what gun should I buy my girlfriend? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

nayra · 11-11-2007, 06:50 PM

So, I am trying to get my girlfriend familiar with guns and comfortable with them because I am a future LEO so i will have guns around alot. So, I am planing on getting her a handgun of her own. She has never fired a handgun before and she has small hands. Any opinions.

slugger6 · 11-11-2007, 06:53 PM

My answer would depend on how you believe she will be using it, e.g. target shooting, home defense, concealed carry, etc.

Reno82 · 11-11-2007, 07:02 PM

Ruger 22 or any pistol 22 to get started. None to very very little recoil and not so loud. Good practice gun also.

stretdr · 11-11-2007, 07:04 PM

Bersa .380. You can get one for about 250.00 and they shoot great. Should be a good fit for her hands as well. You can move on up later on and get her a better, bigger, more expensive gun once she gets used to guns period. I know 380 ammo is a lil higher, but his is a fun gun to shoot!

jtkratzer · 11-11-2007, 07:45 PM

First off, does she want you to buy her a gun or do you want her to have one? If she doesn't want one, don't get her one. If she's not interested in having a gun, she certainly isn't going to be interested in learning the responsibilities involved in having one.

If she does want one, figure out what the primary use is going to be. Is she going to carry it? Will it be for self-defense? Is it a range only gun for target or plinking?

Take her to the shop, one you trust with knowledgeable employees. Get her to hold as many guns as you can to help her find one that's comfortable and she can get a good grip on it. Make sure the reach to the trigger isn't too far for her.

If it's a defense gun, get her the most powerful round she can shoot comfortably, accurately, and quickly. My personal recommendation would be to take her to a range where you can rent guns and have her try them out.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend anything smaller than 9mm for self defense. My wife preferred the Glock 26 in 9mm over a Kel-tec P3AT. Even though the 9mm has more kick, she said it was easier to shoot that than the Kel-tec. The blow back action of the Kel-tec can be rough on a lady's hands and she may prefer a different gun. Also, if my wife can shoot a 9mm, I'd rather her put her life behind that cartridge than a .380.

Also, if she's going to carry it, get her into a course, a course specifically for ladies if possible. She also needs to take all necessary measures to learn the responsibilities and laws involved in carrying and the use of lethal force.

Basically, find out if she really wants a gun. If so, determine the purpose of the gun. Then, get as many guns in her hands and let her shoot all the calibers and let her pick the gun, especially if it's going to be her gun. She might surprise you. My wife had no trouble shooting my XD45c, a .45 Colt, a .44 Magnum, or a 5" WWII 1911.

Good luck.

texas_rebel_1980 · 11-11-2007, 07:58 PM

i would say a smith and wesson .357 four incher, start her off on light .38 special rounds, she could target practice and use if for defense with a good defense round. just my two pennies. if you buy her a little .22 she may take it the wrong way and be like what im a girl so you dont think i can handle it?

**yocan** · 11-11-2007, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtkratzer

First off, does she want you to buy her a gun or do you want her to have one? If she doesn't want one, don't get her one. If she's not interested in having a gun, she certainly isn't going to be interested in learning the responsibilities involved in having one.

If she does want one, figure out what the primary use is going to be. Is she going to carry it? Will it be for self-defense? Is it a range only gun for target or plinking?

Take her to the shop, one you trust with knowledgeable employees. Get her to hold as many guns as you can to help her find one that's comfortable and she can get a good grip on it. Make sure the reach to the trigger isn't too far for her.

If it's a defense gun, get her the most powerful round she can shoot comfortably, accurately, and quickly. My personal recommendation would be to take her to a range where you can rent guns and have her try them out.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend anything smaller than 9mm for self defense. My wife preferred the Glock 26 in 9mm over a Kel-tec P3AT. Even though the 9mm has more kick, she said it was easier to shoot that than the Kel-tec. The blow back action of the Kel-tec can be rough on a lady's hands and she may prefer a different gun. Also, if my wife can shoot a 9mm, I'd rather her put her life behind that cartridge than a .380.

