Weapon suggestions for the wife?

[atxtj]

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?

[Middle Age Russ]

I am glad your wife survived her experience with nothing worse than a better understanding of situational awareness and operational preparedness.

Your wife definitely needs to choose her own weapon -- one that she is comfortable working. Regarding cartridges, it has been said that you should carry the largest that you can shoot effectively. If that is a .380, so be it. Better still if it is 9x19 or larger. If she has small hands and is considering self-loaders, ones with single stack magazines are probably a good idea since they are less girthy. If you are lucky, she'll find something in a store that you can find an example of to rent or borrow to try shooting. Just because it feels good when holding doesn't mean it'll be pleasant when things are more dynamic.

Best of luck in your search. Because my wife has guns she enjoys shooting, she is a great shooting pal for me. I hope you end up similarly blessed.

[WildBill]

Your wife definitely needs to choose her own weapon -- one that she is comfortable working.

You and others may suggest, but she should choose.

[txhighlander]

My wife carries a sp101 and a North American Arms mini revolver in .22 long rifle. At the house a Ruger 10-22 and a Ruger mark 3. She can rapid fire all 10 rounds in a nice group. It is loaded with CCI stingers, they will get the job done. If you get a trigger job done on a revolver your wife shouldn't have any problems. If she isn't going to train with a semi-auto to learn how to clear jams and such then a revolver is the way to go. Hope this helps.

[WildBill]

My wife carries a sp101 and a North American Arms mini revolver in .22 long rifle. At the house a Ruger 10-22 and a Ruger mark 3. She can rapid fire all 10 rounds in a nice group. It is loaded with CCI stingers, they will get the job done. If you get a trigger job done on a revolver your wife shouldn't have any problems. If she isn't going to train with a semi-auto to learn how to clear jams and such then a revolver is the way to go. Hope this helps.

Even if he/she doesn't plan on carrying one, I always suggest that a person qualify for CHL with a semi-auto.

[MoJo]

Some training might help her with the slide issues. The push-pull method works great for people with hand strength issues. A DA revolver is not as hard to shoot if you use both hands to pull the trigger.

I would suggest a larger sized semi auto pistol. My wife had a P3AT that she couldn't rack. She now has an M&P JG that she can rack quite easily. Most of the small guns have a heavier spring than the bigger ones. Take her someplace where you can rent the guns she is interested in and let her decide.

[C-dub]

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

[txhighlander]

My wife carries a sp101 and a North American Arms mini revolver in .22 long rifle. At the house a Ruger 10-22 and a Ruger mark 3. She can rapid fire all 10 rounds in a nice group. It is loaded with CCI stingers, they will get the job done. If you get a trigger job done on a revolver your wife shouldn't have any problems. If she isn't going to train with a semi-auto to learn how to clear jams and such then a revolver is the way to go. Hope this helps.

Even if he/she doesn't plan on carrying one, I always suggest that a person qualify for CHL with a semi-auto.

Mine used a 1911 for her chl class, but she loves that sp101 in 9mm.

[Teamless]

My wife loves her Glock 19, but won't carry it.
She shoots the XD9sc very good, but we sold that to fund her Kimber Solo, which she now carries!

So really, as others have said, she needs to decide.

Post your area, if others in your area are on here, maybe they can offer what weapons they have, and meet you and the wife at the range and let her shoot, so she can see for herself, what she can handle (slide) and which feels he best (comfort and trigger)

[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.

[C-dub]

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.

[Divided Attention]

If she can at all hook up with some like minded ladies and learn that way - less pressure - without you looking over her shoulder, I can't suggest that enough. Nothing personal against hubbies, boyfriends etc. but many women are a bit intimidated by handguns and we deal with issues that you guys don't.

