Recommendation for an inexpensive handgun for a female?

Status
Not open for further replies.
K

katnip43

Inactive
First, let me start off by saying I was in the Army for 7 years. I've fired the M-16, M-60 machine gun, and 45. In other words I do know how to operate firearms.

I've never had the need to purchase one for myself until I moved to NM, which is full of gangs and thugs. I live by myself and there have been several incidents here (car jacking in broad daylight), which is making me feel unsafe.

So my question is, can anyone suggest a small handgun that is fairly inexpensive? I like the Berretas, but they are way out of my price range. I don't think getting one at a pawn shop would be a good idea, since they may be damaged or just don't work. And it's not like you can "test" it at the shop.

I've searched the web and there are so many brands, types, etc..it's making me "dizzy".

Any advice/suggestions?

Thanks for reading.

Kat
 
Kat, first off, Welcome to TFL. Your first post is a good one but here`s a few questions. What calibers have you fired enough to feel very confident with? What method/style of carry do you plan on? Would you opt for an semi-auto or would a revolver suit your needs best? Will this gun serve as both CCW and HD? What price cap do you have? This is probably a dumb one but do you have your CCW permit for NM?
 
There are some good firearms in the $250-300 range. My girlfriend has a Bersa Thunder .380 ($299 new, here) that she loves, shes a James bond fan and aready loved the look. Kel tech makes some small inexpensive semi auto pistols for a decent price as well. I have 3 taurus's and would not hesitate in buying another. I've also read that the Charter arms light weight 38 +P revolvers are good. Here are some gus to look into, possibly take her down to handle some of these. These are as cheap as I can possibly offer as suggestions for SD.

My girlfriend liked my Ruger P-95 as well but the grips were a bit to big, but she may like it. It's a good quality fair priced firearm.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/manufacturers_id/369/products_id/18161

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...&ITATR_list[8]=&ITATR_list[9]=&ITATR_list[0]=

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/21_150

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/21_178

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_52/products_id/25340
 
Katnip

Sounds like your leaning toward a semi-auto by mentioning the Beretta. We all would like to have more of those:)

As has been stated on TFL before.... maybe you should find a range nearby and try a few of their renters. The range I go to has several used for rent and sale. They also have a smitty on staff if you had any problems with a purchase.

There are many good quality handguns for under $500. You are right to stay away from pawn shops unless you can take someone with you that is very knowledgeable about determining the quality of a used gun.

And.... don't go too small. At least a 9mm

Good luck and also welcome to TFL.
 
Hi Katnip,
Welcome to TFL.
My suggestion is that you first try a variety of guns at a range where you can rent them.

I am saying this because some firearms look nice and may be priced within your budget, but you may find them uncomfortable to shoot and/or well as have a horrible trigger and/ or poor sights.

If his is going to be your carry gun, give some consideration to how you are going to carry, so that the size of gun you buy is suitable for your method of carry.

Regarding caliber, I also recommend that you do not consider less than 9mmp for SD.

Good luck,

Danny
 
Howdy katnip. Welcome to the forum, and thanks for your service.
Some very good points were made above with regard to you being just a bit more specific as to what you are looking for. Judging by the information you have provided thus far, I would suggest something that can do double duty as a home defense gun as well as a carry piece. There are multiple firearms that meet that criteria.

Many folks here and elswhere will have different suggestions. Only you can choose what is right for you. Here are some of my suggestions.

-9mm or larger caliber. Having said that, let me say that there are many fine small frame revolvers that are chambered for the 38 special +P rd., and the ammo itself is being manufactured these days to be much more effective than it was in the past. Do not count out the S&W J-frame revolvers. the older ones do not have the integral lock on them which many (including myself) do not trust. There are many quality used revolvers out there. If you plan on carrying this gun, I would suggest a 3" bbl or less.

