My wife wants to buy a pistol. She wants to use it for the range/as a nightstand gun. She's pretty tiny What recommendations do you guys have? I was thinking about the Walther PDP-F or the Glock 48. But I'm open to suggestions.
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Ramble On
Go to a range. Rent several guns. See what she likes.
The answers you'll receive online are more towards what gun the person posting likes, and that's not always what's best for your wife.
It's like asking what shoe to buy. You gotta try them on.
The answers you'll receive online are more towards what gun the person posting likes, and that's not always what's best for your wife.
It's like asking what shoe to buy. You gotta try them on.
Honestly, If she's not into guns and this is something she's going to shoot once in a blue moon, I'd get her a S&W M&P in .22 Magnum. Holds 30 rounds, recoil is not bad for a woman and runs like a clock.
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P365x is well suited for someone with smaller hands. Ruger Security .380 may also work for her. Absolutely have her handle it (and hopefully shoot one) before making a decision.
For a nightstand pistol, a light/laser is pretty much a given in our world. A red dot also has proven to be quite beneficial in helping out granddaughters to feel confident in their abilities with a pistol.
For a nightstand pistol, a light/laser is pretty much a given in our world. A red dot also has proven to be quite beneficial in helping out granddaughters to feel confident in their abilities with a pistol.
My wife is 5’0” with small hands. Her choice is the SAR B6C 9mm. She fell in love with the grip and she has to have a hammer. At 68 she wanted less recoil than her 1911 officer cut in 45.
My GF wanted a pistol . I gave her my Kahr P9 to see if she could rack the slide and she couldn’t pulling it back . I told her to hold it and push with her strong hand and it looked like she got the hang of it . Then I took her to the LGS to try some and she could not rack the slide again . The sales employee suggested a revolver and she asked me what I thought and I told her that I thought that was a good idea . She is 5’10 and 140 lbs , but weak as water .
Whichever one she's comfortable with and can shoot/operate well.
But as for which kinds of options to steer her toward trying, it sounds like you can avoid the tiny guns if she isn't also planning to carry it. Your two suggestions sound like great options. Maybe put a couple others in her hands, too, so she has 3-4 options to choose from.
The HD guns my wife has had over the years include S&W 627PC, SD9VE, M&P9 fullsize, and M&P40 Compact. She's fairly comfortable with my P365 carry guns as well. But for the house, you could easily test out a P365XL or Macro.
But as for which kinds of options to steer her toward trying, it sounds like you can avoid the tiny guns if she isn't also planning to carry it. Your two suggestions sound like great options. Maybe put a couple others in her hands, too, so she has 3-4 options to choose from.
The HD guns my wife has had over the years include S&W 627PC, SD9VE, M&P9 fullsize, and M&P40 Compact. She's fairly comfortable with my P365 carry guns as well. But for the house, you could easily test out a P365XL or Macro.
As was already said earlier, any recommendation I give will be something that I like....but I did buy my daughter a Gen3 Glock 19 and she loves that pistol, and she's really proficient with it! For reference she's 5'0" and 130/135 lbs. with matching small hands.
I recommend she pick and choose what she likes.
That said, I will repeat what I’ve stated countless times after introducing people of all sorts to shooting for some half century.
PCC of some sort, period
I’ve taken people that have never even seen a firearm in person, who were often nervous/scared, gave them some basic instructions, and within minutes were repeatedly ringing steel at distance. Usually with a big silly grin on their face.
There are lots of great options, I’m a big fan of the CX4 Storm for newbs as it very compact and its form factor lends itself to transitioning to a pistol later on down the road. There are also inexpensive options like the Sub2K, more traditional like the Homesteader, and many more.
I am also a huge fan of starting new shooters off on lever actions as they lend themselves well to operational safety around the house. An 1894 loaded with 38’s is not the least bit intimidating, easy to operate / make safe, and can be fitted with peeps or a red dot to make even a novice hit like a pro. I have also found that new female shooters LOVE the BL-22, like a duck loves water, especially the Midas version (I’ve yet to meet a woman who didn’t fall in love with it).
