Gun for girlfriend?

D

drjones

Joined
Sep 6, 2000
Messages
913
Hi. Looking for a gun for my girlfriend. She's got small hands, and today I just read about the Glock 30 & 36, which seem perfect. They are among the best guns on the planet, they are compact, potent caliber, and what I like best is that there is no slide-mounted safety for her to fumble with. Just rack the slide & pull the trigger!

Other than that, I was thinking maybe a compact Beretta?

I do not know much about compact guns; i.e. what is available. Any reccommendations? What do the lovely ladies in your lives carry?

Thanks
drjones
 
I've been thinking about getting that Glock 36, drjones, mainly because of the slim design with the single stack magazine and that potent .45 caliber. This one seems excellent to me for concealed carry without it getting in the way.;)

I don't have small hands, but I've found this Glock to have a very comfortable grip for me. I'm sure whichever one you pick, whether Glock or Beretta, you won't be disappointed.

Good luck.
 
Is your girlfriend experienced with handguns? If not, think about starting her out with a lighter caliber, like 9mm or .38 Special. If you get her more gun than she enjoys shooting she will not develop the proficiency to be effective.

Also, think about getting a compensated model, which will be even easier to handle. The Glock 19C would be a great choice.

--Bob Q
 
You don't mention her previous shooting experience, if any, so the suggestion of a more controllable caliber might be advisable. I personally think highly of the Glock 27 (sub-compact .40 cal.) and find it easier by far to control than any of the .45's. Also I think the fit may better match her smaller hands and lend itself to better controlability which probably would lead to more enjoyment on her part and increased willingness to practice and reach an acceptable level of proficiency earlier. Another point is her willingness to shoot to begin with; if she doesn't want to do the "gun thing" you should seriously consider another solution to the problem. I used to work in an airport police dept. and you wouldn't believe the number of males that bought a gun for their wife/gf, had them shoot it a few times and then it was shoved into the depths of her purse only to surface at the airport x-ray check months or even years later!

Glad to help!
Larry S.
 
Take her to a shop where you can "finger" the guns. Make sure she can rack the slide.

If not, a wheel gun may be the better choice.

This is what happened with me. Got her a Lady Smith 9mm. She did well at the range when I was racking it. Then she had to. Barely could.

So, I got her a wheel gun. No problem loading, pulling the trigger, nothing.

Hope this helps.

Mike
 
aka the high power... slim design, adequate firepower and caliber, single action trigger for short reach.

I don't want to say that it takes more training than other guns, but certainly has a slightly different "manual of arms" than the wheelgun, DA and DAO pistols. If your girl's hands can handle it, perhaps even a 1911. (of course with a few comfort renovations).
 
For my wife, I like the SW series 640, 642, 442 or the new titanium 342. We traveled once, me with the 640 and she with a 442. Our speed loaders interchanged, they're light and simple.

She just practices enough to hit what she is aiming at. And warn your wife, too. Those +P 125 grain loads in a 342 are very stout.
 
As others have stated, without knowing her level of experience, it is hard to make a recommendation.

Still, other options to look at:

Sig 232 - one of the 'prettiest' handguns ever made. A bit weak on the caliber (.380ACP), but if she is inexperienced, that may be a better choice.

Sig 239 - slightly larger than the 232, and with a more typical handgun look. Available in two primary versions; one that is 9mm, and another than can be used with either .40S&W or .357Sig (the .40 and .357 barrels are interchangeable in the same frame).

H&K P7 - the P7 series are the best defensive handguns ever made, in my not-so-humble opinion. They are safer than any other handgun (even safer than the Glock), they are ridiculously accurate, and there is nothing to mess around with in order to go from 'safe' to 'deadly' - the cocking lever in the grip automatically deactivates the main safety and cocks the striker, when you grip the gun naturally (there is also a trigger disconnect, which prevents the gun from firing, even if the cocking lever was taped in, and the gun was dropped). When you release the grip, the safety automatically re-engages, and the striker decocks, rendering it 'safe' again. And, it always has a single-action trigger pull (since the grip cocks it instead of the trigger), so it is very easy to shoot accurately.

