[BigSwede]

Hi all. I have a friend who is interested in getting a handgun for her purse. She tried my Kahr PM9 with standard loads and thought it was too snappy for her. She is a professional bassoonist and is very protective of her hands.

So the obvious general answer is a less powerful load or a heavier handgun to reduce recoil. Are the tiny .380s less hurtful to shoot compared to a PM9 (never handled a .380 myself)? The cartridge is less powerful but the gun is smaller too, not sure if that gets her anywhere.

How about something like a LCR? Or maybe a heavier revolver like a SP101? Or maybe the new LC9, being a little larger than the PM9 would be worth a try. (I'm not locked into Ruger BTW, just some relevant examples.)

Obviously she will have to try some out and see what works, but I want to give her some educated ideas as where to start.

[Ilroy]

The tiny .380s are still a bit snappy for some...my wife has a Bersa .380 which is a bit larger, but still very concealable, and not a problem at all.
A revolver in .38 might be acceptable too, as long as it's heavier...steel for sure...my ultalight J-frame hurts bad, but my sisters steel .38 with a longer barrel has very little recoil in comparison.

[KathleenElsie]

As a woman I have three carries. An S&W J-frame, a COLT Detective, and a Mauser semi .32. My favorite is the COLT it is the heaviest (maybe my imagination) but shoots well and few problems with my wrist.

[Barbwire]

I have both a PM9 and a Kel Tec.380 The Kel Tec is snappy for sure.

[BigSwede]

Hmmm, maybe we'll have to look at heavier steel guns to keep the recoil down, as long as she finds it acceptable to carry.

I'm starting to lean toward a revolver, that would eliminate problems with racking the slide on those small autos.

[Williamlayton]

My prefrence for your friend is the S&W .327 mag.
Blessings

[Fondis Firearms]

I carry a Kel-Tec PF-9 in my purse and it has a BIG bite! I also carry a Ruger LCP .380 in my pocket. It has less of a kick, but still enough to get your attention. If she is sensitive to the recoil, you would be best getting a heavier gun. My Primary carry used to be a Springfield XD sub compact 9mm. It is a dream to shoot! It is a little bulky, but if she can get a larger carry purse, it may work very well for her.

[Machinist]

A medium frame .380 will tame recoil and be easier to shoot accurately. Most are blowback and have stiff recoil springs. The Walther PK380 has a locked breech and is much easier to work the slide.

http://www.gunblast.com/Walther-PK380.htm

There is much to recommend a steel frame revolver if it will be knocking about in a handbag. With regular ammo, non +P, like Nyclads or Hornady standard pressure loads,they are not bad, though not as comfortable as a medium .380. A revolver bore sits higher than an auto so they tend to buck more all else being equal.

I see many good reports on the Bersa as well but make sure she is comfortable with the effort needed to rack the slide as it is blowback. This is a case where a .22 rimfire revolver might make sense as well. I would not recommend a small .22 auto.

[Wolfhunter]

I second the recommendations for a revolver IF she can get comfortable with the grip.

If a semi-auto is in her future, a .380 with a medium weight frame.

[HK4U]

My wife carries a 642 Smith. She also has a Glock but has problems racking the slide so for her the revolver it is. Being an airweight it is better to carry than one of the more heavy revolvers but that also means a little more recoil. She seems to have no problem though as long as she stays away from +P rounds.

[budroe]

I like a J-frame S&W (model 60). No +P loads needed. At close range (3-7 yards) even the 148 grain target wadcutter (very light recoil) will get the job done - well!!

[Wolfhunter]

For Debbie, we found an Italian Tanfoglio BTA-90, a CZ-75 Compact clone. The steel frame helps with recoil and she can rack the slide.

[RonDurango]

I'd have her go with a Ruger SP101 .357/.38 with a 3" barrel. The recoil is very light with heavy .38 loads and not that bad even with 125 grain .357 loads. The heavier weight of the little gun compared to the S&W should make recoil tolerable for her. Plus don't forget that most new shooters are recoil sensitive at first. Practice will help reduce her tendency to flinch and wince.

Second choice would be the PM9 or heavier MK 9, which recoils less. Stay away from the .380s as their effectiveness is marginal yet they are very snappy as to recoil.

