I don't carry a purse so....
I was thinking of something that didn't need to be removed from the purse to fire from the purse. And some purses have special pockets for carrying... A revolver or derringer would be the only guns I would expect to work from a jacket pocket. I say no to the derringer because they are generally hard to shoot accurately and 2 rounds. But a S&W J frame or maybe even something larger from the purse would work. I have a 649 that would work, but many people can't handle the 357mag in that small of gun, so 38s. Or get it in 32 or 22, think multiple rounds of stopping, vs. one shot kill.

The other thought is I am a Glock man. I have a G20 that with conversion barrel and springs, I shoot 9mm and it is easy to shoot. I wonder if something like a Glock26 or Glock19 would work. Change the springs to make it easier to rack the action as needed. (When playing with 45Super my G21 was undersprung for my handloads, it beat up the frame a little, so if you need to under spring her gun, it should still work.)

For the micro-ccw I have PM9 and PM40. Both are a little challenging to shoot, rack and the bullets have fallen out of my spare mags at times. I have a hard time recommending.

I played with Kimber Micro9. Same general results as the PM9/PM40. I have a hard time recommending.

Hope this helps, not sure that it does.

 

I don't carry a purse so....
I was thinking of something that didn't need to be removed from the purse to fire from the purse. And some purses have special pockets for carrying... A revolver or derringer would be the only guns I would expect to work from a jacket pocket. I say no to the derringer because they are generally hard to shoot accurately and 2 rounds. But a S&W J frame or maybe even something larger from the purse would work. I have a 649 that would work, but many people can't handle the 357mag in that small of gun, so 38s. Or get it in 32 or 22, think multiple rounds of stopping, vs. one shot kill.

The other thought is I am a Glock man. I have a G20 that with conversion barrel and springs, I shoot 9mm and it is easy to shoot. I wonder if something like a Glock26 or Glock19 would work. Change the springs to make it easier to rack the action as needed. (When playing with 45Super my G21 was undersprung for my handloads, it beat up the frame a little, so if you need to under spring her gun, it should still work.)

For the micro-ccw I have PM9 and PM40. Both are a little challenging to shoot, rack and the bullets have fallen out of my spare mags at times. I have a hard time recommending.

I played with Kimber Micro9. Same general results as the PM9/PM40. I have a hard time recommending.

Hope this helps, not sure that it does.

Definitely no revolvers. She had an LCR before and was not exactly a good shot with it.

 

Maybe have her try a SCCY DVG1 - it seems to fit the female hands in my clan quite well.

Christian Ed and Hobby info - SCCY DVG-1 Review

SCCY DVG-1 Review

sites.google.com

 

For a range toy, not for a gun you depend on.

 

I know you're looking for an auto but for decades my wife carried a Taurus M85 in her pocketbook. The downside was the weight, and as soon as we saw a S&W 642 she got that, and then later transitioned to the 13 oz. Ruger LCR .38

When purse carrying, every ounce matters, and the simple DA trigger pull makes it reflexively simple to use should that unwanted event ever take place. My wife also has very poor upper body strength and would have no hope to clear a malfunction in an auto.

Anecdote. 11 years ago very late at night, she was pulling out of a traffic light and was T boned by a drunk driver on the driver side of her car, who had run his red light. She was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, and a co-worker who was behind her at the traffic light and witnessed the accident took possession of her pocketbook with the Taurus M85 in it from first responders at the scene.

I got to the hospital, and met her co-worker in the waiting room, who handed me her pocketbook. That thing weighed a ton! The co-worker never asked or said anything about the weight, but at that point I decided we were going to shave off some weight, and that's where the S&W 642 came in. Fortunately wife didn't sustain any severe long term injury and pulled through.

 

I won't give you what my wife carries, since it is a 9mm Revolver. But I will offer this.

The purse is the first issue. Let her choose the one she likes. My wife has 4 now, and a cute little backpack she carries. It took her a bit to find a purse that was functional for her and fit her style.

Any purse can be made a Carry purse by a good cobbler/ leather shop. Split a seam, add a pouch.

 

Take a look at the Shield Plus. The grip is a bit wider than the single stack Shields. She might like that.

Realize your question is sorta like: "what is the most accurate gun." Or, "what is the best gun."

There is no one answer. Best scenario - find a place that rents guns, and let her try many. See what she likes. Maybe the P30sk or VP9sk. Glock 26. Something that size....

 

No that's not what my question is like. She's already handled many including my VP9 SK and the slide is too difficult for her to rack. Hence my post...

 

J frame for a purse. Sorry but true.

 

Only the best if it works for her. Based on the fact that the previous revolver was a LCR, a suggestion to try some other 2 and 3 inch revolvers is not a bad idea at all. My wife hated the LCR, was okay with a M85 and loves her 905. I wish someone made a decent 3" 9mm Revolver. It is like 2" snubs or 6" tanks.

