Girl Gun?

[rogerxd45]

opps forgot the
357 mag

130 gr JHP	1410 ft/s (~430 m/s)	574 ft·lbf (~781 J)
158 gr JSP	1240 ft/s (~378 m/s)	539 ft·lbf (~733 J)
180 gr Lead	1060 ft/s (~323 m/s)	449 ft·lbf (~611 J)

but you cant really compare that to a 9mm they arnt even in the same ballpark so heres the 357 sig which is its real counterpart
357 sig

115 gr BHP	1564 ft/s (~477 m/s)	624 ft·lbf (~849 J)
124 gr JHP	1329 ft/s (~405 m/s)	486 ft·lbf (~661 J)
125 gr JHP	1299 ft/s (~396 m/s)	468 ft·lbf (~636 J)
147 gr JHP	1186 ft/s (~362 m/s)	459 ft·lbf (~624 J)
150 gr JHP	1130 ft/s (~345 m/s)	425 ft·lbf (~578 J)

[O.C. 4 U]

Originally Posted by DanTheEldest

Summary: find a range that does rentals and a Ladies' Night if possible. There's no substitute for going hands-on with all the likely candidates.

+1000
I'd say 9mm or 38, but it's all about what she's comfortable with and the only way to find that out is to take her shooting.
And congrats on getting the wife on board.

[GaryTx]

Originally Posted by Old School

I'd get her a XD Service in 9mm or a used HS2000. You can purchase 9mm reloaded ammo (Zero, others) if you don't reload yourself. This ammo will have a little less bark/bite than factory 9mm.

A heavy revolver is a good option, but that long and heavy trigger may frustrate her.

OS

+1 for good advice

[jtkratzer]

It's been interesting taking my wife shooting...she hasn't noticed much difference in the felt recoil between an XD9sc and my XD45 compact. She said she could feel that the recoil was different between my XD45c and a Glock 17 (another 9mm). She has no personal preference as of yet. It's making it difficult to get her to decide on something.

[Collander]

my wife loved her little thunder .380 until she shot my xd .45. Then she got her mits on a Kimber Custom in fanciful .45ACP. Guess what she wants now, yeah... the freaking Kimber LOL. Take her shooting! Being that a .45acp is low pressure she will probably love it. My 5'3" 109pound teeny handed wife loves the .45ACP

[Dhunter55]

9mm, .38, .380 though I think they can handle more than we give them credit for. Mine loves my XD45 the most.

[Brickboy240]

I see the 9mm as a bare minimum. I also find the smaller 9mms to be too snappy and a turn off to women shooters.

I'd stay with a full-size or medium sized 9mm as a minimum. Something like these:

XD-9 Service
SIG P226, P228 or P229
Steyr M-A1
Glock 17, 19
FNP-9
S&W M&P fullsize or compact

Stay away from the Beretta 92s - yes, they're good guns and don't have much recoil, but the grip is huge for a 9mm. The others I mentioned have smaller grips and are very good choices that don't have much recoil and are easy to carry and conceal.

Another to consider is the SIG P225. They're still sellign the P6 versions under 400 bucks. My wife loves my P225 and its great for smaller hands, is ultra reliable and light and easy to conceal.

- Brickboy240

[Sk0t24]

My wife's favorite pistol to shoot is my full size Kimber .45

[x_out86]

I would agree withe the 9mm, .38, or .380.

If she thinks the kick of a 9mm is too much, try having her shoot a non-composite frame....All metal makes a WORLD of difference. The beating your hands and arms take with a composite frame as compared to a all metal (ie a 1911) is night and day.

[Brian@ITC]

Quite honestly, caliber is irrelevant! There is no such thing as stopping power. Revolvers are considered to be a "girl gun" but if you get a DOA like the ladies Smith, they will get carpel tunnel by the time they can shoot it good. Personally, find her a good semi-auto such as an XD, Glock 19, or SIG chambered in 9mm if she can handle it. Anything above a 9mm in my opinion is simply "ego" and not effectiveness!

______________________________
Brian K. LaMaster - NRA Instructor