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My wife has asked me to get her a lightweight pistol for purse carry. She has been carrying an XD-s for a couple of years, and she loves the pistol, but at 23 ozs, she says it is too heavy. I have tried to discourage her from scaling down, but she is having some back problems and needs to lighten her load as her purse puts all the weight on one side (who designed those things anyway).

I don't know a whole lot about pocket pistols as I am a full-size pistol guy. I was considering a Ruger LCR at about 13 ozs, which would be a big improvement, but I have been looking on-line and the Kahr P380 looks to be just a shade under 10 ozs. I have heard a lot of good things about Kahr so I am considering going with that one. Do any of you have any comments, negative or positive about this gun?

I have considered an NAA revolver as those are only 6 ozs, but I am not sure a single action .22 will serve her well in a high stress event. I am more concerned about the single action operation than the .22 caliber.

She really needs something reliable and simple operation, under 13 ozs. The glock 42, although slightly heavier than my under 13 oz goal, is strongly in the running. If anyone cares to take a minute to share their thoughts on the Kahr P380 or anything else I am missing? I am planning to go browsing the gun shop this weekend (poor me right!), and hopefully bring her home a new carry.

Thanks

I've got one. It rarely comes out of the safe. It's sole purpose is something to carry if I can't carry anything else. My wife and daughter both thought it would be perfect for them so they took it to the range one day. Both hated it. Couldn't get comfortable with the small size, didn't like the felt recoil and couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it.

They both love a Glock 26 or 43.

My wife also wanted a super light pistol... then I made her shoot one. She is now content with a reasonable weight gun. :)

Tell your wife to clean out her purse and she will likely make up twice the weight difference, in change alone. The XDs is a great gun and shoots better than most that light!

Have her try the Sig P238. Small enough to pocket carry for me, and yet light recoil. It's the baby brother of my Sig P938 9mm.

I've got a similar problem. I bought my wife a 9mm XD mod 2. With the arthritis in her hands, she can neither rack the slide nor load the magazine. What would be a good, small revolver for her to carry?

flechero wrote:My wife also wanted a super light pistol... then I made her shoot one. She is now content with a reasonable weight gun. :)

Tell your wife to clean out her purse and she will likely make up twice the weight difference, in change alone. The XDs is a great gun and shoots better than most that light!

Are you married???

Tell your wife to clean out her purse? Good way to see how it feels upside your head!!

Jusme wrote:

flechero wrote:My wife also wanted a super light pistol... then I made her shoot one. She is now content with a reasonable weight gun. :)

Tell your wife to clean out her purse and she will likely make up twice the weight difference, in change alone. The XDs is a great gun and shoots better than most that light!

Are you married???

Tell your wife to clean out her purse? Good way to see how it feels upside your head!!

That is what I was thinking! I'm not the smartest fellow, but I know better than that!

flechero wrote:My wife also wanted a super light pistol... then I made her shoot one. She is now content with a reasonable weight gun. :)

Tell your wife to clean out her purse and she will likely make up twice the weight difference, in change alone. The XDs is a great gun and shoots better than most that light!

After carrying around the Guardian most of the time, my Shield is barely noticeable.

KLB wrote:I've got a similar problem. I bought my wife a 9mm XD mod 2. With the arthritis in her hands, she can neither rack the slide nor load the magazine. What would be a good, small revolver for her to carry?

Either of you consider the Browning 1911-380 compact? They are easy to rack and very light. The p-238 is slightly harder to rack.

I used to own a kahr cw380 and it was a great little gun. It is similar to the p380. The biggest issue was the slide wasn't exactly easy to rack. Fondle the kahr some before you buy it.

Jusme wrote: Are you married???

Yes, very happily married for over 15 years! I never said you wouldn't have to couch the delivery a bit! In my case, she carries a large purse (I'd call it a "weekend bag") so there are already running jokes about purse size and weight.

The real point is that she (your wife) could probably alter her daily load in the purse to make a reasonable pistol work. Shooting an LC9 wouldn't bother me but I have a sturdy frame and good form. Assuming your wife is the fairer of you two, she probably isn't an accomplished shooter that can handle an ultralight pistol with ease... which would be nice if [God forbid] she ever had to use it.

I also own a LCR in 38 special. It is extremely light and the kick isn't too bad. I've tried the low recoil loads and those seemed to reduce recoil quite a bit. The trigger pull is pretty long though and that is something to consider. There is the lcr-x model, but the hammer doesn't exactly make it ideal for purse carry.

flechero wrote:

Tell your wife to clean out her purse and she will likely make up twice the weight difference, in change alone.

I had been researching similarly for 2 ladies who came to Texas and may get their LTC
I had the pistols sorted by weight somewhere, but can't locate it

They're still trying out things, but here are just a list of ones they considered before (probably) picking a Ruger LCP (their first gun ever):
====
9mm
SCCY CPX-2 9mm
SCCY CPX-1 9mm

Taurus Slim 9mm
pf9 9mm (This hurts my thumb joint>he squared off corner)
North American Arms 380 = TOO HEAVY !!! (But optional 10 round mag)

Diamondback DB380 (to compare with P3AT/LCP/TCP/
Bodyguard 380 thin & lightweight=slightly more recoil)
Taurus 738 TCP
DB380
P3AT
Ruger LCP Ketec p3at

revolvers .38 (5 shots)
Glock 26 ?

if Diamondback or revolver is ok, think
beretta pico
Ruger LCP (Has slide lock where other 380s don't)

Smith & Wesson M&P BODYGUARD 380 Crimson Trace, Semi-automatic, .380 ACP, 6+1
Ruger LC380 Crimson Trace, Semi-automatic, .380 ACP, 7 + 1
The Curve

The Ruger LCP is hard to beat, lightweight, low-cost, reliable. When I need to go small, it's what I carry.
Dave