The P7M8 (American magazine release) or P7PSP (European magazine release) have 8-round single-stack magazines, and should fit most hands. The downside is the price - generally in the $700-1200 range, from what I've seen, depending on condition. (compared to the 232 at $350-550, and the 239 at $450-650)

As you can tell, I'm slightly biased towards the P7:). They are all good guns. She might fall in love with the 232 if she handles it - it really is a very nice little gun, and has a lot more 'style' than the others, which are much more utilitarian in nature. The 239 has the advantage of better calibers (just make sure to decide if you want the 9mm version, or the .357/.40 version, since they are not interchangeable), but is slightly larger in size.

The big thing is to take her to a gun shop and let her try various guns, to see what fits her hand best. There is no point in having the best gun in the world, if the grip is the wrong size/shape for her, and she cannot shoot it accurately.

--JB
 
Wow. Thank you all so much! There has been so much helpful information posted here!!!:D :D :D

You guys RULE!!!

Thanks!
drjones
 
We aim to please. (pun intended)

I just noticed that you list CA as a location. I take it that means the gun will not be carried by your girlfriend? If so, you may want to look into some of the slightly larger guns, as the added mass will make recoil more manageable. The Beretta Vertec is supposed to have a pretty small-hand-compatible grip.

--JB
 
The Glock 36 has a smaller grip than the 30 so it's better for small hands from a fit standpoint. However, I find the narrower backstrap makes the perceived recoil significantly sharper.

I have trained several women with the Glock 23 and 27 and, as noted above, they are very good choices. The 23 can be had in a compensated model.

I love my P7, but they are almost double the bucks, as pointed out by e_eutopia.
 
If she is alittle "recoil-shy" get her a Glock 9mm in the model 19. If recoil doesn't seem to bother her too much, get her a .40 cal Glock model 23. That about covers it.
 
Me: Heap big time shooter. Instructor, NRA subgun instructor etc..
Wife: Why do you need more than one gun?

Got her a nice little .38 S&W. Hated it. Let her try a few of my other guns. Finally found a slim, handy, safe, reliable pistol that she fell in love with. An old German Police trade in Walther PP in .32. Zero recoil, just a blast to shoot. My theory...A few hits with a .32 beats the crap out of alot of loud misses with a .45. She is exceptionally good with it. the Walthers in .32 always seem to have better triggers than any .380. Not sure the ballistics are that different anyway. the longer barrel of the PP gives the little .32 an edge over the same round in a Seecamp or Barretta. And, the Walthers go dirt cheap at gun shows. Think I paid $200 for it in 95% condition...She's happy and confident with it. I have more money for my toys. As a Purse gun. I got her a Kel-tec. Its so light and handy she will actually have it with her. First rule of a gun fight? ....Have a gun...
May not work for everybody, but, thats how we solved things...Good luck
 
IF she likes them...and IF you can afford one...The P-7 in any variation is THE handgun. Utterly safe...it takes 21 Lbs of grip to turn the gun on. Very natural. but, its almost impossible to accidently make the gun go bang. Glocks are gunfighter pistols. I never thought of them as being good guns for average people to have around. Most people don't train nearly enough and aren't nearly aware enough of where that gun is EVERY second (IF you DO...then this comment isn't intended for you, take it easy everybody) I carry a Glock every day. But they need a tremendous amount of respect. Gotta remember they are originally military guns...Its OK to kill the enemy in war. We have alot less freedom to do so in a civilized society.

The safety is on the trigger, never really liked that, kind of like writing the combination on the outside of the safe...There have been several accidental shootings by kids. One was an Officer in Georgia I believe, left his gun on the kitchen counter while he took off his gunbelt, his three year old grabbed it, thumb or finger went in the trigger guard and shot Daddy in the back, killing him. Another was in Rockwall Texas, Eight year old reached up and tried to hand her dad the gun, thumb went in the trigger guard, she was shot in the head and killed. (Yes...the owner should have been more careful about where he left his gun laying around) But, My Glocks don't come in the house with me. In a safe and controlled manner, I cleared the gun and let my three year old point it at a safe place, he pulled the trigger, no problem. Off Duty its almost always my P-7 or a Ruger SP-101. Something to ponder if any kids are gonna be running around the house. I can see wrestling around with the kids, gun falls out and just by grabbing the gun, the kid makes it go off. Scares the crap out of me.
 
