Recommendation for women

[Arnisandyz]

I would say stay with the XD family and get her an XD9SC, she already has some familarity with your service XD. The slightly smaller dimensions might fit her better and the heavy slide (compared to a kahr) might help control some of the recoil. Is this something that she going to carry with her (does she have a CCW) or for home defense? I thought I wouldn't like revovers, but i tried a friends (a girl) Taurus 38 special and it was better than I expected. She had some trouble though staying on target when firing it double action as it had a very heavy and long trigger. Single action she was fine, but i'm concerned during a stressful situation its one more thing to think about.

[RicochetJim]

My wife is on the small side (5 foot 2, eyes of blue). I got her out to the range a couple of times to try a few guns. She shot a .38 revolver, my XD-9 subcompact, and a Bersa Thunder .380. We had the targets up at 7 yards. She did fairly well with all three. She performed best with the Bersa .380 and that was her favorite of the three. It fit her hands well and she seemed more confident with it. I think I have seen them listed NIB for $279.

[invssgt]

I'll go with the snub-nose revolver votes here. You have to plan for the eventuality that the gun may be used during a struggle, and as long as the cylinder isnt tied up, a snub is going to shoot five times as long as the trigger gets yanked. A lot of girls have a little trouble clearing autos and the XD is actually worse than most in this regard, because you have to grip it just right or you ain't moving that slide anywhere.

The Ruger Sp-101 is the most comfortable snub I, or my wife, have ever fired. Suggest you see if you can find your Missus one of these to try out.

[qballwill]

+1 on letting her pick her own gun, but keep in mind that some people think that the smaller the frame, the less kick it will have. NOT TRUE. she will probably be able to control a medium sized hangun better than a small.

[Gadget]

LOL! Saw the thread title and thought someone was asking for opinions on women.

This has got to be one of the most enjoyable forums I visit.

[Matt`G]

Originally Posted by orc4hire

I'd second the above recommendations that she look at a snubbie revolver (but NOT an airweight; I cannot emphasize strongly enough that an airweight revolver is a very poor choice for most novice shooters), and also the Sig P230/232. Only a .380, not cheap, but it's light, trim, and a sweet shooter. (We lucked out on my wife's 230; we got a good price on one so lightly used that the second magazine had never even been taken out of the styrofoam case.)

When I took my CPL class my buddy and his fiance attended with me. She took a liking to the Sig P232 that one of the instructors had available. By the end of the day, she was out-shooting most of us in the class! Not fair, I tell ya...

[sjp2452]

My wife has a Sig P232 and LOVES it--it's her first gun. A .380 would be a great caliber--small enough for most women to handle comfortably, and will get the job done in a pinch with the right load. The P232 is a wonderfully reliable (and fun) gun--highest recommendation here. The DA trigger is long and heavy, but in SA it's short & crisp. It has a decocker, and is drop safe.

I have no experience with the Glock 28, but it's a subcompact chambered in .380. I'd be interested to shoot one of those if I ever got the chance.

[kabob983]

Originally Posted by sjp2452

I have no experience with the Glock 28, but it's a subcompact chambered in .380. I'd be interested to shoot one of those if I ever got the chance.

That's because they don't import it to America. You'd have a really tough time getting your hands on one...

[Jacob Staff]

if she is completely new, I suggest the first time out, rent an semi-auto .22. It is easier to learn on because there is less noise and recoil, but you get the general idea of how guns operate. Since you are on a "fast tract", next trip move up to a better defencive caliber.

She may also want to where gloves. My wife weres a thin pair of Isotoner (sp.) gloves and it helps her hand from hurting as much.

[Arnisandyz]

Without trying to start any caliber wars...in the revolver end, i'll think out of the box and say a 9mm snubnose like the Taurus 905 series. Recoil will be similar (maybe even lighter) than 38 special and ballistics should be comparable. You'll then be able to use the same ammo stock as your XD and ammo will be cheaper.

If I had to choose a small 380 and I had the funds I'd get the Kahr PM9. My guess is this gun is putting a dent in the pocket pistol 380 market. Not much bigger than a 380, you could use milder defensive ammo like WWB- HPs which would still be better than any 380 loading and still have the ability to put a more potent +P loading in it when she gets used to it. For practice, if you don't reload yourself, some reloading places even sell downloaded 9mms for speed races, you just have to be sure it functions in your gun. The couple 380s I shot made hell of a bang and recoil felt almost like a 9mm.