A home defense weapon for my wife.

[Bree]

XD's are large guns. Try a Ruger SP-101, a Ladysmith or a KelTec P3AT. She might like those better.

[Ncrotti1]

I got my wife a used S&W 38 revolver and it was the first handgun she shot and she loves it and now can't wait to go to the range. Just make sure you support her and don't laugh when she makes a small mistake. My wife is left handed so loading the right handed 38 is kind of awkard for her but she is getting better at it and I plan to buy her a lefty Charter Arms 38 she doesn't like the blowback of a semi auto.

[oldie]

She ought to check out tis link: http://corneredcat.com/
I found this site quite informative and it is especially good for women as it is hosted by a woman.

[FrankW438]

Originally Posted by AZRaptor

If it's for home defense and not going to be carried concealed I would suggest a XD9 tactical. It isn't much heavier than a service size, but the longer barrel should help reduce some of the flip without creating the ball of fire the ported model would spit out.

+1

The smaller grip size will help her, too. My wife couldn't hit $*!@ with my Glock 22, even using the M6 with the laser on. I popped the laser onto a XD40Tac and she was putting nice small groups into the targets. She said the grip felt much better. We finally settled on an XD9 because of recoil considerations. Today (hopefully) I will pick it up from Springfield Armory Custom Shop. Had a combat trigger job, over-travel stop, and TFOs installed. Should be a sweeeet gun!

-- Frank

[samman23]

If I were you,I would not get too caught up with what type of gun yet.

I would take her to a range with a good set of rental guns. Start with a Ruger .22 with fixed sights(some range guns with adjustable sights are way off) and try out lots of guns after that. Make lots of trips. Even take a whole month or more. There's no rush. You can go over gun safety at home. Then clean your own gun when you get back from the range. It's not a bad date(as long as it's not your only dates).

Revolvers are good with lady's who have a hard time with racking a slide but it sounds like your girl has some muscles so you don't have to worry about that. Let her pick out her own gun. She needs to be really comfortable with it.

[ecooper]

I have the Px4 in 9mm and the XD45compact. My wife doesn't like the 45, but loves the 9mm. She also has shot the XD9mm. My wife was in the same situation as your wife. I think the 9 would be just fine. But, yes, don't let her first experience with a gun be the 45. It's scary enough the first time, don't make it any more scary than you have to. In fact, maybe you should let her shoot a 22 to get used to it... just a thought.

[taptap]

thanks for all the input!

[Breadfan]

You could also get her a Walther PPK in .380.
Small and perfect for woman's hand and easily concieavable.

[busker]

Originally Posted by taptap

I have the .45 compact for ccw. My wife wants a home defense gun to keep in the nightstand (quickbox safe). She is small and light weight with ZERO handgunning experience (yes professional instruction is manditory). I don't want to scare her off the first day on the range with the .45, so I am thinking about the ported 9mm. Does anyone have this gun? If so how does it compare to the non ported model?

Thanks

My wife has a wheel gun 38 S&W J frame with a grip laser.
I tried an auto but she found it intimidating - The revolver she just picks up & aims no jams - nothing to worry about.

Took her to the club & made her shoot it till she decided it was not a cutsie thing and this was serious business.
she now is very proficient -- after shooting at a circle to get familiar with the gun -- Had her shooting at IDPA targets ,kneeling , around corners - strong hand , Left hand( weak hand for her) and other awkward ways one might encounter. I shoot every week but she only goes once a month and this seems to keep her sharp.
Home defense guns seem to never get the clips rotated and after they set there seems to be a feeding problem .

[Bill in San Jose]

If you're planning to get her professional training/ a course, why not do that before you purchase her weapon, and then based on what she learns, and then trying some guns herself, let her make the decision of what could possibly save her life?

On the other side, you don't have risk picking something, not having her like it later, and hearing "yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, you never listen to me, you're not sensitive, yada, yada, yada, yada!"