wife wants a 9mm

380 has less recoil. Glocks DO have a safety - of sorts - it is the trigger mechanism. I prefer that, or the HK P7 style of "point and shoot" (like the old camera ads); it's just one less thing to worry or think about in a stress-filled moment. That said, thee are a lot of polymer guns that do come with a lot of extraneous safety devices.
 
I had a LCR 357 and if your wife can handle that with 357, I doubt the recoil of a 9mm is going to bother her. I'm in your age bracket as well and for me, the LCR with 357 pounded my hands too much so I eventually traded it off on a Smith Model 36 snub and just used 38 spl. (I really didn't care that much for my LCR).

Have her rent and try different models and see what she likes. I currently switch off the 36 to my Shield 9mm and the Shield is a nice carry and fun to shoot. It does have stiff racking but it all boils down to learning how to rack it the easiest way. I'm getting ready to move up to 45 cap but I can highly recommend the Shield and there are other brands out there equally as good. One thing that might dictate the size of what she ends up with will be how she is going to carry?
When I was looking for a single stack 9mm, I also looked at the Glock 43 and I liked it a lot but availability at the time was a long wait. I also looked at the Springfield single stack 9mm - I believe it was the XD? - a single stack with a grip safety on it. It too felt good in the hand.

Keep the wife happy with what works for HER and not what YOU would like - it will be "her" gun . . . . and if she likes it, she'll keep her hands off of your Glock!
 
.380 has a softer recoil.

With that softer recoil, is a round that you need to choose your ammo with very wisely. As it is otherwise anemic.


9mm all the way.
 
Try the Walther CCP. One of the design requirements of that gun was the the slide be easy to operate. It's not super duper light either, which will help with controllability.
 
Yeah, I mentioned Glock mostly for weight reasons. A M&Pc is smaller than the 19, but weight is similar.

So going with a smaller pistol than a 19 is no guarantee that the pistol is lighter.

I have heard more than once that between a M&P shield and a 43, the slightly heavier and touch larger shield is more comfortable to shoot. The shield is about 4oz lighter than a 19.

The 42 is chambered in a weaker 380 round, but the small size makes it shoot similar to a 43 in 9mm.


If weight really is a concern, the 26 may be the lightest and smallest that is still comfortable for most people to shoot.

If recoil is less of a concern, then a shield or 43 may be good options to get small and light carry. (There are other pistols in this size and weight range as well, the Walther PPS gets praise as well)

Is you 19 a gen 3 or 4? As a gen 4 is smaller in the hand, and may feel better for her than a gen 3.

As far as a safety... I find that teaching how a firearm works mechanically, goes a long way toward easing apprehension.

If you are familiar with how a glock functions mechanically, and how the parts fit and work together, it's easy to show how it's basically physically impossible for the gun to fire unless the trigger is pulled. After that, safety lies with the user, as it always does. A user can forget to engage the safety or bump the safety off, just as they can misplace a trigger finger.
 
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9 mm snappy recoil LOL. Guess you would not like the 40/45 shields if you think a 9 is snappy.

Hard to rack Is easy yo over come by using the PUSH method IE hold slide with weak hand and push gun with strong hand
Makes it relatively easy. My neighbors MOM ( a small lady like110 lb) was struggling to rack her 9 til I explained it to her now she has no trouble.

I recommend a shield in 9 for sure and if "recoil" is a concern the ported version I shot was noticeably less. A gentleman had one at the range and after we discussed shields a little he let me run a mag thru it. Nice gun.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I would definitely give a good look at the Walthers. They are all on the smaller side but not too small. The ccp, is very easy to rack and while light, doesn't feel too small. It's actually comfortable for me and I have massive hands. PPS is a great gun all around. The ppk in .380 is a little on the heavy side and weighs almost the same as a Glock 19, but fully loaded will be a bit lighter than the Glock.

All of the above are great suggestions too.
 