Do not buy a self defense firearm that is not 100% reliable. Do some research here and on other gun sites. A quality firearm does not have to break the bank. A S&W (pre-lock) snub nose can be found in the $300-$400 range. For carry purposes, I prefer the hammerless DAO model 640-1. It is a 5-shot .357 magnum snubby. .38 special, and .38 special +Ps can be fired in it as well as the .357 mag. Many find the .357 magnum cartridge to have too much recoil / noise / muzzle flash in these smll guns. The .38 special+Ps will work fine if that is your finding, and you can count on the gun being very strong.

The Ruger SP-101 is another fine revolver that is tough as nails, and very reliable. Another very good choice.

Semi autos have a whole lot more that can go wrong in a hurry. Many folks carry the small semi-autos on a regular basis with no problems. I tend to like slightly larger semi-autos when I choose to carry them. Again, do some research to find out which ones have been 100% reliable.

Bottom line: Great advice was given above by others who suggested going to a range that rents guns, and trying them out. They may not have what you are looking for, but you can get a feel for different calibers. Gunshops will usually let you handle the guns, and that will allow you to find what fits your hand best. You don't have to spend a bunch to get a quality firearm. Decide what you would like to get based on how you plan on carrying, and search the classifieds on several forums. There are some very good deals out there, and I suspect that all those panic buys in January will soon be on the used market with only a few rds. fired through them.

Good luck,
DS
 
I like the Bersa line. They have an excellent reputation, do some research on them. I have a Thunder .380 that has never failed to fire. My one complaint is with their finish, its not the nicest I've seen. Mechanically they are very tight and feel good in the hand. People are suspicious of them because of the price, but they do have a rather loyal fanbase. I also like the Glock 19 for the ladies (and the gents, for that matter) but that might be out of your price range. Can't beat a good revolver with a four inch barrel, either. Lots of good choices out there
 
Keltec,Bersa,Taurus make small 9mm's and smallish .45's all at or around $300.
If you need cheaper a Hi-point 9mm could work but carrying it isnt easy as its heavy and larger but its $140 generally.
 
how do you intend to carry?

most holsters for IWB are designed with men in mind and do not work well with the female shape. i have had to customize holsters for my wife & daughter. both like the Bersa 380 and as i reload they are quite able shooters.
carry in the handbag has much downside but is a method that works in many situations. how you dress greatly determins how/what you carry.

if restricted to 1 gun it would be a 332 S&W or a P380 Kel-Tec.
if i couldnt get a 332 [32 H&R magnum] i would buy a 642 [rated for 38+P}and load LSWC. no fancy SD ammo or +P's.
 
This is addressed to Claude Clay

You know, I've always liked the idea of the .32 H&R Magnum in a concealed-carry revolver. Its the same size as any Smith J frame but with less recoil and an extra round. It's probably just me, but six shots is my mental cut-off point for a self defense handgun.
 
Firearms for females

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Wow, I didn't realize what an active forum this was - cool.

I never thought of going to a firing range but that's an excellent idea. And yeah, just because it looks pretty in the case, does mean it's going to meet my expectations. And yes, I'll definitely go with at least a 9mm caliber. I most need if for a home defense weapon and possible to carry in my car (unconcealed). The only permit you need here in NM is if you want to carry concealed. We are a "Gold Star" carry state here. So basically something to keep me safe since I live by myself. I'm in one of the most desirable areas in ABQ, but it doesn't stop the thugs. Last week a guy was "car jacked" in broad daylight. The guy in the next bldg was leaving in his Honda and this dude came up to him, fired the gun twice in the air, and took off with the car.

Many of you have sent me some links which I will check out too. There are such a myriad of handguns out there, that it's really confusing, but I think I can take all the advice here and run with it.

Thanks, all you fine people for your suggestions:D
 
+1 for a Ruger P series. But in reality you should really go to a range for a few hours and try everything out. You never know. Thats how I figured out I liked the gun I wanted. I shot every 45 at the range.
 
