New Shooter Needs A gun: With a Twist

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stonewall50

New member
So my cousin is lookin to get his girlfriend a handgun. She wanted an autolader, but she broke her wrists in an automobile accident a while ago. We haven't found an autoloader yet that she can work the slide manually on. That includes the little .380s...even airsoft guns.

So we have gotten her looking at revolvers for the safety and ease of use factor, but we are still open to semi-automatics.

So the reason this doesn't fit is because we are looking for a small handgun that doesn't have a super strong recoil that is hard on the wrists, in either a semi-automatic, or in a revolver. We are NOT at the buying phase, so ALL suggestions are welcome and ecouraged.
 
Go here. Read. Pass it on!

http://corneredcat.com/Rack_the_Slide/

A steel 9mm 1911 is heavy to tote, but as easy shooting as they come......

I Carry a Sprinfeild EMP..... it has an aluminum frame, but that thing wold be nicer if it had a steel frame.... It's 26 oz empty, so can be a little snappy with the +p personal defense loads ...... standard velocity 115's are pretty tame......
 
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So the reason this doesn't fit is because we are looking for a small handgun that doesn't have a super strong recoil that is hard on the wrists, in either a semi-automatic, or in a revolver. We are NOT at the buying phase, so ALL suggestions are welcome and ecouraged.
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There are a lot of good reasons to buy a revolver, and a broken wrist just got added to my list!!

I'd suggest either the Ruger LCR38 or the S&W 351 .22Mag. The LCR delivers surprisingly little recoil especially if chambering non +P rounds. If that's too much, then the .22Mag is a good choice in a small, compact, light weight gun. I have the LCR (in .357) and it's a great gun, best double action trigger I've ever felt. And the S&W351 is on my "to buy" list.
 
I recommend a revolver in .38 as well.

However, if the recoil is too stout, then I second the recommendation of the S&W 351 .22 mag. I know it's not the "best" self-defense round, but I sure wouldn't stand in front of one!! I hear good things about Hornady critical defense .22 mag.
 
Some great suggestions guys. I actually just found out that they had her try some new techniques with slide racking (the proper techniques) and she was able to work a full size 9mm that was well worn in.

The caliber really isn't the issue. .357 pushes it though. .38s and 9mms is about her wheelhouse. And of course she is a newbie so it really helps to have some quality safety features (like a safety or hammer lol).
 
The Beretta 86 is a tip-up barrel also, no need to rack the slide.

It chambers 380 Automatic Colt Pistol cartridges, and is one of the largest 380s created. Very little felt recoil.





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If you can find one, the Beretta 86 is a slim .380 ACP semi-auto with a tip-up barrel and a capacity of 8+1. Useful cartridge, good capacity, and no need to rack the slide if you don't want to.
 
I have a similar issue with my wife, I am starting her of with a new Ruger SR-22.

I was going to go with a MKIII but it was too heavy for her, and she struggeld to pull back the bolt.

The SR-22 is light, easy to shoot, easy to "rack the slide", has a decocker, different size grips, and will feed near any .22lr -- unlike the Sig Mosquito or Walther P22.

She can move up to something bigger if/when she wants to.


A revolver is a good option. A tip-up barrel semi-auto is a good option.


The thing about micro framed guns is they tend to beat up the hand and arent enjoyable to shoot over and over, which needs to be done to become proficient.


A lot of "first-timers" want something bigger, something for home defense. In my opinion, a shot gun will work for home defense. If she is just starting out on learning the fundamentals, there is nothing wrong with going the .22 route. Learn the fundamentals and build up from there. Getting a .22 allows a lot of practice since the round is inexpensive.

[EDITED FOR SPELLING]
 
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I like my Smith & Wesson .38 Airweight. Recoil is not too bad but I'm not sure I'd like it if I had broken wrist pain. I used to read that the .32 magnum was a decent round with less recoil but haven't heard anything on it in recent times. That may be close to the .327 we have been hearing about for the past couple of years. I have an old Raven .25 that has very little recoil but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Inaccurate except at a few steps, too close for comfort.
 
It might be worth it to have her try using the slide stop and release it with the left-hand thumb. No strain on the wrist, and she doesn't have to hinder her vision of the target. It also insures the slide comes fully forward when released, with little, if any chance of a "slide ride".

The other option is to try a revolver like a S&W J frame and put Hogue stocks on it. They really soak up recoil, even with standard .38 Special. Thumb pressure to release the cylinder, and use speed loaders for the reload.

PS - I've never agreed with the concept of "pull and release", covering the slide with the off-hand. Autos were designed to use the off-hand thumb to release the slide stop. It doesn't inhibit your view of the target, and the off-hand never leaves its original position. Now, all bets are off for lefties.
 
but have a look at the tilt-barrel 22's on the market. No racking needed.
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Taurus PT22 (22LR)
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Or PT25 in 25ACP

DSC00742.jpg


The similar, but all metal Beretta Bobcat in 22LR or 25ACP
bobcat.jpg


Or for a little more punch, the Beretta Tomcat in 32ACP
HPIM4360.jpg
 
(This is taken from The High Road: " So you want to buy your girlfriend/wife a gun")

Having worked in a couple of local gunshops through the years, I have encountered many a man with this desire. If you are thinking along these lines, there are some things you need to consider.