Steer clear of anything with a compensator. They may be ok on the range but the extra noise and blast, not to mention the debris from powder residue blowing upwards make for a bad carry gun. If she is not into shooting and just wants protection I why not go for a stainless .32 PPK/S. It's an excellent gun and to a non shooter it still looks 'cool'. Otherwise the Glock 27 would have to be the best small gun bar none.
 
I would be cautious of a Glock 30 or 36 for a small or weak handed person. Not so much because the person could not handle it as much as the tendency of these guns to mis-feed if not held with a tight two hand hold. Glock will tell her that there is nothing wrong with the gun that she is "limp-wristing" it. That is what they told me after I sent my G30 back for adjustment. I told them that my Colt Commander would cycle properly if I suspended it from a string and pushed the trigger with a stick. Glock perfection? I sold it. You never know when you may need to use it one hand / weak hand / or injured. I certainly wouldn't recommend one for a small female. Now, my wife has had perfect performance from her G19 or my G27 and G23. Any of those would be fine. I am not a Glock-basher. The only four pistols I currently own are Glocks. I just would not recommend the G30 or G36 here. - Lee
 
make sure you let her handle the smith&wesson ladysmith lightweights..great guns for beginners
 
If she's in CA like we are, concealed carry is probably not a big issue. So if we assume that this gun is to be used for target shooting and outdoor use as well as personal home defense, I would recommend looking at a 4" .357 like a Ruger GP100 or similar. Here's the logic: a 4" .357 poses none of the slide racking issues of an auto, you can load it with .38 Special rounds for less expensive target shooting and she gets the benefit of reduced recoil (less intimidating), but you have the versatility of loading it with 125gr. JHP in the 1400 fps range for excellent home defense but still minimize recoil and maximize control. That round has the best one shot, one stop defense record according to the last studies I read from professor Gary Kleck, it even beat the venerable .45 ACP (my fav). For outdoor use you can also load the first round or two with snake shot giving yet more flexability.

If it's purely a recreational thing, don't blow off great guns like a Browning Buckmark or a Ruger 22/45. There's a reason .22s are so popular. They're fun and cheap to shoot and are generally easier to get "on the paper" with. Combine that with BB gun style recoil and it can go a long way towards instilling confidence in her about her shooting abilities.

My experience is that all of the small guns in real combat calibers that would seem perfect for women like the small Glocks and the little S&W .38 snubbies are actually way too violent to shoot for most novice women to be comfortable with. If it feels great in her hand and then scares the hell out of her when it goes bang, she's not going to want to use it much. I really like the look of the S&W .38+P rated airweight and it wouldn't bother me to shoot it, but that gun is a real handfull when you start to pull the trigger. I had actually purchased a Chief's special for a girlfriend and the recoil was more than she could stand (and she was 5'10" and most distinctly NOT petite).

jmx
 
jmxcpter, I can understand your concerns about your woman and recoil, I had the same talk with my wife.

She hates recoil. She shoots a Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 Spl. (I reload a light bullet with a reduced Unique load), a Ruger 22/45 bull-barrel, and a Government .380 ACP with over the counter hardball. All are very light.

However, I have admonished her that fightin' ain't pretty. She's a suburban girl, she has an attitude, but has never had her nose bloodied. I've warned her that she's going to get hit, maybe break a rib, get hit in the face and the recoil is going to hurt her hand and ring her ears. I've suggested that she learn the SW 342, but if she has the option, grab my SW 4516 or one of the many 1911's in the house.

This attitude adjustment was harder when she was younger, but as things have gotten goofy in this country over the years she realizes that a 'flying ash tray' is better than a flying med-helicopter.
 
I used to be in the same situation, for my wife. I took her to a shop where she could check out a bunch of pistols, including the Glock compacts and mini's, small revolvers, and all were too big for her hands. The one she liked the most, and can shoot like a champ, is one that I can't believe no one has mentioned yet: a Kahr, with a steel frame. If she has some experience, she MIGHT be able to work with a .40 with the steel frame. If she has very little experience, I would recommend the 9mm. In both cases, the full size Kahr; I think the compact Kahrs are probably best left to experienced users. But that's just me; primarily, in our case, the compact Kahr was not available for fondling, so the full size was it. Check one out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top