Also, if she's going to carry it, get her into a course, a course specifically for ladies if possible. She also needs to take all necessary measures to learn the responsibilities and laws involved in carrying and the use of lethal force.

Basically, find out if she really wants a gun. If so, determine the purpose of the gun. Then, get as many guns in her hands and let her shoot all the calibers and let her pick the gun, especially if it's going to be her gun. She might surprise you. My wife had no trouble shooting my XD45c, a .45 Colt, a .44 Magnum, or a 5" WWII 1911.

Good luck.

Amen, if you buy someone a gun that didn't want it to begin with, you get a nasty situation like walk in the room and see the muzzle pointed at someone innocent (not a happy experience I can assure you) I would say go find a range that will let you shoot them for ammo if you buy a gun (assuming she wants a gun) there are some out there that will do that xd9 subcompact, kel-tec in 9mm, .40 mini kimber... When my GF hits 21 she wants a sig 229, not sure if she wants the 40/357 like I have but she can shot it fine. oh if you can get a .40 with compensator she might like that a good bit.

USCGXD · 11-12-2007, 01:26 AM

ruger 10/22 for a first rifle, or a walther p22 for a first pistol, both very affordable and are cheap to shoot and learn on

Bree · 11-12-2007, 03:56 AM

Jtkratzer and Amen gave you some darn good advice. Your passion may not be her passion. And this is more than just a gift. It is a weapon capable of killing. It demands respect, responsibility, and constant vigilance. She may not be where you are at with respect to guns.

Let her interest blossom by itself. Share your passion by inviting her to shoot at the gun range. See if she enjoys it. If she does then maybe you can follow Jt's advice. If not, then don't push it. Or she may very well walk away.

CajunBass · 11-12-2007, 04:50 AM

Assuming she wants a gun, get her the gun SHE wants, and not one you want.

11-11-2007, 06:50 PM	#1
nayra XDTalk Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 32	what gun should I buy my girlfriend? So, I am trying to get my girlfriend familiar with guns and comfortable with them because I am a future LEO so i will have guns around alot. So, I am planing on getting her a handgun of her own. She has never fired a handgun before and she has small hands. Any opinions. __________________ XD 45ACP service model 7.7x58 Japanese Arisaka T-99 Maverick Arms 88 12 gauge

11-11-2007, 06:53 PM	#2
slugger6 XDTalk 20K Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 20,145	My answer would depend on how you believe she will be using it, e.g. target shooting, home defense, concealed carry, etc. __________________ "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us". - Ralph Waldo Emerson

11-11-2007, 07:02 PM	#3
Reno82 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 1,252	Ruger 22 or any pistol 22 to get started. None to very very little recoil and not so loud. Good practice gun also. __________________ XD-45acp Service (Match Gun I changed it to a compact for CCW... did a grip chop on it) Ruger Mark III 22/45 Kimber SS Custom Target II 10mm Walther G22 (FUN GUN) XD-45acp Tactical (Match Gun II; upgraded the bbl from PistolGear) XD-9 Sub-Compact (Home Defense and CCW) DPMS AR-15: 9mm (1/17/08...) RRA CAR A4 Upper 223/5.56---did a lower bulid 6/3/08 and bought completed upper 2/21/08 S&W 642 38 special w/ CT grips (HD& CCW) Upper ALEX ARMS 19.5" 6.5 GRENDEL-order 9/9/08

11-11-2007, 07:04 PM	#4
stretdr XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 187	Bersa .380. You can get one for about 250.00 and they shoot great. Should be a good fit for her hands as well. You can move on up later on and get her a better, bigger, more expensive gun once she gets used to guns period. I know 380 ammo is a lil higher, but his is a fun gun to shoot! __________________ Springfield XD 45 ACP Tactical Smith & Wesson Model 3906 9mm Smith & Wesson .38 Special Rossi .38 Special Bersa .380 DuoTone Colt Model 1908 .380 Colt MKIV Gov. Model .380 Colt 70 Series 1911 .45 ACP North American Arms .22 Magnum Beretta Bobcat .25 Last edited by stretdr; 11-11-2007 at 07:05 PM. Reason: spelling

