Gathering input on a lady's pocket gun

[dorminWS]

SWMBO recently got into an online argument with some anonymous idiot about whether marijuana is a gateway drug and ought to remain illegal (she said yes, the idiot said no - plus a lot of words no gentleman should use to SWMBO). SWMBO dressed him down like the naughty juvenile he was acting like, and things apparently went downhill from there. She doesn't know who this guy is, but he knows who she is because she posted under her own name and we are pretty well known in the local community. Since I don't know who the azzole is, there isn't much I can do about the situation. Even if I did know who he was, there's damned little I could do and stay legal. Long story short, this guy comes across in some of his online ramblings as enough of a loose screw to be dangerous. Puts me in mind of the crazy-ass that shot up the theater in Denver. Anyway, SWMBO's just now after all these decades thinking that perhaps she ought to have a pistol. Even though she's mean enough for me to be askeert of, I think it would make me feel better, too.

She's a small person, slightly less than 5 feet tall. We're in our early '60's, and are starkly aware that we are nowhere near as physically robust as we used to be. She has Reynaud's syndrome, which makes her hands fragile, particularly in cold weather. I'm thinking she couldn't handle one of my 3.5" 1911s. Maybe the 9mm Kimber Pro Carry II is a possibility, but let's face it, a 1911 is not a good gun for a newbie and a Kimber is a pretty nice gun to drop into a purse full of emery boards and fingernail files.

So I'm wondering what pistol she'd do best with. She's never fired anything but a bb gun when she was a little girl. I want her to have as much stopping power as possible, but she'll need a small pistol or she won't carry it on her person. She's forever walking off and leaving her cell phone in the car because she doesn't have a pocket (or more likely doesn't want an unsightly unfashionable pocket bulge). I've got that little Sig P238 that I might let her try, but I'm thinking a 9mm might be better for her if I could find a small enough one. I saw a little S&W .380 the other day with an integral laser that was small and neat, but don't know the model; and again, 9mm might be better than .380 even for her. An integral laser would be nice, since she's a total greenhorn with firearms. Idiot-proofness is important - not because she's an idiot but because she knows absolutely nothing about a gun. Going to take her down to the Shooter's Edge in Piney Flats, TN because they rent firearms (but they told me when I called them have NO ammo, so you have to bring your own). It's about 65 miles one way, but probably worth the trip. Then, when I find her a gun, I am DEFINITELY going to pay someone else to train her because she's too damned used to not doing what I tell her, bless her heart.

Any suggestions or general thoughts would be appreciated; mouse guns are not my thang and I want to get it right for my bride.

[GeneFrenkle]

Given hand and arm issues, maybe a revolver might be more suitable? They do not need to be racked if there is a fte or ftf. lcr's are fairly small but would hopefully be controllable in 38 or 357. Is color part of her acceptance criteria (some women find it as important as caliber)?

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[dorminWS]

Given hand and arm issues, maybe a revolver might be more suitable? They do not need to be racked if there is a fte or ftf. lcr's are fairly small but would hopefully be controllable in 38 or 357. Is color part of her acceptance criteria (some women find it as important as caliber)?

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I doubt if SWMBO would be charmed by a pink gun. Might be a nice touch, but not a deal breaker either way. I did think about a small revolver. Thing is, I guess I just assumed that a with DA revolver she would pull off the target getting the hammer pulled back.

[GeneFrenkle]

Hard to say. Might not hurt to have her try one at 7 yards just to see what she thinks. My Wife and I have fired an lcp in 380 (9 mm short) and that was pretty controllable. I'd just have concern about racking and failure recovery.

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[dorminWS]

Good Point.

[Palladin]

My mom (upper 70's ) brings home ladies from her church group to punch targets and bust cans full of water. It amazes me how ladies 10 and 20 yrs younger than she can't handle racking the slide on the pocket rockets. That and the pain they get in arthritic fingers from snappy recoil. I say wheelguns all the way for the older ladies, 5 shots, loaded with the recoil they can handle, be it .38s , +Ps or .357s.
Mom loves her hammerguns, but can wear out a dinnerplate with the DAOs at room's length.

[trailrunner]

The first thing that came to my mind was also a revolver. If she can't handle the DA trigger pull, then get one with a hammer that she can cock and then pull the trigger SA. Revolvers are about as foolproof as you can get in a gun.