Ron
NRA Life Member

[deputy]

i love revolvers........

the question is, will she?

trigger pull and grip size will be factors. Everyone has purty much nailed it in that the heavier the weapon the less recoil. Going with a smaller/lighter weapon means going with a lesser cartridge to control recoil for those who detest kick. Best advice i can give is get her to a range to borrow or rent some diferent models to try out.

off-hand i would say a all-steel snub like an sp101 loaded with standard 38's on one end of the scale.....

on the other end, i would say a smith model 317 airlite with 8 rounds of cci
.22 LR stingers on board.

i've heard mixed things about the beretta tomcats and bobcats on the auto side, but they may be an option as well.

[jimfox]

i love revolvers........

the question is, will she?

off-hand i would say a all-steel snub like an sp101 loaded with standard 38's on one end of the scale.....

on the other end, i would say a smith model 317 airlite with 8 rounds of cci
.22 LR stingers on board.





I'd add budroe's suggestion about the .38 wadcutter to the above:

"I like a J-frame S&W (model 60). No +P loads needed. At close range (3-7 yards) even the 148 grain target wadcutter (very light recoil) will get the job done - well!!"

With little revolvers the shape of the grip makes a LOT of difference in control and recoil perception.

The little 317 is very portable - small, compact and a smidgen under 11 ounces empty. The operation is very simple, recoil is mild, practice is low cost - and at bad breath distance 8 quick rounds of HV .22 is significant.

[Teddybear]

If I was getting a firearm for a lady friend, I would take her to a gunshop that has and indoor range and rents firearms to shoot. Let HER try several types, calibers, etc. till she finds one that is comfortable for HER. That way she would be confident with the firearm and protected.


Just me two cents worth.

[BigSwede]

Yes we absolutely need to try some out, just trying to narrow down the field. The SP101 or similar S&W revolver idea is attractive if she is comfortable carrying it (unlike most women she is fond of small, minimalistic purses) and of course shooting it. She is an old farm girl so she is not uncomfortable around guns, but her handgun experience is very limited.

I was just thinking - I have an old Rohm .38 special snubbie that I am keeping in my safe for a buddy, maybe I should let her shoot it and just see if she likes revolvers in general.

[Old John]

My DSW has a few. She picked out each & every one. The 1st couple, she haunted the gun stores herself until she found just what she wanted. Her very 1st was a used FN HP, .9mm. When we went to the gun show she picked up a dozen magazines for it, so she could have them all loaded & ready to shoot, when we went to the indoor range. Her 2nd was, is, an S&W 6906, 9mm. She loves it, too.
She has since bought mostly 9mm's but also a .38 special.
I would not think of trying to tell her what she wants or what to buy.

[oldvet53]

it all depends what she feels more comfortable with but i would recommend a small frame Smith&Wesson or Colt in .38 special. but she should shoot several different weapons and find the one she feels most comfortable with.

[IamRose]

If I was getting a firearm for a lady friend, I would take her to a gunshop that has and indoor range and rents firearms to shoot. Let HER try several types, calibers, etc. till she finds one that is comfortable for HER. That way she would be confident with the firearm and protected.


Just me two cents worth.

My 2 cents too!

[Maine]

Many of my female friends enjoy shooting my Kahr MK9 and also my G26. The already mentioned SP101 is a great suggestion too loaded with .38s. The Kahr K9 I had was very soft shooting as well. Hopefully she has access to try a few before buying. Good luck in the quest.

[Williamlayton]

Lotta folks been killed with a .32
Blessings

[Trigger Man]

My wife carries a Taurus (snub) loaded with Gold Dot "short barrel" ammo in her purse. She is however very proficient with both revolvers & auto's of all size and caliber.

[caneman]

Lake Lady now has a Kel-Tec .32ACP she likes. I put the little hooked magazine extension on and it make a big reduction in recoil by having one more finger on the grip.

While her Jennings .22 carried well for several years I feel better with her having the .32 loaded with hollow points.

[KathleenElsie]

Lake Lady now has a Kel-Tec .32ACP she likes. I put the little hooked magazine extension on and it make a big reduction in recoil by having one more finger on the grip.

