Ruger Forum

wheelgunman · April 3rd, 2012, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polseszczyk

Here is what my wife carries.

Samuel

I own an S&W Airweight(642) myself and love it but I don't think that would be a good choice for someone who is recoil sensitive.

Clovishound · April 3rd, 2012, 07:14 PM

Quote:

While a .22 is better than nothing I'd try to find at least a .25 auto or a .32 revolver she can deal with, just because rimfire is so notorious for failure. Murphey's Law and all.

I, personally, would rather carry a .22 with top notch ammo, than a .25 or even a .32. The ballistics on the .25 in particular are horrible. I have rarely had a failure to fire with a clean Mark I. The few I have had were cheap bulk pack stuff. I don't think I've ever had a failure with something like CCI ammo. Some of the newer high powered .22s are impressive, given the caliber/cartridge size.

41RED · April 3rd, 2012, 07:26 PM

My suggestions would be either a NAA in 22 Magnum loaded with Hornady defense loads or SP101 in 327 and load her up with 32 H&R to start with. Lets face it, if she has to use it it's going to be close in and I'm sure with either she'll be able to hit center mass and not have her arm wrenched under recoyle. In the NAA you might want to go with the Black Widow as the grips are a bit bigger and change them out for the birds head panels if the rubber Widow grips are to big.

. This is the Black Widow. Like what's been said before, let her pick it out but be sure she sees both of these.

BearcatShack · April 3rd, 2012, 07:58 PM

I was surprised how well the LC9 absorbs recoil.

Brady · April 18th, 2012, 08:29 PM

Another vote for an SP101, in 357Mag. Small enough to carry but big & heavy enough to grip and shoot. Regular 38 recoil would be minimal due to the weight.
Someone correctly mentioned wad cutters for practice. 'Course this could be a good excuse to get yourself a Big Honkin' full size 357 Magnum.

I taught my daughter to shoot with a Dan Wesson 15-2 loaded with regular 38's and she took right to it. She can pick her own CC out later.

MCS Precision · May 20th, 2012, 06:57 AM

I looked through this thread and didn't see anyone ask the first question I'd ask.

How does she intend to carry it? While I'm not a fan of carrying off the body, for a lot of women its their method of choice.

If she is going to purse carry, then it opens up a lot of options. Simply put, large heavy guns recoil less than small guns.

Since this is a ruger forum, I'd suggest a full sized SR9. But I'd also suggest a Glock 17 or 19. They are all easy recoiling guns and easy to shoot well.

Many of the small guns suggested here are difficult to shot well, and don't do well with women.

I've been doing handgun instruction for several years and find that the only physical limitation generally that affects women is hand strength. So you need a gun that minimizes the fact that women have less hand strength than men.

That means they should own a gun that allows them to use all of their fingers on the grip. It means a gun with a longer bbl so the recoil is translated into more of a push straight back than a flip.

I hope this helps.

Don

fungun · May 20th, 2012, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MCS Precision

I looked through this thread and didn't see anyone ask the first question I'd ask.

How does she intend to carry it? While I'm not a fan of carrying off the body, for a lot of women its their method of choice.

If she is going to purse carry, then it opens up a lot of options. Simply put, large heavy guns recoil less than small guns.

Since this is a ruger forum, I'd suggest a full sized SR9. But I'd also suggest a Glock 17 or 19. They are all easy recoiling guns and easy to shoot well.

Many of the small guns suggested here are difficult to shot well, and don't do well with women.

I've been doing handgun instruction for several years and find that the only physical limitation generally that affects women is hand strength. So you need a gun that minimizes the fact that women have less hand strength than men.

That means they should own a gun that allows them to use all of their fingers on the grip. It means a gun with a longer bbl so the recoil is translated into more of a push straight back than a flip.

I hope this helps.

Don

My wifes hands are plenty strong, they're just tiny like a kids and she has a heck of a time finding a grip with a small enough circumference. Even the LCR grip is a little too fat but she manages. Double stack mags are out, way too fat for her to securely hold. Simply not much out there for small hands, most stuff is designed for man hands.

Clovishound · May 20th, 2012, 08:52 AM

Quote:

But I'd also suggest a Glock 17 or 19. They are all easy recoiling guns and easy to shoot well.

