Looking to buy a gun for my wife. We have been been to several different gun stores more than once. She has held multiple guns. She has yet to shoot any of them. The glock 43, M&P 9 compact, and the dog 938 are all contenders. We have ruled out the lc9 and the shield. The problem is that the ones we are looking she said felt ok, but the that she when she pick it up the walther pps none of the lgs's have one that you can rent. What's a brother to do?
New gun buying dilemma
- Thread starter coyotewsm
- Start date
2ndsojourn
New member
Methinks the only place you can rent a gun is at a shooting range. Some may also be a LGS, but if there's no range there, you won't be able to rent a gun. So go to a range (probably an indoor one) and see what they have for rent.
That last sentence didn't quite make sense, but I believe you were tying to say that she liked the Walther. If that is the case I might suggest trying out a Makarov if you can. Ive trained quite a number of new shooters (many with smaller hands) on the Mak as many seem to really like the size & shape of the grip. Its not as fat as many double-stacks, but not as narrow as many single-stacks, its kind of an in-between that fits a wide range of people.
There has been a recent import of beautiful 'unissued' Bulgarian PM's so you can pick one up from several sources priced at $299 with 2 mags & accessories, at that price (and with Maks going up in value) you could buy, try, and if she doesn't like it you'll likely get all your money back out of it. Best case keep it for yourself as they are fun, cheap to feed, and the AK equivalent of the pistol world in terms of reliability & durability.
Just a thought
There has been a recent import of beautiful 'unissued' Bulgarian PM's so you can pick one up from several sources priced at $299 with 2 mags & accessories, at that price (and with Maks going up in value) you could buy, try, and if she doesn't like it you'll likely get all your money back out of it. Best case keep it for yourself as they are fun, cheap to feed, and the AK equivalent of the pistol world in terms of reliability & durability.
Just a thought
My opinion of the PPS is that it is very Shield-like in feel when shooting. I own and love both. Don't know what y'all didn't like about the Shield, but it is possible that you will have the same issue with the PPS.
Unfortunately, in the absence of being able to rent or borrow something, the only thing one can really do is read about it, test its feel in the gun store, and take a gamble on the purchase, if everything feels otherwise ok.
I have done this many times. I have sometimes been disappointed but never to the point of serious regret. In fact, I still own everything I've ever purchased.
Unfortunately, in the absence of being able to rent or borrow something, the only thing one can really do is read about it, test its feel in the gun store, and take a gamble on the purchase, if everything feels otherwise ok.
I have done this many times. I have sometimes been disappointed but never to the point of serious regret. In fact, I still own everything I've ever purchased.
I guess I need to clarify. The lgs we where at also has an indoor range so you can buy and shoot. They don't offer the walther as a gun you can shoot on the range. According to the guy in the store walther doesnt have a range program and its to expensive for them to just buy the gun for it to be a range gun. Jmhyer. I own a shield 9mm feels great in my hand shoots good, I can quickly reaquire target after each shot. For my wife it just didn't feel right in her hand. She has been diagnosed with fibromyalga which makes her super sensitive to touch which could be the difference idk.
Alpha Wolf
New member
I would have her handle them. And I would definitely have her shoot any she is serious about.
Many new shooters like a gun to be small as they think that it will be easier to shoot, when frequently it is exactly the opposite. They may like others because they have seen them in movies etc. But these may be too big for her hands or have too much recoil.
Give her fair advice and then let her pick the gun.
Many new shooters like a gun to be small as they think that it will be easier to shoot, when frequently it is exactly the opposite. They may like others because they have seen them in movies etc. But these may be too big for her hands or have too much recoil.
Give her fair advice and then let her pick the gun.
johnwilliamson062
Moderator
What? At their cost and rent for $5-15 an hour? Then most peoplebuy ammo from them to shoot. By the time the gun needs any real maintenance at 5,000 rounds the ammo sales should come close to paying for it.
kilimanjaro
New member
Call around and find another range that rents what you want to shoot.