While her Jennings .22 carried well for several years I feel better with her having the .32 loaded with hollow points.
Good choice.

[ZO6Vettever]

My wife carries a full size 9mm IWB in a cheap Ace holster. She likes it because it's soft.

[ExSniper]

She needs the biggest, most powerful, longest sight radius handgun that she will carry everywhere she goes and she is capable of shooting well. That is my standard answer and one only she can answer. Tell her to go to a range that rents guns or with friends with a wide variety of guns and try as many as possible until she finds the right fit!

[boris007]

that beretta .32 with that pop up reciever. or maybe a Detective Special in .38 SPL with apropriate pachmayer grips to reduce recoil. and standard load hollow points. and shoot the bad guy to the ground.

[gunfan]

I sold a Beretta Tomcat .32 and bought a Kel-Tec P-11 from myself and a PF-9 for Shelley. She loves her pistol, and will use it when the "s*it hits the fan."

Scott

[boris007]

yeah... Tomcat!! that is the beretta i was thinking of.

[Domineaux]

Grip size makes a big difference in spreading the recoil impulse well. I'm a big fan of the Bersa Thunder .380 and have been very impressed by mine after buying it as a low cost compromise. My wife likes to shoot it and can operate it sufficiently well. Adding a wrap-around rubber band type grip to it would further add to the recoil reduction through dampening and spreading recoil.

The S&W Bodyguard .380 semi-auto also looks like it has great potential and wonderful reviews from what I have read.

I don't agree with those who dismiss .380 as insufficient thanks to modern ammo. PDX1 or Crit Defense and others have shown to have excellent ballistics and wound characteristics.
Bigger is always nice, but a gun that is carried makes all the difference.

[bluedlightning]

The gun that I own that the ladies like to shoot the most is my Sig Mosquito. It seems to be just the right size for smaller hands.

[SafetyFirst]

She needs the biggest, most powerful, longest sight radius handgun that she will carry everywhere she goes and she is capable of shooting well. That is my standard answer and one only she can answer. Tell her to go to a range that rents guns or with friends with a wide variety of guns and try as many as possible until she finds the right fit!


I have to agree completely. I was thinking small for my wife, PPK, LCP, LC9, etc... But I followed my own advice and put as many guns in her hands as I could find. She shot around 20 different guns before she finally "settled" on MY full frame XDm for "Her" carry gun. I was surprised, but that is the one she is comfortable with, the weight, the fit, and the accuracy (she is good!) So that is my 2 cents worth as well!

[LadyFaire]

[QUOTE=BigSwede;1121000]Hi all. I have a friend who is interested in getting a handgun for her purse. She tried my Kahr PM9 with standard loads and thought it was too snappy for her. She is a professional bassoonist and is very protective of her hands.

I know I'm late coming into this thread, but this is something I've discussed with several ladies. I have 2 carry guns. The main one is my Springfield V-10 .45 ACP (compact, and ported) which I dearly LOVE. My backup is for when I can't carry a large pistol. That is my Colt Mustang +2 .380. It is a DREAM to shoot, and I get the best ammo I can when I carry it. It shoots sweet, doesn't 'bite' and is very accurate. For someone with smaller hands or leery of guns, it is a good match, as long as you recognize the limitations of the caliber. Another really good choice is the Taurus Model 85 hammerless in .38 - shoots well, is very compact, but heavy enough to keep even the minimal kick of a .38 down. I would recommend any of those three with no reservations what-so-ever to any woman (or man, for that matter) who is looking for a good, reliable carry gun.

[ExSniper]

Why does everyone automatically assume a "lady" can't handle anything bigger than a .380? I have taught several hundred to shoot and very few ( no more than the men) are incapable of handling .38, 9mm, .357, .40, .41, .44, .45 caliber handguns. It is about technique not necessarily upper body strength. If you can manage to overcome a 17 lb recoil spring or a 11 lb DA trigger for example, then you can probably manage to shoot whatever weapon you would like to try.

[Domineaux]

If you can manage to overcome a 17 lb recoil spring or a 11 lb DA trigger for example, then you can probably manage to shoot whatever weapon you would like to try.