For the semi-autos, there are a lot of choices in 380 or 9mm. Ruger LCP, S&W Bodyguard, Beretta Nano and Pico, and so are good little pocket guns. You can get many (or all) of these with lasers built in. There are some minor differences in them (e.g., whether the slide locks back on the last round), but they probably won't be important to her. Some of these have a safety, if that's important. There are also larger semi-autos in 380, such as the Sig P232 or the Walther PPK. If she's concealing in her purse, rather than her body, these might be good choices.

[GeneFrenkle]

Hmmm, i was just thinking about handgun mass and perceived recoil. I'm wondering if the smaller ligter ones would be harder on the forearms for muzzle rise and recoil management. Maybe a sligtly heavier models in addition to lighter ones so see what she prefers and can keep on target for follow ups?

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[Chasbo00]

A really good action job on a small revolver will result in a smooth and relatively light DA trigger pull. These action jobs generally run about $200 or so - might be worth considering. Also, there are plenty of mild recoil 38 Special defensive loads available.

[allingeneral]

I like the little .38SPL +P revolvers. I had a Taurus model 85 a few years ago that I really liked. Mine was SA/DA, but the hammerless model would be my choice for SWMBO purse carry.

[GeneFrenkle]

Don't forget the pocket holster for it. Shame for lipstick or keys getting caught in the trigger guard.

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[SHMIV]

Taurus makes a nice little .357 with minimal recoil. I can't recall what the trigger pull felt like shooting d/a, though. Most of my sisters shot the same gun with the same result, as did my son.

As peaceful a drug as pot is supposed to be, I find it interesting that some pot head feels passionate to the point of violence about it.

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[FiremanBob]

Whether she goes for a revolver or a DA-only pistol (I recommend the Kahr for its smooth, relatively light trigger pull in 9mm or .380 and you can get a Crimston Trace laser for it), she needs to carry it in a holster or a holster purse. If the firearm is not carried in a special compartment all by itself, there is an unacceptable risk that something could get caught in the trigger guard and cause a ND.

(That's not an AD, because one should have known that the item could have gotten into the trigger guard and prevented it by buying the correct holster or purse. There is no such thing as an AD.)

[Jakeiscrazy]

If you decide on a wheel gun I would go steel frame not scandi, it will make it way easier to shoot. I shot a Bersa 380 and the recoil on it was really light. I think it would be good for a recoil sensitive shooter. Also there is the Walther PK380. I haven't had the chance to shoot on yet but I hear mostly good things.

These suggestions are all mid sized but small caliber guns, they recoil softly and the slides are lighter to rack.

Don't get her a really small 380 those things BITE and hard to and the triggers make them very hard to shoot.

[Snakester]

My wife loves her Stainless Ruger SP101...Prefers shooting .38 target loads because it has very little recoil .

[WRW]

http://www.gunsandammo.com/first-look/t ... 80-pistol/

Didja ever decide on anything?

[ratherfish]

My wife commandeered my old remington M 51. Not the R 51 they just came out with. Small will shoot 380 +P and has light recoil due to the Pederson delayed blow back action. Has a grip safety, can be carried cocked and locked with the manual safety is very thin and she keeps it in an inside the pocket holster in one of the pockets of her purse. Most naturally pointing gun i've ever seen, even with the miniscule sights she is very accurate at 20'. (I'm 64 and she is a itty-bitty 61)

One in good condition will cost a pretty penny. That's the price I pay I guess for inviting her to the range all the time. After she shot it she fell in love with it.

http://unblinkingeye.com/Guns/Rem51/rem51.html

[dorminWS]

http://www.gunsandammo.com/first-look/t ... 80-pistol/

Didja ever decide on anything?

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It sorta blew over. I found out who he was and we had a "discussion". No more talk from SWMBO about a gun.

[WRW]

http://www.gunsandammo.com/first-look/t ... 80-pistol/

Didja ever decide on anything?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

It sorta blew over. I found out who he was and we had a "discussion". No more talk from SWMBO about a gun.

'Nuff said. Good deal!

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[HighExpert]

You did exactly what I was going to suggest. Let her pick her own gun.