Need some advice on a good carry gun/caliber for my wife - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Zero007 · 05-21-2008, 06:50 PM

My wife and I recently applied for and received our Concealed Carry permits (NC) and purchased me an XD40SC as my daily carry/nightstand duty weapon. Finally got my wife to shoot it last weekend, and she hated it, too much recoil, and one of the casings flew out of the cage and hit her in the forehead. From what I've read on the forum, a 9mm or a .357 seems to be the best mix of stopping power without all the recoil of a .40 S&W. Just looking for some of your thoughts and maybe what you have all gotten for your wives/girlfriends. She doesn't want a .22 (and I have my reservations) and she is willing to carry a Service .40, but she freaked out when she fired my Sub-Compact .40, and she almost dropped it, I would prefer for that to not be her reaction in case of an emergency

setabkcin · 05-21-2008, 06:56 PM

9mm and .357 Sig are good choices. Also, a .32 would be ok. I personally prefer the 9mm over the others. Obviously a .45 ACP is out for this round.

**Se2002** · 05-21-2008, 06:56 PM

Sounds like you have a great excuss to take her to the store and buy a new gun!!!

Wheel guns with the right ammo: Always a contender and never a bad choice.

**vthompson** · 05-21-2008, 07:01 PM

I know that you will get several opinions but what works for my wife is my XD 9mm. She absolutely loves shooting it and now she told me last night that she wants her own 9mm,just like mine.
I would suggest that you try to find a gun range to where you can take your wife to and let her try different calibers, and let her figure out which one she is more comfy with.
Just my 2 cents worth. Good luck.

xdfan80 · 05-21-2008, 07:04 PM

I love my Ruger sp101 357 mag. If she doesnt like recoil, just shoot some 38 spl though it and there will be no recoil at all. Real nice gun.

Zero007 · 05-21-2008, 07:05 PM

I had actually considered the Walther P99, since the frame is a little bit smaller, it might fit easier into her hands, and be a little more comfortable

Uller_XD · 05-21-2008, 07:37 PM

I actually took a female friend to the range two days ago and she shot for the first time. She shot my Kel tec p32 first, my XD9SC second and a Walther P22 last. Of the three she said she liked the XD best. That surprised me since the Kel Tec was a smaller gun (guess it passed more kick along), and the P22 had less kick.

I'd recommend test firing an XD 9 SC t anyone though.

jtkratzer · 05-21-2008, 07:42 PM

You need to get as many guns in her hands as possible. Just because she didn't like the XD40sc doesn't mean she won't like a .45 acp. My wife enjoys shooting my XD45 compact and then 1911 but hated shooting the Kel-tec P3AT in .380. It's all about what she likes and she wants. My wife said she would prefer a semi auto because they usually have 6 or 7 rounds minimum over a revolver with 5. She wants to know that if she needs it, she can put as many holes in the attacker as necessary. My wife, at this point, also wants to carry in her purse. I prefer her to get something slim and carry IWB or belly band, but carrying something is better than nothing.

When we looked at the subcompact semi autos, she liked the G26 over the XD9sc. She said both would be too big/heavy for a purse. We're probably going to be looking at something like the Ruger LCP, a Kahr PM9, or even something smaller in .32 acp.

Get her to a range that allows you to rent guns, make sure she is wearing the right clothing so she doesn't get burned by casings, that might include a hat, and if it's an indoor range, ear plugs and muffs. You want her to be as comfortable as possible.

My wife was a bit insecure about it as she had never shot guns before we got married and wanted to go when there were as few other people around as possible.

Go at her speed and let her choose. My wife got her permit to carry, but has yet to pick a gun out for herself. The ball is in her court.

Archer1945 · 05-21-2008, 08:21 PM

Don't even think of buying what you think she should have. Take her to a range that rents guns and let her try as many as she wants. If she does not pick her own gun more than likely she will stop carrying it after awhile.

bigjimcalhoun · 05-21-2008, 08:38 PM

I bought my wife a Taurus 605b small revolver. She likes it. She took the CCW class, and now she is taking the level 2 class this weekend.

05-21-2008, 06:50 PM	#1
Zero007 XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 8	Need some advice on a good carry gun/caliber for my wife My wife and I recently applied for and received our Concealed Carry permits (NC) and purchased me an XD40SC as my daily carry/nightstand duty weapon. Finally got my wife to shoot it last weekend, and she hated it, too much recoil, and one of the casings flew out of the cage and hit her in the forehead. From what I've read on the forum, a 9mm or a .357 seems to be the best mix of stopping power without all the recoil of a .40 S&W. Just looking for some of your thoughts and maybe what you have all gotten for your wives/girlfriends. She doesn't want a .22 (and I have my reservations) and she is willing to carry a Service .40, but she freaked out when she fired my Sub-Compact .40, and she almost dropped it, I would prefer for that to not be her reaction in case of an emergency __________________ I am a Democrat because greed and hate just don't work anymore. My wife's XD is bigger than my XD..... XD9 Service vs. XD40 Sub-Compact

