Looks like some of you guys are ankle deep in brass. Maybe that isn't all that is ankle deep.
Seriously, the most reliable handguns I have ever owned were Smith and Wesson revolvers. I had a pair of Power Customs on K-frames that went well over 70,000 rounds each before I sold them and got new ones. That's a lot of shooting. There were no failures that I can recall and that speaks well of the ammunition as well as the guns.
If I wanted to get a small handgun for a lady based on reliability it would be a G26 in an auto or a J-frame Smith in a revolver. In the medium sized class I suppose a K-frame Smith or the G23.
Other guns well do just as well, but the ones I mentioned are readily available and meet your criteria. Whatever you do, stay away from the Kimbers. Just kidding RikWriter.
Seriously, the most reliable handguns I have ever owned were Smith and Wesson revolvers. I had a pair of Power Customs on K-frames that went well over 70,000 rounds each before I sold them and got new ones. That's a lot of shooting. There were no failures that I can recall and that speaks well of the ammunition as well as the guns.
If I wanted to get a small handgun for a lady based on reliability it would be a G26 in an auto or a J-frame Smith in a revolver. In the medium sized class I suppose a K-frame Smith or the G23.
Other guns well do just as well, but the ones I mentioned are readily available and meet your criteria. Whatever you do, stay away from the Kimbers. Just kidding RikWriter.