Need handgun recommendations for a small woman.

[tex]

My fiance is 5' and only weighs about 110, and has TINY hands. She's wanting to learn to shoot, but I'm not sure where to start when looking for her a gun. Any experience would be appreciated.

[Ronin6135]

I always thought .38 were good handguns to learn on, you can get them for cheap also.

[Trip McNeely]

Id reccomend a Kel-Tec .380 or a Taurus Millenium 9mm.

[bronco71]

Go to the gun shows! One of the better ones is at Big Town this weekend and almost every month! Handle a lot of guns to get the feel and prices!

My wife loved her S&W 686 .357 mag; start with 38 specials till she gets used to it, then she can move up to magnums if she wants! Large variety of grips available for most pistols to accomadate hand size!

[momo stallion]

9mm, just pick one that fits your hand nicely and shoot it to see if you like it.

i have a .380 and it's crap.

[JP135]

Kel Tec .32 is great. Small/light enough for pocket carry and the .32 actually has decent knock-down with the right ammo (Corbon, etc)

[evil jose]

Well this be a gun for concealed carry? Home? Target practice? Or just like you said, a starter gun to get her familar with firing a handgun. If it's the latter I say start her off with a .22 like a Ruger Mark II. It will get her familiar with firing a semi automatic pistol like cycling the slide and magazine. The .22 round isn't punishing and will keep her from getting gun shy. Plus she can practice really cheap and shoot often. Hell I wouldn't mind picking up one of these guns. They even make the .22/.45 which has a grip angle similar to a .45.

http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/images/Products/281L.jpg

[evil jose]

This is actually a really nice pistol. Look at these features. Hell I need to see how much these cost.

Ruger 22/45™ Mark II™ Hunter pistols offer shooters the familiar feel of a 1911 pistol in stainless finish and a 6 7/8" target-crowned, fluted bull barrel. Sturm, Ruger is proud to introduce a thoroughly modern family of autoloading pistols, which combines the best of both - the Ruger 22/45 Mark III pistols. All 22/45 Mark III pistols feature:

** Front and rear sights for faster, more precise target acquisition.

** HiViz® front sight with six interchangeable LitePipes™(included).

** Precision-molded polymer grip frame with a serrated front strap and checkered grip panel areas and back strap for a great appearance and comfortable, non-slip hold.

** A manual safety that positively locks the sear.

** An internal cylindrical bolt construction ensures permanent alignment and higher accuracy potential than conventional moving-slide designs.

** A contoured ejection port and tapered bolt ears.

** An unobtrusive internal lock that locks the safety in the "SAFE" position.

** A magazine disconnect to prevent accidental discharge when the magazine has been removed.

** The first-ever visible loaded chamber indicator for a .22 rimfire pistol.

** Two ten-round magazines and high-impact case included with each pistol.

** Drilled and tapped for a Weaver-type scope base adapter, included with each pistol.

[1985GT]

Id reccomend a Kel-Tec .380 or a Taurus Millenium 9mm.


I know a bunch of people who have the kel-tec .380 as their carry gun. it is tiny, but I dont know much more about it. I have the kel-tec 9mm and I couldnt hit a barn with that thing if i was 12 feet away from it. its tiny, but accurate up to about 10 feet. :)

[tex]

Thanks guys. Yeah, Jose, I was thinking more of something that she can learn with, and get used to firing. I haven't shot much since I was in my early teens, so I'd need lots of practice as well. I'm going to look into the Kel-Tec line, and the .22s as well.

[FatassLX]

hit me up if your ever free on a tues/weds, i've got two 38's.

[tex]

Cool, you've got everything, don't you? :D

[FatassLX]

gettin there. :)

[Trip McNeely]

Thanks guys. Yeah, Jose, I was thinking more of something that she can learn with, and get used to firing. I haven't shot much since I was in my early teens, so I'd need lots of practice as well. I'm going to look into the Kel-Tec line, and the .22s as well.
Oh well if its not just for concealment look into the Ruger P series line. I started on my P95 9mm, its a great gun to learn on and its cheaper than most. Ruger also makes a great gun, so its not crap either.

[GT98SVO]

Lady Smith

[ScottsMach03]

Bersa 380

[FatassLX]

im plannin on hittin bass pro weds if your not doing anything.

[propellerhead]

Keltek or Bersa 380 will kick. They are snappy and will want to jump out of her hands. Ever shoot one of those?

A small woman would feel more comfortable with a 4" 9mm.

