What auto-pistol should I get my wife?

Due to the locking system on the 92 its very easy to pull back the slide. My wife has problems getting the slide back on most other autos. The tauras is also a nice easy to cock auto and has a better saftey lever position. :) :)Both are very easy on the hand in recoil. I have always been a 1911 fan but prefer the 92 now,just seems a better system and feels better to me now. :) :)very rapid recovery for the next shoot and they do shoot well.
 
I too am going to recomend a CZ-75. the grip is just so comfortable and has a natural pointability. Factory standard capacity mags are still avalible for $50 or less. They are very well made and highly accurate. If she doesn't like the idea if having to drop the hammer on a live round by hand, get a CZ-75BD which is the model with a decocker. Considering you can get one with a 10 rd and a 15 rd mag, with nightsights for $339 from Empirearms.com
Dennis Kroh is the owner/operator, and everything I have heard about him is positive. I ordered two factory 15rd mags from him for $40 each, which were shipped out the same day I ordered.
 
I think that Mike H. and B. Shipley have it right.

Are you sure that she wants a gun, or do you want her to have a gun? A question that I had to graple with a short time ago.
 
Take a HARD look at the Ruger KP95DC. It meets all your criteria.

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BOYCOTT SMITH AND WESSON!!!
Defend the Constitution from the foreign threat!!!!

Yeah, I got a permit to carry,it's called the friggin Constitution.---Ted Nugent

"Man killing is nasty business"---Finn Aggard
 
Thanks for all the great posts! Lets clear up a few things about my wife's new pistol purchase...

1. She does want a new gun; she just doesnt like the shopping and research for it. (kinda like me with clothes! ;] )

2. She will DEFINATELY spend an hour at a gun store handling my "short-list" after I get there.

3. In our personal division of labor in the marriage, she expects *me* to do all the research and to solve whatever perceived needs there are in personal protection.

4. Her experience to date includes:
.357mag Ruger Blackhawk
.22mag Ruger single six
.40cal Ruger P94DS
.380auto Sig P230 stainless (her purse gun)
.45ACP USP45 full-size

5. In her words: "I want a more powerful automatic with more than 10 rounds that shoots as nice as the USP45 but doesnt jolt my whole body down to my toes when I shoot it. And no, I DONT want to go out and listen to the idiots at the gun store try to sell me what they happen to have a lot of in stock..."

(note: She had a bad experience with a couple of our Southern California gun store clerks and is a little prejudiced)

So there you have it. This gun will be used by her when camping mainly and as a home defense weapon. If she wants something compact and small, she takes the Sig. So far, we use both the Sig and the USP when camping right now, but she would feel more comfortable with a more powerful round and more capacity. Hence the search.

Any other concepts?

Oh! On the issue of full-size vs compact... I think its more an issue of capacity and recoil control. If the weapon has a large capacity magazine and great recoil control then she could care less if its officially "full-size" or officially "compact".

Thanks again!

J.T.
 
Greetings again J.T.- After reading your last
post, and giving careful thought to your wife's previous handgun experience's; I
think the Sig-Sauer P228 would suit her
just fine!!! :D And yes, they can still
be found with high capacity magazines.
Last year, I loaned my own P228 to a
female co-worker who had never shot a
handgun in her life. Needless, to say
she was so impressed with this firearm
that she wanted me to give the darn
thing too her :) Likewise, that didn't
happen then; and it ain't going to
happen now. :( Being a trainee, I coaxed
her into an all time favorite revolver;
the S&W Model 10 .38 Special. :eek: But
your wife has ton's of experience, as
compared to my partner. :D Let us know
what she decide's on?

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
If I may say, I have the Taurus 92 and I like it very much, it has all the features of the above mentioned. I got mine for $325 which was used but it had been fired very few times and it looked like new on the outside. We was set up at a gunshow this past weekend and that was one of the guns we had out on the table to demonstrate the holster we sell, and by vote there was several ladies that came by and said that is what they had and it was their favorite gun and the men was in the same vote, so I would say either the Taurus 92 or the Beretta 92. The Taurus has a excellent warranty (lifetime). Good luck.

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WHEN IT COMES TO FRIENDS THE SKY IS NOT THE LIMIT
 
I would have to suggest the CZ75 in 9mm, the CZ75 Compact in 9mm, or the CZ97 in .45.

The CZ guns offer a very comfortable, quality gun with good ergonomics at a great price. She can carry DA/SA or SA, Cocked and locked and you won't beat the price/quality ratio.

All of the CZs I have shot have had excellent triggers right out of the box as well. The only downside I can think of is that the CZ97 is a big gun with a double-stack/tapered 10rd .45 magazine.

It should definitely make the short list for evaluation.
 
My wife had a .38 s&w, hammerless, snubbie. Then she shot my 92FS and we sold the smith. Thank God! She loves the Beretta because:

1. The kick is minimal and very manageable

2. It's very accurate. (at 15 yards she can put all 15 in a 3x5 index card)

3. It takes 15+1 capacity

4. The controls are easy to operate

Is your wife wanting this for concealed carry? The 92FS is a big gun for carry even in a purse or handbag. However, if that is not important then the 92 would be my vote due to personal experience.

The Beretta falls in your price range even with extra hi cap mags. You can still find original Beretta 15 round mags for around $ 70-80 and aftermarket brands at around $ 30.
 
Why Hi-Caps in Kalifornia?

Well, I'll tell ya...

First off, I disagree with the law. I... [edited severely], its that simple.

Second off, this is not a CCW firearm. It is a home defense firearm and a remote camping firearm. If this gun is ever used in self defense it will be in our own home or in a remote area far from law-enforcement. Under those two conditions I really... [edited severely] ...an arbitrary number.

