[Nate882004]

I'm looking to get my wife a handgun for a CCW and she has no experience with guns. She does know how to shoot my 20ga single shot and my .22 revolver and rifles. But that's it. She thinks my Glock 26 and the XDM are too big and heavy. What smaller gun would be better to get her?

 

[jay634]

My wife just got a Sig p238 and she likes it more every time we go shoot. We are in the process of getting CCW. We had very little experience with handguns until several months ago, a friend took us out shooting so we got to try out a few. She was dead set on the LCP but after shooting one she didn't like it at all.

 

[CA357]

Has she attended a handgun safety course yet? If not, have her do that first. Then she should take a defensive handgun class. They have classes just for women and I'd recommend that. Then go to a gun shop and have her handle as many handguns as she wants. When it's narrowed down, try and find her picks and have her shoot them. Then she'll have a gun she feels comfortable handling and shooting. Then have her shoot it as much as possible.

 

[Colby]

I'm looking to get my wife a handgun for a CCW and she has no experience with guns. She does know how to shoot my 20ga single shot and my .22 revolver and rifles. But that's it. She thinks my Glock 26 and the XDM are too big and heavy. What smaller gun would be better to get her?

If you get her something that he thinks is too big and heavy - she likely will not carry it. Like someone else suggested - let her chose.
A semi-auto adds a lot of complications to carrying that she may not take to well.
I suggest she watch some videos, as well. On youtube, Falia - of Falia photography, has a lot of stuff for women - choosing guns, types, how to carry... They are very well done videos.

 

[AR10]

Has she attended a handgun safety course yet? If not, have her do that first. Then she should take a defensive handgun class. They have classes just for women and I'd recommend that. Then go to a gun shop and have her handle as many handguns as she wants. When it's narrowed down, try and find her picks and have her shoot them. Then she'll have a gun she feels comfortable handling and shooting. Then have her shoot it as much as possible.

Great post!

 

[danf_fl]

As these gentlemen have said.

Get her into training. Let her handle as many as possible. She will tell you which one she likes.

(She must have good selection skills. She chose you, didn't she?)

 

[Donn]

What everyone else said. Training's the key, then finding a piece that "fits." First time I took Mrs. to the range, I loaded 5 in my 1911. After explaining the basics of safety, grip and sight picture, she took it and put all 5 in the black at 25yds. Didn't know whether to be proud or extremely frightened.

 

[DrumJunkie]

Has she attended a handgun safety course yet? If not, have her do that first. Then she should take a defensive handgun class. They have classes just for women and I'd recommend that. Then go to a gun shop and have her handle as many handguns as she wants. When it's narrowed down, try and find her picks and have her shoot them. Then she'll have a gun she feels comfortable handling and shooting. Then have her shoot it as much as possible.

I'm going to start calling this answer for new shooters 0001A. and jus tlink to it every time we get an OP like this. There is no perfect gun, the one that feels best is the first step. Trying different calibers will get that narrowed down. No rental ranges? Got friends with guns? THe objec tof th egame is to find a caliber that works best in a handgun that fits best. Because if these two things are no met then you will have problems down the road. Man, ,woman, young shooter, It doesn't matter.Best case scenario is the new shooter learns bad habits that effect accuracy. Worst they feel uncomfortable possibly to the point they wont want to shoot it and then the gun becomes a paperweight that can get her hurt or worse.

My wife love her model 19-3 Smith. She also loves my old Mod 10. She hates semi autos. So getting one would be a waste. I put every kind of pistol and revolver I had and/or could get my hands on. And it paid off great.

 

[BeyondTheBox]

What's her issue, height, length, weight, width?

Have her shoot your guns then something smaller you can rent or borrow. Then ask her if she really wants smaller.

Also have her shoot different trigger types and see which best suits her there. Long pull, short pull can make a huge difference in what I would recommend.

 

[GeneralPatton]

I typically say the same thing. Take her to a range with a good rental selection and let her shoot a few. My wife had started shooting with me from time to time and would only shoot my Walther P22 99% of the time. I let her decide and she chose a KelTec P32 for it's small size and low recoil. She carries it everyday, and yes she has a CWL

 

[hardluk1]

My wife has her own dan wesson 357 mag , a M&P 9 C a her fun gun and house gun but carried a bersa 380CC and or a tuarus tcp. Same for one daughter , the other girls carries a 13oz 38+P revolver. It more about finding Her limits are with what she shoot well then what She feels comforable cc'n the way they dress.

 

[KJG67]

What they said.

Also have her check out this site. There's a good section on finding a gun.
http://www.corneredcat.com/contents/

 

[hardluk1]

Good site.

 

[kjdeut]

First thing I did when we decided to get a handgun was to sign up the wife, daughter, and myself for a handgun safety class. Class we took was really good and let use shoot a 22 semi auto, 9mm semi auto, and a 357 revolver with 38 special rounds. It gave us a starting point on the differences between the calibers along with semi vs revolver. They also made sure we shot the revolver both DA and SA so we knew that difference too. It was a great experience for us all.

Ken

 

[martez39]

If you get her something that he thinks is too big and heavy - she likely will not carry it. Like someone else suggested - let her chose.
A semi-auto adds a lot of complications to carrying that she may not take to well.
I suggest she watch some videos, as well. On youtube, Falia - of Falia photography, has a lot of stuff for women - choosing guns, types, how to carry... They are very well done videos.

I would recommend the ruger lcr. A nice compact, light weight revolver. You want your wife to be able to protect herself without any complications. The revolver will eliminate the jams, unable to rack the slide, difficulties of loading and give you the sense of security of knowing your wife can handle that firearm.

 

[ScottA]

Check this out...

http://www.downrange.tv/blog/the-best-defense-online-handgun-selection-for-women/13411/

 

[GeneralPatton]

First thing I did when we decided to get a handgun was to sign up the wife, daughter, and myself for a handgun safety class. Class we took was really good and let use shoot a 22 semi auto, 9mm semi auto, and a 357 revolver with 38 special rounds. It gave us a starting point on the differences between the calibers along with semi vs revolver. They also made sure we shot the revolver both DA and SA so we knew that difference too. It was a great experience for us all.

Ken

It is nice to see those who have little or no experience educate themselves before purchase. To few do it these days. It's unfortunate that so many grow up not being around firearms. I got my first at the age of 8 or so. A single shot .410 Then I got my shotgun at age 10, a lt 20 gauge. I grew up around hunt clubs and guns. They've never phased me. I take my 9 and 11 year old daughters to the range. I don't want them growing up thinking guns are "evil" as the educational establishment will try and teach them.

I salute you for your diligence.