Skip the handgun.
Even with great instruction they tend to be much more intimidating, far more difficult to master, not as “safe”, and lead to a lower long term success rate. PCC’s help take people from zero to hero almost immediately which typically leads to greater interest and long term success.
PS
If there is absolute insistence on a handgun, I would still try to dissuade, trust me. But if forced for whatever reason, I would stay away from a pistol and recommend a 38/357 revolver.
An all steel 3 or 4 inch loaded with 148 full wadcutters is about the least intimidating handgun to fire, an absolute kitten. No fussing with magazines, semi-auto malfunctions, learning to load and charge. They are also easier for a novice to understand and FAR SAFER for a typical new shooter.
That said, I will repeat what I’ve stated countless times after introducing people of all sorts to shooting for some half century.
PCC of some sort, period
I’ve taken people that have never even seen a firearm in person, who were often nervous/scared, gave them some basic instructions, and within minutes were repeatedly ringing steel at distance. Usually with a big silly grin on their face.
There are lots of great options, I’m a big fan of the CX4 Storm for newbs as it very compact and its form factor lends itself to transitioning to a pistol later on down the road. There are also inexpensive options like the Sub2K, more traditional like the Homesteader, and many more.
I am also a huge fan of starting new shooters off on lever actions as they lend themselves well to operational safety around the house. An 1894 loaded with 38’s is not the least bit intimidating, easy to operate / make safe, and can be fitted with peeps or a red dot to make even a novice hit like a pro. I have also found that new female shooters LOVE the BL-22, like a duck loves water, especially the Midas version (I’ve yet to meet a woman who didn’t fall in love with it).
Skip the handgun.
Even with great instruction they tend to be much more intimidating, far more difficult to master, not as “safe”, and lead to a lower long term success rate. PCC’s help take people from zero to hero almost immediately which typically leads to greater interest and long term success.
PS
If there is absolute insistence on a handgun, I would still try to dissuade, trust me. But if forced for whatever reason, I would stay away from a pistol and recommend a 38/357 revolver.
An all steel 3 or 4 inch loaded with 148 full wadcutters is about the least intimidating handgun to fire, an absolute kitten. No fussing with magazines, semi-auto malfunctions, learning to load and charge. They are also easier for a novice to understand and FAR SAFER for a typical new shooter.
As someone that has owned hundreds of guns and brought hundreds of people shooting, I can agree that this is THE correct answer.
A PCC is the ideal home defense gun for 99% of folks that want a home defense gun. Its superior to a handgun.
For a tiny female that wants a gun, my wife loves the Glock 25 (.380) and the Sig P365-.380 with the XL frame and 12 round mags. These guns are so shootable, fast follow up shots, accurate, and 40% less recoil than a 9MM.
I agree with letting her try some out for herself as much as is possible.
I'm a retired (code for "older," LOL) woman with small, rather weak hands. Here are a few factors she might want to think about:
How "into" firearms will she be and how often will she go to a range to use one?
(For those for whom the answer would be "rarely" and it just sits in a drawer, I'd suggest considering a DAO revolver in .38 spl, because it is more intuitive to operate and simpler for the inexperienced user who seldom touches a firearm. It's also less prone to user-caused malfunctions. The heavy trigger pull can be a safety and comfort advantage and most women can use both index fingers to pull the trigger if needed. I find myself automatically doing that at the range after the first several shots if my finger gets tired, and it doesn't affect my accuracy.)
Will she be able to confidently rack the slide on most semi-autos?
(I can, but I have to grip the top of the slide using my entire non-dominant hand, and then push the frame forward at a downward angle using my dominant arm. Arms are stronger than fingers. It took some practice but even I can do it easily now, so she can probably learn to do it too. However, this can be a real problem for some, and if she's not comfortable operating the handgun she's not going to enjoy or feel confident using it. If that's the case the Shield EZ might still work for her.)
Is she more comfortable with a pistol that has a manual safety, if it's not a true DAO with a heavier trigger pull?