Thirdly,
I own other pistols with pre-ban (pre-Kali ban) Hi Caps and so... [edited severely] ...I guarantee you I can produce a cash receipt
for any hi-caps in my collection prior to the statutory *infringment* upon my rights.

All in all, there is NO correlation between living in Kali and requireing or not requiring Hi Caps. The decision is being made STRICTLY on the value of the weapon for self defense. In *this* case, she/I/we want High Capacity magazines.

I hope that explains it.

J.T.

NOTE: time to cover my butt here....
I am in NO WAY advocating that anyone [edited] on this list break the law. [edited severely] ...the consequences for breaking the law in such a manner could include the loss of our "priveledge" to bear arms in the State of California and we are WELL AWARE of that. Some people... [edited severely] Again, I DO NOT advocate breaking the law for any person reading this post.



[This message has been edited by J.T.King (edited June 19, 2000).]
 
Ok, I want to do a synopsis and see if I have got everything...

Recommended pistols that fit our criteria (both stated and unstated):

Sig P228
Sig P226
Sig P229
Beretta 92f
HK USP9c
CZ75BD

Sigs:
Most people seemed to think that the P228 would be the best choice. Why? Why not the 226 or the 229? Not that I disagree, I have only fired the P220 and P239 so I have no basis of comparison.

Beretta 92f:
My father owns one. I should have my wife shoot that and see what she thinks. He seems to have a fair number of problems with little tiny springs breaking or shooting off into space when he cleans it though... Not sure why, he does shoot it a lot as he is a NV CCW holder.

HK USP9c:
Noone recommended the fullsize. Any reason why? I would think that since it has the double-spring recoil reduction system instead of the plastic bushing that it would have better recoil control. And as a polymer gun, while being a little bulky, it certainly doesnt weigh a ton. Any opinions?


CZ75BD:
How easy are the ones with decocking levers to find? I have never shot one of these. How durable are they in the dirty, gritty environment of remote camping and jeeping?

Thanks for all the help guys! I am almost there....

J.T.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>

Thanks for all the help guys! I am almost there....

[/B][/quote]


Well, if what I've seen is any indication, you're not even close. (I'm grinning as I write this.)

The only way to get something that your wife will really shoot and enjoy, is to make her an active party in the process.

Go where you can rent some guns and let her try different kinds. Too many men, with the best of intentions, pick guns that women just aren't comfortable with. Let HER tell you what works best, and then help her by getting the best quality weapon that fits her criteria.

How the gun fits her hand and how well she can shoot it may outweigh all of the other variables you've mentioned.

You might end up with one of the guns listed in your "final list." But you might be surprised...
 
The CZ-75BD is a combat pistol and is very sturdy. Based on John Browning's Hi-Power pistol design. Also, not many places for dirt to get in. I have one and I absolutely love it. Walked in and saw it at a local gunshop. I expect it to fire thousands and thousands of rounds.

Now, boys, it's a bad bad idea to post about breaking the law, or committing perjury. If I was your lawyer, I would advise you to unpost those in a hurry. Your future may be at stake. Many times, what was funny yesterday isn't so funny tomorrow, for various and unpredictable reasons.
 
After extensive comparison, my daughter choose the 228. The 229 is slightly heavier and very slightly wider, enough so to make a difference for her. (though in my opinion the new slide of the 229 is worth it). She tried the 226 and it didn't fit her quite as nicely, to big. She often outshoots us all (when we are using "carry guns" not "target" guns) with her 228, and the rest of us are pretty good shots. I have shot many 10 shot 15 yard groups at one inch with that 228. And the double and single action on that gun are so smooth after a trigger job, and the felt recoil so nice after installation of a Harrit recoil reducer, that it is just a dream to shoot.

Hey, she is my daughter, and wanted me to give her her first gun, it had to be the best.
 
Walt,

You're right about us guys getting something for our wives. About like the guy who got his girlfriend a pocket knife for her birthday and told her that if she didn't like that he would take it.

As posted above, my wife loves the 92FS. She HATES my P220, tolerates the Hi-Power, refuses to shoot the Total Titanium .45LC, agrees at times to shoot the Mark II .22 and enjoys the Vaquero .45LC. Go figure!

After shooting them all she choose the 92FS and has been in love ever since.

No woman will be satisfied with what we choose unless she shoots it herself and likes it. Even though she doesn't want to get involved, she needs to be or she'll spend $ 1,000 on a piece of metal. Which I'm sure you'll put to use.
 
I went with a friend a couple of months ago to help him pick out his first gun. He ended up taking a RugerP95Dc home with him. When I went to the range and shot this piece with him I was very pleasantly surprised. The gun was very accuracte(not just "O.K for personal defense" accurate). Little felt recoil due to the size and all steel construction. The first shot D.A. was better than most I've shot, and it was more reliable
out of the box than any of the higher priced Kimbers I've owned in the past. I think that my surprise was due to a certain amount of snobbery I had bought into concerning less expensive firearms. At any rate I would suggest this gun for your consideration.
Good Shooting.
Daddycat

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"A rigid investment in flexability is but another closed system of thinking"
 
Bartholomew:
My wife refuses to own a DA/SA without one. If you look the list of pistols that she has shot lately, everyone of the auto's has a decocker. Its just a safety thing.

Raymond3:
That setup sounds interesting. I am not really aware of everything that you did. Could you go over it one more time a little slower and with more detail? Like, how much did you pay for having each thing done/added and what difference did it make?

Also... whats the difference between a P228 and a P239? Wahts the difference between the slides on the P229 and the P228? you know... I should post these questions seperately...

J.T.
 
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