[STANGGT40]

any small 9mm or .380 would be fine...you're not trying to be a sniper with the thing, so don't expect long range shots to be dead on... if she's carrying the gun, she shouldn't be shooting outside of 15 feet anyway.

brad

[Johnsredgt50]

Lady Smith
X2

[Denny]

Kel-Tec .380 is a little jumpy, but their .32 should be enough for her. I have the .32 myself and love it for what it is. Can't ever go wrong with a Lady Smith either ;)

[EW]

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=11101&storeId=10001&productId=14766&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=15704&isFirearm=Y

[Denny]

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=11101&storeId=10001&productId=14766&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=15704&isFirearm=Y
Cha-ching!!!

[AL P]

Cha-ching!!!

No shit, you could buy a lot for that price.

[Denny]

You can pick these up all day long for around $200

http://www.kel-tec.com/p32.html

[vetteracer]

For a beginer get a S&W 442. Its a 38 special and doesn't kick all that much. My daughter carries one and has no problems. Best thing is no safetys or other bullshit to worry about and can be shot out of a pocket or purse, can't do that with a semi auto. Can get new at gunshows a little over $300, cheaper used. I own a S&W 340pd and it kicks a little to much for most people.

[FatassLX]

For a beginer get a S&W 442. Its a 38 special and doesn't kick all that much. My daughter carries one and has no problems. Best thing is no safetys or other bullshit to worry about and can be shot out of a pocket or purse, can't do that with a semi auto. Can get new at gunshows a little over $300, cheaper used. I own a S&W 340pd and it kicks a little to much for most people.

im pretty sure i could fire my browning (http://webpages.charter.net/m.eddelman/browning1.jpg) in a pocket.

[Undertaker]

I need a gun.

[Johnsredgt50]

Cha-ching!!!
How much is you life worth? :D

[1_BAD_5.0]

My wife has had a Sig 239 in 9mm for over 8 years now. She can aquire a target and get two shots on it quickly and effectively. She was taught by a Plano Police Detective who has a CHL class on a monthly basis. He gears it towards women and others who may not have fired a weapon before. He also has an advanced version where Dirty Harry wanna bes can hone their skills. The weapon she uses is easy to operate has a low failure rate and most of all is small. Dallas Police Department uses Sig Sauers as their primary duty weapon so they obviously works. Almost all of Sig weapons operate from teh same frame and have the same features in the same places, so you learn one you learn them all. You just pick your size. This is just a smaller version often used a backup weapon.

Hhttp://www.sigarms.com/Products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=9&productid=71ere is a link.

Hope this helps.

[Trip McNeely]

im pretty sure i could fire my browning (http://webpages.charter.net/m.eddelman/browning1.jpg) in a pocket.
lol. Be afraid...be VERY afraid.

[Denny]

How much is you life worth? :D
I think I got it covered for less ;)

[Johnsredgt50]

I think I got it covered for less ;)
Strike 2 Denny

[Scott H]

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=11101&storeId=10001&productId=14766&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=15704&isFirearm=Y

My buddy picked one of those up a few months back for his "pocket gun." It is amazing for a snub-nose! I have an old colt .32 that I can't hit the broad side of a barn with, but with that j-frame of my buddy's, I shot a 4" group at 7 yards the very first time! (I know that's nothing to write home about, but for an unfamiliar weapon (and a snub-nose at that) I was quite pleasantly suprised!) The feel and sight picture is very natural (for me anyway.) To keep from developing a flinch, he had it loaded with a random mix of .357m and .38 special. You definitely know it when you find a .357... :D I shot one round of the hot load he keeps it loaded with for carry use... Man, that's not something I'd care to do on a regular basis!

[FatassLX]

My buddy picked one of those up a few months back for his "pocket gun." It is amazing for a snub-nose! I have an old colt .32 that I can't hit the broad side of a barn with, but with that j-frame of my buddy's, I shot a 4" group at 7 yards the very first time! (I know that's nothing to write home about, but for an unfamiliar weapon (and a snub-nose at that) I was quite pleasantly suprised!) The feel and sight picture is very natural (for me anyway.) To keep from developing a flinch, he had it loaded with a random mix of .357m and .38 special. You definitely know it when you find a .357... :D I shot one round of the hot load he keeps it loaded with for carry use... Man, that's not something I'd care to do on a regular basis!

my little snub nose 38 surprised me the first time i fired it also. a 4" group isnt the greatest but its plenty for a defensive situation IMO.