11-11-2007, 07:45 PM	#5
jtkratzer XDTalk 15K Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lancaster Co., PA Posts: 17,478	First off, does she want you to buy her a gun or do you want her to have one? If she doesn't want one, don't get her one. If she's not interested in having a gun, she certainly isn't going to be interested in learning the responsibilities involved in having one. If she does want one, figure out what the primary use is going to be. Is she going to carry it? Will it be for self-defense? Is it a range only gun for target or plinking? Take her to the shop, one you trust with knowledgeable employees. Get her to hold as many guns as you can to help her find one that's comfortable and she can get a good grip on it. Make sure the reach to the trigger isn't too far for her. If it's a defense gun, get her the most powerful round she can shoot comfortably, accurately, and quickly. My personal recommendation would be to take her to a range where you can rent guns and have her try them out. Personally, I wouldn't recommend anything smaller than 9mm for self defense. My wife preferred the Glock 26 in 9mm over a Kel-tec P3AT. Even though the 9mm has more kick, she said it was easier to shoot that than the Kel-tec. The blow back action of the Kel-tec can be rough on a lady's hands and she may prefer a different gun. Also, if my wife can shoot a 9mm, I'd rather her put her life behind that cartridge than a .380. Also, if she's going to carry it, get her into a course, a course specifically for ladies if possible. She also needs to take all necessary measures to learn the responsibilities and laws involved in carrying and the use of lethal force. Basically, find out if she really wants a gun. If so, determine the purpose of the gun. Then, get as many guns in her hands and let her shoot all the calibers and let her pick the gun, especially if it's going to be her gun. She might surprise you. My wife had no trouble shooting my XD45c, a .45 Colt, a .44 Magnum, or a 5" WWII 1911. Good luck. __________________ "I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it." - Thomas Jefferson The Gun Lounge Pennyslvania Firearms Owners Association Hockey Forum

11-11-2007, 07:58 PM	#6
texas_rebel_1980 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Corpus Christi Texas Posts: 1,324	i would say a smith and wesson .357 four incher, start her off on light .38 special rounds, she could target practice and use if for defense with a good defense round. just my two pennies. if you buy her a little .22 she may take it the wrong way and be like what im a girl so you dont think i can handle it? __________________ It may be 5'clock somewhere, but its Beer Thirty here!!!

11-12-2007, 01:26 AM	#8
USCGXD XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 28	ruger 10/22 for a first rifle, or a walther p22 for a first pistol, both very affordable and are cheap to shoot and learn on __________________ Semper Paratus XD40 Service-Spankin new!!

11-12-2007, 03:56 AM	#9
Bree XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 3,260 Blog Entries: 5	Jtkratzer and Amen gave you some darn good advice. Your passion may not be her passion. And this is more than just a gift. It is a weapon capable of killing. It demands respect, responsibility, and constant vigilance. She may not be where you are at with respect to guns. Let her interest blossom by itself. Share your passion by inviting her to shoot at the gun range. See if she enjoys it. If she does then maybe you can follow Jt's advice. If not, then don't push it. Or she may very well walk away. __________________ Shoot Straight and Ride Safe! Bree XD .45 Compact -- Ruger SP-101 .357 Mag. -- Keltec P3AT .380 Rock River Arms 20" Varmint A4 AR-15 w/4-16x56mm MilDot Ruger 10/22 Black Stainless Mossberg 590 Mariner 12 Ga w/Knoxx SpecOps Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide Patriot Guard Rider Iron Butt Association Member The 60's Can't Die As Long As I Won't Leave Them!! I support McCain-Palin with CA$H!

11-12-2007, 04:50 AM	#10
CajunBass XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chancelorsville, Virginia Posts: 255	Assuming she wants a gun, get her the gun SHE wants, and not one you want. __________________ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)

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