 

Take the purse out of the equation. If her criteria are semi-auto, 9mm or 380, have her shoot a bunch of those and pick the one she does best with. Chances are it’ll work fine in a purse with only minor mods if that’s where she has to carry it.

 

Woman here. I generally don't like off-body carry but if it is what your wife wants to do that's fine as long as she is aware of the pros and cons of it. Most everything has pros and cons so we have to choose what works best for us personally. For some women that is the only way they are willing to carry. I understand because I'm just not going to wear a belt. I usually pocket carry when I carry.

What size and kind of purse is she willing to carry? Some women carry purses that will hold the kitchen sink but some, including me, won't. I like small purses so that would limit my choice of handguns if I purse carried. If your wife is willing to carry a large purse there are fewer limitations on the kind of handgun, although I'd think a larger heavier one would still be more problematic on a daily basis. (See Joe's shoulder comment above.) Also, if she has only certain brands of purses she'll carry, can she find one with a separate compartment for her handgun? Yes, a lot of us women care about such things.

One thing that is a MUST imho is that the handgun should always be in a totally separate, dedicated compartment of the purse with nothing else in it. I'd probably still want it in a thin holster. I'd also personally want either a manual safety or a fairly heavy trigger pull, as purses are subject to a lot of movement and going into and out of them frequently with a lot of other items shifting around adjacent to the handgun compartment. It's not like something in your waistband, on your ankle, or in your pocket that is basically left alone with no items near it. It's in a purse that sees a lot of "action" and has a lot of other, frequently used items in it.

My daughter used to carry one of the Springfield pistols in a holster in her purse. My daughter-in-law still carries a little M&P Bodyguard .380 in her purse, but she only carries small to medium sized purses, not the large ones, so it has to be something small for her, and she likes the gun.

I think it's a good choice, as it's hammer fired with a fairly heavy trigger pull and it also has a firm thumb safety for those who want to use one. The slide is fairly easy to rack compared to some pistols, but it's a tiny pistol which may not suit your wife. I pocket carry mine sometimes, in a thin holster with nothing else in that pocket.

Take the purse out of the equation. If her criteria are semi-auto, 9mm or 380, have her shoot a bunch of those and pick the one she does best with. Chances are it’ll work fine in a purse with only minor mods if that’s where she has to carry it.

I agree, with the caveat of the purse being large enough and having a totally separate dedicated compartment for the handgun and being one she's actually willing to use.

I totally agree that if she doesn't like the gun everything further is moot. It's going to take a combination of a handgun she's comfortable with using and then finding a purse that's suitable and one she is willing to carry.


I also think a small revolver isn't a bad purse carry choice because of the heavier trigger pull and compact size, but if she doesn't like a revolver, then that's out for her. She's really going to have to try things and find a combination of handgun/purse that works for her. Stating the obvious, I guess.

I'm sure there's something out there that will work for her, but it may take some looking to find them. I'd start with the handgun, keeping in the back of my mind it had to be workable in whatever kind of purse I like.

 

Get the right size purse and a G19 will work.

 

When I purse carry, it's usually my Hello Kitty G26...

😁

 

That would go well appendix.

run it in a match.

 

What’s wrong w/ a G26? I’m sure that will be a wide enough grip…. If not, then get a G29…if she needs a wider grip than that….I’m guessing she wont

 

My wife picked her gun based on how well she shoots it (She IS good with it) and how it feels in her hand. Itsa G19. She loves the gun.

But..... after a few months she started complaining that its too heavy in her purse and hurts her shoulder. So she moves on to my G26. Same problem. Long story short, she ended upu with my P32 with a 10 round mag. Hey at least she carries.

If we were to do it again, I would find something that weighs the same as the gun she wants and carry that for a few days in her purse. It would save us some money.

Oh and she won't consider any other method of carry

 

She may already have a purse, but for what it’s worth, Galco makes very nice ccw handbags that will schlep around anything from Beretta .22s up to full size 1911s. They’re sturdy and will last a long time. Even smell good. 🙂

 

In your situation, this was Mrs. Dood's choice (and she could pick whatever she wanted)

Known for easy slide manipulation and robust reliability. Slim and easy for purse or pant carry. There's a reason these are still VERY popular. Checked from head to toe, refinished and reset with a new recoil spring, and more than accurate enough up close.

Ready to go for another 100 plus years.

 

In your situation, this was Mrs. Dood's choice (and she could pick whatever she wanted)

Known for easy slide manipulation and robust reliability. Slim and easy for purse or pant carry. There's a reason these are still VERY popular. Checked from head to toe, refinished and reset with a new recoil spring, and more than accurate enough up close.