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After just buying a Remington R51, but not yet getting a chance to take it out for a shake down I would say at least consider looking at one. Maybe even be able to find one at a rental range to give it a try. Which should be part of your process regardless of what gun you choose.
Others that ha e been .entioned are good candidates as well. The Ruger LC series, Kahr CM9, or if you want to spend the coin on unnecessary frills the PM model. For familiarity because you already have, and enjoy a Glock, the G43 would certainly be zomething to look at. If a bit more confidence in avoiding a ND is needed, the Springfield XDS9 is functionally quite similar to your Glock with the added security of a grip safety.
Which ever, the important thing is that it will be her choice. Not yours, not ours, but hers.:D
 
I have a Kahr CT9 that I like a lot. It's a slender, 'semi compact' 9mm with a single stack magazine.
Might be worth a look.
There are several .380 handguns I might consider too. The Bersa Thunder comes to mind. The .380 might not be the most robust cartridge, but no one have ever taken a shot from a .380 and asked for seconds.
 
Based on you wanting a pistol with a manual safety and lighter in weight than the Glock 19, I would say the Smith & Wesson Shield in 9mm would be perfect. I recommend you rent one at the range and let her try it out. If she has any trouble racking the slide, she can pull back on the slide with one hand and push on the grip at the same time with the other hand and that should help out a lot.

what is the difference between a 9mm and a 380 in weight and recoil? This will probably be the major factor.
Click to expand...

I would say the recoil really depends on the caliber and size of the pistol.

I find that the Smith & Wesson Shield in 9mm is more comfortable to shoot due to the pistols heavier weight than a pocket .380 pistol such as the Ruger LCP.

Another good option if you decide to go with a .380 would be a Sig P238, easiest pistol to rack I have found and it has a manual safety.
 
I have a Ruger LCP .380 As someone else here called it, a Summer Carry. Range time, after 8 shots, my hand is starting to hurt. Lot of kick in a thin design. And on top of that, the so called sights are useless.
 
A real good way to let your wife try out and actually shoot a number of guns is to find a gun range that hosts a "Women on Target" event. The range provides guns and ammo and there are instructors, men and women, to help with safety and shooting stance and the basics. The club I belong to holds these events monthly and they are sponsored by the NRA. You don't have to join the range or club and the cost is minimal-about $20 for the entire day. A lot of the women who attend our events end up buying a gun on the way home. They write down makes and models and the caliber and when they find "the gun" the stop at the gun store on their way home.
 
We are very pleased with the comments and suggestions and YES, my wife
WILL GO to our range and rent 5 of the revolvers including the
1- Walther
2- Smith Shield
3- Sig
4- Kahr
5-Glock- even though it dosen't have the traditional safety once she understands
how it works???? I know I said no Glocks but we'll try.
This range we go to actually has more women than men shooting and offers 2-3 times during the week when it's strictly ladies night or day. She can handle the LCR 357 with a normal 38 special P+ ammo in it even though it bothers her hands.
But, her retort to this is when she has to shoot, a little discomfort is not in the equation. She's a Jersey girl and this particular Jersey girl was driving a black 5 speed turbo T-Bird when we first me 29 years ago. That impressed the daylights out of me along with a zillion other things. "WE ZINGED".
 
Any other suggestions? We're on a roll here and she is very methodical
and very patient(especially with me). Please keep this thread going.

Anyone have any experiences with Berettas?
 
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Beretta? There you go, sounds like a 92 even the "compact" which it really isn't, might be to big but how about a Cheetah? Yes, I know you said 9mm but man the Cheetah is worth going .380. Very nice guns. As for the Storms? Don't know, haven't messed with one.
 
I think you absolutely need to get to a range that rents guns and let her try the:
Glock 26. (The similarities between your 19 and a 26 would be advantageous)
Glock 43 (as mentioned above smaller and lighter than the 26, but more recoil)
Glock 42 (if the recoil from the 43 is too much)
New Gen2 Remington R51 (seems like they got it right in the Gen 2 - supposed to be a great, soft shooting easy to handle pistol)

But you have to be VERY carefull, she may decide she wants more than one.
 
My wife picked a Taurus PT111 G2. She is not a big lady and handles the recoil very well. It shoots nice and is very accurate. So much so that I have considered adding one to my collection.
 
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