9mm suggestion sought

[PFP_Dad]

I definitely prefer a revolver for HD and actually for CC as well. My wife weighs under 90lbs and have limited muscle strength, but can still shoot a .38 extremely accurately. As Turtle stated, no safety and no racking are important considerations in a home defense weapon, as is shot placement. Keep in mind that semi-autos can be prone to jams if not held firmly, an issue you won't have with a revolver.

Long guns (shotgun or rifle) for HD are just plain impractical IMO. Even many trained military and law enforcement personnel have poor weapon control with long guns in enclosed spaces. Unless you need to shoot across the ballroom in a mansion, a handgun will be easier to carry and maintain control of. The last thing you need is someone taking the gun.

The most important thing is practice, training and mental preparation. Is she willing to shoot someone should the situation call for it? If not then get her a can of pepper spray or a taser, a weapon your not willing to use is a danger to you. You should also make sure you are familiar with the laws in your area and what constitutes an appropriate use of force. In some place I can shoot someone to defend property (with certain considerations), in other jurisdictions you have a duty to retreat and can only use deadly force to prevent death or great bodily harm to yourself or another. Find a reputable establishment and take a few courses; your local PD should be able to refer you to someone with a good reputation in your area.

 

[cb91710]

HEY! I CAN HELP! lol. im a firearms instructor! To put it quite honestly, I don't think that type of caliber, or fire arm is best suitable for home defense. If you are looking for something she can toss about and get to in the middle of the night with the biggest fear factor, get her comfortable with a 16 gauge semiauto shotgun. itll be less kick then a 12 gauge, highly manageable for the miss, and can be had for well under 500 bones. If you prefer to still have a pistol, please remember that a very lightweight pistol were only meant for carrying concealed, and pricing back in the day. if you plan on keeping it at home, get a steel pistol. she'll need the weight for the muzzle flip. itll help with accuracy. also, 9mm really are meant to mame(yeah every bullet kills, but were talking stopping threats fast) I would suggest a 38 special, which can also use a .357. if that's too much juice. get a .45 acp semi. its not gonna kick as hard, but itll be like a baseball being thrown by a MLB pitcher to whatever youre hitting. I give these courses often, and would love to help you out on B&B. pm me contact me, ask questions here. whatever works for you.

I disagree with most of this, but that is a topic for another forum and another time.

Advice to the OP, don't take the advice of any one individual as gospel.

 

[accunlmtd]

Look for a handgun training course that has a female instructor. Lady instructors understand the special requirements and questions that new lady shooters have. The worst things you can do is to suggest what guns they should have and to teach them. Let the professionals do it.

Al in colorado

 

[rearviewmirror]

Sig makes a great little 380 that is perfect for people with smaller hands.

 

[gegarrenton]

As people have noted, the M&P is a hugely popular item. If you are able to push the budget a bit though, I can't recommend the old Sig P226 enough. Absolute rock solid dependable.

 

[73mountaineer]

As always with every subject in these forums, the advice from you guys has been incredibly valuable. Maybe we'll spend a day off at a local range, try out a few and see what works. I have experience with rifles, just not with pistols. She doesn't have much experience with either. She *thinks* she wants a semi-auto, but we'll see once we give all of them a shot.

Again, thanks everyone!

A wise choice. Whether you ultimately choose a pistol, revolver or neither is up to you. A handgun may or may not be the best choice for home defense, but that is your decision to make.

 

[hillbilly pick]

A wise choice. Whether you ultimately choose a pistol, revolver or neither is up to you. A handgun may or may not be the best choice for home defense, but that is your decision to make.

+1 A wise choice indeed.

My father got my mother a M&P 40 for Christmas after he took her to the range and she consistently shot as good, if not better,than him. Granted, she has shot before, but not a great deal and never a semi. Her last pistol was a .357 Mag Colt Python. I loved that little wheeler!

Good luck, be safe, and have fun!

On a side note, I have been looking at getting my wife a S&W Mix Six. That little wheel gun can fire .410 Shot and Slug, 45 Colt, and 45 ACP rounds. I think the rounds would be

1 - .410 Shot
2 - .410 Slug
3 - .45 ACP
4 - .45 ACP
5 - .45 Colt
6 - .45 Colt

The first shot being a wake me up, forceful warning peppering and the rest, (honestly, don't let me get to the last two!) shots. Not that it would come to that.

 

[bamafan64]

Walther PPS. Grip size can be adjusted for smaller hands, very concealable, light recoil, accurate. Try one out if you can.

