What's a good handgun for a young woman?

Buying a new gun is like buying a new pair of shoes to a woman...but once you find the right pair (gun+ammunition) you stick with it. Good luck this can be an adventure!
 
380 isn't a requirement for a woman... but he did say they want to be able to use it at the range, home defense AND concealed carry...

Then he threw one extra requirement... not too expensive. He claims Glocks are too expensive for him.

Unfortunately the cheaper small pistols are not really considered "durable" for lots of range use... and any smaller pistols tend to recoil more than others of similar caliber.

Any pistol she finds comfortable and can shoot well and fulfills her required uses, is the one for her... regardless of the caliber it shoots.

My personal choice is a LC9... but it might not be the best choice for an inexperienced shooter or one recoil sensitive.
 
To my way of thinking, given reasonable amounts of practice, ammo expenditures wil exceed the purchase price of most pistols within a year or two.

That being the case, down the road a .380 becomes significantly more expensive than a 9mm, based on ammo cost.
 
A lot of posters here get the vapors whenever you discuss women and guns. It is a free country, and if the husband, or wife, is really into firearms, there is nothing wrong with some suggestions which may be right or wrong. Letting a novice with little to no interest in spending serious range time pick something will probably have the same "success" level as an experienced opinion. I never see the same reaction when talking about sons and daughters and fathers. Regardless, friend, wife, uncle, aunt, mother, daughter, parent, son, whatever, you have to start somewhere. Try something and if it's not right get something else. Unless someone is going to put in significant range time, nothing is better/safer than a double action revolver. Many people don't have a great interest in spending the time to operate a 1911, but want something. The post above about the cosmic union between the female officer and the customized 1911 occurred after the woman had an opportunity to shoot the "wrong" gun. If that same person had zero experience, and had nothing to compare the 1911 to, she may not have appreciated the customized 1911 as her soul-mate. Many of the Glock users migrated from another "platform" and vice versa. So, again, start with something. Not everyone is going to spend hour after hour at the range. Get the four rules memorized and get something and take it from there. Many people, even "experts" will start with something and "evolve" to something else. Nothing wrong with starting with a .38 or .380 or whatever, just get started and the rest will work itself out. Let's not get our panties in a twist.
 
Many good answers here.
I believe the idea of getter her a few good books on the subject and some time at the firing line is the best advice I have read so far.
Also I believe a good 22 auto or revolver is in order as a first gun so she can learn the correct way to handle a gun and learn to shoot WELL!
(Ammo is accurate and cheap)

Now-- when she’s to a point that shooting is fun for her and when she is proficient, go to a larger caliber.

She can sell the 22 if she likes, but in most cases she won’t I am a very good shot with a handgun and I love my 44s and my 45s, but I still shoot a LOT of 22 ammo myself. A 22 is a great tool to learn with, and it’s not exactly worthless if you needed to shoot an attacker. Not the best, but surly a lot better than no gun at all, and a lady who owns a good 22 handgun and has fired about 10,000 rounds through it is probably going to hit what she’s shooting at, with that 22 or with most other handguns too.
 
Try out any .38 snubbie. if that doesnt work for some reason try a spring field emp in 9mm. i wouldnt start her on a 40 if shes inexperienced. now if those dont work if you can find one try a makarov. some still make em in i believe even 9mm now but i know some still make 9x18
 
In my case, I have a reasonable assortment of handguns, and am happy to take friends out to try different types.

I typically start newbies on my S&W 18 .22LR, then move up to .38s from my S&W 13-3.

If they are more interested in autos, then it is the Kadet .22LR conversion kit on one of my CZs, followed by the same pistol in 9mm.

I have larger and smaller autos and revolvers in service and hunting calibers. Depending on how the newbie is doing, and how froggie they are feeling, we may try any number of these.

Odds are, most people looking to get a new person into shooting know somebody like me, who has a variety of guns, a willingness to help, and some experience in training new shooters. Make use of those people.

If you don't know anybody like that, find a range that rents guns. Possibly, hire an instructor. (For people in some NE states, this may require a drive to VT, NH, or PA....)

As mentioned by a few of us, reading corneredcat.com is a good starting point.

But I would not just go to a store and arbitrarily buy something. That might work, but could very easily just be an expensive mistake.
 
"But I would not just go to a store and arbitrarily buy something." No one should, but it would be better than nothing if you have the four rules burned into your mind. The guy behind the counter, (or your husband, heaven forbid), at the LGS might hit the nail on the head, but at least it's a start.
 
jmortimer, the only reason I would go that route would be if I had a known, imminent threat. In such a case (woman with stalker, for example), yes, have something simple - but get training ASAP.

In such an extreme case, I would go the 3" round butt K-frame or SP101 with .38s route, for simplicity of operation and shooting characteristics.

In non-emergency cases, spending a little time up front pays dividends.
 
Well if it was me I would buy her a Colt 1911 and if she doesn't like it I'd buy her a Kimber Solo CDG and on and on until you find one she likes:D
 
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