View attachment 1118333

Ready to go for another 100 plus years.

She likes shooting my 1911 and the slide is easy for her to rack, but the gun is too heavy for her to carry & firing it for more than a mag or 2 at the range fatigues her hands and arms.

She handled a Browning 380 1911 style pistol at a LGS recently and liked it, but even that was not exactly light either.

 

P32, less than 10 ounces with 3 loaded mags. Crappy sights, but good enough to point and shoot at bad breath distances.

 

Best pistols for purse carry?

Purse carry or off body carry in general is a phenomenally bad idea.

Trying to figure out what may be best for my lady to carry.

Shouldn't she be figuring that out?

Looking like she will likely sell her S&W Shield EZ as she doesn't like the thin grip.

Did she select the EZ or did you?

QUOTE="TacticalSpeed, post: 31596470, member: 95499"]She loves my Canik Whiteout and she rented a Canik SC and liked shooting that too. Is that going too be large for purse carry, though? I don't think so. Not like these CC purses are small.[/QUOTE]

I already said off body carry/ purse carry in general is a phenomenally bad idea. But if she likes Canik guns at what I'd be looking at.

Aside from the obvious of something like an LCP, what might be good purse pistols for her?

1. The one she picks out.

2. If she has problems with her hands and wrists an LCP is a horrible idea.

She also has muscle challenges with her hands. Hence going with the Shield EZ as she could rack that slide easily.
We all know there is the slide release on the side, but what if the slide does not lock back? Rather not that be why things go south if we can avoid it.

If things are that sketchy you might want to have her take a look at a revolver.

My wife and I have a tried and true method of taking out guns for her. We drive to the gun shop we walk in I tell the counterperson she's looking for a gun and then I walk three doors down and spend money in the bookstore well she picks out her own gun.

The best part is, she just spent $600 on a gun she's got no room to gripe when I come back and spent $15 on books

 

Glock 26,,, if she doesn't like the Shield's for the thin grip, although i don't think of the Shield as thin...

 

Has she tried the Glock 42? it's a nice feeling pistol...

 

I understand why a Husband will try to find a handgun for his Wife to carry. my wife shows no interest to carry but i have been working on that for a long time. i would really like for her to become interested in a Proactive Self Defense Method, so i am always tossing ideas at her. if she would become interested in Concealed Carry i would happily show her everything i thought she would like. the decision is hers anyway it ends up but i read and look at guns and reviews all the time and she knows it, anything i suggest would be a contender for consideration...

 

The Ruger little compact DA in 380, and similar models like taurus, or similar. Small, close range point blank defense.

the sig baby 1911ish guns 238 or 938, but they are 1911 like in action. Some folks don’t like that. Several other manu’s have products in this class. Not to hard to rack. Wife likes her g19 more than 938. Seemed to think small size is a little snappier on recoil. The sigs rack nicely.

Ruger also has a little revolver too. Maybe it’s called the LCR? You can confirm.

Or maybe the little glock 42.

 

Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Subcompact: Content | Smith & Wesson

This is one of my five carry pistols. It's about the size of a G26 but with a 3.6" barrel and a 12+1 round magazine with the flush or pinky grip mag (and can take all M&P9 compact and full-size magazines). It's actually shorter height-wise with the 12+1 flush mag than a G26 in any of its plus two configurations. The five backstrap grip configurations can make it as small or as large as she wants.

I have both this and a Shield. I can see why the Shield is too thin. This is the thick version in my opinion, and it comes with or without a manual safety. I had the older version before this since 2005. It's a great pistol. With the flush magazine it is actually shorter in height than the Shield with its flush mag.


Shield on the left, Subcompact on the right (sorry, the grip is a little dirty). If the stippling is too aggressive, get Talon Grips.

 

Oh yeah, and a Glock 26. You really can't go wrong with a G26 unless you want a manual safety.

 

My wife has and likes the Ruger EC9S. It came in purple. 7+1 in it & an extra 9 rd mag in her purse.

She had a Ruger LCP & this was an easy transition for her

 

Walther PDP-F 3.5". Very easy to rack and reduced reach to the trigger for smaller hands.

 

Thank you, didn’t know this existed. Going back to “the gun for my daughter” thread, this gives me something to research!

As for polymer pistols, my world has always revolved around HK and Glock but lately I’ve been giving Walther and Steyr a look, never owned either. Thanks again, pretty good looking pistol.

 

Like the PDP-F 3.5", the M&P9 M2.0 Subcompact is also easy to rack. In fact it is far easier to rack than the M&P Shield.

 

Her purse, her gun, her choice. She needs to get around and start sampling rental guns and find what works for HER. This isn't your job OP, unless you want to sabotage the choice so you end up with the pistol.