Not sure anyone is saying women in general cannot handle larger than .380 recoil, but my wife like a lot of women (notice I did not say "most") doesn't have a lot of hand strength and would have a hard time with a 17lb recoil spring while racking the slide and would have to shoot pretty slowly to manage defensive accuracy with an 11lb trigger pull.

I took her to Gander Mtn a week or so ago and she tried handling about 10 concealed carry appropriate (some just barely) pistols and for the most part could manipulate the slide best on .380's, especially the Sig P380. She really liked the PX4 Storm Sub-Compact but could not manipulate the slide sufficiently at all.

This type of experience is why I personally consider .380 as the best starting point for women new to handguns.

[LadyFaire]

I never assume a 'lady' can't handle a larger gun. However, many of them are taught (upbringing, background) that they are 'more sensitive' and shy away from the larger weapons. Personally, I think one of the worst things a person (almost always a boyfriend or husband) can do is to hand a total neophyte a large caliber gun for their very first time. I've seen it happen too many times - the guy thinks it is funny, the woman winds up with a closed mind-set. My darling Barkley is a certified firearms instructor and is wonderful teaching other men's women how to shoot. He also advises men to NEVER take on that duty themselves, but to leave it to a dis-interested 3rd party. I believe he is correct. We are seldom impartial/neutral when it comes to our significant other, and will often either baby them, or go the direct opposite.

One problem a lot of women have is with the recoil. An awful lot of guns these days are 'lightweight', which can make the recoil sting - especially if you are not used to that sort of thing. Personally, I don't have very good 'grip' in my hands, and do NOT like a weapon that "struggles to get away" from me. That is why I NEVER even look at the LadySmith and like featherweight guns. Too much emphasis is placed on making it lightweight, and the recoil can be brutal. ExSniper, your tag line says hitting the target is the goal. If I CAN'T hit the target with the follow on shots, I don't want the gun. I gave hubby a Marlin lever action for our anniversary one year. I am an experienced shooter (hunting since early childhood, marksmanship metals in the military, etc), and I will NOT shoot that rifle because it HURTS. I'll stick with a Remington 700 with recoil pad, or shotgun (recoil pad), and spare my poor shoulder. Once we get older too, we often have problems with some guns. Hubby has arthritis in his hands. I got bent a couple of times scuba diving (long story for another day/thread) when I was younger and now have trouble with all of my major joints. Things like that, as well as hand size have much to do with what a 'proper' gun is for an individual.

I never assume a lady can't handle a larger caliber handgun. I personally feel naked without my .45. But I always take it smaller to larger caliber when introducing ANYONE, male or female, to shooting. Also, the original post was concerned with a woman who is a classical musician who had already tried one gun, and didn't like the sting. That, combined with the woman's concern for her hands prompted my suggestions. I believe strongly that one should carry the heaviest throw-weight gun they can competently use. Or, as Mr. Cooper (I believe?) put it, never go to a gun fight with any gun that doesn't start with a "4".

[KathleenElsie]

I use a revolver most of the time. I am one of those women that have a hard time with the "slide". And yes I am small.

[Dframe]

As a woman I have three carries. An S&W J-frame, a COLT Detective, and a Mauser semi .32. My favorite is the COLT it is the heaviest (maybe my imagination) but shoots well and few problems with my wrist.


What KathleenElsie said.
The detective has enough heft to mitigate recoil and is "Dead simple" to operate. No safetys no magazines no slide to avoid. If the detective is still too snappy I'd go with a K-frame Smith model 10.

[shanga]

I use a revolver most of the time. I am one of those women that have a hard time with the "slide". And yes I am small.

A lot of girls I've met have the same issue. Esp since the slide on conceal carry type semi autos is pretty often slim and slick--hard to grip. Also the recoil issue on super-light revolvers --it's easy to carry but a pain to practice with. No point having a handgun that you are not used to .
I'd go with a ruger sp101 with hallow point 38 sp or 38 sp + if you can handle them.Small enough to carry in a purse,heavy enough to absorb the recoil,reliable as a tank . I've gotten that for my best friend years ago and she loves it.
As a side not I saw someone mention jennings 22. In a short time I owned that thing I actually got it to run reliably. Damn proud of myself lol.