(Even though I always keep any loaded handgun in a holster, even in a drawer, I've learned the hard way that I simply prefer a striker-fired pistol to have a thumb safety, but she may not want one. This is personal preference.)
Considering the above, here are some models I'd suggest considering:
S&W 642 or 442 .38 spl revolver, or a bigger 6-shot model (not a bigger caliber) or something similar. I also like my Ruger SP101 loaded with .38 spl.
(I keep these loaded for home defense.)
M&P Shield EZ in 9mm, or maybe even .380
(The slide is easy to rack on these and they are a little larger than the regular Shields which also helps with recoil. They are available without or with a thumb safety. Unlike the other Shields the EZ has a grip safety.)
M&P Shield Plus in 9mm
(I keep one of these loaded in my home. It's probably my favorite pistol to shoot, too. The smaller, somewhat oval grip fits my hands better than the double stacks including the Glocks. But it also has a stiff slide. It's also available without or with a thumb safety.)
M&P 9C double stack, or something similar
(This is also one of my favorites, and the one I did very well with when I took my county's optional firearms course.)
Any of the 9mm Glocks or a similar semi-auto; many choices out there.
If she doesn't like 9mm or a revolver, look at some .380 ACP models.
One tip on gripping a handgun:
In addition to a very firm two-handed grip around the pistol, it helps me if I also press my hands toward each other and the sides of the firearm. Maybe everyone does this, though?
Best wishes to both of you in finding a firearm she likes and enjoys shooting.
I'm a retired (code for "older," LOL) woman with small, rather weak hands. Here are a few factors she might want to think about:
How "into" firearms will she be and how often will she go to a range to use one?
(For those for whom the answer would be "rarely" and it just sits in a drawer, I'd suggest considering a DAO revolver in .38 spl, because it is more intuitive to operate and simpler for the inexperienced user who seldom touches a firearm. It's also less prone to user-caused malfunctions. The heavy trigger pull can be a safety and comfort advantage and most women can use both index fingers to pull the trigger if needed. I find myself automatically doing that at the range after the first several shots if my finger gets tired, and it doesn't affect my accuracy.)
Will she be able to confidently rack the slide on most semi-autos?
(I can, but I have to grip the top of the slide using my entire non-dominant hand, and then push the frame forward at a downward angle using my dominant arm. Arms are stronger than fingers. It took some practice but even I can do it easily now, so she can probably learn to do it too. However, this can be a real problem for some, and if she's not comfortable operating the handgun she's not going to enjoy or feel confident using it. If that's the case the Shield EZ might still work for her.)
Is she more comfortable with a pistol that has a manual safety, if it's not a true DAO with a heavier trigger pull?
(Even though I always keep any loaded handgun in a holster, even in a drawer, I've learned the hard way that I simply prefer a striker-fired pistol to have a thumb safety, but she may not want one. This is personal preference.)
Considering the above, here are some models I'd suggest considering:
S&W 642 or 442 .38 spl revolver, or a bigger 6-shot model (not a bigger caliber) or something similar. I also like my Ruger SP101 loaded with .38 spl.
(I keep these loaded for home defense.)
M&P Shield EZ in 9mm, or maybe even .380
(The slide is easy to rack on these and they are a little larger than the regular Shields which also helps with recoil. They are available without or with a thumb safety. Unlike the other Shields the EZ has a grip safety.)
M&P Shield Plus in 9mm
(I keep one of these loaded in my home. It's probably my favorite pistol to shoot, too. The smaller, somewhat oval grip fits my hands better than the double stacks including the Glocks. But it also has a stiff slide. It's also available without or with a thumb safety.)
M&P 9C double stack, or something similar
(This is also one of my favorites, and the one I did very well with when I took my county's optional firearms course.)
Any of the 9mm Glocks or a similar semi-auto; many choices out there.
If she doesn't like 9mm or a revolver, look at some .380 ACP models.
One tip on gripping a handgun:
In addition to a very firm two-handed grip around the pistol, it helps me if I also press my hands toward each other and the sides of the firearm. Maybe everyone does this, though?