Howdy, Katnip ! Welcome to this fine forum and to handgun
ownership. There will be a large gunshow in Abq on October
3rd and 4th at the state fairgrounds. You should be able to
check out many hundreds of pistolas, to see what fits you and
your pocket book. It is run by the New Mexico Collectors and
Dealers Association. You will be able to purchase from dealers
and private sellers. Good luck with your quest.:D
 
Alot of us have gone thru the "buy it and try it" methods of figuring out what we like and what we can let go, it is alot of fun but you tend to burn thru alot of moola using that approach. So the test sessions at the range rental is maybe a much better method for saving money, in the end! Everyone that buys used guns "as-is" will eventually get burned, if they say not they are probably just rationalising some junker they had, into not so bad. Buy used for starters from a really reputable gun shop. "All sales final" means they really don't care what they sell you, to get your cash. You are probably safe buying known name brands except for perhaps those that are really totally at the bottom of the econo list. So just try as much as you can for free or as close to free as you can get, it will pay off in the end. Maybe even if you go to the range and there are some nicer people shooting they might even let you try their personal guns for free if you are also nice about it and seem to know what you are doing. You know, safety and handling-wise.
 
buds has good prices, but if you can find the same gun at the same price in a local store, like academy, get it there. I dont know what the sales tax in NM is, but in texas its 8.25%. for 350 you can get the taurus 709 slim in 9mm.
 
Welcome

Katnip43,

Welcome to the forum and thank you for your service. I, too am familiar with the M-60, 38 (I was in the Air Force, we didn't use 45s) M-79 and, of course, the M-16. Since then I have more experience with 45s and 9mms and others.

Don't discount the utility of sub-lethal measures. A good size can of pepper spray is about the same cost as one box of bullets. Pepper spray on your keychain and in a holster mounted in your car or bedside are good any time, and especially while you are deciding what firearm to get.

You are following in the recent footsteps of another member, Kayla

The thread with the title
Where do I start?
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=370031

is an excellent one for you to read. You will have many of the same questions she had.

When you go to the gun show, you will meet many helpful people and, sadly, many like this one:
Adamant about a .22
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=373798

Go armed with as much information as you can learn between now and then.

I will echo the suggestion to check out the Cornered Cat site. Pax (who moderates forums in The Firing Line) is the author of that web site and is considerate and knowledgeable. Her advice is always sound and well-reasoned. I recommend the site to women and men.

I also second the advice about going to a range that has rental or "loaner" guns. If (as we do here) there are no such ranges, I would advise your first purchase be a .22 rimfire pistol. It will provide good practice and give you something to shoot at the range, where you will find plenty of guns to watch other people shooting. And if your range is anything like my local range, people will be eager to let you admire their (pride and joy) guns and perhaps even shoot a few rounds. I recommend a good affordable but accurate gun like the Ruger Single-Six or Ruger Mark III (or used, II or I). 22 Rimfire ammunition is the most affordable ammunition around (only airgun pellets are cheaper) and you will always have a use for a good 22. But make sure to get something accurate. There are other makes out there, but I like Rugers and they hold their resale value well. You can hardly go wrong with a Ruger Single Six. If you could find a Ruger SP101 in 22, grab it! It is not as accurate as the single six (because of the sights) but they don't make them any more and if you eventually get an SP101 in centerfire (327, 357 or 9mm) you have a matched pair. The Taurus 22 (Model 94 I think) is nice, but the trigger is a little heavy, and the new Smith 10-shot revolver is REALLY nice, but expensive. Colt Woodsman is very good. Etc etc. Get a 22 for practice. You won't regret it.

Private sellers should let you test-fire their guns, and checking out a revolver is not all that hard.
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57816

My first duty station was at Kirtland/Sandia. But that was decades ago. I'll bet Albuquerque has changed a lot. OK reminisce over.

Good luck, good shopping.


Lost Sheep

Remember, only believe half of what you see and one quarter of what you hear. That goes double for what you get from the internet.

Do your own independent, confirming research when ANYONE gives you new facts on the web.

Also remember, even the idiotic stuff might have a kernel of truth buried in there somewhere.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top