Woman's handgun?

dist1646 · May 28, 2019

A lady friend recently obtained her HQL. She said something about wanting a "pretty" handgun. With that, what are your opinions? Especially interesting in hearing from the ladies on the forum!

Hit and Run · May 28, 2019

dist1646 said:
A lady friend recently obtained her HQL. She said something about wanting a "pretty" handgun. With that, what are your opinions? Especially interesting in hearing from the ladies on the forum!

Size, strength of shooter, intended use, experience? All play into making a good decision.

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beretta_maven · May 28, 2019

I am not into "pretty" handguns, but the EAA Witness Pavona was designed as a lady's gun and comes in colors.

dist1646 · May 28, 2019

Hit and Run said:
Size, strength of shooter, intended use, experience? All play into making a good decision.

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Approx. 5'6'', 120lbs, excellent physical condition. Minimal experience. Primary use, target shooting and self defense.

Combloc · May 28, 2019

My honey uses a Walther PP. She has a PPK/S too but she doesn't shoot it because "it's too nice".

Occam · May 28, 2019

dist1646 said:
A lady friend recently obtained her HQL. She said something about wanting a "pretty" handgun. With that, what are your opinions? Especially interesting in hearing from the ladies on the forum!

My wife loves her "jewelry that shoots," including a beautiful Benelli bird gun, a matched pair of .38 SAA cowgirl six-shooters, her own '73 Winchester with a sexy finish and wood ... but the prettiest thing, she says, is a good group on the target. A pistol she can reliably, safely use. Her current favorite, recently procured, is a S&W 380 Shield EZ. The "EZ" part refers to how easy it is to rack, load, and field strip. I'll confess I like shooting it, too. She's always enjoyed shooting whatever I've got, but she's got small enough hands and not always the strength to wrestle well and safely with a bigger gun, or a small one that sports a stiff action or hard-to-load magazines.

S&W has nailed it with the 380 EZ. Currently the most popular new pistol for women, say multiple studies. I can see why. Is it pretty? Not especially (though it's handsome enough, in its own way). Does it make pretty good groups at sensible self-defense distances, and not wear her out after a couple hundred rounds? Yup. And that's a beautiful thing. Check one out.

MigraineMan · May 28, 2019

Miss Migraine likes the Bersa Thunder. It's available in a variety of "pretty" color combinations.

My mother - a very non-firearm woman in her mid-80s - took the Florida concealed carry class with my father, and found that she enjoyed shooting the Taurus G2C (also available in various colors.)

knastera · May 28, 2019

I agree with Occam on the 380 EZ. My wife has one and loves it because she can track the slide and shoot it well. If your wife wants a pretty gun, get a 380 EZ Cerakoted in whatever color makes her happy.

fidelity · May 28, 2019

Kimber's small K6S revolver comes in many configurations, some of which might be appealing (e.g. bright stainless with checkered wood grips). I would recommend one of the 2-inch versions over the 3-inch barreled ones (having had both - the balance on the 3-inch was off for me - and the 2-inch was more easily concealable and easy to put rounds where you want at 7-10 yards - eventually sold the 3-inch and have kept the 2-inch).

Alternatively, the new, two tone Glock 43x isn't bad looking. Might be a bit snappy though.

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knastera · May 28, 2019

MigraineMan said:
Miss Migraine likes the Bersa Thunder. It's available in a variety of "pretty" color combinations.

My mother - a very non-firearm woman in her mid-80s - took the Florida concealed carry class with my father, and found that she enjoyed shooting the Taurus G2C (also available in various colors.)

Both are great choices. I have both. My wife can't rack either of them. That's why we went with the 380 EZ.

goose4 · May 28, 2019

Everyone has a different take but the following might help with a starting point...
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2019/4/8/right-for-you-ladies-pistol-project-3-results/

dist1646 · May 28, 2019

knastera said:
I agree with Occam on the 380 EZ. My wife has one and loves it because she can track the slide and shoot it well. If your wife wants a pretty gun, get a 380 EZ Cerakoted in whatever color makes her happy.

My wife uses a revolver due to her arthritis. She can't rack the slide on a semi. This is for a good friend of ours. She shouldn't have any issues with racking the slide on a semiauto.

Hit and Run · May 28, 2019

dist1646 said:
Approx. 5'6'', 120lbs, excellent physical condition. Minimal experience. Primary use, target shooting and self defense.

Suggestions only
- 1. Full size semiautomatic in 9mm.

Pro's, recoil is manageable. Good defense round. Lots of options.

Cons, racking slide sometimes issue but if in good physical condition shouldn't be. Need to get some training on how to clear a malfunction.

-2. .357 SA/DA revolver and again more toward full size. Start with .38spl vice .357 cartridges.

Pros, recoil with .38spl is manageable and a good defensive round. Easy to master when trigger cocked in single action for target shooting. Less prone to malfunctions.

Cons: Can be longer to reload. Less cartridges to start in a defensive situation.

As for pretty...they sell pink guns...lol.

I would steer away from small handguns. Some well made ones that focus on recoil but most will add noticeable recoil as less mass to absorb it.

Always start with .22lr never a bad for new shooter but not a great defensive cartridge unless one masters accuracy.

All my humble opinion. Lot of other good calibers , but these would be my suggestions.

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dist1646 · May 28, 2019

goose4 said:
Everyone has a different take but the following might help with a starting point...
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2019/4/8/right-for-you-ladies-pistol-project-3-results/

Thanks, read that before starting the thread.

dist1646 · May 28, 2019

Hit and Run said:
Suggestions only
- 1. Full size semiautomatic in 9mm.

Pro's, recoil is manageable. Good defense round. Lots of options.

Cons, racking slide sometimes issue but if in good physical condition shouldn't be. Need to get some training on how to clear a malfunction.

-2. .357 SA/DA revolver and again more toward full size. Start with .38spl vice .357 cartridges.

Pros, recoil with .38spl is manageable and a good defensive round. Easy to master when trigger cocked in single action for target shooting. Less prone to malfunctions.

Cons: Can be longer to reload. Less cartridges to start in a defensive situation.

As for pretty...they sell pink guns...lol.

I would steer away from small handguns. Some well made ones that focus on recoil but most will add noticeable recoil as less mass to absorb it.

Always start with .22lr never a bad for new shooter but not a great defensive cartridge unless one masters accuracy.

All my humble opinion. Lot of other good calibers , but these would be my suggestions.

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Shoyo · May 28, 2019

My wife carries a Sig p238. They are offered in many "pretty" varieties

Glaron · May 28, 2019

my wife once upon a time followed me into a gun store... She decided I had convinced her that guns were okay.... She wanted a 'pretty one' I explained that IS NOT how it works. Since she hated taking my directions. I ended up taking her and a friend to a range and rent pistols, on me. Work from 22 up. Get usd to it. She stopped at 380acp for recoil. She only fired my 9mm once.

So 380, comfortable. greenlight. She choose this after range time first. Pretty and she could use it.

https://www.sigsauer.com/store/p238-rainbow-micro-compact.html

Glaron · May 28, 2019

Shoyo said:
My wife carries a Sig p238. They are offered in many "pretty" varieties

welder516 · May 28, 2019

Don't get a Glock ... :lol2:

dist1646 · May 28, 2019

welder516 said:
Don't get a Glock ...

Yeah, a 1911 is the way... :innocent0

I may eventually let her try my .41 magnum if she is up to it, after she is properly trained of course. :rolleyes:

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