Weapon suggestions for the wife?

[Divided Attention]

http://www.agirlandagunclub.com/leander.html

I can recommend AG&AG - Although I don't get to go much anymore due to some conflicts, when I was going regularly, we had brand new shooters every time - some that had never touched a gun, and even one that was terrified of them. They get hooked up 1:1 at our club, and likely at the others, and gently introduced to shooting. There are often a variety of guns to try.

Wish you the best!

[snatchel]

I can tell you that while I have not purchased a gun for my wife yet, she has handled several. These are the ones that she is considering:

Kahr CM9
Kahr P9
Walther PPS


All of these are single stack 9mm. Wife is 5'4, weighs around 110 lbs... she is a very petite Asian. Tiny hands, but long fingers. Her favorite to hold is the CM9, but a long shot... but she wants to shoot first.

[9mmfan]

... My idea is a compact 9mm, striker fired with no external safeties to trip her up with, single stack, probably polymer framed.

That's all fine and good for you. Me too, apparently, as my EDC is a Glock 19. However, you are asking us for what you think your wife would like to carry, not what you think she should be packing. I assume you have discussed your concerns with her. Then LISTEN to what she has to say and why. It is to be her means of protection, and she has to be comfortable shooting/carrying said iron.
On a side note, my missus has been mentioning getting her CHL, and is less when she realizes that I am carrying. While I support her whole heartedly in this endeavor, she really has taken a shine to the early twenties era S&W .38 M&P in the safe. I'm pretty sure the grips alone are worth more that the gun, so's I'm thinking about hiding this one and getting a later model 10, unless I can talk her into packing the 637 or the 642. It is certainly hard knowing what is good for everyone else. Particularly when they don't listen.
Ah, the burden of being a man...

[XinTX]

The MUCH better half also is extremely limited in hand strenght. So we had a time finding a handgun she could fully operate, including loading, racking the slide, etc. Plus, she's sub 5', and small framed for that size. We went to several ranges that had rentals and were loaned a few guns from friends. At that time I owned a PPK, so I sold it to fund the one she finally chose. The PPK, as others have said, has a snappy recoil to it. Her P238 fires the same round, but is cushy in comparison. The 238 was right for her, but it was her choice. It's what she used to qualify for her CHL. I don't shoot it much. For me, it's so small I have a hard time gripping it and getting a good group. She's a better shot with it than I am. IOW, I likely wouldn't have chosen it for her. She HATES my 1911's. But years ago I knew a woman who had an ex that was stalking her. She was the same height but a bit stronger. She chose an Officers Model 1911 and loved it. So just looking at a woman and judging her height/weight won't always give a good idea as what works and what doesn't.

[Songbird]

I really love my Walther PPS. (I am a female). I also have a Colt Mustang but wanted a 9mm EDC. The PPS is about the same weight as the Colt, thinner, and easy to shoot. As most have stated, it absolutely needs to be her decision after holding/firing as many as possible. Just wanted to give you my .02 on the PPS.

[Thumper]

My wife alternates carry between an M&P9c 9mm and a S&W 637 Airweight in .38 Spl. Both excellent guns, both are easy to conceal, and both are easily manageable for smaller hands.

[maverick2076]

I've been eyeing that little Kahr CM9. I think I've seen them at a couple of gun shows for around $450-$470.

I was going to suggest a Kahr CW9. The grip is a little longer and you get one more round. The slide is pretty easy to manipulate as well. You should be able to easily find it or the CM9 for at or under $400 new. Check online, or locally at Champion in CS or Independence in Brenham.

If Independence has it for under $450 I'll be surprised. I was there a few weeks ago and the didn't have one, but I think they did have a CW9 for about $480 or so.

Champion lists the CM9 for $375 and the CW9 for $397. I'm not sure about Independence, since they still don't have a website up and running for firearms.

Bud's lists them for $399 and $369, respectively.

[C-dub]

Champion lists the CM9 for $375 and the CW9 for $397. I'm not sure about Independence, since they still don't have a website up and running for firearms.

Bud's lists them for $399 and $369, respectively.

I am pleasantly surprised. This just increases the possibility that I will get one of the CM9's. I like the feel of that little gun.

[maverick2076]

I haven't gotten to handle a CM9 yet, but I have a CW9 and love it. I really want to check out the CM models, but I've been in rifle mode (AR last month and AK this month) so I haven't been really pistol-shopping lately.

[atxtj]

I actually have a PM9, and I think it's a great little gun, especially when paired with a CB Minituck. The wife hasn't shot it yet, but maybe we'll make a range trip this weekend.

[C-dub]

I actually have a PM9, and I think it's a great little gun, especially when paired with a CB Minituck. The wife hasn't shot it yet, but maybe we'll make a range trip this weekend.

Careful, it might be her "new" PM9.

Seriously, though, I think that would be great if she liked that one and easier on your wallet.

[VMI77]

Well, last weekend whilst watering the front yard, my wife had an enlightening experience. Nothing really bad, but she has grasped the concept of situational awareness, and may have avoided a confrontation with some bad guys by getting back in the house before anything happened. Since then she has decided to carry around the property and keep a gun in her car, (Thank you Lord!) although she hasn't committed to getting her CHL. Baby steps. Anyway, her handgun of choice is an interarms Walther PPK/S, and while not a bad gun, I do not trust it with her life. It's not reliable enough for a sd gun, only feeds fmj ammo, and the slide is tough to rack for her.
I'd like to see what the ladies, or the gents wife's are happy carrying lately. My wife is on the small side, and upper body strength challenged, having a tough time racking slides and pulling heavy D/A revolver triggers. She claims to be recoil sensitive, but I have a hunch that is a mental block, as anyone who's shot a PPK knows they are not the most pleasant gun to shoot. My idea is a compact 9mm, striker fired with no external safeties to trip her up with, single stack, probably polymer framed. I'd like to see what everyone else is using, so I can take her to the gun shop and show her lots of stuff, including things I didn't think of, so she can make her own choice. Thoughts?

I have trouble getting my wife to shoot handguns too and she likes the Ruger LCP the best of the ones I have gotten her to shoot. However, I took a defensive handgun class that included a mother and daughter (petite and still in high school) and when the guns they brought were a problem for them in the class (one failed to operate properly) the instructors gave them 9mm Glocks. The mother was driving tacks with hers and the daughter was shooting almost as well. I have a PPK and find it to be one of my most unpleasant guns to shoot --worse than a .38 snubbie. I went and bought myself a Glock after the class (somehow years back I'd gotten the impression I didn't like them) and I love it. I think she might do well with a baby Glock.

[2firfun50]

Just make sure it is her choice. My wife chose a S&W Bodyguard 380 for her everyday carry. However when at the range, her favorite is a Bersa Thunder single stack 380. The Bersa looks a lot like a PPK but without the nasty felt recoil and eats everything from defensive hollow points to lead reloads.

[karder]

The M&P shield is excellent. My wife has agreed to get her CHL and that is the gun I am going to get her as her carry piece. She has already fired it and we both really like it. Very compact, low recoil especially considering it's size and weight, very good accuracy. I can't think of anything negative to say about it. I did momentarily suggest we get another 5.7 but she explained that was not going to work for her due to purse size constraint issues. Apparently the M&P fits just perfect so we will both be happy.

[Divided Attention]

Karder, might I suggest a pocket holster of some sort for inside the purse pocket for the Shield. Also, the Shield could easily become invisible on body as well. JMPHO - but on body is so much easier and less stressful than purse carry - YMMV