beretta 92 so much that we picked out a 92 Brigadier for her, many years ago. (She used that to defend against a pair of stalkers, once, and against some ATM robbers, on another occasion.)
My mother likes (and currently has use of) my SIG P239; she bought a Mosquito for less expensive practice.
My best friend's wife loves a Walther P22, and thinks she wants a Walther PK380 when she gets her permit.
A lady who worked at the gun shop I frequent carries a PM9 everywhere she goes.
In my circles, at least, the nod goes 4:1 in favor of autos. It also goes 3:2 in favor of compact over full-size. Note, though, that my lady doesn't carry - she keeps it in her nightstand. My ex carried the full-sized Beretta in a pocketbook holster - not my favorite mode, in case of purse-snatching, but better than nothing.
So, once again, you are much better off doing some more research, and then going to shops and letting your wife handle different types, shapes, and sizes.
... because there are so many variables involved, from her build to her hand size to her athleticism to her mechanical aptitude to her general attitude.
You get the idea.
I very strongly suggest you and she both look at the Cornered Cat website I linked in post #16.
However, if you want examples of what women I personally know prefer>
My lady likes a 4" GP100 with .38+P best of any handgun she has shot, but she likes my AR better than any handgun, and my 870 better than the AR.
My ex liked my old Beretta 92 so much that we picked out a 92 Brigadier for her, many years ago. (She used that to defend against a pair of stalkers, once, and against some ATM robbers, on another occasion.)
My mother likes (and currently has use of) my SIG P239; she bought a Mosquito for less expensive practice.
My best friend's wife loves a Walther P22, and thinks she wants a Walther PK380 when she gets her permit.
A lady who worked at the gun shop I frequent carries a PM9 everywhere she goes.
In my circles, at least, the nod goes 4:1 in favor of autos. It also goes 3:2 in favor of compact over full-size. Note, though, that my lady doesn't carry - she keeps it in her nightstand. My ex carried the full-sized Beretta in a pocketbook holster - not my favorite mode, in case of purse-snatching, but better than nothing.
So, once again, you are much better off doing some more research, and then going to shops and letting your wife handle different types, shapes, and sizes.