01. Has your lady ever shot a gun? If not, do her a big favor and have her go through a safety course before you think of buying.

02. What experience does she have with firearms? Take her to the range and have her shoot guns of varying size, type, and caliber. you wouldn't buy a car without test driving one first. Sure the .380 has fancy grips and a gold trigger, but maybe she's more comfortable with the Glock 19. Neither of you will know unless you shoot both.

03. Listen to her not your buddies. This could save a marriage or relationship. If she says she wants a 9mm, dont buy a .380. Unless of course you want to hear about it every time you both go to the range. with enough trial of firearms she will know what she wants.

04. When you go to buy, take her with you. Men, women like to look things over before they buy. My ex-wife took over an hour to inspect coach bags before she bought the right one. The same goes for when she is buying her gun.

05. Dont just think, small wife = small gun. Small guns can be uncomfortable to shoot. If she's made uncomfortable, she wont shoot it. If she wont shoot it, Then its you with the girly gun on the range with your buddies. Dont forget women tend to be great shots. I've seen many small woman handling large caliber guns with no problem.

06. Dont go cheap. Your girl likes good things much like you do. You go cheap and you will hear about it over and over and over. If you truly love her, show her.

07. In case I didn't mention it, Listen to your woman!! Buy what she wants, in the caliber of her choosing.
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Taurus Model 85............

If your looking for an affordable gun WELL worth the money, give a Taurus model 85 a try. Its a snub nose revolver with a nice rubber grip, smooth cycling action and a good balanced feel. I just picked one up about 9 months ago for $240. I can literally hit a prarie dog size steel about 2 out of 5 rounds at 75yrds. Way out of a snub nose range, but they are accurate and reliable. Very safe to carry (has a hammer) and +P rated so you can pack around some nice defense rounds. Recoil is pretty dang light and ALL Taurus firearms are guaranteed for life, no matter if you are the original buyer or not. They're less expensive than the S&W, beretta and all those but still very smooth well constructed. The beretta bobcat is a wicked little pistol too. Had one of those for a while to. Little jumpy on the recoil though.
 
If her hand isn't strong enough to rack a semiauto, she may have trouble with the double action pull on a revolver, though my Ruger LCR is pretty good. The other problem with the snubbies is that they are notoriously hard to hit anything with and wouldn't be my choice for a newbie.
In a full size gun, I have found that the various flavors of Taurus 24/7 to be sprung so as to be very easy to rack. I've never run into anyone who couldn't rack one of mine even without the special techniques.
The Beretta Tomcat has had a number of quality control issues in the past and I wouldn't buy a used one.
 
My wife actually decided to accompany me to the outdoor range earlier this week. She has gone with me several times to an indoor range. The outdoor club has a fixed 25-foot distance pistol range. I was surprised when she agreed to go with me, so all I had was a selection of .38 snubbies (Model 10 2", Model 64 2", model 442 and a couple of mouse guns. At the indoor range, she did pretty well with a 4" Model 19 and a Series 70 1911, but she was shooting at 5 yards. Here, at a bit over 7 yards with short-barrel 38s she was definitely having a hard time. She took it with good humor and actually enjoyed it, but agreed that maybe she should come with me more often and in turn that I would be sure to have some friendlier guns for her to try. I also suggested that we stop for an ice cream sundae on the way home.


Lessons learned - let her try a variety of things. Keep it fun. Let her make choices.
 
Some very important information was left out. Is this a House Gun, a Car Gun, or for Concealed Carry?

Small guns are hard to shoot accurately, and kick hard if not in a mouse gun caliber.

For House and Car I would look at a Steel Revolver, with a barrel length from 2" thru 4". The K and L Frame Smith and Wessons and the Ruger SP101, GP100, and the older Six Series are all good choices. These guns are large enough to shoot well, they recoil less than the airweights. It is hard to beat a 64 or 65 in either 2", 3" or 4" barrel lengths or the Blued versions, the Model 10, and 13. Other choices would be the 19 and 66 and the 586 and 686.

My wifes house gun has been a 4" 686 for 25 years. My neighbor gal has a 4" Model 10 for her house gun. The daughter-in-law has a 4" Model 64. All are examples of very shootable handguns, that a lady can manage with 38 Special +P ammo.

For Concealed Carry the weight needs to come down. The bottom line most gal's will not carry an anchor in their purse. I would probably look at the LCR Rugers for this roll. They come in 3 Models the LCR 22, LCR 38, and LCR 357. They come with Hogue Tamer Grips that soak up recoil very well. The LCR 22 while not the best caliber for self defense will hold 8 rounds of Stingers or Velocitors. It is light weight, and has a very good trigger for a small J Frame size concealed carry gun. It does not recoil at all. It might not be a bad place to start her off, and plan on getting an LCR 38 later to go with it. If have both an LCR 22 and an LCR 357, and I like them both very well.

Another good choice would be a little larger revolver still in an airweight. The now discontinued 315 Night Guard would be the cream of the crop in a light weight very shootable platform. The older Model 12 in a 2" would also be a very good choice. They are both K Frame Airweights. They are light weight, while still being large enough to shoot well.

In my experiance Ladies who are not serious shooters, and semiautomatics are not a good combination.

Just My 2 Cents.

Bob
 
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