Not my experience. I shot my buddy's 19 and couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it. Horrible trigger. Might just be just his gun, might be me, but haven't had this trouble with other 9s.

Top Dog · May 20th, 2012, 08:58 AM

My two suggestions would be a North American Arms PUG in 22 mag with the spare cylinder in 22lr for economical practice or a S&W Model 351C in 22 mag,it's light weight and 7 shot.

Top Dog

Storm40 · May 20th, 2012, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brady

Another vote for an SP101, in 357Mag. Small enough to carry but big & heavy enough to grip and shoot. Regular 38 recoil would be minimal due to the weight.
Someone correctly mentioned wad cutters for practice. 'Course this could be a good excuse to get yourself a Big Honkin' full size 357 Magnum.

I taught my daughter to shoot with a Dan Wesson 15-2 loaded with regular 38's and she took right to it. She can pick her own CC out later.

+1

moondog911 · May 20th, 2012, 09:27 AM

Consider the 22 magnum or the 32 magnum.

moondog911

MCS Precision · May 20th, 2012, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fungun

My wifes hands are plenty strong, they're just tiny like a kids and she has a heck of a time finding a grip with a small enough circumference. Even the LCR grip is a little too fat but she manages. Double stack mags are out, way too fat for her to securely hold. Simply not much out there for small hands, most stuff is designed for man hands.

My wife is 5'1" with proportionally sized hands. She has no trouble with my 9mm Glock 34.

The only thing she shoots better is my 1911 with reduced power loads and a 11 lb recoil spring.

Which leads me to another thought. A 9mm 1911 is a great shooting gun for anyone, but works great for recoil sensitive people.
I recently purchased a Dan Wesson Pointman 9. A female friend who is new to shooting took it for a drive this past weekend. It is now her favorite gun.

As far as a NAA Pug, I again have to strongly disagree with that recommendation. I really don't understand why people recommend little guns for women, when larger guns (with a grip circumference that works for them) are much easier to shoot well.

One final recommendation is the Kahr P9. Its a sweet shooting gun and my wife shoots it well. It is larger and heavier than a LC9 and seems to recoil significantly less.

If weight is not an issue, the Kahr K9 (with a stainless rather than a plastic frame) recoils even less, but is heavier to carry.

Don

Sr40ken · May 20th, 2012, 02:09 PM

Anyone needs to carry the largest piece they are comforatble with and get good with it. i.e practice. My 5' tall, 110 lbs wife tried several guns large and small and ended up with a compact 1911 in .45. Not for everyone but works very well for her. She has convinced our LEO sniper combat vet friend and several CCW instructors that she made the right choice.
Any piece is a tool, if she doesn't like her tools then she won't get good at it. My self I go along with her trying a .38 stubby. I would get one in .357 so if she wants to move up she can. But I sure as heck don't want to be on the hot end of any .38.

MCS Precision · May 20th, 2012, 03:04 PM

Provided she can hit you with it.

The 11 lb trigger, short grip (which doesn't allow the use of the pinkie finger), round grip (which doesn't do much to help her prevent the revolver from rolling in her hand when she tries to squeeze that 11# trigger), and finally short barrel (which results in a lot more muzzle rise and sharper recoil than something with a longer bbl)

Will all work against her when she actually tries to hit anything.

Snub nosed revolvers are great guns. But they are among the hardest to shoot well of anything you can buy.

Don

p.s. I'm making the assumption that the OP's wife is an occasional shooter, based on her recoil sensitivity.

Sr40ken · May 20th, 2012, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MCS Precision

Provided she can hit you with it.

The 11 lb trigger, short grip (which doesn't allow the use of the pinkie finger), round grip (which doesn't do much to help her prevent the revolver from rolling in her hand when she tries to squeeze that 11# trigger), and finally short barrel (which results in a lot more muzzle rise and sharper recoil than something with a longer bbl)

Will all work against her when she actually tries to hit anything.

Snub nosed revolvers are great guns. But they are among the hardest to shoot well of anything you can buy.

Don

p.s. I'm making the assumption that the OP's wife is an occasional shooter, based on her recoil sensitivity.

You are responding to who?