[Honneur 05]

my little snub nose 38 surprised me the first time i fired it also. a 4" group isnt the greatest but its plenty for a defensive situation IMO. See if you can get that down to 1" @7 yards. 83% of all shootings/ Gunfights happen at 7 yards or less. For the first time 4" groups is ok but practice to get better. In a gunfight the difference between one shot and another isn't 4 inches (Or even 2")... It's a life.

[ruffdaddy]

Try a Bersa 380. I liked it much more than any Kel-Tec I've ever shot because it seemed to be made a little better, and I have never had one jam. I've seen the Kel-Tecs jam quite a bit.

[ruffdaddy]

See if you can get that down to 1" @7 yards. 83% of all shootings/ Gunfights happen at 7 yards or less. For the first time 4" groups is ok but practice to get better. In a gunfight the difference between one shot and another isn't 4 inches (Or even 2")... It's a life.

With a Big enough gun and the right Rounds...4" won't make much of a difference...heh. And if you're basing your training on how "most" gunfights happen...dont bother training at all. Because "Most" people never get in a gun fight. And it's very hard to re-create the adrenaline rush at a range. Basically...don't limit yourself to just 7-10yds (I've seen way too many people do this at the range).

[Scott H]

See if you can get that down to 1" @7 yards. 83% of all shootings/ Gunfights happen at 7 yards or less. For the first time 4" groups is ok but practice to get better. In a gunfight the difference between one shot and another isn't 4 inches (Or even 2")... It's a life.


Ya, like I said, that is the first time I ever fired the weapon and it wasn't mine, so I was happy with 4". I was just noting that it shot much, much better the old, heavy snub noses I'd shot in the past. The sights, ergonomics and trigger are far, far better. I imagine with practice, that S&W could easily shoot 2" at 7 yards. Prior to shooting it, I really didn't think that would be possible with a snub nose! I don't shoot too many revolvers these days, so getting used to that DA pull and staying on target really takes some concentration!

If I take my time (1-2 seconds/shot) I can do sub 2" at 7 yrds off-hand with my 92fs pretty consistently. I might get 1-2 "flyers" out of the 15 that stretch it to 3-4" "officially." But I'm fairly happy with that. I can stay under 5" shooting fast enough to make the range guy give me "the look." :D I seem to be able to get to the range just enough to stay consistent (10-15 times/year), I'd like to go more often and get "good." A buddy of mine shoots competitively, so he gave me some drills to do last time that seem to be helping. (Shooting one shot DA from the "ready" position, and then a second shot as fast as possible, then decock and start over to work on speedy target aquisition and getting used to the DA/SA switch and taking up most of the DA pull on the way up, etc.. I hope to take some classes this year too. Up until now, I've just been going to the range and shooting a coupla hundred rds. same way each time. I almost always cocked it first too, he got on me for not shooting it DA for the first shot... :D It is one less step, I guess.

[Scott H]

Try a Bersa 380. I liked it much more than any Kel-Tec I've ever shot because it seemed to be made a little better, and I have never had one jam. I've seen the Kel-Tecs jam quite a bit.

I'm cross dominant (right handed, but left-eyed) so I hold the gun a few inches more to the left and a little closer to my face than most right handed shooters when shooting. Anyway, when shooting a friends Kel-Tec 380, it put about every 5rd or 6th ejected brass right into my forehead... I didn't dig that a whole lot.

I sold him a Colt Mustang .380 (looks like a mini-1911, chambered in .380.) So he ditched the Kel-Tek. That Colt is a great shooting gun, so to the originator of this thread, you could look into those too! I would have kept that one, but I got a hand-me-down PPK from my great uncle, so I didn't need another small auto, and the Walther has sentimetal value, so the Mustang went away.)

[Casper]

A makarov would be a good small-frame gun. Fantastic piece of engineering, if they were plastic then Glock would have never made it.

[V-SICK]

Springfield XD

[Casper]

Another option is an H&R 22LR revolver. 9 or 12 shots, SA/DA, very small grip. Also, a Rossie 38spl snubnose. Super good snubbie, both can be had for about $50.

[FROgSToMp38]

Bersa 380

X2

[Trip McNeely]

No offense, but Bersa-Llama makes shitty handguns. I would never go cheap on something that could save your life.

[FROgSToMp38]

No offense, but Bersa-Llama makes shitty handguns. I would never go cheap on something that could save your life.

Ive never had a problem with them,... cheaper, compact, and not a pain in the ass to shoot,.. I dont think you can go wrong with one,...