If I owned that range, the Walther would come out of the case for you to shoot, whether you bought it or not. I'll make up any difference on selling you ammo, holsters, magazines, that kind of thing, over the next year or two.
The Walther was in the case because it's not selling. Take the chance on a sale and a happy customer.
If I owned that range, the Walther would come out of the case for you to shoot, whether you bought it or not. I'll make up any difference on selling you ammo, holsters, magazines, that kind of thing, over the next year or two.
The Walther was in the case because it's not selling. Take the chance on a sale and a happy customer.
RaizdByWolvz
Moderator
I absolutely will recommend the PPS, I am of very slim build and stature, a buck 20 WET, one handed shooting the PPS and really I keep wondering what recoil? I put a Limbsaver subcompact grip sleeve on my PPS, just love this gun all day long...oh plus the price nowadays on them, whaaat!? GAG has em on the low I might as well buy another
I bought a Walther PPS and did not care for it. Being that it is one of the more popular polymer single stacks, I'd say I am in the minority. It felt well in the shop, but the recoil was sharper than similar size pistols. A friend of mine liked it more than my Glocks, but I couldn't shoot it very well. It ended up being a bit too narrow, and wasn't much easier to conceal IWB than my Glock so I traded it. Zero issues for me, just one the guns I never warmed up to.
The prices have dropped a bit since I bought mine, and I think it's a great value at $400 or less (what I've seen around me). If she doesn't find something at the range that works, it may be worth looking into a Walther. Personally I would shoot what you can now, and see if the range will charge you a flat fee to try the ones you want. I don't see why that would be a problem, especially since you are looking to buy a gun anyway.
The prices have dropped a bit since I bought mine, and I think it's a great value at $400 or less (what I've seen around me). If she doesn't find something at the range that works, it may be worth looking into a Walther. Personally I would shoot what you can now, and see if the range will charge you a flat fee to try the ones you want. I don't see why that would be a problem, especially since you are looking to buy a gun anyway.
As a very vocal GLOCK HATER I had to eat my words after shooting the G43. I bought one right there on the spot. Over 20 years ago I swore I would never use the word Glock in a sentence where it was not followed with "Piece of crap" but the G43 is an accurate shooter, comfortable, simple to use, well balanced, very little recoil for a 9mm of that size, eats any ammo I can feed her and asks for seconds, simple take down, clean and reassemble.
Just to be sure I borrowed 3 of my range's rental Glocks to put a magazine through each of them and confirmed, yes, I still hate Glocks but the G43 is the exception and a great gun for the money. For me to recommend a Glock is like Praise from Cesar but this is just one great carry gun.
Just to be sure I borrowed 3 of my range's rental Glocks to put a magazine through each of them and confirmed, yes, I still hate Glocks but the G43 is the exception and a great gun for the money. For me to recommend a Glock is like Praise from Cesar but this is just one great carry gun.
Big4Freedom
New member
I assume this is kind of a purse type of gun for her, since it's her first, so I'd say she'd be great with any of the polymer stuff like Springfield xd subcompact, Sw compact/Shield, glock 43, walther, or similar.
As much as I love the Sig p938, for what it is, I would not recommend for her. Decent amount of recoil (compared to others), which might skew her desire to practice with it and shoot accurately. If .380acp is an option, the Sig p238 might be the perfect gun for her. The SS model has little recoil, accurate, and smooth as silk.
Just my two cents...
As much as I love the Sig p938, for what it is, I would not recommend for her. Decent amount of recoil (compared to others), which might skew her desire to practice with it and shoot accurately. If .380acp is an option, the Sig p238 might be the perfect gun for her. The SS model has little recoil, accurate, and smooth as silk.
Just my two cents...
My wife loves her P238, too. She picked it because it was small enough to dress around and still wear stylish clothes, and was still a nice shooter.