05-21-2008, 06:56 PM	#2
setabkcin XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Venus Posts: 519	9mm and .357 Sig are good choices. Also, a .32 would be ok. I personally prefer the 9mm over the others. Obviously a .45 ACP is out for this round. __________________ NBatesDesign.com

05-21-2008, 06:56 PM	#3
Se2002 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: AL Posts: 1,491 Blog Entries: 1	Sounds like you have a great excuss to take her to the store and buy a new gun!!! Wheel guns with the right ammo: Always a contender and never a bad choice. __________________ If the prospect of having your thumb hit by the bolt is unacceptable do not attempt to load your Garand.

05-21-2008, 07:01 PM	#4
vthompson XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: West Virginia Posts: 209	Carry gun for wife I know that you will get several opinions but what works for my wife is my XD 9mm. She absolutely loves shooting it and now she told me last night that she wants her own 9mm,just like mine. I would suggest that you try to find a gun range to where you can take your wife to and let her try different calibers, and let her figure out which one she is more comfy with. Just my 2 cents worth. Good luck. __________________ The RIGHT of the people to keep and bear arms,SHALL NOT be INFRINGED. USCCA Member NRA Member The 2nd. Amendment says that I dont have to apologize for carrying my weapon. WVCDL Member My concealed carry permit is the 2nd. Amendment

05-21-2008, 07:04 PM	#5
xdfan80 XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,851	I love my Ruger sp101 357 mag. If she doesnt like recoil, just shoot some 38 spl though it and there will be no recoil at all. Real nice gun. __________________ Ruger Sp-101 .357 magnum SA XD Tactical .45 acp Mossberg 500 12 gauge pump Marlin 25N bolt action .22 rifle

05-21-2008, 07:05 PM	#6
Zero007 XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 8	I had actually considered the Walther P99, since the frame is a little bit smaller, it might fit easier into her hands, and be a little more comfortable __________________ I am a Democrat because greed and hate just don't work anymore. My wife's XD is bigger than my XD..... XD9 Service vs. XD40 Sub-Compact

05-21-2008, 07:37 PM	#7
Uller_XD XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Vermilion, Ohio Posts: 15	New initiate I actually took a female friend to the range two days ago and she shot for the first time. She shot my Kel tec p32 first, my XD9SC second and a Walther P22 last. Of the three she said she liked the XD best. That surprised me since the Kel Tec was a smaller gun (guess it passed more kick along), and the P22 had less kick. I'd recommend test firing an XD 9 SC t anyone though. __________________ XD 9 SC CZ-52 (7.62x25 Tokarev) Kel Tec P 32 (for mice?) AK-47 (for days when a handgun "JUST WON'T DO.")

05-21-2008, 07:42 PM	#8
jtkratzer XDTalk 15K Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lancaster Co., PA Posts: 17,913	You need to get as many guns in her hands as possible. Just because she didn't like the XD40sc doesn't mean she won't like a .45 acp. My wife enjoys shooting my XD45 compact and then 1911 but hated shooting the Kel-tec P3AT in .380. It's all about what she likes and she wants. My wife said she would prefer a semi auto because they usually have 6 or 7 rounds minimum over a revolver with 5. She wants to know that if she needs it, she can put as many holes in the attacker as necessary. My wife, at this point, also wants to carry in her purse. I prefer her to get something slim and carry IWB or belly band, but carrying something is better than nothing. When we looked at the subcompact semi autos, she liked the G26 over the XD9sc. She said both would be too big/heavy for a purse. We're probably going to be looking at something like the Ruger LCP, a Kahr PM9, or even something smaller in .32 acp. Get her to a range that allows you to rent guns, make sure she is wearing the right clothing so she doesn't get burned by casings, that might include a hat, and if it's an indoor range, ear plugs and muffs. You want her to be as comfortable as possible. My wife was a bit insecure about it as she had never shot guns before we got married and wanted to go when there were as few other people around as possible. Go at her speed and let her choose. My wife got her permit to carry, but has yet to pick a gun out for herself. The ball is in her court. __________________ "The Marines will never disappoint the expectations of of their country - never!" - Capt. C. W. Morgan, US Navy "I have just returned from visiting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world." - Gen. Douglas MacArthur, US Army The Gun Lounge Pennyslvania Firearms Owners Association Hockey Forum

05-21-2008, 08:21 PM	#9
Archer1945 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Eastern MO Posts: 355	Don't even think of buying what you think she should have. Take her to a range that rents guns and let her try as many as she wants. If she does not pick her own gun more than likely she will stop carrying it after awhile.

05-21-2008, 08:38 PM	#10
bigjimcalhoun XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Castle Rock, Colorado Posts: 254	I bought my wife a Taurus 605b small revolver. She likes it. She took the CCW class, and now she is taking the level 2 class this weekend.

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