Best wishes to both of you in finding a firearm she likes and enjoys shooting.
My wife loves her Walther PDP F 3.5-inch. I do have my PDP F 4-inch up for sale in the Firearms Listings.
FWIW, I got my wife a G48 which she shot just fine. She shot my G19 at some point and then wanted one of those instead. She has small hands, but apparently big enough for a G19. She felt that the "timing" when shooting faster was better ie: she shot more quickly and on target with the 19 than the 48. She felt the "kick' was the same on both, but the G19 she could shoot for longer at the range. She eventually wanted a light on the G19 since it lives in the nightstand. I could have rented a G48 before buying one, and probably should have as I could have saved myself some tme and money.
Size doesn't always mean comfort. My wife loves shooting the bersa thunder 380 that we rented from the range. She didn't like many of the other guns they had.
Eventually I bought her one and bought myself a 5" XD9. One day at the range she shot both. The XD9 won. The slide was easy enough for her to rack and the 5" barrel/slide absorbed the recoil. She had carpal tunnel.
So definitely have her shoot as many guns as you guys can. Even if she doesn't like the look of the gun, have her shoot it anyways. She might like the gun.
G19 is a great all around gun.
Eventually I bought her one and bought myself a 5" XD9. One day at the range she shot both. The XD9 won. The slide was easy enough for her to rack and the 5" barrel/slide absorbed the recoil. She had carpal tunnel.
So definitely have her shoot as many guns as you guys can. Even if she doesn't like the look of the gun, have her shoot it anyways. She might like the gun.
G19 is a great all around gun.
The only comments I can think of that I haven't read above are these:
How the grip feels in her hand has been a major concern of every woman I've ever helped with shooting. If it's not comfortable in her hand she generally won't like it. Taking her to a LGS and having her handle several models will save time and money at the range.
Can she rack the slide of a semi auto safely and easily without getting her hand pinched? I think Beretta makes a .380 that has a tip-up barrel to load it without having to rack the slide. Manual of arms is more complex with a pistol, the fact that it is still loaded even after the magazine has been removed can be hard for some to remember when it matters, and it always matters.
I like the idea of an all steel SA/DA revolver in .38 Special or .32 Fed Mag, 3-4"., especially if you can get the same model in .22LR. I like SP101s for smaller hands. I would leave the SA option as it is easier to hit with and more fun to shoot.
I like the lever action carbine in a pistol caliber, but how about a youth sized 20 GA pump shotgun?
How the grip feels in her hand has been a major concern of every woman I've ever helped with shooting. If it's not comfortable in her hand she generally won't like it. Taking her to a LGS and having her handle several models will save time and money at the range.
Can she rack the slide of a semi auto safely and easily without getting her hand pinched? I think Beretta makes a .380 that has a tip-up barrel to load it without having to rack the slide. Manual of arms is more complex with a pistol, the fact that it is still loaded even after the magazine has been removed can be hard for some to remember when it matters, and it always matters.
I like the idea of an all steel SA/DA revolver in .38 Special or .32 Fed Mag, 3-4"., especially if you can get the same model in .22LR. I like SP101s for smaller hands. I would leave the SA option as it is easier to hit with and more fun to shoot.
I like the lever action carbine in a pistol caliber, but how about a youth sized 20 GA pump shotgun?
My wife carry’s a 365 but keeps a HK45 with a TLR-2 by her bed.
She loves the full sized grip and the controls are easier for her to navigate as opposed to her micro 9.
She has no issue with the recoil and is comfortable and confident with that pistol.
She has big hands which is bad news for me
She loves the full sized grip and the controls are easier for her to navigate as opposed to her micro 9.
She has no issue with the recoil and is comfortable and confident with that pistol.
She has big hands which is bad news for me
Depends....how much can she bench, how many bent knee ab crunches can she do without stopping, and can she lift a cast iron pan with one hand or 2? Pull-ups, or muscle ups?
Pics of your wife posted here, will give you much more accurate recommendations.
Pics of your wife posted here, will give you much more accurate recommendations.
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