I do not get to brag on my hubby (Middle Age Russ) enough about my journey to CHL. I grew up shooting primarily revolvers, but knew I needed to qualify with a SA. He took me to a local gun shop with a large selection and quietly ansered any of my questions unoppinionated. Bless him and the counter man that stood there with me for over an hour while I held, racked slides and dry fired everything from .380 to 45 in compact sizes. I narrowed it down to 3, and chose from that just because it felt right. Smaller is not always better as some gun salesmen would like to point females. If she can try some out, all the better! If hubby had said "you need to get this, or choose between these" my hard headed self would have likely hated it or fought it regardless if it were the perfect gun.

I now have 2 semi-auto primary carry sidearms and a 38 revolver snubby as well that I rotate through depending upon where I am going and what I am wearing.

I feel everyone regardless of gender should choose their own side arm. Everyone is different, with different hand structure and different tolerance for recoil. Like a pair of shoes - they are very personal, and typically my life doesn't depend on my shoe choice.

JMPHO - wish you the best - enjoy your new shooting buddy! Glad she was alert enough to get away and was not hurt.

Remember, if she would prefer a fun color you can always ceracoat what she gets Oh yeah, you did ask for suggestions. My first "choice" was an M&P 9C, my backup and alternate is my Sig P238. I held a Sheild this past weekend, and like the feel of the Kahr PM9, XD 9mm compact, and Beretta Nano, but have not shot them personally. again YMMV

[Chemist45]

If she can handle the recoil on a PPK in .380 then she will be pleasantly surprised by the recoil of any of these:
S&W M&PC in 9mm
Kahr PM9 or CW9
Ruger LC9

I have shot all of the above and find the PPK in .380 to be the nastiest of them all.
The LC9 is very flat and easy to carry but has a very long trigger pull.
The S&W has a very nice trigger out of the box.
The Kahr's are midway between them.

[C-dub]

If she can at all hook up with some like minded ladies and learn that way - less pressure - without you looking over her shoulder, I can't suggest that enough. Nothing personal against hubbies, boyfriends etc. but many women are a bit intimidated by handguns and we deal with issues that you guys don't.

I do not get to brag on my hubby (Middle Age Russ) enough about my journey to CHL. I grew up shooting primarily revolvers, but knew I needed to qualify with a SA. He took me to a local gun shop with a large selection and quietly ansered any of my questions unoppinionated. Bless him and the counter man that stood there with me for over an hour while I held, racked slides and dry fired everything from .380 to 45 in compact sizes. I narrowed it down to 3, and chose from that just because it felt right. Smaller is not always better as some gun salesmen would like to point females. If she can try some out, all the better! If hubby had said "you need to get this, or choose between these" my hard headed self would have likely hated it or fought it regardless if it were the perfect gun.

I now have 2 semi-auto primary carry sidearms and a 38 revolver snubby as well that I rotate through depending upon where I am going and what I am wearing.

I feel everyone regardless of gender should choose their own side arm. Everyone is different, with different hand structure and different tolerance for recoil. Like a pair of shoes - they are very personal, and typically my life doesn't depend on my shoe choice.

JMPHO - wish you the best - enjoy your new shooting buddy! Glad she was alert enough to get away and was not hurt.

Remember, if she would prefer a fun color you can always ceracoat what she gets Oh yeah, you did ask for suggestions. My first "choice" was an M&P 9C, my backup and alternate is my Sig P238. I held a Sheild this past weekend, and like the feel of the Kahr PM9, XD 9mm compact, and Beretta Nano, but have not shot them personally. again YMMV

You never know until she handles them. My wife liked my G22 better than the G27. Now, she likes the feel of the G30SF better than the G21SF, but hasn't fired either yet.

[atxtj]

The decision will be all hers, as buying a gun really is a very personal thing, and the more she likes her new gun, the more inclined she'll be to go shoot/carry it. We're in the Round Rock area, and I've been suggesting that she go to a shoot with the Girl and a Gun club, but her confidence with a gun is not really very high. I think that would be the perfect venue for her to learn, so I hope she decides to attend. In all honesty, I'd rather not be the one to train her, as I think that actually makes things harder. I also sent her a link to the cornered cat a few months back, may have to resend it. Anyone got an m&p shield and have an opinion?? Well, that may be for me as well...