 

[Mick]

On a side note, I have been looking at getting my wife a S&W Mix Six. That little wheel gun can fire .410 Shot and Slug, 45 Colt, and 45 ACP rounds. I think the rounds would be

1 - .410 Shot
2 - .410 Slug
3 - .45 ACP
4 - .45 ACP
5 - .45 Colt
6 - .45 Colt

The first shot being a wake me up, forceful warning peppering and the rest, (honestly, don't let me get to the last two!) shots. Not that it would come to that.

You can get .410 in 00 buckshot. Only 4 pellets in a 2.5" shell or 5 in a 3" shell but that should be enough

 

[hillbilly pick]

There you go, thanks turtle. I figured they would have a little .410 buck.

 

[Mick]

There you go, thanks turtle. I figured they would have a little .410 buck.

The reason I know about .410 buck shot is because I sometimes take my 22 mag .410 over under Savage out to squirrel hunt and I will take some .410 buck shot just in case I should come across any of those larger "horned squirrels"

 

[hillbilly pick]

Nice O&U, My grandfather had two O&U .410 & 22LR , 20G & 22 Mag

When he passed, I had my choice of one of his guns. I chose the Winchester Model 12 - 12G w/ Full Choke Nickle Barrel

I need to find a good & trustworthy gun-smith to give it a good once-over and tune-up.

I had a (thought he was good) gunsmith look at it and it came back with the same issue and he had done a bad jeweling job on the receiver, which I did not ask for. Anyway...

 

[Kabong30]

The new M&P Shield is a nice looking little pistol that comes in 9mm and .40SW. I'm also an XD fan and wound up giving my wife my XD40sc (3" barrel) when I upgraded to an XDM .45 and she loves it, and the recoil doesn't appear to bother her, but of course all of those "form factors" come in 9mm. For ammo, I think you'd be good with any caliber 9mm and up with a good personal/home defense round. I like the Hornady defense rounds because they have that little rubber tip that ensures expansion of the round. I'm sure they're not the only ones doing that, but they're readily available around here so ya know YMMV.

 

[Goober]

I just purchased a S&W M and P Sheild in 40 cal and absolutely love it. A friend has the 9mm version and says the same thing. They are hard to find because of their popularity, but worth the wait. Mine was 389.00 or 420.00 after taxes. A great concealed carry weapon. I would also recommend going to a range and test some "rental" weapons, or a gun nut friend with a loaner. Good Luck.

QUOTE=Rockminer;4719675]My suggestion would be to go to a range and rent some and try them out. I have a Smith And Wesson M & P 9mm and love it. Comes with interchangable backstraps so it will fit small hands. They are ultra reliable and have a rail for a light if you desire one. I paid right at 500 for mine. Its an LE model which means it comes with an extra magazine ( 3 total ).[/QUOTE]

 

[M.Kalashnikov]

Look hard at the Bersa .380 and S&W 3913.

 

[MilkyLee]

S&W Sheild

 

[RockyNomad]

When considering a revolver vs semi-auto I wouldn't take the whole chambering a round thing an issue. You should keep your weapon in the condition you need to defend yourself. She should get what she is most comfortable shooting but there is a reason every LE agency out there uses semi-auto. My life depends on mine every single day.

 

[OkieStubble]

Another vote for going down to the gun range and let your SWMBO sample a few. Weight and feel are very important criteria which also are very personal. The last time I went down to a gun range there was a ladies tournament going on. The most popular 9 mm gun at the range that day was a Glock 19.

My wife also owns and carries a Glock 19.

 

[rithunder916]

there are too many 9mm's out there for this.

I personally have used Glock's sw's, taurus 24x7, beretta m9, eaa witness, sig p250.

out of all of them, my favorite all metal full size is the beretta m9,

the gun i trust my life to, is my sig p250 compact (service size) with night sites. great firearm, shoots well, great trigger, easy to maintain, and its a sig, so i know it will always shoot, and be there when i need it.

my other favorite was my glock 34, but i found i shot the m9 more when it came to full size.

mike

 

[cb91710]

When considering a revolver vs semi-auto I wouldn't take the whole chambering a round thing an issue. You should keep your weapon in the condition you need to defend yourself. She should get what she is most comfortable shooting but there is a reason every LE agency out there uses semi-auto. My life depends on mine every single day.

The problem is, if you can't chamber a round, you can't clear a malfunction.