I envy those of you who live near ranges that rent out every pistol under the sun. The only range in my county that rents pistols at all offers Glocks in various calibers, end of story. That is the same place that we bought the P238, mind you, but we bought it relying on internet reading and handling the pistol unloaded.
I envy those of you who live near ranges that rent out every pistol under the sun. The only range in my county that rents pistols at all offers Glocks in various calibers, end of story. That is the same place that we bought the P238, mind you, but we bought it relying on internet reading and handling the pistol unloaded.
I posted a thread on this earlier this year, my wife was pregnant at the time so we decided to put off the search untill after the baby came. At that time we were looking at 380's instead of 9mm. The reason we started looking at 9's is because of some advice I got off of here. The member said that the recoil would probably be more snappy in a 380 due to the way most of them were built. Also if she can handle a 9mm I would rather her have one of them than a 380. But im open to opinions.
My wife did make the comment that the 938 grip felt better but that the gun was heavier and she didn't like w
The weight as much as the glock.
My wife did make the comment that the 938 grip felt better but that the gun was heavier and she didn't like w
The weight as much as the glock.
Make sure you have her manipulate (rack) the slide to ensure she'll be able to do so. Might make a difference in the choice. Maybe try to make the sale based on her firing 1 magazine full of ammo at time of purchase. Maybe $50 charge if you don't buy that one. You might then buy one of the others the LGS has on offer. Never hurts to ask. Check on-line for magazine reviews of the one you can't test fire. Probably more balanced review as a lot of us here handle guns and recoil differently and what's acceptable to us may not be for a woman. My wife shots Springfiled 1911's in 9 mm and 45 ACP so who really knows.
Later ... Larry S.
Later ... Larry S.
No range rental program will ever include all guns that are mfg'd...there are just too many / and most retail outlets, even with a range, will not sell a gun contingent on you shooting a mag thru it - because then they have to resell it as a used gun ( if they're a reputable shop)..../ and yes, some mfg's do not have a range rental program...
Your safest bet - is to limit her selection to what she can shoot ...
I concur with the idea of staying with a 9mm....most .380's are more difficult to rack ...
...and when she is holding guns in the retail store - make sure she can reach the controls without shifting her grip - and that she can easily manipulate the slide ( fibromyaliga can act a little like arthritis - in that she'll have good and bad days probably )...but if the recoil spring is too stiff for her to manipulate the slide..then you need to pass on the gun.
Make sure she trys the trigger dry firing ...and how it breaks and resets...so she can evaluate the Walther against similar sized guns.
My younger grandkids ...( without a lot of hand or arm strength yet ) ....in 9mm ...like to shoot a Sig 239 or a 4" 1911 (Kimber Tactical Pro II model )...they find the weight is good ( not too heavy), gun is not too wide...and recoil is manageable. If you buy ammo ...watch the bullet weight and velocity on the box...( less bullet weight and less velocity mean less recoil). Some ammo brands are just more snappy than others...
Your safest bet - is to limit her selection to what she can shoot ...
I concur with the idea of staying with a 9mm....most .380's are more difficult to rack ...
...and when she is holding guns in the retail store - make sure she can reach the controls without shifting her grip - and that she can easily manipulate the slide ( fibromyaliga can act a little like arthritis - in that she'll have good and bad days probably )...but if the recoil spring is too stiff for her to manipulate the slide..then you need to pass on the gun.
Make sure she trys the trigger dry firing ...and how it breaks and resets...so she can evaluate the Walther against similar sized guns.
My younger grandkids ...( without a lot of hand or arm strength yet ) ....in 9mm ...like to shoot a Sig 239 or a 4" 1911 (Kimber Tactical Pro II model )...they find the weight is good ( not too heavy), gun is not too wide...and recoil is manageable. If you buy ammo ...watch the bullet weight and velocity on the box...( less bullet weight and less velocity mean less recoil). Some ammo brands are just more snappy than others...